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Resident offers free 3D 'digital twin' and custom GPT to help Buellton visualize projects
Summary
At public comment, Mel Torres described a free 3D visualization ‘‘digital twin’’ and a custom GPT trained on Buellton materials for planners and residents; city manager agreed to have Torres contact staff to arrange a follow-up demonstration.
During the public‑comment period, resident Mel Torres introduced herself as a property owner on Central Avenue and described a software tool she developed that produces three‑dimensional visualizations of proposed buildings and neighborhood impacts and a custom chat‑AI trained on Buellton documents.
Torres said she used publicly available materials from the city’s Engage Buellton portal to render projects — including a demonstration of an AM/PM gas‑station project and accessory‑dwelling-unit impacts on Central Avenue — and that the tool can read and summarize technical documents such as water reports. She described the product as a free offering and asked how to follow up with city staff to show a demonstration.
City response: City Manager Scott Wolf asked Torres to connect with him to schedule a demonstration, and Council and staff attendees agreed a follow‑up meeting would be appropriate. No formal action was taken; the council did not evaluate the product’s data sources, privacy or procurement implications at the meeting.
Ending: Torres said she will reach out to City Manager Scott Wolf to arrange next steps; staff will evaluate the tool and whether it could be integrated with the city’s Engage Buellton portal or used for community outreach.
