TESLA SAGA - Not All OHV Advocacy Journeys are Pleasant

Tesla Expansion Property Closed to OHV

OPINION

By Don Amador

February 21, 2023

 

TESLA SAGA -  Not All OHV Advocacy Journeys are Pleasant

 

Not all OHV advocacy journeys are enjoyable and maybe the best example of that is the CA State Parks “Access for All” open house held on February 16 in Pleasanton, CA.  The goal of that meeting was to discuss Senate Bill 155 and the process it authorized for Parks to find a new OHV area to replace lost motorized use of the 3,000 acre “Tesla” property adjacent to Carnegie SVRA.

 

The event marked the end of a fierce 25-year legal and political battle between the OHV community that wanted new trail opportunities on lands purchased in the late 1990s for said use vs. a powerful coalition of environmental attorneys, East Bay Regional Park District, Alameda County, politicians, conservation groups, and the City of Livermore.  

OHV Leads from Oakland MC and AMA D36 talk with Park Staff

On the other hand, the 40 people – representing both sides of the aisle - who attended the meeting seemed willing to find common ground on the effort to find an alternative site for motorized recreation that is outside of the Greater S.F. Bay Area. 

 

In contrast to the highly charged political Land-Use battles in the 1990s between multiple-use interests and environmental groups many of which today (including me) found those fights to be ineffective and divisive, there were positive discussions at the open house about diverse groups working in a collaborative manner to find a replacement facility for the Tesla property that was recently added to the CA State Park System as a non-motorized area.

Access for All Discussion with Park Planning Leads

In hindsight, I would have never supported the purchase of the Tesla property 25 years ago if I knew the juggernaut OHV would face in trying to open it for managed motorized trail recreation opportunities. 

 

I have found shouldering responsibility for misjudging rugged terrain encountered on one’s OHV political journey - and then taking corrective action - is part of the adventure.    

 

In-the-trenches OHV advocacy is not for the faint of heart and as my paraphrased version of the old saying goes… “Nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy especially when it comes to siting a new motorized park in the Bay Area.”

 

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OVERVIEW OF SB 155 FROM CA STATE PARKS

 

In September 2021, Senate Bill 155 amended Public Resources Code Section 5090.42. This bill transferred funding from the General Fund to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trust Fund to explore the acquisition and development of properties and opportunities to expand OHV recreation in new and existing facilities. Also, this bill recommends prioritizing opportunities that can serve large urban areas such as the Bay Area and Central Valley and offer potential recreational opportunities for OHV recreation and motorized access to nonmotorized recreation. This meeting is the second of several opportunities to be involved in this project, including virtual and in-person meetings. CSP will develop a preliminary report, feasibility study, and OHV Recreation Access Plan with recommendations and strategies to enhance existing OHV recreation areas or expand OHV recreation within the State through an acquisition, lease, land swap, or other available means. The project would also consider developing motorized access to non-motorized recreational opportunities