The shuttered Oakmoore Golf Course in Stockton edged closer to becoming a “safe camping” zone for unhoused people as the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to proceed with its purchase.

With one member abstaining to avoid a conflict of interest, four of five supervisors authorized the purchase of the golf course, which is part of two Wilson Way parcels totaling 62 acres the county will buy for $9.6 million.

The vote came after hearing comments from residents, business operators and social workers. Some expressed concern and frustration there hasn’t been direct communication about the project. although the board discussed the proposal at its Nov. 12 meeting. Others said a safe camping area is needed.

Board members emphasized that Tuesday’s vote concerned only the purchase of the property and did not finalize its use as a public campground. That could come later.

At the same time, District 2 Supervisor Paul Canepa, who has been the biggest advocate for a safe-camping space — going so far as to refer to it as “Camp Canepa” — said the campground would be removed if it isn’t successful.

“None of this is permanent dwellings,” he said. “If it fails, we are not going to sit there and fail longer.”

While its possible use as a campsite dominated the discussion, county staff says the majority of the land — about half of the property — is needed by several public agencies for warehouses, fleet vehicle services and other land-intensive uses. Only 3 to 5 acres would be devoted to a homeless camp.

Based on a similar program in Auburn, a safe camping zone would give unhoused people an alternative to camping along railroad tracks, under bridges or vacant lots where they are vulnerable to crime and constantly pressured to move.

Safe camping in a limited space is envisioned as part of a fenced area with security, facilities and social-service agencies at hand. Unhoused people who are turned away at shelters because they own pets could potentially be invited.

Canepa said the proposal is an important step in taking care of people who don’t have a place to live.

“Sometimes in our community we take better care of our dogs and cats than we do human beings,” he said. Safe camping would be only a temporary solution, however, with neither Canepa nor county staff saying how long the facilities might be there. 

Some residents and business operators said they disagreed that a development on the site could raise property values and wouldn’t cause them more trouble with itinerant people living near their property.

A representative from one nearby business said burglaries are already a big problem for him. 

But other speakers said those without permanent shelter need a place to go and they will be far better off in a safe camping area.

District 3 Supervisor Tom Patti said the property “is not going to be a wasteland of blight.” 

And District 4 Supervisor Steven Ding said that, taken as a whole, the area is a “blank canvas” that can serve the public in many ways.

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