SMMC-MRCA AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER 2024

Late Summer L.A. Mountain Park Deals

covering park agency meetings by the MRCA: 8/7, 8/19,  9/4, 9/13, and SMMC:  9/16, 

NORTH L.A COUNTY: 

SOLEDAD CANYON 60 acres:
three sisters rocks 60 acres, proposed purchase by Tataviam Land Conservancy (TLC)
APNs 3209-006-015 , 2014 and 2024 assessed values: $33,450/$42,467
and 3209-007-001, valued at $67,650, later $85,917
PROPOSAL: granting access easements over existing dirt roads to the Tataviam Land Conservancy over multiple Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority parcels in the Agua Dulce and Soledad Canyon watersheds located between Agua Dulce Canyon Road and APNs 3209-006-015 and 3209-007-001 know as the Three Sisters, unincorporated Los Angeles County. 

MRCA 8-7-24 Item VII(h) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/139425/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20grantin.pdf?handle=92F83D9A138B40229735858CC00DF508

ABOUT THE BUYER: tataviam-nsn.us
TLC received 500 acre donation from Land Veritas 1/8/2024

Land Veritas, based in Sausalito, owns 2 mitigation banks in Calif,
300 acres Soquel canyon in Chino Hills
and 4236 acre Petersen Ranch in the Leona Valley and Elizabeth lake area. (only mitigation bank in LA County. See wra-ca.com )

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SOUTH OF GORMAN/RIDGE ROUTE 45 acres: proposed development on an important 5 freeway underpass that functions as a wildlife crossing. Comment letter to the County of Los Angeles on the proposed Smokey Bear Road Commercial Development Project (PRJ2020-000699) in unincorporated Los Angeles County.
MRCA 8-7-24 Item VI(d) Staff Report. On a 44.7 acre site, apn: N 3250-020-007

"Smokey Bear Road is the only undercross in the approximate 7.2-mile stretch of I-5”, in the 45 mile 5- freeway corridor between the Grapevine and Castaic.

https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/139438/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20a%20comme.pdf?handle=74C1A8DF2F7A4C1A840885ACDEDF942F

“Thus, MRCA recommends the Project proponent prepare alternative plans that buffer high-intensity development at least 500 feet from the property’s Smokey Bear Road and existing I-5 frontage road, Copco Avenue, as shown on the attached map. While this highintensity development would still severely impact wildlife connectivity across I-5 using Smokey Bear Road with additional vehicle traffic, noise and light pollution, trash, and reduced air quality, moving the proposed development north and away from Smokey Bear Road will reduce some of the worst impacts and provide critical line-of-sight views for wildlife to travel under I-5 and reduce the threat to wildlife and motorists from high-speed collisions on I-5. “

comment letter to the County of Los Angeles for the proposed Smokey Bear Road Commercial Development Project (PRJ2020-000699) to develop a wildlife corridor dispersal/collector property adjacent to the Smokey Bear Road undercross of Interstate 5 in unincorporated Los Angeles County. SMMC 9/16/2024
https://smmc.civicweb.net/document/54267/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20a%20comme.pdf?handle=BC33A1345782439AA24C5D7F32704D41

http://www.scwildlands.org/reports/scmlregionalreport.pdf
--The top priority for a crossing structure on I-5 is where Grapevine Creek crosses I-5 just south of Ft. Tejon State Park and Tejon Ranch Headquarters. The least cost corridors for puma, mule deer, and western gray squirrel cross the freeway here, and appropriate habitats occur for numerous other species. Grapevine Creek now crosses I-5 in a small box culvert, which should be replaced with a large bridged undercrossing. To maximize the utility of Grapevine Creek as a movement area, we recommend removal of several buildings of the Tejon Ranch Headquarters (two administrative buildings, about a dozen homes, and an old school), and the associated mile of Lebec Road. The area vacated by these buildings should be restored to native vegetation.
--Another priority area for improved crossing structures along I-5 is a 3-mile stretch south of the village of Gorman and north of the SR138 interchange. The least cost path of the Tehachapi pocket mouse crosses I-5 here, and suitable habitat occurs for several other focal species. The vegetation on the steep slopes appears to have been overgrazed and now lacks woody cover except in drainage bottoms; restoration or cessation of grazing domestic livestock would be needed. Four box culverts about 5 feet tall and wide are spaced one-half to 1 mile apart, and suggest locations for bridged undercrossings. Each culvert opens directly into Hungry Valley State Park on the west, and into Gorman Valley on the east. Alternatively, a vegetated land bridge may also be feasible in this area.

