2015/February

The February hearing was held in Pismo Beach. A few items on the agenda spurred much debate including the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area CDP. State Parks and other resource agencies have been struggling with management and use of area to settle conflicts between recreational uses and protection of sensitive resources. The Commission also heard an item to “re-start’ the Santa Barbara Desalination plant. The plant was built in the 1990s and was shut down shortly after because the drought has subsided and the plant was not deemed necessary. While the item was considered ‘repair of an existing structure’ many concerned citizens expressed apprehensions about impacts to the marine environment when the plant is started up again.