SLO County supervisors on Aug. 4 unanimously denied an appeal that would have created six new parcels and opened the door for new development along SLO’s city limits on the hills overlooking Johnson Avenue.

Technically there were three separate appeals made by property owners but all were heard under the umbrella of development consultant Oasis Associates. The land in question had fallen into a legal gray area because six parcels were created decades ago in an antiquated map. As far as the county’s concerned, now there’s one parcel with multiple owners.

The owners’ representative, Tim Carmel, wouldn’t say what the development plans would have been had the county recognized all six parcels, or even if there were plans to develop. He added that a lawsuit would be the next level of appeal, but he couldn’t say whether his clients would take the fight to court.

Speaking to county supervisors at the public hearing, Carmel said, “To deny a validation of lots that are within that map, to me, seems patently unfair.”

County officials decided the lots weren’t created legally and, according to recent case law, the owners needed to submit a new application if they wanted to subdivide.

With one lot, the owners can build two single-family houses under the rural residential zoning. If all the lots were recognized, however, it would have made possible more extensive development.