Staff’s report shows that Staging for Equestrians and Off Highway Vehicles has been recognized as a local priority for over 30 years. The City of Grover Beach and State Parks built this into their plan for their Beach Hotel & Conference Center.

The Joint Authority proposed a site that is the least environmentally invasive and safest choice.

The Staging Area was located next to the trailhead. This area, next to the restrooms, is littered and desecrated by years of trampling through the almost entirely non-native ice plant and dune grass. The area was located mostly in the Grand Avenue Right Of Way, which by rights should be available for parking, drop off, and staging.

The JA Proposed to Restore the Area The area is criss crossed by multiple tracks. The JA proposed creating one trailhead and one trail, eliminating the trampling of plants. The JA proposed restoring 4 acres of dunes surrounding the site. These dunes are currently overgrown with non-native dune grass and ice plant.

In April 2015 the Coastal Commission Denied the JA Proposal The Coastal Commission said the equestrian area should be located in the hotel parking lot. These are incompatible uses, contrary to any of the agencies’ codes and clearly unsafe as tourists with luggage and families attempt to unload alongside horses. Horses will have to cross the busy hotel, conference center and beach access road to reach the trail head.

Since 2013 the Joint Authority has Worked with the County to locate Alternate Sites To date, the county has not been able to provide a site. The sites considered all involve access along the Arroyo Grande Creek Levy and cross private property to access the beach. Sites on State Land are all West Of Hwy 1 and considered ESHA making them unavailable for staging. The site proposed is the best possible site.

The Dotted Lines are the Dunes to Be Restored Dunes to be Restored Staging Area

Hotel Parking Proposed Staging Area Grand Avenue HIGHWAYHIGHWAY ONEONE

In light of this new information, please take this opportunity to reconsider your previous decision. Please at least go see the site for yourselves so you understand why we locals have designated this as the least invasive site.