Pirates Cove, the county’s notorious nude beach, and its equally controversial parking lot and trail, could become a publicly owned, family-oriented destination under a plan prepared by the county parks division.

The Board of Supervisors will be asked Tuesday to set in motion a proposal that would allow the county to buy 32 acres of the spectacular property south of Avila Beach now and an additional 27 acres later.

In a report to supervisors regarding the Pirates Cove slice, Janette Pell, the county’s General Services director, wrote that the board will need to address “the current ‘clothing optional’ behavior of some site visitors.”

“Consideration of an ordinance restricting such activity would also likely be included with the recommendation to accept the offer,” Pell wrote.

The county considers the goal of a family beach highly desirable.

Although it is on private property, the beach “gets used a lot,” said Pete Jenny, deputy director of general services.

“Unfortunately, it also gets abused,” he said. “Improvements to the beach access trail and monitoring by ranger staff with the assistance of the Sher-

iff’s Department will enhance public safety and reduce illegal activity currently occurring at the site,” Pell wrote.

There have been numerous arrests on the trail and parking lot for drug use and lewd activities.

Those who use the beach, nude or clothed, differentiate themselves from the activities at the parking lot or on the trail.

One visitor who was enjoying the beach au naturel on Thursday was dismayed at the idea of clothing regulations coming to Pirates Cove.

“We want this grandfathered in, and we want it kept the way it is,” said the man, who has been visiting the beach for 14 years but didn’t want to be identified. “A vast majority of the problems are at the parking lot. You know we love this beach.”

Nevertheless, the nude beach scares many families away.

The intent to purchase is only the first in a series of steps needed to bring the land into public control.

The entire property, 131 acres, is owned by San Miguelito Partners, and the current proposal leaves the fate of the remainder of the land in limbo. San Miguelito Partners has been trying to sell it.

In its totality, the land, which includes bluffs as well as beach, offers some of the most stunning ocean views in the county.

San Miguelito Partners has tried to put the land in the public domain, but plans to sell it have fallen through.

Most recently, the county tried to raise money for the 131 acres, and when it became apparent that it needed help, it turned to a national nonprofit group, the Trust for Public Land, which puts together grants and private donations.

Still, the price — $10.25 million — proved too high.

“I think it’s a shame,” said the trust’s Karen Frankel at the time. “It’s very disappointing.”

Frankel said the deal-killer was the failure of the state to pitch in some money to back the purchase. When the state pulled out, she said, it all but finished off attempts to go for a federal grant.

The county has the $1.25 million to go through with this partial purchase, according to Jenny. It will cut the parks division’s reserve fund in half.

He said if the supervisors give the go-ahead, his division will need to find a way to finance cleaning up the beach, parking lot and trail. The county will approach the Coastal Conservancy, Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County and others for help.

Jenny said he did not want to put either a dollar figure or a timeline on having the area ready for the public. There are many bureaucratic hurdles to overcome, he said, including acquiring permits from the Coastal Commission. That could take as long as two years, he said.

Photographer David Middlecamp contributed to this report.