North L.A.'s Vasquez Rocks park may grow...

County may expand famed movie-location park

excerpted from:
http://scvnews.com/?p=21669

11/19/2011--"Targeted for acquisition in Agua Dulce are 31 acres of land at 32820 Deerglen Lane, east of the current Vasquez Rocks park boundary. Known as the Boyle property, county assessor records show the land is owned by Iving H. Blank and Ronaye Boyle. A 2,625-square-foot, 3-bedroom home built in 1964 sits on the property.
The land would be added to the current park and used for preservation and public nature education...."

The price for the 31 acres is quoted as $679,000. The parcel is shown in orange with an "a" and the label "pink house"--click on the maps to enlarge

For more photos of Vazquez rocks park: https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/VasquezRocksSanGabrielSierraPelonaMountainsPinchpoint

NOTE: Fort Ord is 28,000 acres. The same size as San Francisco.

Monterey County Politicians reverse course on urbanizing Fort Ord, a closed ex-military base

http://www.landwatch.org/index.html

2/22/2012--Dear Friends:

This past Tuesday, February 14th, the Board of Supervisors did an about face and reversed its decision on the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) / Whispering Oaks Business Park. LandWatch is thrilled with the outcome. Not only did the Board rescind its decision to re-zone the site, but it also rescinded its approval of the environmental document.

After an approval by the Board in July 2011 to overturn the Planning Commission's unanimous denial of the project, LandWatch took the necessary step to file a lawsuit on the project's environmental documents and support the Fort Ord Rec Users with their successful referendum petition on the site re-zoning. Faced with a successful referendum and a lawsuit, the Board had two options: rescind its original decision or allow voters to decide the project's fate.

A big "thank you" to the numerous volunteers and community leaders who made this effort a success. Now, thousands of oak trees and miles of trails in the former Fort Ord are spared.
Sincerely, Amy White, Executive Director

judge says no to Kern Co. - San Andreas fault new sprawl

Judge Nixes Tejon Pass Sprawl Development Project

Frazier Park Estates Goes Back to the Drawing Board

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2012/bakersfield-tejon-pass-project-02-13-2012.html

After litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, a superior court judge has struck down plans for a large housing development -- including 41 acres of houses and condos -- to be built in the Frazier Mountain area of southern Kern County, Calif. This sensitive, rugged mountainous area is home to highly endangered California condors and other sensitive species, including North America's fastest land animal, the pronghorn. The plan was for an area west of Tejon Ranch's massive Tejon Mountain Village -- another, even more massive project, which threatens a wide array of wildlife. The Center has been fighting Tejon Ranch development for years.


2/13/2012--BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Plans for a large scale housing development proposed in the Frazier Mountain area of southern Kern County, Calif. were struck down by a superior court judge on Friday, Feb. 10, in a victory for groups fighting for smart growth in the region. The Frazier Park Estates project would have included 41 acres of houses and condominiums on steep and rugged terrain in the rural mountain area near Lebec and the Tejon Pass area of Interstate 5.

Judge Kenneth C. Twisselman of the Kern County Superior Court agreed with TriCounty Watchdogs and the Center for Biological Diversity that Kern County had failed to adequately analyze the project’s water supply; that the project description inconsistently described the project as having anywhere from 188 to 661 residences; and that the county improperly justified deferred mitigation for the project’s impacts. The suit was brought under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.

“This was the wrong project in the wrong location and never should have been approved by the county,” said Jan de Leeuw, spokesperson of TriCounty Watchdogs, a local environmental and smart-growth organization. “It threatened our very limited groundwater supply and would have radically changed the rural character of the region.”

Twisselman’s ruling voided the environmental impact report prepared by Kern County and will prevent developer Frank Arciero from proceeding with the project until — and only if — a new report that complies with the law is prepared and approved.

“CEQA does not permit the lead agency to approve a large residential project before the full extent of the project’s impact on the environment is fully understood,” said Babak Naficy, attorney for the groups. “The judge found that this EIR failed on three grounds: (1) the description of the size of the project was inconsistent in the EIR and county resolutions, (2) the County had illegally deferred analysis of the project’s impact on water supply and (3) the mitigation of impacts on biological impacts was improper.”

“This is an extremely important habitat area for scores of threatened, endangered, and rare species, including the California condor, so it’s important that any development be carefully thought out,” said Adam Keats, urban wildlands director at the Center. “This is a huge victory for smart planning, especially considering the tremendous pressure from developers this area has been under.”

