Press

April 12th, 2010, Times Press Recorder

Dog park proposed for Shell Beach

With the creation of a successful dog park in Arroyo Grande under its belt, the Five Cities Dog Park Association is looking to develop a similar area in a neighboring community.

Association members and the Pismo Beach Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission believe the ideal spot for canines to run and play off-leash exists in Shell Beach, on an empty lot on Shell Beach Road near Silver Shoals Drive.

The commission looked at more than five sites, including areas at Dinosaur Caves, Chumash and Highland parks, for a location to create a future dog park before recommending the Shell Beach site.

The Dog Park Association approached the commission about establishing a playground for canines in Pismo Beach.

“This was the one site that we all agreed would be the perfect site if Pismo had a dog park,” Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commissioner Marcia Guthrie told the council Tuesday during a joint meeting of the two bodies.

The meeting was held for the council to listen to a presentation on the proposal, take public comment and give feedback to the commission and association members, who have formed a Pismo Beach Dog Park subcommittee.

The proposed site on Shell Beach Road is city-owned property that’s adjacent to a private residence, owned by the January family, whose members don’t favor having a group of dogs as neighbors.

The more than one-acre lot proposed for the park sits less than 50 feet away from the January’s balcony, where the family often dines.

Ryan January said his family is opposed to the proposed dog park for a multitude of reasons, including the loss of open space and wildlife that they now enjoy.

“A five-foot-tall cyclone fence will definitely change the zoning of the property,” January said. “We will replace our open-space views with dogs barking and relieving themselves ... and always have the smell of waste.”

Others who live near the proposed site agreed there could be potential issues with the proximity of the dog park to the residence, but also said the issues could be mitigated by moving the area farther away from the January home.

“This is a good use of the property for a dog park,” said Mike Spangler who lives on Sliver Shoals Drive.

The Dog Park Association has suggested using chain-link fencing at the site to keep the dogs contained to a specific area.

Most dog parks are fenced and have two separate areas — one area for small dogs and another for large dogs. The areas also don’t usually smell and aren’t noisy, according to members of the Dog Park Association.

The Shell Beach property proposed for the off-leash park is zoned open space, which allows for the development of dog parks as a recreational use.

The association estimates it would cost about $20,000 to $40,000 to develop such a park at the Shell Beach site. It has committed to raising half of the funds and would like the city to match the remaining amount.

The council was in favor of the park concept somewhere in the city but wants to know whether the proposed Shell Beach site is a viable spot before moving forward. It also wants more feedback on the idea from residents.

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