Despite feverish attempts by neighbors and one SLO County supervisor, the Cayucos Del Mar project was approved in a form that didn’t seem to make anyone happy.

Neighbors complained that the planned building will be too massive and out of character for the small beach town. Most complaints focused on the building’s third floor. Planning commissioners removed the floor from the original design, but it was put back when county supervisors accepted the applicant’s appeal of that decision.

When supervisors first heard the appeal they told the applicant, Franco DeCicco, to come back with a redesign that would break up the building’s fa¡ade and scale back the roofline. The new design did that, but members of the Concerned Citizens of Cayucos opposition group balked at the changes.

“To the residents in this area the concessions are minimal,” said John Belsher, the group’s attorney.

Supervisor Bruce Gibson also thought the redesign missed the target. He tried repeatedly to get a new design that would separate the motel and residential sections of the project entirely, as well as reduce the height, but he couldn’t get the votes.

Supervisor Katcho Achadjian gave the final vote to approve the latest design, but appeared reluctant. After a long pause and a sorrowful glance at Gibson he voted for the project, saying earlier that there wasn’t a better option. Supervisors Jerry Lenthall and Harry Ovitt also voted to accept the appeal.

Not many, however, seemed happy with the newest design. DeCicco said he had reduced the project to the minimum that would still keep it profitable.

“We’ve been giving, giving, giving,” he said.

Despite his frustrations, neighbors believe the project would still dwarf surrounding homes.

Cayucos Del Mar will combine an 18-unit motel with four residential units. Although the property is split between residential and commercial, there will be one building. The property currently houses an abandoned gas station off Highway 1 in Cayucos.