Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves zoning and permit changes for 2508 Spring Street to allow mixed retail, tasting spaces and a meeting room
Summary
The council approved a general plan / specific plan map amendment and a conditional use permit with site plan review for 2508 Spring Street (former Western Courts building), allowing mixed retail, small wine/beer kiosks and a private meeting facility; votes were 4–1 on both resolutions.
The Paso Robles City Council on Aug. 5 approved a general plan and specific plan map amendment and a conditional use permit for a commercial redevelopment at 2508 Spring Street, the long‑vacant building between 20 Fourth and 20 Sixth streets.
Planner Katie Bannister summarized the request: the applicant seeks to rezone a portion of the parcel from the T4F district (primarily residential/mixed use) to TC2 (town‑center commercial) to permit certain visitor‑serving uses not allowed under the current designation. The project proposal calls for exterior renovations, new landscaping, a front deli/retail tenant and a cluster of small indoor kiosks for specialty food, beer and wine vendors. A private meeting room is proposed at the rear of the structure for tenants and community groups.
Jamie Jones, representing the applicant, told council the site shares access with the neighboring property and that the intent is to provide affordable, small lease spaces for start‑up food and beverage businesses. Architect Larry Bridal said the individual tasting kiosks are modest — roughly 500 square feet each — and the meeting room is approximately 1,500 square feet.
The planning commission recommended approval after earlier review. The council took two separate votes on Aug. 5.
- Council approved the resolution to amend the general plan and specific plan maps (Resolution No. 25‑XXX‑A). Vote: Gregory, aye; Strong, aye; Bausch, aye; Bridal, no; Mayor Hammond, aye (4–1).
- The council then approved a second resolution granting the conditional use permit (CUP 24‑10) and site plan review for the physical changes (Resolution No. 25‑XXX‑B). Vote: Gregory, aye; Bausch, aye; Beal, no; Strong, aye; Mayor Hammond, aye (4–1).
Conditions of approval include limits on hours and operational requirements listed in the staff report; the project was found exempt from CEQA under a Class 1 exemption for reuse of existing structures.
Supporters at the meeting said the renovation would reactivate a vacant property and provide affordable retail space; opponents raised concerns about alcohol service near Flamsen junior high and potential traffic and parking impacts during school drop‑off and pickup. Staff said the project meets the Uptown Town Center plan’s parking standard (one space per 400 square feet of tenant space for commercial tenants) and that the applicant must obtain any required Alcoholic Beverage Control approvals.
The council’s approvals permit the developer to proceed with the stated renovations and tenanting under the conditions in the adopted resolution.
