As a concerned lifelong resident of Oceano, I perceive a disparity in the treatment and resources allocated to our community compared to other oceanfront towns.
Specifically, using 60 acres of our precious coastal land for an airport is frivolous and unfair to our community. I believe that this property holds immense potential for the benefit of our community at large, and not just for the few mostly nonresident, wealthy individuals who can afford to use the airport.
That land could be used for senior housing, designated tourist parking spaces to alleviate congestion at the beachfront, and walking/biking trails for the enjoyment and health of our residents and visitors.
Senior and low-income housing is a pressing need in our town. Repurposing some of the airport acreage for such use would address this demand and foster a stronger sense of community by catering to the needs of our elderly residents. Placing tourist parking facilities would enhance pedestrian access to our beachfront and its businesses thus contributing to the economic growth of our town. Well-maintained walking/biking trails in those 60 acres would promote an active and healthy lifestyle among our residents and showcase the natural beauty of our town to visitors, thereby boosting tourism.
I believe that most of the airport property should be restored to its natural state and some of it to benefit the citizens of Oceano.
Christina Casillas
Oceano
This article appears in Jan 25 – Feb 4, 2024.
I would think twice about “Repurposing some of the airport acreage for such use would address this demand and foster a stronger sense of community by catering to the needs of our elderly residents.” NO,NO, NO…
That airport is contaminated. Folks who live in the house directly across from the park and airport, especially the first building facing the airport. These parents had children born with rare disorders. People have to wake up and go look at the water board papers for the last 30 years. Deep dive into this information. Demand water quality testing from an independent source. I have mentioned this before, yet the community didn’t want to believe it.
Gag orders were signed by parents. They were told not to tell the public about what happened to their family when living across from the airport. I’m talking about Ocean Airport, not SLO. However, Both airports have contamination in the groundwater and wells. Just from the mere fact of years of gas spilling on the runways.
The difference between Ocean, and SLO is the homes are too close to the airport. Look up the EWG zip code lookup in that area if you don’t believe me. Ask that the city bring in an independent tester from the EPA or make the complaint yourself.
Kim, I’d be interested in learning more. Small planes still use lead or low lead fuel.
Kim, I believe you. The more good reasons for shutting down the Oceano airport and restore the land to its natural habitat.
The Cal Poly Oceano community land use preference survey completed in 2022 documented that 44% of Oceano residents oppose having the airport; 32% have no opinion about it; and only 22% support it. These numbers are based on the most accurate survey ever done in Oceano.
I took that survey and it was totally rigged to come out against the airport. the dude that put it together was all into grabbin the land for development which I can get cuz I wanna be rich too. But why not ask the question , “do I want the rail road tracks or not?” I dont want the rail road tracks. Lets do that!
Now that I think bout it, how sick would it be to take out the rail spur from oceano to slo town?? Make it a walking bike trail!
Mr. Varni, Did the very skewed survey say for what reason people opposed the airport?
Hey Jack, why stop at SLO. Why not take it out from Santa Barbara to Oakland. While you’re at it take out 101 from Santa Maria to Paso and make it for horses and wagons only. And pave over all the local farm land and erect low cost housing along with a park or two to appease Varni.
Kim, the airport has been there for something like 75 years now. Now, do you think those houses were there when the airport was built? The reason the area has been developed is because of the of the location and the people who have built there know the airport is there and that small aircraft will fly in and out of the airport. It’s not the airports’ fault that people have built around the airport. If you don’t like earthquakes don’t build close to on a fault line. Also, you said “Both airports have contamination in the groundwater and wells. Just from the mere fact of years of gas spilling on the runways”. Please tell us how gas is getting spilled on the runways. This ought to be interesting. Can and would produce a authentic copy of some of the gag order paper you talked about. I knew one person who owned a house next to the airport so he and his family could fly in and have a place to stay.
Hey Kim, the back of my house lot backs up to 13th St here in Oceano. Today I was out working in the garden and a large size diesel truck drove by and the exhaust from the truck blew in my yard. There are large semi’s and big rights that drive by a number of times each day. Plus just several hundred feet away is Pike Lane where there is a dozen of auto repair shops along with an RV repair shop, and a construction company with many large pieces of earth moving equipment stored there in their yard. When I built my house, I knew 13th St was a bustily used road and there would be noise and some possible air pollution, but I accepted these, and I have lived with it. On my block there are 10 houses that back up to 13th St. and we all experience the noise from the daily traffic. Maybe we should start getting the SLO County thinking about closing 13th St. even though it was here long before we were.