A proposal to show an previous lumber yard right into a “glamping” resort within the stunning Danish-themed California vacationer city of Solvang has residents and metropolis leaders able to combat again.
Members of the town’s Design Assessment Committee met Thursday to debate plans for an Airstream lodge on the two.19-acre property of the previous Solvang Lumberyard at 1783 and 1793 Mission Drive.
The proposed resort would function 31 Airstream spots, together with a bar, lounge, lodge foyer and two lodge suites.
Plans additionally name for a pool, showers, restrooms and even a military-style lookout tower.
The proposal got here earlier than the committee as a part of a pre-application evaluation.
However the venture is already operating into resistance — significantly as a result of the property sits in an space the place metropolis guidelines require historic Spanish Mission-style structure, Noozehawk reported.
Committee members stated the proposed resort would wish to include the distinctive design into the venture.
Critics, in the meantime, say calling the venture a lodging growth doesn’t change what they see as a glorified trailer park.
“If it seems to be like a trailer park and it gleams like a trailer park, regardless of the categorization of a lodging, it’s a trailer park,” stated Dennis Beebe, president of Santa Ynez Valley Residents Council.
“I discover it utterly inappropriate for downtown Solvang.”
Committee member, Jennifer Johnson, objected to the proposal too.
“Even when I used to be going to go tenting, which I did all my life rising up, I might by no means go in an Airstream,” Johnson stated.
Native resident Susan Belloni agreed that the “glamping” potential wouldn’t match with the character of the realm.
“So, I don’t see that 31 mid-century design Chinese language aluminum airstream trailers have something in frequent with Spanish colonial revival structure,” she stated.
She additionally expressed concern the proposed lookout tower rendering seems to be like an “previous West army fortress” that doesn’t match.
Phil Stevens, who represented the applicant, agreed with critics concerning the look of the proposed venture, vowing to return to the drafting board to “strike a greater steadiness.”
It’s simply the most recent drama within the small city that’s lately tore itself aside over a tourism app owned and developed by Solvang mayor David Brown.
The dispute centered on ”Solvang Passport” which promoted chosen companies and sights within the well-liked Santa Barbara County vacation spot — typically known as the “Danish capital of America.”
Some Metropolis Council members stated Brown’s involvement created an moral drawback in a city that depends on tourism.
However supporters argued the app is simply one other solution to entice guests and assist native companies, reported Newspress.
Brown has since eliminated the city-related content material, added a disclaimer stating the app shouldn’t be affiliated with the town, and stated he’s contemplating stepping again from managing the platform or licensing it to a different firm.