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AGUA DULCE—SOLEDAD CANYON: comment letter to the County of Los Angeles for the proposed Spring Canyon Subdivision Project (Project No. 96-044-(5), Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 48086, and Environmental Assessment No. RPPL2018004166) to subdivide and develop approximately 548 acres of Spring Canyon adjacent to the City of Santa Clarita in unincorporated Los Angeles County. SMMC 9/16/2024

https://smmc.civicweb.net/document/54260/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20a%20comme.pdf?handle=918FAC30B9F54D1F9C5C5770D63B85E9 

-- https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/1997031043/2
General Plan Conditional Use Permit, a zone change, and an Oak Tree Permit to allow the development of 542 single family, detached residential lots (211.4 acres); one fire station lot (3.2 acres); one sheriff substation lot (1.8 acres); two private park sites (18.0 acres); and three open space lots (279.4 acres).

https://scvnews.com/supes-green-light-spring-canyon-development-with-green-conditions/
APPROX. 550 acres, 495 homes
The planned Spring Canyon housing development is north of Highway 14 and Soledad Canyon Road, between Shadow Pines Boulevard and Agua Dulce Canyon Road.

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EAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY:

VERDUGO MTS: acquire the approximately 33-acre Mountain Oaks property in the Verdugo Mountains. MRCA 8-7-24 Item VII(e) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/139414/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20enterin.pdf?handle=20756707064F4F9BACB80B47C3FD9DD6
(a) entering into a grant agreement with the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District to acquire the approximately 33-acre Mountain Oaks property, (b) adopting a Youth Employment Plan, and (c) acquiring the property composed of 100 assessor parcel numbers in the City of Glendale, Verdugo Mountains. MRCA 8-7-24 Item VII(f) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/139415/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing_%20(a)%20en.pdf?handle=D5A3967202C6497B94BD710A9A30CC0A

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ALTADENA: Consideration of resolution endorsing the Conservancy's Owen Brown gravesite property (APN 5863-003-004) for inclusion in the National Underground Railway Networks to Freedom program, Altadena, unincorporated Los Angeles County. SMMC 9/16/2024
https://smmc.civicweb.net/document/54317/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20endorsing%20the%20Conse.pdf?handle=4388F37D3F73464E8E202E6AA38C76B1

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VENTURA COUNTY:

SIMI VALLEY, 7.6 acres: Comment letter to the City of Simi Valley for the proposed Simi Pak Industrial Project (CUP-S-2023-0004) to develop a wildlife corridor dispersal/collector property in Alamos Canyon, Simi Valley. SMMC 9/16/2024
APN 579015005
https://simivalley.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=6&event_id=1709&meta_id=218716

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SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS:

HOLLYWOOD HILLS: acquire APN 5567-029-006 in Laurel Canyon, City of Los Angeles. MRCA 8-7-24 Item VII(g) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/139410/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing_%20(a)%20en.pdf?handle=70204AE231E846AC8FD62C9E5CDACAC2

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HOLLYWOOD HILLS: acceptance of conservation easements on APNs 5556-022-002, 003, and 004 (1800, 1806, 1812, and 1818 Crisler Way), and authorizing a non-opposition agreement with the property owner for the development of a single-family residence, upper Sunset Plaza, City of Los Angeles.
MRCA 9-4-24 Item VI(d) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/139731/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20accepta.pdf?handle=D7018E0D43614036A1E89AAE249E3C25

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BROAD BEACH: acceptance of the offers to dedicate public lateral access easements associated with the following Los Angeles County Assessor's Parcel Numbers: 4470-017-066, 4470-017-067, Broad Beach (CDP # 4-93-086); 4450-008-048, Las Flores Beach (CDP # 5-83-399), City of Malibu.
MRCA 9-4-24 Item VI(j) Staff Report

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ESCONDIDO CANYON: Consideration of resolution authorizing temporary use of certain reserved funds to acquire Coastal Slope Trail properties, APNs 4460-003-015 and 4460-014-006, (approximately 3.96 Acres), Escondido Canyon, City of Malibu.
9-13-24 Item V(a) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/140870/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20tempora.pdf?handle=3739A5C4B8E34AEF8BD60B5807A491B2

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WEST MALIBU--MANSDORF: sale of a portion of Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority’s undivided partial interest in the Deer Creek Beach property (approximately 1109 acres, to the National Park Service, located in eastern Ventura County
MRCA 8-19-24 Item V(a) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/139516/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20sale%20of.pdf?handle=7D6CAF946AAF42B1988E8981CCFF07B5

sale of Deer Creek Beach property to include APN 700-0-010-490 for a total of 1241.5 acres, to the National Park Service, located in eastern Ventura County.
9-13-24 Item VI(b) Staff Report
https://mrca.civicweb.net/document/140899/Consideration%20of%20resolution%20authorizing%20amendin.pdf?handle=C57A5E4D04594781ACBEA474E141F1AD


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EAST L.A. HILLS:

EAST LA: Consideration of resolution authorizing a grant application to the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for Measure A funds to acquire approximately 1 acre at Elephant Hill, City of Los Angeles.
MRCA 9-4-24 Item VII(c) Staff Report – Pdf