After a 12-hour virtual meeting, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously late Thursday to ban off highway vehicles on the Oceano Dunes beginning in three years, 2024.
They had initially planned to ban the use of off road vehicles beginning in five years, but narrowed it down to three before the ban goes into effect. More than 150 people testified in a meeting which lasted into the evening Thursday. And it became contentious.
Mark Gold is the Natural Resource Management Agency secretary. He was not happy with the Coastal Commission. The commissioners, who come from coastal areas throughout the state, voted unanimously to ban off road vehicle use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in three years. They repeatedly sited health hazards to those who live near the dunes. They said environmental laws are trying to preserve the dunes. Commissioner Dayna Bocho, said off road vehicles don’t fit into the preservation plan.
Dayna Bocho is from Napa Valley. Her late husband produced TV shows such as Doogie Howser MD, NYPD and LA Law. Last year, she sold their 47-acre house in Oakville, near the Opus One Winery. The price, $8.5 million dollars. The French country home was built in 2002. It’s 5,600 square feet. She says she and her husband would visit almost once a month and spent 3-4 days there. She says, and I quote, “It was a place to chill out.” Her husband died in 2018 of leukemia.
Dr. Caryl Hart said she’s concerned about the children who live near the dunes. In November, last year, she was named interim manager of Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space District. The Sonoma County gazette published a picture of Dr. Hart in a rangers cap, superimposed on the background of a beautiful wilderness area.
Although she has a doctorate in philosophy, not a medical degree, she talked about health issues facing children who live near the dunes. She says the health risk is very serious.
After a 12 hour meeting Thursday, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to ban off road vehicles in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area beginning in three years.
