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PREVIOUSLY:

• Coastal Commission Approves the County’s Request to Revamp the Road Out to Centerville Beach — And Decides to Not Totally Ban Motor Vehicle Access

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Your Lost Coast Outpost, not a beach-driver, was nevertheless moved by the Humboldt County citizens who spoke up at the Coastal Commission meeting earlier this week, pleading with the commission not to take away their ability to drive their cars out to the Centerville Beach waveslope.

These people, many with trembling voices, spoke as if the Commission were proposing to tear a hole in their hearts.

We thought: Oh, let them have their driving beach. There’s only like three or four places in California for them to drive their cars on the beach. Let them keep this one.

The commission was also moved, but not so moved as to just throw its hands up. There are questions about the protection of natural resources, including breeding habitat for the protected snowy plover. The commission asked Humboldt County government to come up with a plan to protect those resources, then to bring that plan back to the commission for a possible thumbs-up. If that’s all a go, then people may continue to drive on the beach.

Still not 100 percent clear on why it’s so important to people, though. Is it important for you to be able to drive on the beach? If so, why? If not, what do you think about beach driving?