In 1994 a nationwide search was undertaken to find a suitable firm to lead the Friends of San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden through the master planning process.  The Portico Group from Seattle was chosen and grant funding was acquired from the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.  The Master Plan was completed in 1998 and in 1999 won a prestigious award from the American Association of Landscape Architects for site analysis and planning.

The mission and goals provided the basis for defining the facility programming and physical design layout of the master plan.  The Master Planning Committee met with potential users and interest groups from the community, including the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, California Native Plant Society, local theater groups, Cal Poly and Cuesta College to identify potential partnering opportunities and determine programs and facilities they could use at the Garden.  Community meetings, public presentations and site tours were provided to solicit comments to define