Found this commentary by Gary Patton on KUSP.org
-BT
Wednesday, October 6, 2004 – Coast Hotel Project
Deciding in haste, and repenting at leisure, is something that happens all too frequently in the land use arena. Residents of the City of Santa Cruz might well be advised to start focusing some attention on a very large and significant development now under discussion in the City. The proposal is to knock down the existing Coast Hotel, the former Dream Inn, replacing it with a much larger hotel and convention center complex that would extend across West Cliff Drive. Until last week, the City was proposing to have only one public hearing, a combined City Council – Planning Commission meeting scheduled on October 26th, just days before the City Council elections on November 2nd. I’m happy to report that this unprecedented procedure has apparently been scrapped.

The visual impacts and traffic impacts of the proposed project are undoubtedly significant. Turning Bay Street into something a little more like Mission Street is one of the possible outcomes. Impacts on the bluffs along West Cliff Drive are a potential problem identified by the Coastal Commission. The financial arrangements for the project are also of importance, since the proposed development would be partly funded by the City itself. Finally, this proposed project would have a major effect on the residential neighborhoods of the Lighthouse Point area, and the long term implications of that are really of citywide concern.

This proposed project should receive lots of public review. It’s a good time to get involved.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.