As the 3rd District supervisor, I take seriously all concerns raised by constituents. I understand how unsettling it can be when activity near your home raises questions, especially when it involves truck traffic, soil movement, and land use permits. Transparency and community trust are foundational to my work and to the work of our county staff.
That said, it is important to separate speculation from facts.
A recent letter submitted by a homeowner questioned a valid agricultural grading permit (“We are not OK with what’s happening on Orcutt Road,” April 10). This permit has been issued to the same landowner since 2010. The site is not operating as a commercial landfill. Our Environmental Planning and Planning and Building teams have conducted site inspections and held multiple conversations with both the reporting party and the property owner. These inspections have no current violations, nor did they find evidence of toxic materials being deposited on the land. Rather, excess soil from a nearby construction site is being used to rebuild soil on this property. Proper removal and import of soil is a highly regulated process.
The current activities are legal and under the scope of current county regulations. I agree that monitoring and enforcement must be consistent and thorough. That’s why our team remains committed to carefully reviewing any future permit applications associated with this property.
Community feedback has always played a vital role in how we shape local policy. I encourage residents to continue reaching out, asking questions, and participating in public processes. I remain committed to ensuring that every action taken by my office and our county departments meet the standards of accountability and care that our communities deserve.
Dawn Ortiz-Legg
3rd District supervisor
SLO County
This article appears in Apr 24 – May 4, 2025.
San Luis Obispo County is a great place to escape the chaos of the big city — wide open spaces, slower pace, maybe even a chicken or two in the yard. It’s the dream, right?
But here’s the kicker: you don’t get to move across the road from a “rural” area and then act shocked when it’s… rural. Buying a house next to open land and then throwing a fit when someone uses it legally — like bringing in fill dirt — is peak entitlement. It’s like moving in next to a concert venue and asking for silence or buying next to the airport and whining about airplanes. Sorry, but the world doesn’t revolve around your vision of tranquility.
This is the Central Coast, not a curated resort brochure. And yet, more and more newcomers seem to think they’ve arrived at a theme park where nothing is supposed to change — ever. They want all the country charm with none of the actual country.
Newsflash: you don’t get to slam the door shut behind you and act all NIMBY. Coexistence isn’t optional; it’s how this place works. If your concept of “living the dream” involves controlling everything around you, maybe the countryside isn’t the right fit. Maybe move back to a gated community with an aggressive HOA in the big city. Sheesh…
Nice letter Supervisor.
Maybe the complainant will look around their own neighborhood and see that the homes on Hansen Lane are littered with broken cars, inoperable heavy machinery, degrading plastic scrap material, construction waste, and just general junk. Pretty sure those homes don’t have permits for those things, but sure, the permitted ag operation is the problem…