March 17 Meeting Will Discuss Unsolicited Bid

Oceano County Airport (L52) is the target of Jeff Edwards, a CA land planner and local developer that is organizing a meeting to discuss closing the airport.  Edwards claims that new commercial and private businesses on the 58-acre site would benefit the local area more than the existing airfield.

The airport, which is 15 miles south of San Luis Obispo, CA, is owned and managed by the county.  The small airfield averages about 27 operations per day on the uncontrolled 2300-ft runway.

"I'm a private land planner, and I see enormous potential for this property," Edwards told local paper the San Luis Obispo Tribune. "This property would represent a significant cash flow to the county if they were to close the airport and lease it for development."

Edwards envisions a variety of real estate deals that could occupy the land, including senior housing and a new community town center.  Local pilots are concerned about the plan and the impact to tourism with fewer GA operations in the area.

"All us local people use that airport to buy fuel," Grover Beach resident Mitch Latting told the paper. "Oceano is not only a local airport, but it is a favorite spot for California people to come."

According to local officials, no one but Edwards is pursuing the redevelopment of the airport property.  In fact, the airport has received $2.3 million from the FAA for upgrades over the last nine years and is currently applying for another $450,000 grant to allow the improvements to begin.

"There are certain parties that want you to believe that nothing happens down there and you hear crickets all day, and that's not true," said Richard Howell, the airport's general manager. "We're ready to spend some time sprucing it up, but by no stretch of the imagination is it obsolete."

The airport's five commercial tenants and the owners of the 14 stored aircraft will be able to voice their opinions along with other community members at a March 17 meeting being organized independently by Edwards.  The meeting will take place at 5 pm at the Rabobank in Grover Beach.

FMI: www.oceanoairport.com