The state Department of Parks and Recreation wants to buy 584 acres of county-owned land in the off-road riding area of the Oceano Dunes, and the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing on the question for Tuesday.

The state has a 25-year lease for the land, known as the La Grande Beach Tract, that expires in June 2008.

Some believe if the sale happens, the state will eventually close Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, while others believe if the county doesn't maintain ownership of the property, local control of the area will be lost forever.

More than one-third of the open riding area in the park is inside the county's tract, but State Parks officials insist that off-road riding will continue on the rest of the dunes even if the county doesn't sell its property and the lease expires.

With the public hearing on the horizon, here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about the issue, and a description of some of the hot-button issues surrounding it.

Q: When will the Board of Supervisors consider the proposed sale?

A: On Tuesday. The public hearing will be held during the board's afternoon session, which starts at 2 p.m. in the board chambers at 1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

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Q: What will be heard by the supervisors during the public hearing?

A: The supervisors will actually hold two public hearings Tuesday, with the first being a hearing on appeals of the County Planning Commission's determination that the proposed sale doesn't conform with the county's General Plan.

The State Parks Department, David Sousa and David Pinheiro, and the Central Coast Motorcycle Association have all filed appeals of the commission's decision.

After determining whether to uphold or deny the appeals, the supervisors will hold another, separate hearing to decide whether to sell the dunes land. The two decisions aren't mutually exclusive.

“If they don't find (the sale) in conformity, they can still sell it or vice versa - if they find it's in conformity, they can vote to not sell it,” said Matt Janssen, county planner.

Q: How many votes are needed to sell the property?

A: The supervisors need a four-fifths vote. If that doesn't happen, the proposed sale can't move forward. They need just a simple majority - three votes - to decide not to sell the property or renew the lease.

“It could sit right there and die (if they don't get a four-fifths vote) ... they will then be left with the decision of what to do next,” Janssen explained, adding that the supervisors could also vote to extend the lease.

Q: What is State Parks proposing?

A: The agency has made an offer to buy 283 acres of the property for $2.35 million, with escrow closing Oct. 1, and an option to purchase the remaining 301 acres for $2.45 million, with escrow closing March 31, 2008, according to Linda Van Fleet, county associate real property agent.

According to the state's proposal, not all of the property would be used for off-highway vehicle recreation and camping. Some of it would be designated as preserve areas.

Q: Where is the La Grande Beach Tract and how much of the Oceano Dunes SVRA does it comprise?

A: The tract is basically landlocked, bounded by State Parks property to the north, south and west and by private property to the east.

It borders the Pismo Dunes Natural Preserve and goes south for about one mile. About 38 percent of the existing open riding area in the park is located inside the tract.

Q: What happens if the county chooses not to sell the property or renew the lease?

A: The La Grande Beach Tract was recorded in 1905 as a subdivision tract that still has 42 privately owned parcels within the 584 acres.

If the county chose to keep vehicles off its property (the La Grande Beach Tract), the restriction would have to be enforced somehow, Van Fleet said.

Because of the privately owned parcels in the tract, the county has to keep access - streets and alleyways - open to the parcels, some of which are owned by State Parks.

“Basically that means we'd have to fence off each parcel,” Van Fleet explained. “That would be very, very difficult. I'd say that's highly impractical.”

Q: Would the Oceano Dunes SVRA close if the county doesn't sell the property or renew the lease?

A: No. The existing riding area might shrink, but as long as State Parks is mandated with providing off-highway vehicle recreation opportunities, the SVRA will be managed as such, according to Andrew Zilke, Oceano Dunes SVRA superintendent.

“(Closure of the park) is a projection that's based on history,” Zilke said. “OHV recreation is under attack everywhere ... (but) the future of the OHV program is pretty solid, I think.”

Q: Is there enough time to renew the current lease before it expires?

A: Yes. The current 25-year lease doesn't expire for another 14 months, and Van Fleet said with a year's notice there would be more than enough time to negotiate another lease with State Parks.

Q: How much revenue does the Oceano Dunes SVRA generate for the local economy?

A: It's conservatively estimated the off-road park, its 140 employees and the 2 million annual users generate more than $200 million in local revenue yearly.

Q: How much revenue does the South County see from use and operation of Oceano Dunes SVRA?

A: It's not known because there's never been an economic study breaking out the local revenue generated by the off-road park and its users by community.

But Cal Poly is developing such a study that's expected to be released this summer.

Q: Have any local cities or special districts taken a stand on the proposed sale?

A: Yes. The Grover Beach and Pismo Beach city councils voted unanimously to support the proposed sale, while the Arroyo Grande City Council opted to remain neutral on the issue.

The Oceano Community Services District directors voted unanimously against the sale.

The South County Advisory Council voted to oppose the sale and recommend the Board of Supervisors extend the current lease with State Parks for another five years.

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

April 13, 2007