From:Joyce Green
To:City Council
Subject:Opposition to Sale or Residential Development of the Chapman Estate Date:Tuesday, February 3, 2026 10:09:57 AM
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Dear Mayor and Members of the Pismo Beach City Council, My name is Joyce Green, and I am writing to formally oppose the City’s plan to declare the Chapman Estate surplus land and to pursue its sale or lease for residential development, including any proposal that would introduce affordable or low-income housing on this site.
The Chapman Estate was transferred to the City under a clear and carefully negotiated Distribution Agreement that reflects the express wishes of Clifford W. Chapman. That agreement states unequivocally that the property was to be preserved for recreational, cultural, and general public use, ensuring ongoing community access and enjoyment. Reversing course now—more than a decade later—undermines both the spirit and the substance of that agreement, as well as the public trust placed in the City to honor it.
Beyond the legal and ethical concerns, the proposed residential use would be fundamentally incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood. Ocean Boulevard and the adjacent streets were never designed to support the traffic volume, parking demand, or density associated with multi-unit housing. Street parking is already limited, and additional residential development would inevitably result in overflow parking, congestion, and safety concerns for residents, visitors, and emergency access. These impacts cannot be meaningfully mitigated without altering the character and livability of the area.
While affordable housing is an important and necessary goal, not every parcel is appropriate for that purpose. The Chapman Estate is a unique, irreplaceable coastal property with a documented, intended use as open space and a community cultural asset. Using it to satisfy surplus land requirements ignores both its historical significance and the long-term value it provides to the public as a shared community space.
I respectfully urge the City Council to reconsider this course of action, honor the original contractual commitments made with the Chapman Trust, and preserve the Chapman Estate for the public use it was intended to serve. The City should be seeking solutions that align with both state requirements and local obligations—without sacrificing a treasured community resource.
Thank you for your time and for considering the concerns of residents who care deeply about the future of this property and our neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Joyce Green
Shell Beach, California