Sand Hill Properties has updated their project design to increase the amount of parking associated with the "Olympic Way Retreat Center".

There is no community support for this project. In fact, there is growing opposition. And why build a private event/"retreat" center on Thornton Beach Bluff when such a project could be built in numerous other places in Daly City?  

Daly City has indicated they believe the project falls within current zoning uses. We believe this project is inconsistent with Daly City Zoning Ordinance uses for land zoned as C1 Light Industrial. 

Further we believe the project is inconsistent with the Daly City Local Coastal Plan including (but not limited to): the project is non recreational in nature, non "visitor serving", does not "enhance visual access of the coastline from the street", there are significant public safety issues building in a seismic zone prone to landslides, the development violates the LCP provision that "land coverage shall be compatible with the open space character and shall be less than 10% of the site area.", "Structural mass shall be compatible with the open space character and shall be less than 20 feet in height or one-story above grade, whichever is less."  (Goals 1 & 3 and Sections 30250(a)  & 30253)

The environmental consultant for Daly City has indicated that they believe a mitigated negative declaration is feasible for the project under CEQA. We do not believe this project in any way should receive a mitigated negative declaration under CEQA due to:

• Environmental issues: risk to endangered flora and fauna in a resource protected overlay zone.
• Design issues: the project design is inconsistent with the open space character of this vacant land.
• Utilities and Water issues: Requires Daly City residents to fund the cost of bringing water, cable, sewer, electrical utilities under Skyline Blvd and build them into a sandy bluff in a landslide and seismic zone.
• Hazards to public safety: A cavernous 40,000 square foot facility with underground utilities “open to the public” on an eroding, sandy bluff in a landslide and seismic zone will undoubtedly pose a safety risk to the public. 
• We are extremely concerned about the storm water runoff issues associated with the massive, impermeable surfaces of the Olympic Way Retreat Center where runoff will have to be stored and then released, increasing bluff lubrication and increasing the potential for landslides.

Finally, the increase in traffic and the parking required by this development will pose a burden on the community and are in conflict with the Open Space Plan for Daly City (March 2020).

We remain concerned that the taxpayers of Daly City will be held liable for the cleanup costs of a vacant building once it is abandoned due to lack of demand.

Please continue to be heard and voice your strong opposition to placing any development on a sandy bluff in a seismic zone with Daly City Council and the California Coastal Commission.
 
Email the Council with the subject line "Public comment for the Olympic Way Retreat Center" at citycouncil@dalycity.org. 

You can email the California Coastal Commission Staff at: julia.koppmannorton@coastal.ca.gov.
 
Please share the link to our petition especially if you have connections to others who care about open space and use the bluff currently.
 
Do reach back out to us with any questions, ideas and recommendations. Our email address is info@thorntonbeachbluffpreserve.com
 
Thanks again for your support!