HomeMy WebLinkAboutIV(b)_Additional Materials Received_Provided by staffMOUNTAINS RECREATION & CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
Los Angeles River Center & Gardens
570 West Avenue Twenty-six, Suite 100
Los Angeles, California 90065
Phone (323) 221-9944 Fax (323) 221-9934
A local public agency exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation & Park District, andthe Rancho Simi Recreation & Park District pursuant to Section 6500 et seq. of the Government Code.
July 14, 2023
Mr. Seimone Jurjis
Community Development Director City of Newport Beach 100 Civic Center Drive, Bay 1B Newport Beach, CA 92660
via electronic mail to: sjurjis@newportbeachca.gov
Request to Update Ownership Status of The Frank & Joann Randall Preserve
Dear Mr. Jurjis,
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is providing this introductory letter to the City of Newport Beach about our agency and the recent preservation of the land formally known as Banning Ranch located at 1080 W. 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627.
The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. As
a Joint Powers Authority, MRCA’s Governing Board is comprised of designated
representatives of the Conejo Recreation and Park District, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, and one at-large Member appointed by the Governing Board. MRCA provides natural resources and scientific expertise, critical regional planning services, and education and leadership programs for
thousands of youth each year.
On December 16, 2022, 387 acres were protected through a combination of one large private philanthropic gift and multiple public grants to conserve the coastal land now known as The Frank & Joann Randall Preserve (Randall Preserve). We are aware that
the City of Newport Beach has included in its Housing Element Update the Randall
Preserve as a potential opportunity site for affordable units to help the City meet its 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
This letter formally confirms that the property is no longer available for any housing based
on the grant restrictions which run with the property in perpetuity. For reference, we have
included a copy of the grant deed, which includes the following habitat and open space focused language:
“…the Property conveyed hereby shall, in perpetuity, be used only for open
space, public access, recreational purposes, habitat restoration and
management…”
GPAC - July 19, 2023
IV(b) - Additional Materials Presented at Meeting by Staff
Land Use Element Policy Revisions for Housing Element Implementation
Mr. Seimone Jurjis July 14, 2023 Page 2
An amendment to this grant deed language would require agreement from five state and federal funding agencies as well as the estate of Frank and Joann Randall. Therefore, no
amendments are anticipated in the near future.
We request the Randall Preserve be removed as a housing opportunity site now and in future RHNA cycles. To ensure consistency across the City’s documents with the property’s on the ground status, we request at the City’s earliest convenience that the
General Plan itself (and related elements such as Land Use, Housing, Natural Resources,
etc.), and the City’s Zoning for the site be updated to reflect the land’s permanently protected status as Open Space.
For any questions, please reach out to Julien Buenaventura, MRCA Project Manager at
(323)221-9944 ext. 104 or via email at julien.buenaventura@mrca.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Brian Baldauf Deputy Executive Officer
Park Development and Watershed Planning
Attachment: Grant Deed, dated 12/16/22
cc: Jim Campbell, Deputy Community Development Director (jcampbell@newportbeachca.gov) Ben Zbeda, Principal Planner (bzdeba@newportbeachca.gov) General Plan Advisory Committee
GPAC - July 19, 2023 IV(b) - Additional Materials Presented at Meeting by Staff Land Use Element Policy Revisions for Housing Element Implementation