The proposed project is located west of Tejon Ranch’s massive Tejon Mountain Village project. That project has also been vigorously fought by TriCounty Watchdogs and the Center for Biological Diversity, among others.

Developer Frank Arciero first brought to the county project plans for a development that included more than 700 single family homes and a commercial area in 2003. Negative comments from a variety of community members on the original draft environmental impact report led Kern County Planning Department to pull the report and ask the developer to submit a new one, recommending that no more than 188 residences be built, but the next plan called for 557 residences. Urged on by Supervisor and Chair Ray Watson, the board of supervisors approved the updated plan and changed the zoning to accommodate the larger project.

The TriCounty Watchdogs, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Lebec Water Board, and even the county’s own planning department and commision, as well as many local residents were concerned from the beginning that the development was not well planned, threatened the area’s water supply, and didn’t represent smart growth for rural communities.

SMMC-MRCA 1/23/2012 to 1/25/2012

L.A. Mountain park Development Threats and New park Plans

from the agendas of the boards of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority:

resolution authorizing the Executive Officer to enter into a professional services contract with the law firm of Pircher, Nichols, and Meeks relative to certain interests the Authority may have in respect to the Chevron Whittier Hills acquisition and the proposed disposition of a portion thereof by the city of Whittier. [no attachment] MRCA 1/25/2012

comment letter to City of Los Angeles on Warner Center Regional Core Comprehensive Specific Plan. [Attachment] [Map 1] [Map 2] [Resolution] [Comment Letter] [Attachment 2] SMMC 1/23/2012

comment letter to Southern California Association of Governments on 2012-2035 Draft Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy. [Attachment ] [Map ] [Map 2] [Map 3] [Map 4] [Map 5] [Map 6] [Resolution] [Comment Letter] SMMC 1/23/2012

comment letter to the City of Santa Clarita on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for Mancara at Robinson Ranch Project; sch No. 2006041029. [Resolution] [Attachment ] [Map] [Attachment 2] [Comment Letter] SMMC 1/23/2012

comment letter to Los Angeles County on Notice of Preparation for Wildflower Green Energy Project, Sierra Pelona Range, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Map 1] [Map 2] [Resolution] [Comment Letter] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] SMMC 1/23/2012

grant to the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District in Camarillo for an open space, trail, and greenway planning study. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment] SMMC 1/23/2012

grant application to the Wildlife Conservation Board and associated documentation for Verdugo Mountains (Mountain Oaks) property, City of Glendale. [Attachment] [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] [Map 2] [Map 3] SMMC 1/23/2012
The proposed application would be for approximate 50 parcels totaling approximately 42.5 acres. This is currently a single ownership with a willing seller interested in a conservation sale.

       

a new preserve in Sonoma county...

Sonoma Land Trust and LandPaths link up to create Bohemia Ecological Preserve
New 554-acre preserve created near Occidental

SANTA ROSA, CALIF., January 31, 2012

FOR FULL STORY: http://www.sonomalandtrust.org/news_room/press_releases/120131.html

Two Sonoma County nonprofit conservation groups, Sonoma Land Trust and LandPaths, announced the creation of a new 554-acre nature preserve on the Bohemia Ranch located between Occidental and Monte Rio near Camp Meeker. The forested land adjacent to the famous Bohemian Grove contains a waterfall, camping potential and fields of rare plants. The new preserve, named the Bohemia Ecological Preserve, was created through the purchase of a conservation easement by Sonoma Land Trust and a pending donation of the restricted land by Ted and Phyllis Swindells to LandPaths, which will manage the property for resource protection and public use.

...Sonoma Land Trust purchased the conservation easement that extinguished the development rights over four parcels of land totaling 554 acres for $1.45 million. Purchase funds were provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The Parish family purchased 352 acres of the ranch and agreed to work with LandPaths to provide trail access across a part of their private land and to cooperate in the management of a shared watershed. The Swindells and the Parishes have pledged to provide $100,000 in seed funds for the management and stewardship of the preserve.

MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/19/BATO1N8KSC.DTL

North of the new preserve is the famed redwood grove which is a private redwood conference center used by rich and well-connected groups. For more stories on this grove, click here: http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com/search?q=Bohemian+grove

WCB 2/2012: CA Taxes will save more land next month...

