Slumoa project may move forward! 14 years late (r)!

(This is the house I see from my back porch everyday. Lead paint abatement project put on hold I am guessing.) In 2001 Robin and I were so happy to see the town of Samoa sold to the Samoa Pacific Group (Dan Johnson and Lane DeVeres) and their role out of plans for the future were bright. They said they planned to make lot line adjustments and parcel out each house to enable the long time Samoa residents to purchase. We were promised the first chance to buy these homes after there were cosmetic repairs to the outsides such as roofing and painting. There would be parks and trails, grocery store, shopping center and a mix of new houses and affordable housing. (AKA apartments.) Peninsula Elementary School would have an influx of new students and there would be a positive energy for us sandwellers.

Since 2001 there has been many iterations of the original master plans. Dan Johnson has learned one thing. Government can be so slow. While serving as a Director of the Samoa Peninsula Fire Department we had the Samoa Pacific Group come many times to try to form a Peninsula Community Service District so the town of Samoa could provide new infrastructure such as Sewage, Water and Parks. Each time they were met with push back from either the board itself or the residents of Fairhaven.

Now we learn from todays Times Standard that the project is jumping original phases to the project and building the apartments first. They have a 3.8 million dollar grant that needs to be used by 2015. The first most needed piece of the development is a waste-water treatment facility. So the grocery store, fire station, park, trails, campsites and other visitor services will not be in place beforehand as originally proposed. The Board of Supervisors and the California Coastal Commission will have to approve the amendments to the original plan. While I am disappointed in the process looking 14 years back, I am supportive of the project moving forward for the heath and vitality that I hope can be restored for the town of Samoa. That is one long time sandwellers opinion. And I have seen much in the nearly 35 years I have been a resident.