As the decision to sell county-owned land square in the middle of the off-road riding area in the Oceano Dunes approaches, local city councils and advisory bodies are offering up their two cents on the proposal.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation has offered $4.8 million for the 584-acre parcel it leases from the county. The 25-year lease expires in June 2008, and the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing for April 17 as it decides whether to sell the land.

On Monday night, the Grover Beach City Council voted unanimously to support the sale based mainly on the economic benefit the city receives from users of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

Mayor Steve Lieberman told fellow council members the city reaps the benefits of the estimated 250,000 visitors annually flowing through park's Grover Beach entrance at the end of West Grand Avenue.

The Arroyo Grande City Council also recently discussed the proposed sale but decided not to take a formal position on the issue.

Council members indicated there wasn't adequate information available to determine the economic impact to the city if the sale happens or doesn't.

However, the council plans to send a letter to 4th District Supervisor Katcho Achadjian that says, in part, that it recognizes some existing economic benefits to the city from the tourism generated by the off-road park.

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Four members of the Pismo Beach City Council also discussed the proposed sale during its meeting Tuesday and voted 4-0 to support the sale to State Parks. Councilman Ted Ehring was absent.

Pismo Mayor Pro Tem Shelly Higginbotham encouraged backing the sale because she believes the city would lose too much money if the county opts not to sell and the size of the off-road park shrinks.

“Any change in the use of the site ... would have a severe economic impact on our city,” Higginbotham told fellow council members.

It's estimated, conservatively, that the off-road park and its 2 million annual visitors generate more than $200 million for the local economy.

If the county doesn't sell the La Grande Tract, which is inside the five-mile riding area of the Oceano Dunes, and the area was to be fenced off, the off-road area potentially would be reduced, drawing fewer users and less revenue, according to State Parks officials.

The Pismo council agreed to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors encouraging the board to approve State Parks' request to buy the land, providing the use is kept the same.

In the community most affected by off-road use in the dunes - Oceano - the Community Services District board of directors unanimously voted earlier this year to support the sale.

However, the directors hedged their backing by saying they wanted the county somehow to broker a deal with State Parks to give Oceano $1 for every car that enters the off-road park.

Most vehicles enter the dunes through the Pier Avenue entrance in Oceano.

Last month, the South County Advisory Council in Nipomo voted to oppose the sale and instead recommend the county renew the lease for another five years and re-evaluate the issue then.

April Charlton can be reached at 489-4206, Ext. 5016, or acharlton@santamariatimes.com. Josh Petray can be reached at 489-4206, Ext. 5015, or jpetray@santamariatimes.com.

April 6, 2007