OCEANO, Calif.- For years a Los Osos developer has been trying to shut down Oceano Airport to build hotels and homes, but the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and the airport manager says not so fast.
The developer, Jeff Edwards, has gone to several board meetings to discuss his plans to develop the 58 acres of airport property, but the county says the airport is not for sale.
"The airport is more beneficial. It has an economic impact. It brings people to the area. Its one of the few airports along the west coast that's actually that close to the water," says airport manager, Richard Howell.
The airport brings in enough revenue to cover its operating costs of about $27,000 a year. Howell says the airport's economic impact for the surrounding community is more than $90,000 a year. The airport also has a lighting and drainage project on the way.
