TEMPLETONReal Estate

What TAAG’s Dissolution Means for Templeton Land Use

For roughly three decades, the Templeton Area Advisory Group (TAAG) gave Templeton residents a regular public forum to weigh in on development and land-use questions before San Luis Obispo County made its decisions. As of October 20, 2026, the County no longer recognizes the group. Here is what happened, and what it does and does not change for people buying, selling or building in Templeton.

What TAAG was

Templeton is unincorporated. There is no city council, and land-use authority rests with the County of San Luis Obispo. TAAG was one of the County’s Community Advisory Councils. These are independent, volunteer bodies that the Board of Supervisors authorizes to represent their communities. According to the County’s Community Advisory Council Handbook, these councils “review and make non-binding recommendations on planning matters such as land use policies, programs, permitting, environmental review and zoning for the unincorporated areas” of the county. Only discretionary projects, such as land use permits, subdivisions and general plan amendments, are referred to them.

TAAG was established in the 1990s and usually met on the third Thursday of each month at the Templeton Community Services District, The Tribune and KSBY reported. Under its bylaws the board normally had seven regular members and two alternates.

How the group lost its quorum

The trouble began with the group’s chair. The Tribune reported that then-chair David Leader pleaded guilty on July 22, 2026, to vandalism and to violating restraining orders that his neighbors had obtained. In August he was sentenced to 30 days in county jail and two years of formal felony probation, KSBY reported.

At TAAG’s August 20 meeting, a sheriff’s deputy asked Leader to leave because neighbors protected by restraining orders were there to read victim impact statements. Fellow board members then asked him to step down, and he formally resigned on August 26, New Times San Luis Obispo reported. District 1 Supervisor John Peschong told New Times that county counsel had advised him that advisory groups operate independently under their own bylaws, so the County does not decide who serves on them.

More resignations followed Leader’s. TAAG’s bylaws require at least four members to hold a meeting. Its September 17 meeting was cancelled for lack of a quorum because only three members were available, KPRL reported. Board member Murray Powell told The Tribune that appointing new members takes five votes, which left no way to rebuild the board from inside: “there’s no way that we can even appoint any new members to the board to resurrect it from the dead.” By the time the County acted, KSBY reported that only two members remained.

The County’s action

The remaining members asked the Board of Supervisors to stop recognizing TAAG as an advisory council, KPRL reported. On October 20, 2026, the Board did so on its consent calendar without discussion, according to KPRL.

“It was asked by the remaining members of that board – they couldn’t get enough members to show up and they had resigned, and so they couldn’t meet, they couldn’t meet quorum requirements, and so they asked that we would not recognize them anymore.”
Supervisor John Peschong, to KSBY

What this means for Templeton property owners

  • Zoning and the rules themselves don’t change. TAAG’s recommendations were always non-binding. Zoning, the general plan, permits and land-use decisions in Templeton were and still are the County’s responsibility, through Planning & Building staff, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. No local law was repealed when TAAG lost recognition.
  • Projects still go through County review. If you are applying for a discretionary permit, a lot split or a general plan amendment, your application still goes through the County’s normal process and public hearings.
  • The early community review step is paused. The County Handbook says advisory councils normally receive a project package during the County’s initial completeness review and have 60 days to send written comments. Templeton currently has no recognized council to receive those referrals. Neighbors who want to weigh in on a project can still comment directly to the County planner assigned to it, speak at public hearings, or contact the District 1 Supervisor’s office.
  • If you’re buying near a proposed project, watch the County’s hearing notices and agendas, and ask the County planner directly. For now there is no monthly Templeton meeting where those projects come up.

Could TAAG come back?

Probably, in some form. Peschong told KSBY: “Hopefully, they’ll be able to come back early next year with some reenergized local community members, and we can reorganize and re-recognize the Templeton Area Advisory Group.” KPRL reported the same plan to reorganize next year. Powell told The Tribune that dissolving the group is a loss: “It’s a loss to the community.” Under the County Handbook, a new group would need to adopt bylaws, hold regular public meetings and be recognized by the Board of Supervisors before it could start reviewing projects again.

If you’re thinking about serving on a future Templeton advisory body, or want to know how a nearby project could affect a property you own or are considering, ask Mark. He’s glad to point you to the right people at the County.

Sources

General community information, not legal or land-use advice. Confirm requirements for a specific property with the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Planning & Building.

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