A crowd of individuals confirmed as much as ask the Oceanside Metropolis Council for a canine seashore final week, however the council wouldn’t chew.
Supporters of the concept, many sporting T-shirts that mentioned “Unleash My Seaside,” outnumbered opponents by about 2-to-1, however the council and Oceanside Metropolis Supervisor Jonathan Borrego made it clear there have been lengthy odds on approval.
Environmental research of issues like the consequences on sand and water high quality would value $150,000, California Coastal Fee approval could be wanted, and the method might take two years, Borrego mentioned. Upkeep in all probability would value town $20,000 yearly.
Canine homeowners mentioned they drive to Del Mar, Orange County or farther to let their pets off their leashes to run on the seashore. Usually the homeowners enhance the native economic system by procuring and shopping for lunch whereas away. A canine seashore in Oceanside would hold canine-loving households and their {dollars} on the town and add one other vacationer attraction.
“We’re a seashore neighborhood, we want a canine seashore,” mentioned Moss Rosen, a founding father of the group Oceanside Canine Seaside.
Opponents, some sporting “No Canine Seaside” shirts, mentioned Oceanside has practically 4 miles of seashore, however little to spare. Greater than half of the seashore is slender, rocky and lined by the tides more often than not.
The one extensive, sandy space is close to the harbor. It shouldn’t be shared with canines that pee, poop and generally struggle the place younger youngsters play within the sand, the opponents mentioned.
Canine lovers final went to the Oceanside council lower than a yr in the past, in December 2021. The Metropolis Council then requested metropolis staffers to look into the concept, together with creating an inland canine park, however nothing has occurred since then.
Councilmembers Kori Jensen and Christopher Rodriguez positioned the canine seashore proposal on Wednesday’s council agenda for one more dialogue.
“I see solely alternative on this,” Rodriguez mentioned, and he advised a trial interval with restricted hours every day on the north finish of the seashore close to the harbor.
“This might improve high quality of life for Oceanside residents in a communal means with our pets,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, the council majority opposed the concept. A movement by Jensen died for lack of a second.
“I favor a canine seashore, however not there,” mentioned Councilmember Ryan Keim. “Now we have a playground close by … that is going to be extraordinarily difficult. I don’t suppose it’s possible.”
The world will get a number of guests yr spherical, he mentioned, and moms typically stroll by the seashore pushing strollers. Additionally, whereas some pet homeowners are accountable, not everybody picks up after their animals, and it’s tough, if not unattainable, to scrub up a canine’s urine.
“At north jetty, it’s absolutely the flawed location,” Keim mentioned.
A bunch known as Pals of Oceanside Canine Seaside fashioned in 2008 to foyer for the concept. On the time the spot thought of was close to the mouth of the San Luis Rey River, however the effort fizzled due to opposition from neighbors, wildlife considerations and different obstacles.
Oceanside had a one-acre canine park on San Luis Rey Highway operated by the San Diego Humane Society for a number of years, nevertheless it closed about 4 years in the past. Since then town has had no canine park.
