|
|
NEWS AND PRESS: NEW PRESS
Star Progress, April 3, 2008
Open space group takes to the skies
Hillside group does research on how to preserve wildlife corridor.
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER STAFF WRITER
The Hillside Open Space Education Coalition continues
to research ways to protect the wildlife corridor it says is threatened
by proposed developments, but until developers come to the table, the
group says progress is at a standstill.
Brea City Manager Tim O’Donnell, Brea Councilman John Beauman, County
Supervisor Bill Campbell, Whittier Councilman Bob Henderson and County
CEO Tom Mauke recently surveyed the region north of Brea via helicopter
to identity vulnerable spots in the area.
The tour was intended to point out choke points that connect the open
space and look at areas slated for development that could sever the flow
of animal migration, O’Donnell said.
The corridor, bordered by the Whittier Narrows to the west and Coal
Canyon to the east, allows more than 100 species of animals travel
through the area.
HOSEC’S HISTORY
The coalition was formed in 2004 and includes Brea, La Habra, Whittier,
La Habra Heights and the community association groups of Hacienda
Heights and Rowland Heights.
The six agencies contributed $500,000 to form the group. Brea put in
$200,000 and La Habra contributed $100,000.
Since the group’s inception, 13 environmental groups and political
supporters have joined its ranks.
Beauman, the coalition’s vice-chair, estimates the group has spent less
than 10 percent of its money. Funds have gone toward administrative
costs, educational materials, a Web site and mailers.
The group’s mission is to educate the public about the vulnerable
hillsides and find a way to preserve the land.
O’Donnell said much of the hilly region north of Brea is owned by
developers looking to build.
"We’re not trying to stop development,” he said. “We’re trying to buy
the land.”
The group would utilize federal, state and private grants to purchase
the land. He added the group wants to turn the land over to an open
space agency to maintain it.
THE DEVELOPMENTS
The proposed Aera Energy and Pepper Tree Hills projects could affect
animal migration through the corridor, O’Donnell said.
Aera Energy Corp. is proposing a maximum of 3,600 houses on nearly 3,000
acres and plans to earmark more than 1,600 acres to open space.
President of Aera Energy George Bayse said they plan to develop
responsibly.
“The open space proposal is outside the development,” Bayse said.
“Within the development, there will be additional open space such as
green belts and parks.”
Beauman said HOSEC’s concern is the corridor. Aera is proposing a
150-acre golf course, but Beauman said that is not sufficient for animal
migration.
“They use the term open space and that confuses people,” he said. “A
golf course is not any definition of open space to anybody that I know.”
Bayse said Aera has earmarked 700 acres of open space, in and around the
golf course, for the wildlife corridor specifically.
“That 700 acres is a subset of the overall open space,” he said. “There
have been numerous examples of how a golf course serves wildlife well.”
Aera originally tried to file with Los Angeles and Orange County, but
pulled its application and re-filed with Diamond Bar.
Diamond Bar Council members in December 2006 approved a planning and
pre-annexation agreement and coalition members said they worry this will
solicit a faster approval process.
While Aera is the larger of two developments that could cut off the
corridor, Pepper Tree Hills could also play a role in deterring animals.
Beauman said Pepper Tree Hills does not sever the corridor but it does
encroach on the area.
Tonner Canyon, the proposed home of the Peppertree Hills project, would
see 795 homes on about 338 acres of land. Developer Shea Homes also
pulled their development agreement from Brea and opted to re-file with
Orange County.
Work on Pepper Tree Hills has slowed, but the developer continues
grading on the site and the next step, Beauman said, would be reviewing
plans for approval.
TRYING TO SAVE SOME GREEN
For now, the coalition’s ability to take action is at a standstill.
While its goal is to purchase the land and preserve it, nothing can be
done until the value of the region is determined, Beauman.
“There is money available for the purchase of open space but in order to
do that you have to have a willing seller,” he said. “How can we make an
offer unless there’s some type of value put on the land and they haven’t
been willing to do that.”
Basye said Aera has not yet been interested in negotiating.
“They’ve still never presented an offer, or have the capability to raise
the funds it would take,” he said.
Although there has been no solid monetary return on forming the
coalition, Beauman said its efforts are vital to preserving an
endangered area.
“If we do nothing then you just get what comes along,” he said. “We’re
trying to be responsive to our residents.”
CONTACT THE WRITER:
714-704-3730 or jfletcher@ocregister.com |