State will save over 5000 acres for wildlife in February land deals

NOTICE OF MEETING--WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
February 23, 2012
http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=41336

MAPS: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=46216

TOTALS: 2923 acres of full ownership (called "fee" ownership), and 2190 acres of development rights purchased (called "conservation easements")

Arcata Community Forest Expansion (Schmidbauer) $650,000.00
Humboldt County, 22 acres fee


Swiss Ranch Conservation Easement, Expansion 4, $555,000.00
Calaveras County, 468 acre CE


Santa Rosa Mountains, Expansions 14 and 15, $145,000.00
Riverside County, 30 acres fee, cooperative project with Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service


Upper Mission Creek / Big Morongo Canyon Conservation Area, Expansions 1—4, $20,000
Riverside County, 235 acres fee


Miller Forest  $1,228,750, 1622 acre Conservation easement, Humboldt County, grant to the Northcoast Regional Land Trust


Noyo River Redwood Conservation Property $4,010,000
Mendocino County, 428 acres fee, grant to the Mendocino Land Trust


Salmon Falls Reserve, Expansion 2, $2,370,000.00
El Dorado County, 605 acres fee, grant to the American River Conservancy

Dos Rios Ranch $5,509,000.00
Stanislaus County, 1603 acres fee
a cooperative project with California Natural Resources Agency, Department of Water Resources, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Public Utility Commission, and Tuolumne River Preservation Trust

Huge areas along Nor-Cal's Klamath River were saved in 2011...

State funds Tribal Buyout of Big Humboldt County Forest areas

In the first purchase in what is hoped to eventually total a 47,000 acre addition to the far-northern Californian tribe called the Yuroks, the state's taxpayers paid almost $19 million to buy over 22,000 acres of coastal timberland in 2011 that was owned by one of the state's largest forest owners.

 (click on map to enlarge)

FOR MORE DETAILS:


http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_19655990
April 15 -- New purchase -- The Yurok Tribe and Green Diamond Resource Co. finalized the purchase of 22,237 acres, doubling the tribe's land base.

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_17854771

http://www.yuroktribe.org/documents/phaseIpressrelease.pdf
includes map

http://www.yuroktribe.org/government/selfgovern/YUROK%20TRIBAL%20PARK%20%20final%20lori%20edits%2013106.pdf

http://www.yuroktribe.org/news&issues/news/documents/april_newsletter.pdf
In December, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) voted to authorize financing of $18.75 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the Yurok Tribe to purchase the land.

http://www.northcoastjournal.com/blogthing/2011/04/14/yurok-tribe-doubles-size/

http://www.westernrivers.org/pages/blueCreek.html

SMMC-MRCA 12/5/2011 to 1/11/2012

L.A. mountain park news...Could a golf course be converted to clean-up urban runoff, rather than be converted into just another housing tract?

From the agendas of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority in December 2011 and January 2012:

VERDUGO MOUNTAINS:

support letter for City of Los Angeles Proposition O application for Verdugo Hills Storm Water Project encompassing the Verdugo Hills Golf Course and Blanchard Creek Flood Control Channel. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] --SMMC 12/5/11

--------------------------
MALIBU--SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS:

comment letter to Los Angeles County on Notice of Consultation for 1809 Tuna Canyon Road, adjacent to Rocky Ledge open space, unincorporated Topanga Canyon. [Comment Letter] [Map 1] [Map 2] [Resolution] --SMMC 12/5/11

comment letter to City of Malibu on Notice of Proposed Project for new single-family residence at 6050 Murphy Way (Coastal Development Permit No. 11-046), between Escondido and Ramirez canyons. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2] --SMMC 12/5/11

Lechuza Beach Public Access Improvements Project, City of Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Attachment 4] [Map ] --SMMC 12/5/11

contract with Penfield & Smith Engineering for the Malibu Road Accessway. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment] --MRCA 1/11/12

acceptance of an offer to dedicate a trail easement associated with Coastal Development Permit No. 5-90-327 (Javid) and all subsequent amendments, City of Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] --MRCA 1/11/12

access agreement for groundwater monitoring well replacement on the Conservancy Bluffs property, City of Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] --SMMC 12/5/11

sale of a slope easement on APN 2166-013-900 and the acceptance of conservation easement on APN 2166-013-014, Woodland Hills. [Staff Report] --MRCA 12/14/11
 [Staff Report] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Attachment 4] --MRCA 1/11/12

acceptance of a conservation easement over a portion of APN 2275-025-001 (14545 Mulholland Drive), for wildlife movement purposes, in Sherman Oaks, City of Los Angeles. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment] [Map] --MRCA 12/14/11

resolution opposing commercial signage within 500 feet of MRCA-managed parkland or visible from the Mulholland Scenic Parkway corridor. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment] --MRCA 12/14/11

