PALOS VERDES PENINSULA PEN PACES Land O S Conservancy Volume 10, Number 4 Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Fourth Quarter, 1998 Under Development (homes) Under Development (homes) PV Drive East Crest Road RPV City Future Uncertain Hall Site Hawthorne Blvd Forrestal Property (preserved in 1996) PV Dr South Under Development Shoreline Park Under Development (homes) (Preserved in 1997) (homes) Proposed Long Point Development (hotel, homes, golf) Under Development Pacific Ocean (homes and golf) Dramatic Changes Underway on Peninsula he improving economy has struction. which would cover the old Marineland brought with it an improved Over the last ten years, some de- site, the City Hall property, and a T market for new homes. As a velopable land has been removed from portion of the open space in the new result, over the last year, dramatic play by the Conservancy. The 20- development at the end of Hawthorne changes are occurring on the Penin- acre Lunada Canyon property, the Blvd. sula. Some examples: 28.5-acre Chandler property (now the A portion of the property required • Major open space areas near Linden H. Chandler Preserve), the for the project is the City Hall site, San Pedro are being turned into homes 160-acre Forrestal property—all deeded to the City by the United States and a bluff-top golf course. could have had development, but now Department of the Interior in 1979 for • Travelers on Crest Road will are protected forever. The 53-acre “the perpetual use ...for public park notice two major developments—one Shoreline Park property, although not and public recreation area purposes.” where the Northrop buildings once developable in homes, has also been If a golf course is to be approved for stood, and another across the street. preserved as natural open space as a this site, it must be determined that a • At the end of Hawthorne Blvd., result of Conservancy work. In addi- golf course is consistent with this deed just north of the Pt. Vicente Light- tion, open space is being preserved requirement. house, bulldozers have finished re- within developed areas. Develop- What are other issues with this po- shaping the land for another bluff-top ment is changing the face of the Pen- tential new development? According development, this time over 70 homes. insula forever. to the “Initial Study/Environmental • Across the street from the old What’s coming? A recent applica- Analysis: Long Point Specific Plan” Marineland site, homes are once again tion submitted to the City of Rancho recently prepared for the City of being built in a development that was Palos Verdes by York Long Point Rancho Palos Verdes, the project could stalled for years. Associates proposes additional have “potentially significant impact” All told, five new developments changes—a 400-room hotel, 75 at- in a number of areas, including trans- totaling approximately 320 new tached units, 15-20 detached single- portation/circulation, biological re- homes and affecting approximately family homes, 50 guest houses, 3-4 sources, land use and planning, noise, 550 acres of land are now under con- restaurants, and an 18-hole golf course Continued on page 2 Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Fourth Quarter 1998, Page 2 Preservation of Continued from page 1 The future of the last large area of open Open Spaces-- space remaining in the South Bay, the utilities, and geology. 1,000-acre landslide moratorium area in The City must now make a determi- Rancho Palos Verdes, is still uncertain. A Statement of nation of whether the project “may or Owned by York Capital Group and Palos Purpose may not have significant unmitigatable Verdes Land Holdings Company, both environmental impacts.” If it is deter- having development as a goal, proposals The Palos Verdes Pen- mined that the project would have sig- for homes, golf or other revenue-produc- ing uses may be expected—unless the Con- insula Land Conservancy nificant impacts, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) would be required servancy is successful in its efforts to ac- is a nonprofit, non-politi- to further evaluate issues. quire these properties. cal, public-benefit corpo- The Initial Study is undergoing a 45- Our vision is the creation of a 1,000 acre ration formed to preserve day public review period, and com- “Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve” in this undeveloped land in per- ments from the public and responsible area—a site where generations to come petuity as open space for agencies on the project relative to envi- may enjoy the special peace and solitude historical, educational, ronmental issues are to be submitted to unique in the South Bay. Will we be ecological, recreational the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. The successful? We need the active, vocal and scenic purposes. first public