Land Conservancy delays Pismo Preserve opening until 2018

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has delayed the opening of its Pismo Preserve to the general public to late 2018. It had originally planned to open the preserve this fall.

The reason for the delay: The conservancy encountered unanticipated planning code and environmental requirements to construct amenities in the park that will make it safe and ready for the public, including installation of sidewalks and a retaining wall in the preserve’s main parking lot and restrooms off Mattie Road in Pismo Beach. A mile-long handicapped-accessible trail also is planned.

These improvements are estimated to cost $4.8 million to complete, in addition to the $12 million that was raised to buy the property in 2014.

Funding is expected to come from state and local governments, family foundations and in-kind services from contractors and suppliers.

“While the Land Conservancy would love to open the preserve tomorrow, we have an obligation to all stakeholders to do this right, and we will not proceed with a project that does not meet all the needs of the community, the needs of the land and the requirements of environmental law,” said Kaila Dettman, the conservancy’s executive director.

The conservancy also has encountered significant Native American cultural resources that need to be protected.

“You have to move more slowly and carefully than if there were no cultural resources to protect,” Dettman said.

Meanwhile, the conservancy is finalizing plans to give the public limited, docent-led access to the preserve in the form of hikes and equestrian and mountain bike rides. This access should be available by the end of the year.

A new volunteer docent program was developed this spring, forming the foundation for these docent-led hikes and mountain bike rides.

As early as next spring, the conservancy will host occasional “open days” during which visitors can register, sign in at the entrance, explore the preserve without a docent and sign out when leaving.

“The public will have opportunities to get out on the preserve,” said Jim Patterson of Atascadero, a conservancy board member and former county supervisor. “We just can’t open completely until some additional construction issues get taken care of.”

Since the preserve was acquired in 2014, more than 230 volunteers have built 11 miles of trails in addition to an existing 10 miles of ranch roads.

“Many exciting milestones have been reached, but the preserve is not yet ready for full and open public use,” Dettman said.

The 900-acre Pismo Preserve is located in the hills behind Pismo Beach and Shell Beach. It was purchased after a whirlwind fundraising effort.

The $12 million needed to purchase the property was provided by state, local and regional government agencies. The community also raised $1.3 million.

State and local officials have called the conservation of the preserve a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and expect it will be a highly popular recreational resource once it opens.

This story was originally published August 29, 2016 at 8:56 PM with the headline "Land Conservancy delays Pismo Preserve opening until 2018."