2018 July PASO Magazine

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On average, year-round, our hotels are about 74 percent full. The taxes generated are revenue for road building that comes largely through tourism. Hotel AVA with new hotel construction and expansion projects is that they are required to use low-flow fixtures, water-efficient appliances, drought-tolerant landscaping and other water conservation practices. In related construction news, on May 15, Paso Robles City Council reviewed the EIR consultant contract for the Beechwood Specific Plan, located on Creston Road, just north of Franklin Hot Springs. The conceptual neighborhood was presented before the Planning Commission for 915 single- and multifamily residences (since decreased from 1,011), mixed use commercial development, open-space areas, parks, and multipurpose trails within a 236-acre parcel bordered by Meadowlark Road, Creston Road and Beechwood Drive in the southeast section of the city. Matt McLish, Executive Committee Chairman of Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, who attended the Open House for the Beechwood Specific Plan on April 11 concluded, “The feedback was good, and the project seems to be intelligently thought out with a good plan for water.” GROWTH: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE In 2010, the population of Paso Robles was 29,785. Slow, steady growth increased that number by 2,122 by 2016, when the population was recorded at 31,907. But those who have watched the city’s population expand in recent years may be surprised to learn that the most significant growth in Paso Robles actually occurred decades ago. Not only did Paso Robles weather the early recession of the 1980-1982, when nationwide bankruptcies rose 50 percent and agricultural exports declined, but the City saw its population more than double from 9,200 to 18,600 between 1980-1990, according to the U.S. Census and State Department of Finance. By Y2K, the community’s population began to reflect a strong, steady decrease in population growth. However, by the end of the first decade, during the nation’s Great Recession, the population dropped to zero growth. Then, through 2014, the population alternately decreased and increased annually within one percent. Despite these economic ups and downs, the Downtown core has Despite these economic ups and downs, the Downtown core has flourished with restaurants, wine tasting rooms, shops and offices. Hotel Cheval (Phase 2) flourished with restaurants, wine tasting rooms, shops and offices. Courtesy of local support, business is brisk, in large part by tourist dollar support. Matt Masia, whose family has been in the hotel business since 1961, operates the Adelaide Inn and the neighboring Best Western Plus Black Oak property in the 24th Street corridor across from the Paso Robles Event Center. Still in process at the Planning Department is Black Oak Lodge, a four-story, 96-room, 59,229-square-foot hotel on a 1.8-acre lot at 2717 Black Oak Drive, adjacent to the 24th Street McDonald’s restaurant. Masia confirmed that when he breaks ground, local contractors will be hired to launch the project. “Everyone is looking toward the future, but I think each one will depend upon the process of approval, financing and time,” Masia said matter-of-factly. “It takes years to get hotels built and economic forces have a lot to do with that in the business of supply and demand.” He also observed that other hotel properties with room rates in the high tier tend to drive down prices of more moderately priced hotels, including his own, to remain competitive. “In the summer, we’re easily 100 percent full,” said Masia, “and we average around 50 percent in the winter. But what often gets overlooked is business lodging throughout the week. We have 4H and FFA families who stay, military personnel, wine-related sales professionals and others, oil rig workers, and truckers. “We easily get 10 truckers a night needing lodging. Monday through Thursday we’re 75 percent full on average.” Chamber Chairman Matt Mc- Lish, who also serves as a Paso Robles School District Board Trustee, pointed out that when visitors come to Paso, it takes two days to generate the type of revenue from food, lodging and sales tax that a resident typically generates in a month. “We also have military bases nearby that depend upon Paso Robles hotels when they arrive for exercises in our area – Vandenberg AFB, Camp Roberts, Fort Hunter Liggett, plus travelers from Lemoore, who prefer Paso Robles over King City,” he said. “On average, year-round, our hotels are about 74 percent full. The taxes generated are revenue for road building that comes largely through tourism. I’d be scared to think of what we’d be looking at without it,” said McLish. He added that in addition to the service jobs that hotels provide, he hopes to see a more diverse mix of industry, including “ag tech, which is our strength.” Executive Director Norma Moye at Paso Robles Main Street Association has observed changes in Paso Robles for decades. A Paso Robles High alumnus, Norma is considered among the core contingent of Paso Robles historians who are deeply involved in hands-and-feet service to the community. Norma shared her perspective about the renewed building and expansion efforts throughout the city. “I think it’s wonderful; it’s progress,” said Norma. “We’re (Paso Robles) a destination. It’s a great Downtown now. It’s walkable and that’s neat. We’ve got good people who work here and make it a great place to live. We’re a can-do people who all work together.” When asked about the concerns some people express about 30 | pasomagazine.com PASO Magazine, July 2018
the town increasing the number of hotel rooms, Norma said, “We can’t stop growth, for Pete’s sake. We can’t just shut the door, and we didn’t when people moved here who are now saying they don’t want any more to come in. TOT brings events and helps our quality of life here. We draw tourism, which is great, and they visit and leave. We could use more parking lots. Maybe we can build a (mixed use) parking garage and put retail on the bottom floor,” she theorized. “But think about it. Have those dollars ruined the Downtown? Nope. Look at it now!” A 10-year resident of Paso Robles, Chamber chairman McLish grew up in Orange County, and shared his perspective about biginfluence into North County. In his Chamber capacity, McLish said that, like anyone who has adopted Paso Robles as their town, he foresees more transplants arriving to do business that share a common mindset with Paso natives to keep everything in balance. People who have moved into Paso Robles to get “Tourism generates a tremendous amount of tax revenue ... two nights in a hotel pays more tax than a resident pays in a month.” — Mayor Steve Martin Oxford Suites away from the sprawl of large-city populations, he said, share the same concerns of those who grew up in North County. “I feel pretty confident that these folks know what positive growth is,” said McLish. “In Orange County, sometimes I didn’t know what community I was in because there was no delineation from one community to another. My parents live in Orcutt now and they visit. We enjoy the seasonal activities here, like Halloween and the tree lighting at the park, and I enjoy watching them with Eli, our four-year-old. We had wall-towall commerce and residential in Orange County with a disregard for aesthetics. They lost that at some point,” said McLish. “Everyone I’ve been involved with here at the City is very concerned for retaining Paso history and the quality of life with a small-town feel.” Mayor Steve Martin reported recently that in Fiscal Year 2017- 18, the top revenue generators for the City were property taxes, sales taxes and TOT revenue, which only underscores the need for tourist dollars, essential funds that keep the wheels turning on the City’s economic bus. The view from that bus isn’t bad, either, according to a recent City survey conducted amongst residents. Mayor Martin reported that of 466 people who replied, 92 percent reported quality of life in Paso Robles as “good” or “excellent.” “Tourism generates a tremendous amount of tax revenue and it’s a trade-off,” Community Development Director Frace said of the ebb and flow of people that tourism brings into the community. “The more that tourists come to spend money here, the more they help pay for our city’s infrastructure.” Melissa Chavez can be reached at melissa@pasomagazine.com July 2018, PASO Magazine pasomagazine.com | 31
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2018 July PASO Magazine

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