hearings were held in Janu- support of our community to make our A diverse group of vol- ary. vision reality. unteers from the South Bay makes up the PVPLC's managing Board of Direc- tors and its adjunct advi- sory board. These private citizens have been drawn together by their belief that open space is crucial to the well-being of our com- munity. Land acquisition by the PVPLC is through pur- chase and gift. In addition to the good will engen- dered by gift giving, land- owners and others who do- nate land or funds to the PVPLC may realize sig- nificant tax benefits. Lunada Canyon Update by Eric Randall unada Canyon is the first parcel of ship director Alison Lipman, and local Lland owned by the Land Conser- resident and Conservancy Board member vancy. Donated by the E.K. Zuckerman Eric Randall. Committee membership is family in 1992, its 20 acres of land have open and interested local residents are in- been preserved as open space in perpe- vited to participate. Following a sugges- tuity. The canyon is bordered by tion of the Steering Committee, prepara- Abbottswood Drive on the north, by tion of a master plan for the canyon has Kings Harbor Drive on the south, and El begun. Rodeo Road on the east, with access to The most visible recent changes at the canyon from Posey Way and Rock Lunada Canyon are the fences and signs Park Drive. installed in August at the Posey Way and In October, a steering committee com- Rock Park entrances. Split rail fences prised of representatives of the neigh- were selected both for aesthetics and low borhood was formed to guide the Land maintenance, and the signs announce that Conservancy in developing plans for the land is a natural preserve and encour- the future of the canyon. Members of age all that pass to treat the land with the committee include Dr. and Mrs. respect. The neighbors have reacted fa- Archer Parham, Conservancy steward- Continued on page 3 Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Fourth Quarter 1998, Page 3 25th Street San Pedro Western Blvd. White Point Park Paseo del Mar Weymouth Ave Pacific Ocean White Point Preservation Effort Initiated an Pedro’s White Point has played vow to restore a natural environment interpretive signage. San important part in the evolution nurturing to the native birds, plants, The Conservancy would also work of the Peninsula, from the resort hotel and animals which once thrived here.” with local historians to develop ex- and spa operated by local Japanese The Conservancy has offered to hibits highlighting the historical and early in the century, to the fortifica- assist the effort by developing an military significance of the property. tions and large guns installed above agreement with the City of Los Ange- We would work to incorporate pro- the bluff to protect Los Angeles har- les for land which is to be preserved in grams in local schools where students bor. More recent use of portions of its natural state. Under the agree- can assist with restoration, take na- the property has been construction of ment, the Conservancy would be as- ture walks, and otherwise use this housing for Air Force officers. Now signed day-to-day management and property and its features as part of a community group is forming to pre- habitat restoration responsibilities. their educational program. serve the remaining 100 acres as natu- There would be no cost to the City for The property would be open to the ral open space. these services. public for hiking, bird watching, and Led by Leah Marinkovich of Subject to specific terms of the similar low intensity uses. Rancho Palos Verdes, this group has agreement, the Conservancy would Individuals interested in assisting defined a vision that the former mili- lead a community-based effort to re- in efforts to preserve the property tary reservation will be “preserved in move debris and undesirable plants, should contact Marinkovich at (310) perpetuity for recreational, educa- restore native habitat, establish and 831-3609. tional and ecological purposes and maintain hiking trails, and provide Continued from page 2 walks in Lunada Canyon. These walks fice (541-7613) if you’d like more vorably to these improvements. are part of the Conservancy-led natu- information on activities at the can- Land stewardship is active at ral habitat segment of the PVP Uni- yon or on the Canyon’s steering com- Lunada Canyon. Periodically there fied School District’s Hands-On Sci- mittee. are volunteer days focused on habitat ence Program. restoration, with the major thrust be- Please call the Conservancy’s of- ing removal of nonnative plants, such as ice plant and anise, which have Coming Back to Life... intruded and overgrown some spots of the canyon. Restoration of native ...will be the subject of a two-day tion, and to organize ongoing sup- plants will encourage native butter- workshop presented by Dr.