Earlier this year, Los Osos developer Jeff Edwards made a pitch in front of the San Luis Obispo County supervisors that was so bizarrely outlandish that, months later, many are still scratching their heads. Despite mountains of bureaucratic and public opposition, Edwards proposes closing the Oceano Airport and redeveloping it for residential and commercial use.
So far, it’s no more than a pipe dream.
“It is not for sale,” Supervisor Katcho Achadjian told a riled crowd of pilots on March 2. “I’d like to repeat that as many times as I may today. Nor is the county interested in closing or redeveloping the real estate associated with the airport.”
Other supervisors echoed Achadjian’s words. Case closed—it seemed.
A week later, Edwards was back, and then again on March 23, April 13, and April 27. Since that first pitch, Edwards has held two public meetings, bringing in “experts,” and hosting discussions on possibilities for reforming the airport into a vibrant town center in Oceano.
Many experts, however, believe Edwards’ project is mired in a perpetual no-fly zone.
SLO County Airport Manager Richard Howell remembered converting about a half-acre of land from the SLO Airport to a nearby sanitary district took about 10 years; the Oceano Airport is 59 acres.
“It’s not going to happen,” Howell said of Edwards’ proposal. “I really don’t know what he’s up to.”
Yet Edwards remains resilient as ever, despite his critics.
“Why am I persisting?” he told the Sun. “Because I haven’t heard of one reason yet, other than those advanced by the pilots, why this isn’t a good idea.”
Another meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18 at the Filipino Community Center in Grover Beach to outline ecological issues. It’s uncertain, however, how these meetings and other aspects of Edwards’ crusade are being financed. A three-hour slot at the Filipino Community Center costs $200, for example.
According to county records, Edwards filed for bankruptcy in early 2008 and has faced other financial troubles. Still, he acts as though he’s had an epiphany about the airport and is just waiting for others to catch up.
“It’s a really nifty situation in terms of its potential,” he said. “What the Oceano Airport does for the community right now pales by comparison to what the economic engine that a mixed-use development down there would do. I mean, it’s not even on the same planet.”
What potential does the land hold? According to Edwards’ rough plans, the land could be converted to accommodate two hotels, multiple-family housing units, commercial components, and senior housing.
Edwards estimates—with the political will backing him—he could begin a project in three to five years. That may be overly optimistic. According to Steven Taber of the law firm Chevalier, Allen, & Lichman, closing the Rialto Airport in San Bernardino took five years, “and it took special legislation to close it.”
Taber practices aviation and airport law in Costa Mesa and has a background on the process surrounding airport closures. In fact, Edwards invited Taber to speak at the first public meeting.
Closure becomes particularly difficult, Taber said, if an airport has accepted funds from the FAA, which Oceano has, to the tune of about $2.3 million.
“Once you accept grant money from the FAA, the FAA owns your soul,” Taber quipped, meaning the FAA has to give permission for the closure.
He added that airport closures are usually made when an airport is a financial wasteland for administrators and the community is in full support.
Edwards maintains that there is community support, but it has been buried beneath protests of angry pilots who picketed the last public meeting.
“Over time, I think it’s going to be recognized as a key infill or strategic growth location,” he said.
This article appears in Jun 17-24, 2010.