Off-Highway Vehicle recreation will be staying in business in Oceano
OCEANO, Calif. - A long running debate about off-road vehicles at the Oceano Dunes could at last be settled.
The community seems to mostly favor the court’s decision.
Locals say this is the primary tourist attraction for Oceano, and most are happy it will be staying around.
On Monday, Friends of Oceano Dunes saw victory when an appeals court ruled in their favor, stating the California Coastal Commission exceeded its authority in banning off-roading, also known as Off Highway Vehicles, or OHV.
“This is great news for the public that enjoys working out there. Great news for the businesses and people around the park that benefit from this,” says Jim Suty, Friends of Oceano Dunes president.
Dune buggies first began appearing in Oceano in the 1960s, but the vast expanse of the dunes has been used for car meets and sand races as well.
“We enjoyed an 18,000 acres of sand dunes to recreate up. In 1982, it closed down to 1500 acres. And those who oppose this still say that's not enough and they want more. They want to just outright close and ban this,” says Suty.
One study found visitors to the dunes generate approximately $500 million in annual economic impact, and off-roading is one of the main attractions for visitors.
“That's a huge amount of money. And for the businesses around there and the trickle down, that is the taxes going to the roads and the buildings and the hospitals and everything else that supports the community at large,” says Suty.
Off-roading has faced opposition over the years from people concerned about traffic, noise, pollution and dust.
“There's always been a contentious debate regarding use of dunes by those who love and enjoy it and those who are opposed to it. And this has been going on for decades, and those who oppose this form of recreation will cite many different things from noise to endangered species,” says Suty.
A full ban would require legislation to change the wording in the certified Local Coastal Plan, and the power to do that rests with the county.
We reached out to the California Coastal Commission.
They say they are reviewing the ruling and declined to comment at this time.
