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Group launches Oceano vehicle free beach campaign

February 14, 2026

Opinion by Surfrider Foundation, San Luis Obispo

Surfrider Foundation’s San Luis Obispo chapter announced this week the launch of the Oceano vehicle free beach (OVFB) campaign to create a 2.2 mile stretch of vehicle-free beachfront for the community of Oceano.

The campaign’s initial goal is to convince the SLO County Board of Supervisors, California Coastal Commission and State Parks to come together and propose a solution to the problem created more than four decades ago.

In 1982, as part of approving a Coastal Development Permit for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA), the California Coastal Commission designated Grand Avenue in Grover Beach and Pier Avenue in Oceano as temporary access ways to the beach, creating a roadway to the SVRA.

According to Charles Varni, SLO Surfrider chair and Oceano resident, the consequences of these decisions have had major negative impacts on the Oceano community, the two most significant being economic repression and environmental health threats.

“More than 44 years ago a decision was made to temporarily sacrifice the health and safety of the Oceano Beach community so that motor vehicles could access the SVRA,” Varni said. Officials promised that within three years, a new southern entrance to the SVRA would be created and Oceano could have a vehicle-free beach and dunes. We are saying it is time to keep that promise.”

The OVFB campaign has set a deadline of 2030 for the various agencies to have a project and funding in place.

The current status of off road recreation on the dunes and beach of Oceano and the SVRA is unclear. A recent decision in federal court concluded that the vehicle caused deaths of the endangered Snowy Plovers are illegal and violate the Endangered Species Act.

Earlier state court decisions ruled that the Coastal Commission did not have authority to phase out vehicles on the beach and dunes as long as the county’s local coastal plan allows such activity.

The local coastal plan is developed and managed under the authority of the Board of Supervisors on behalf of SLO County residents.

Supporters of the OVFB campaign argue that it will be the key to economic revitalization of the community and that when the local beach is free of vehicles they will be replaced with thousands of visitors seeking lodging, food, and recreation in the town and local communities.

Increased local jobs and property values will benefit the community. The local beach, dunes and Arroyo Grande Creek lagoon environments will become naturally restored and safe for currently threatened flora and fauna.

In 2020, when Oceano’s beach and dunes were closed to vehicles for many months, locals and tourists were able to experience what a vehicle-free beach was like.

New dunes quickly established themselves. Flocks of endangered California Least Terns roosted on the Pier Avenue entrance ramp. Hundreds of people who had stayed away from Oceano Beach because they did not want to compete with vehicles or endanger their families came and enjoyed it for the first time.

In that year, Oceano generated the most tourist taxes for the county in its history.

 


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First, Mr. Varni, have the nerve to put your own name in the byline of this OPINION piece you wrote—one where you quote yourself! Laughable.


Second, where you quote yourself (LOL), you falsely blame lawmakers for “sacrificing the health and safety of Oceano” when they established the SVRA. In reality and as you know, vehicle use of the beach and dunes was long established for many decades before the SVRA created. The legislation authorizing the park also significantly reduced the area open to vehicle use in the dunes—something you conveniently forgot to mention. As for your general “health and safety” claim, we have heard that boy cry wolf before. Recall the flat out lie of silica in PM10 made that the former APCD director Larry Allen. A lie he ultimately admitted to as an intentional “red herring.” You’re just trying to fan those same flames of falsehood hoping the ignorant will come to your side.


Third, you end your screed by making the weirdly worded claim that “Oceano generated the most tourist taxes for the county in its history” when the SVRA was closed in 2020 due to covid. If that is so, Paso Robles would like a word. And I would ask for documentation to back up this vague claim, but I know you have nothing.


Bottom line: If you won’t even put your own name behind this poorly supported opinion piece, why should anyone believe anything you write or say regarding Oceano Dunes?


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The area they want to close is all day use with no OHV allowed. Families post up and enjoy the day swimming, fishing, surfing by the thousands already. OHV travel through this area to get to the dunes where they ride. Beach goers and dune riders are all getting along. Have you ever driven on the beach and seen all the elderly people posted up enjoying the sunset? All the families enjoying a campfire until 10:00 pm? Surfers and fishermen enjoying an evening sesh 1.5 miles down the beach? You want to tell people they can’t do that. Your organization is fighting for less beach access. Since when has Surfrider rallied for hotels, short term rentals, developments? Economy of a town? Money, money, money. FO Surfrider


3

It’s almost like most of these commentators did not read the article. No where does it say that Surfrider is proposing shutdown of the SVRA or preventing people from driving on the beach (except 2.2 miles of it in front of Oceano). 44 years ago when the SVRA was created it was expected to co-exist with an OVFB and Pier Ave was, and still is, a temporary entrance. Here, in a few words, is what we are asking for:


We propose that the State Legislature, California Coastal Commission, the SLO County Board of Supervisors, and the California State Parks come together and create a plan for a Vehicle Free Beach for Oceano by December 2030. These three entities bear a burden of responsibility to find a solution for the problem they created 44 years ago when Pier and Grand Avenues were designated as temporary access routes for vehicles to the beach and State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA). Oceano deserves a Vehicle Free Beach (VFB) to correct the environmental and economic injustice the community has suffered for more than four decades. We propose a 2.2 mile VFB starting 3/10th of a mile North of Pier Avenue and ending 1.9 miles South of Pier Avenue at Pole 4, boundary of the Oceano Dunes Preserve.


This process will unfold over the next few years with plenty of opportunities for public discussion. Go to the website for more information and FACTS, https://slo.surfrider.org/oceano-vehicle-free-beach


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Oh no- everybody read and understands your plan. It’s as if you don’t listen to commenters.


9

When I was a kid you could drive onto the beach on the south side of the Pismo parking lot, near the carnival rides, all the way to mussel point if the tide was right. We would take our .22’s and shoot between Pismo and Grand Ave ramp. It was also a great place to teach a child to drive.

Fond memories.


8

The old wood ramps! One at Stimpson and one at Pier Ave. Not many people remember that. Devil’s Slide too! Good memories. I gaurentee kids enjoying the OHV area with their families will have same good memories and hopefully carry on the tradition. Stop trying to break cool generational experiences bureaucrats. I hate golf courses and wineries, not gonna try to ban them. I respect your quest for joy. Respect our small slice of heaven on earth. Suck it surfrider foundation. Go golf cause you dont deserve to surf here.


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