Cost of restoration project being assumed by Martin Resorts

Courtesy of the Santa Maria Times.

–The City of Pismo Beach Planning Commission unanimously approved Martin Resorts’ comprehensive plan to not only restore the historic spiral “Staircase to Nowhere” but also provide additional protection for the fragile bluffs and extend the California Coastal Trail by an additional mile. When completed, the project will provide Pismo Beach area trail users uninterrupted access from Dinosaur Caves Park to the Pismo Pier. A pedestrian bridge will be added to complete the trail.

“We appreciate the planning commission’s support for our plan,” said Noreen Martin, CEO of Martin Resorts. “The benefits are considerable: The public will gain access to nearby pocket beaches, the bluffs will receive more protection, and the Coastal Trail will be extended substantially.”

Martin said the plan has personal meaning for her as well. “When I first saw this part of the coast as a Cal Poly student, I simply was awestruck. It was love at first sight. I still can’t believe my good fortune to live here.“

“As for Martin Resorts, we have benefited as have all of the region’s tourist-driven businesses from the beauty of the coastline, and that’s another reason we feel a special obligation to protect it and provide the public at large as much access as possible,” Martin said. “Our collaboration with the city makes the project a classic public-private partnership that benefits everyone – all of us who live here now, and the generations that will follow,” Martin said. “We’re really proud of this effort.”

The project is anticipated to be completed in 2017.