Excess Gaviota

A preliminary plan to sell off a portion of county-owned land
along the Gaviota Coast took a baby step forward this week when the
Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to declare a small portion
of the Baron Ranch surplus property. The county purchased the
1,092-acre avocado and cherimoya ranch for $7.5 million in 1990 as
a buffer zone for the adjacent Tajiguas Landfill. But with $4.7
million still owed on the property and agricultural operations
netting only about $93,000 annually, the board directed staff to
seek potential surplus acreage on the property last May; a
pre-existing 140-acre single residence lot was identified as the
most feasible hunk. The supervisors plan to inspect the site in
person and get public input before moving forward, most likely
reviewing the matter again on March 21