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SLO County inspecting Sunny Acres amid new spat with Dan DeVaul

June 23, 2021

Sunny Acres in 2013 and in 2021

Eight years after San Luis Obispo rancher Dan DeVaul reached an agreement with SLO County over the operation of his Sunny Acres sober living facility, county code enforcers are set to inspect DeVaul’s property Wednesday in responce to a new batch of alleged violations. [Tribune]

Amid a previous spat between the county and DeVaul, a 2011 order from a local judge forced the rancher to evict effectively homeless individuals who were deemed to have been staying in non-code compliant structures. Sunny Acres later went into receivership, and then in 2013, DeVaul and the county entered into a stipulated agreement requiring the rancher to comply with various regulations in order to continue his operation.

In recent months, neighbors made complaints to the county about DeVaul’s 72-acre ranch, which lies on the outskirts of San Luis Obispo. DeVaul’s ranch houses and provides sober-living services to dozens of low-income residents, many of whom could otherwise face homelessness.

On Friday, the county obtained a civil inspection warrant. Now, with county officials alleging new code violations, enforcement officers are planning on entering DeVaul’s property Wednesday morning to conduct an inspection.

Last month, a county official penned a letter to DeVaul stating it is suspected individuals are living in non-permitted structures on his property. It has also been reported that individuals are conducting non-permitted dumping and grading activity on the ranch near wetlands and Laguna Lake, the county stated.

“Unfortunately, the health and safety situation on your property appears to have gotten worse since 2013, not better,” code enforcement supervisor Jill Coomer wrote in a May 25 letter to DeVaul. “Because of the significant public health and safety concerns regarding your property, which are just as true today as they were in 2013, the county must take action to remedy the situation, hopefully through your voluntary compliance.”

Under the terms of the 2013 agreement, DeVaul is prohibited from allowing individuals to live in non-permitted structures, sheds and RVs, and he must keep the property free from land use, building and health and safety violations, Coomer wrote in the letter. Sunny Acres has been unable to obtain necessary permits from SLO County Environmental Health, and it cannot be certified by the state because of poor water quality.

Additionally, the county has received complaints about storage being trucked onto the property and dirt being dumped in excess of the allowable 2,000 cubic yards. A preliminary investigation conducted by the county revealed the amount of dumping and grading that has occurred over the past year is well in excess of that amount, Coomer stated.

The Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Army Corp of Engineers have also expressed concerns over the dumping and its proximity to wetlands and Laguna Lake, Coomer wrote.

SLO County’s investigation into the dumping led to the discovery of individuals living in non-permitted structures and that the amount of storage has significantly increased since 2013, the county alleges.

On Monday, DeVaul said he is currently out of town and will not be at the ranch on Wednesday. But, no one is going to try to stop the code enforcement officers from entering the property, DeVaul said.

County code enforcement is unnecessary, and he is willing to work with officials, DeVaul said. He has to readjust what he is doing, and he willing to do that, the rancher said.

DeVaul said he has been trucking in dirt that is better for agriculture than the ranch’s soil, and he hired a biologist and a consultant to ensure regulatory compliance related to the nearby wetlands. He has not put one spoonful of dirt on the wetlands, DeVaul said.

Sunny Acres has been unable to get potable water to the newer sober-living building because of a holdup in the permitting process, DeVaul said. Instead, residents have been using bottled water at the facility.

In a June 9 response to the county, Mallory Miller, of Atascadero-based Tiger Legal and Consulting, wrote DeVaul intends to be cooperative in resolving the county’s concerns, but the issues in Coomer’s letter are unfounded speculations that do not rise to the level of probable cause for a search warrant.


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Build it and they will come,


SLO County’s answer to the Homeless,

–After only four months, El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) Paso Robles has exceeded its opening goals at the new facility located in the former Motel 6 at 1134 Black Oak Drive in Paso Robles. More than 274 people, including 27 children, utilized the overnight shelter and ECHO services in the first four months.Apr 16, 2021 https://pasoroblespress.com/news/escrow-closes-on-motel-6-in-paso-robles/


12

The county won’t allow people to live in RV’s or non-permitted structures on Dan’s private property, but they are ok with people living in RV’s and non-permitted structures on our public property? The county can kicks rocks.


42

Aside from the county hindering the permit for water, I can see the big houses across the road having some nimby attitudes. If they shut him down(?) How long before the property gets developed into houses. Is this another attempt to try to steal his land?


32

Not to mention, the ranch has been there many many moons before Laguna was developed.


9

Maybe Jill Coomer could offer to let some of the residents stay at her $million dollar property in Grover Beach?


21

The lack of public restrooms downtown has people defecating on the streets and sidewalks in San Luis Obispo. That is the real public health hazard and this is what the Sunny Acres naysayers should address, while Sunny Acres continuously transforms to meet the public need. A day without Sunny Acres is a rather large fresh new pile of health hazard in the center of town. Sure, Dan is an odd duck with his feral ways, but he is saving lives and continues to provide an option to those who want a hand up. Help yourself to a dish of generosity and jump in with your piece of solution not hindrance. If not everyone, most have a family member that needs a hand up.


85

Well said Jorge.


9

The county wants to own this property …sunny acres has always been an eyesore and has drawn negativity for bringing poor people to live in a community setting ….20 years ago there was a similar farm setup south of morro bay ran like a co-op commune it eventually was shut down by the county due to the value of the land. There is counties in Nevada with populations of 6 to 8k people …that every year has possession of 9k properties with unpaid property taxes due to property tax rate of 3.3% and those counties won’t drop the rate to help out its property owners so the county gobbles them up and the commissioners who run the tax sale auctions are the largest buyers some of the commissioners own 7 corporations that buy up interconnecting properties at the tax sales …If SLO county wants this property they will get it ,Dan does have some relatives with deep pockets which could possibly help Dan or be his demise if his family steps in for a big dollar land sale


16

Roandoak was a pure form of hippy style communism, that utterly failed, as all forms of communism/socialism do. Goodwin has since resorted to charging residents to stay there, because love and diversity wasn’t paying any bills, or providing any food.


Not going to mention the raw sewage problems, and tainted ground water…


It’s not shut down yet, but I know the county would love to as soon as possible.


-2

Does Christine Mulholland still live nearby, if so maybe she called in some more favors to get code enforcement involved again, she stirred up trouble the first time around.


27

“Sunny Acres has been unable to get potable water to the newer sober-living building because of a holdup in the permitting process, ”


SHAME on this County! And WHY Pray Tell, is there a holdup in the permitting process? The County’s actions have been discrimitory. Plus There is Zero affect to any of those neighbors to have a Sober living out there. They have done nothing but harrass and discriminate DuVaul. I don’t know the guy. But really They have put him through Hell over the years!


62

Can’t allow people to help other people, without the government telling them how to do it, now can we?


Absolutely shameful position and actions by the city and county, against a man who is has done more for the homeless, emotionally distressed, chemical dependent, and alcoholic, than any government run facility in any SLO county or city so-called homeless shelter.


And, before any of you complain about what isn’t “up to code”, and the county is only enforcing code and safety concerns, remember that the large majority of the people that Dan helps, would be living in the creeks, under bridges, in the parks, on the street, or in your backyard. It seems obvious to anyone else, that a sturdy shelter from the rain or sun, outside the city on private property, where alcohol and drug use is not allowed, is a hell of a lot more safe and compassionate than a city/county run homeless shelter that will refuse many homeless for various reasons, and is hardly a shelter at all when they kick clients out on a timed basis (but don’t worry, shelter admins still get a paycheck).


34
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