An appeals court rejected a state effort to phase out controversial off-road vehicle use at a Central Coast state park.
People have been using dune buggies and other off-road vehicles at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreational Area for decades. Environmentalists have been trying to get the ORV area closed for years, citing damage the vehicles caused to the beach and dunes.
The State Coastal Commission approved a plan to phase out the off-road vehicles. But a coalition of boosters filed suit to try to block the shutdown.
The Second District Court of Appeals ruled this week that the Commission can restrict the vehicles, but lacks the authority to completely shut it down. The ruling says that decision falls with San Luis Obispo County.
Off-road vehicles are currently allowed under the county’s local coastal program, which was certified by the Coastal Commission years ago.