------------------------------------

SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS--WHITTIER/PUENTE HILLS:

comment letter to the National Park Service on the San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Draft Special Resource Study and Environmental Assessment. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] [Map] --SMMC 12/5/11

-------------------------------



L.A. RIVER:

grant of Proposition 84 funds to the Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation, a non-profit organization, for project planning and design of the Piggyback Yard site, Upper Los Angeles River Watershed. [Staff Report] [Resolution] --SMMC 12/5/11

Los Angeles River and Caballero Creek Confluence Park, Los Angeles. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment] --MRCA 1/11/12

-----------------------------------

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY:

acceptance of a donation of four parcels APNs 2813-023-044, 2813-023-045, 2813-023-046, 2813-023-047 totaling 3.96 acres in an unnamed Mint Canyon tributary of the Santa Clara River, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution] --MRCA 12/14/11

---------------------------------

ASSORTED:

comment letter to Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning on Preliminary Draft Significant Ecological Area and Hillside Management Area Conditional Use Permit Ordinance. [Staff Report] --SMMC 12/5/11

comment letter to Bureau of Land Management on Draft South Coast Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] [Map] [Attachment]--SMMC 12/5/11

Topanga state park news...

State releases EIR for Plan for L.A.'s Topanga state park, probably few changes in the works.

 (Eagle rock's caves)

(Santa Inez canyon's waterfalls)

from the newsletter for the L.A.-Santa Monica Mountains chapter of the Calif. Native Plant Society: http://lasmmcnps.org/PDF/TOYON%20Jan-Feb%2012%20Color.pdf

the California Dept. of Parks and Recreation has sent notice of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the
Proposed Topanga State Park General Plan. The Draft EIR may be viewed at http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25956 (see links to 5 sections on right side of this page) and comments are due by Jan. 23, 2012. The General Plan will establish management goals, guidelines, and objectives and will outline a number of zones including a wildlands zone setting aside over 70% of the Park's acreage for minimal development with modest camping opportunities; a cultural preserve to heighten the interpretation and protection of cultural resources; a historic zone including the former Rancho Las Lomas Celestiales (Trippet Ranch); as well as areas for resource management and recreational and interpretive programs. Comments should be directed to: Luke Serna, Park & Recreation Specialist, 8885 Rio San Diego Dr., Suite 270, San Diego, CA 92108 or by email to enviro@parks.ca.gov

Some maps from thier website:

Miscellaneous Planning Documents

DRAFT Managment Zone Map
DRAFT Topanga Planning Matrix
DRAFT Resource based Trail/Camping Map*
DRAFT Visitor-use based Trail/Camping Map*

FOR MORE OF MY MAPS AND PICTURES OF TOPANGA STATE PARK:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/TopangaStateParkWaterfallsTrippettRanchEagleAndSkullRocks

More industry or parks along the L.A. River?

Pivotal Decision for Rio de Los Angeles State Park Nears

by Justin Cram

http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/landofsunshine/la-river/contending-the-future-of-the-rio-de-los-angeles-state-park.html
on December 30, 2011 1:27 PM

The long term vision for Rio de Los Angeles State Park hangs in the balance as a key decision by a real estate developer comes to a head this New Year's Eve.

Formerly known as Taylor Yards, a freight-switching facility from the 1920s until 1985, the nearly 200-acre property has been highly sought after by public space and environmental advocates for revitalization due to its proximity to the Los Angeles River. 40 acres were acquired by the city (see map label D below), establishing a multi-functional park in 2007 providing soccer, baseball, and softball fields, as well as a walking loop. The park serves the Cypress Park and Glassell Park communities and is a primary example of the collaborative efforts of organizations to revitalize the Los Angeles River.





Map of the land parcels in the area formerly known as Taylor Yards

Trammell Crow Company, a Texas-based real estate developer, has the option until December 31st to purchase a 44-acre parcel (see map label G-2) of river front property that could link the state park directly to the Los Angeles River. Many of the original advocacy groups--The City Project, Friends of the Los Angeles River, and The River Project--involved with securing the first 40 acres of the property have joined together in urging the company to drop its purchase option and are urging the public to help by signing their online petition.