An outsider’s take on Dan De Vaul

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• De Vaul may lose control of his ranch

  De Vaul may lose control of his ranch

  San Luis Obispo rancher Dan De Vaul, who has long been at odds with the county over housing homeless people on his ranch, is on the brink of losing custodianship of his property because he hasn’t complied with county codes, according to lawyers for the county.

• De Vaul told to prove his claims of benefits

  De Vaul told to prove his claims of benefits

  If San Luis Obispo rancher Dan De Vaul wants fees waived on his proposals for expanding his sober-living facility, he must prove to county supervisors that he is indeed providing the service he claims to be providing.

  Supervisors, who over the years have expressed irritation, anger and weariness in their interactions with the irascible — and, some say, intractable — De Vaul, on Tuesday demonstrated outright mistrust.

  At a hearing during which De Vaul was seeking fee waivers on improvements he wants to make at his 72-acre ranch and sober-living facility at 10660 Los Osos Valley Road, supervisors questioned him closely about the services he gives.

• Letters to the Editor, Nov. 6

  Letters to the Editor, Nov. 6

  People’s agenda is simple

  I’m sick and tired of listening to what the media and politicians are feeding us. “We the people,” the 99 percent, have our own agenda and it’s really basic:

  1. Housing: fair and affordable (mortgages and rents);

• Whether Dan De Vaul's property will be overseen by receiver is now up to judge

  Whether Dan De Vaul's property will be overseen by receiver is now up to judge

  Whether to appoint a receiver to oversee the property that houses controversial San Luis Obispo rancher Dan De Vaul’s sober-living program will now be decided by a judge.

  But after the conclusion of a hearing amidst a lawsuit Monday between De Vaul and the county, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Charles S. Crandall said he didn’t know when he might make a ruling about the appointment of a receiver who would ensure De Vaul is complying with building and safety laws.

  De Vaul says he can’t afford the cost of a receiver and fears losing his 72-acre Sunny Acres ranch on Los Osos Valley Road to foreclosure. De Vaul operates his sober living program there.

• Dan De Vaul's Sunny Acres will be overseen by a receiver, judge rules

  Dan De Vaul's Sunny Acres will be overseen by a receiver, judge rules

  A receiver has been appointed by Superior Court Judge Charles S. Crandall to oversee code compliance at the San Luis Obispo ranch owned by Dan De Vaul, who runs a sober-living facility on the property.

  Crandall issued his ruling Friday, sharply rebuking De Vaul’s contention that he has been trying to bring his facilities and living conditions up to code at the ranch called Sunny Acres. The order appoints David J. Pasternak as receiver and takes effect immediately.

  “Although Sunny Acres claims there is no longer any health and safety emergency, this argument is meritless,” Crandall wrote. “The best way to gauge the future is by examining past history. Given what has transpired so far, the court can reasonably expect that illegal human habitation will recur once the county inspections cease.”