Dogs may soon be able to frolic on the sand and in the surf in San Clemente, as well as enjoy more off-leash park space.
The City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 16, voted to move forward with plans to allow dogs in a restricted area of North Beach during morning hours, as well as expand park offerings where pups can be off leash.
City staff was directed to look into environmental impacts, including discussions with the California Coastal Commission, of allowing dogs at North Beach between 6 to 8 a.m., though staff could also come back with other suggested beach locations or hours.
Staffers will also fine-tune plans for allowing dogs in areas of San Luis Rey and San Gorgonio parks, including whether they should be required to be on a leash or allowed to run free.
“We have 16,000 dog owners in San Clemente, that’s a lot of people who love their dogs and want to get outdoors with them more,” said Councilmember Steve Knoblock, who brought the idea of allowing dogs on the beach to the council in 2021, though at the time the idea was voted down.
Allowing dogs on the beach has been a debated topic through the years, dating back to the ’80s when the city voted to uphold the prohibition of dogs on the sand.
The city has taken up the idea several times, each time the idea shot down. The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission brought forth the new recommendations.
The area proposed at San Luis Ray Park for a dog play spot is about 9,000 square feet within a red-tagged lawn bowling facility that needs to be renovated. At San Gorgonio, the proposed area is about double the size
Speakers at the meeting brought up concerns, such as poop left behind on the beach and impacts to water quality.
Tom Streeter, a surfer who lives near North Beach, noted that surfing is the “lifeblood” of the community. When the dogs poop, it will get into the ocean and water quality testing done by the state will come back with high bacteria counts, he worried.
“We are shooting ourselves in the pocketbook, surfers bring in a lot of money,” he said.
Longtime resident Brett Frohlich, who has a new puppy, said there are a lot of dog owners who would love more space, especially on the sand.
“We need some places for the dogs to run,” he said. “I think it would be a great thing for our residents to have. It will be a jewel for us. We have miles and miles of beach.”
