e-InsiderLast night’s SLO City Council meeting ended in a 3-1 vote in support of holding a town hall meeting regarding Cal Poly’s proposed 1,430-bed student housing project at Grand Avenue and Slack Street. Dozens of residents surrounding the university – which have organized an opposition group to the plans – have provided ongoing correspondence and input to the council asking for a public hearing. Previously the Council has not been in agreement on whether any type of public forum should be held as the City is not the approving body in the university’s decision.  At the end of last night’s meeting, Council member Kathy Smith restated her interest in a town hall meeting, which was supported by Council member Dan Carpenter. Vice Mayor Carlyn Christianson ultimately agreed, stating that she is open to listening to concerned citizens while Council member John Ashbaugh angrily pounded his fists in opposition. A nearby resident to the university, Mayor Jan Marx, had recused herself prior to the lively discussion. Cal Poly hosted two public forums late last year, where numerous nearby permanent residents opposed the site of the proposed housing. The public will have until March 31 to provide input to the on the draft environmental impact report; the City’s town hall is scheduled to be held prior to that date in a location near the proposed housing site.