Another compromise that they want honor, wanna bet?
LEBEC, California (AP) -- A group of environmentalists and the owners of a large stretch of wilderness have reached a deal that would set aside the largest parcel of land for conservation in California history.
A deal between developers and conservationists preserves most of Tejon Ranch, a habitat for condors.
After years of legal tussles, conservationists including the Sierra Club have agreed not to challenge proposed development on the sprawling Tejon Ranch north of Los Angeles in exchange for close to 240,000 acres, in a deal to be announced Thursday.
At 375 square miles, the preserve of desert, woodlands and grasslands would be eight times the size of San Francisco and nearly the size of Los Angeles, said Bill Corcoran, the Sierra Club's senior regional representative.
"There is, in my opinion, no other place like it in California. It's unrivaled in the diversity of native wildlife and plants," said Corcoran, who helped negotiate the deal. "Tejon is key to us because it's the only place where the Sierra Nevadas, the coastal range and Mojave Desert and Central Valley all meet."
Tejon Ranch sits atop the Tehachapi Mountains, 60 miles north of Los Angeles, and is home to elk, wild turkeys, coyotes, bears and eagles, as well as a critical habitat for condors.
The Tejon Ranch Co. has been trying for years to develop three projects, or 10 percent of the 270,000-acre ranch, while appeasing environmentalists.
The other groups that have signed on are the Natural Resources Defense Council, Audubon California, the Planning and Conservation League and the Endangered Habitats League.
In 2005, the company and a national land trust hailed an agreement to sell more than one-third of the ranch for use as a nature preserve. But that agreement failed to satisfy the Tejon Natural Heritage Park Committee, a coalition of 12 conservation groups.
Less than a year later, another promising agreement fell through. The developer promised to set aside 100,000 acres as a natural preserve, but environmentalists wanted more than double that.
At the time, Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope and other environmental leaders said they would make the Tejon Ranch their top priority in California. Conservationists threatened to unite and file a lawsuit against the developer under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Instead, they went back to the negotiating table.
"After nearly two years of negotiations, which were often difficult but always in good faith, we have achieved an unprecedented agreement protecting close to 90 percent of the ranch," Corcoran said.
The Tejon Ranch Co. is dedicating 178,000 acres, and about 62,000 will be purchased in part with state conservation bond money. Though it is not clear how much the land will cost, the developer agreed to a state appraisal.
An independent conservancy will be set up to manage the land, and the developer has agreed to donate some money for its upkeep, Corcoran said. The agreement also seeks to establish a large state park that will be open to the public.
"In my opinion, it's a near certainty that California will never again see a private land conservation agreement of this size and ecological importance," Corcoran said.
'08 WW CR3705, '07 F350, '07 YFZ450, '06 Rhino, '05 DS650 My Photo Albums
At the same time, this land is, and will be leased to the two large Cattle Companies occupying the land currently. They don't bother telling you that though !!
Well the Sierra Club and a coalition of 12 other groups signed off on the agreement. I dont see why they would break an agreement. The problem with a couple of the previous agreements is that only one or two environmental groups signed off. Its always possible some group or individual will haul Tejon Ranch to court when they start development. Tejon Ranch is in this for the long haul. This opens up the ranch to hunting, hiking and eventually camping actitites that were prohibited in the past. There is already talk of relocating a 37 mile segment of the PCT trail through the Tejon Ranch. I dont see any downside to this agreement. I suppose its possible hunters using ATV's might be restricted. Whatever happened to the days when hunters used to walk? Everytime I see a hunter he is either on an ATV or has a rifle hanging out the side of a pickup.
I see it as the environmentalist groups EXTORTING land from Tejon Ranch. The Sierra Club has been threatening to tie them up for years in court, rendering their property useless. The ranch will be paid for only 62k of the 178k acres that they are giving up. The other 116 acres are being stolen.
It is frustrating when they GRAB land from the government, because it is changing the use to serve their purposes. At least the land is public and no ownership is being changed. What they are doing here is criminal. It is outright extortion and it makes me sick!!
2000 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4X4
2005 Ford Expedition Limited 4X4
For the Desert:
2008 Thor Tahoe Lighthauler 26FS
1998 XR400R
2004 TRX250EX
2001 KLX300R
2001 XR100R For the Lake:
2005 Moomba Outback
Skis, Wakeboards, Kneeboards
There were proposals to develop it into cookie cutter housing tracts and big box shopping centers. I think I prefer this "lesser of 2 evils" agreement, though they don't say what will become of the rest of the ranch.
MoombaHauler wrote: I see it as the environmentalist groups EXTORTING land from Tejon Ranch. The Sierra Club has been threatening to tie them up for years in court, rendering their property useless. The ranch will be paid for only 62k of the 178k acres that they are giving up. The other 116 acres are being stolen.
It is frustrating when they GRAB land from the government, because it is changing the use to serve their purposes. At least the land is public and no ownership is being changed. What they are doing here is criminal. It is outright extortion and it makes me sick!!
I agree. They should have no say in what happens to private land. It's just another example of their elitist, holier-than-thou attitude. What the heck happened to this country that a bunch girly (No offense to hooli girls) wimps like the environmentalists can tell real men what to do.
Offline
