An Open Letter to Ron Schafer, District Superintendent of the California State Parks
The Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation acknowledges that horse campers deserve equal access to the Santa Monica Mountains as hikers, painters, runners, bicyclists etc. We believe that the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Campground (RREC) at Gillette Ranch is a superior proposal for the following reasons. We respectfully request your support of this proposal.
The Gillette Ranch location will provide equestrians with identical access to the equestrian trails of Malibu Creek State Park and Paramount Ranch as there is an existing tunnel under Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road that connects Gillette Ranch and Malibu Creek State park.
The Gillette Ranch has significant multi-story masonry structures that could be used to shield the scenic viewshed of Mulholland highway and Malibu Canyon Road. The size of the Gillette Ranch is large enough so that the RREC could be placed well back from the scenic corridor preserving the viewshed of state designated scenic drive; Mulholland Highway.
Access to the Gillette Ranch is via a significant traffic artery, Malibu Canyon Road/Las Virgenes Road. The currently proposed site of the RREC is not served by a significant traffic thruway in close proximity as is the Gillette Ranch. The Gillette Ranch also has a number of support facilities nearby (gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores).
The Gillette Ranch is a significantly larger site providing a buffer between the RREC and surrounding communities in the event of fire.
Due to the larger size of the Gillette Ranch locating the RREC here would not constrict a narrow wildlife corridor as does the currently proposed site.
Water quality issues are virtually identical for both proposed sites. We note that the coastal commission recently approved continued operation of the Malibu Valley Farms which is in close proximity to the Gillette Ranch. We believe a scaled down version of the RREC could be built in consultation with water quality experts to mitigate water quality concerns. Additionally, we seek to encourage the state park service to coordinate with local watershed agencies that monitor water quality in Malibu Creek. We believe the state park service should consider restricting the use of some equestrian trails during historical months of poor water quality in Malibu Creek, much as the park service currently restricts park activities during periods of high fire danger.
The Gillette Ranch has only recently been acquired by the park service and does not have the same level of emotional attachment from the public as does all areas of Malibu Creek State Park. The Gillette Ranch is large enough that the RREC could be placed in an area that does not have historical significance (as opposed to the currently proposed site which is historically significant) The Gillette Ranch General Plan is currently being created so public comment is ongoing.
In conclusion, our organization seeks your non-monetary support to erect a photo graphical historical marker at the site of the now famous Reagan photo in Malibu Creek SP where the RREC is currently proposed. This marker will provide park visitors a link to the past and an appreciation for scenic open spaces. Our organization believes the marker would be an excellent destination for equestrians traveling from the RREC at Gillette Ranch. The Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation is dedicated to maintaining and supporting an equestrian trail to the historical marker. I look forward to converting the blog to a fund raising tool for the RREC at Gillette Ranch. Update, RREC at Gillette Ranch is a real possibility: Email Gillette Ranch planners directly at: arteck4mtc@msn.com and express your support for the Equestrian Campground at Gillette Ranch.
Sincerely,
Ted Fulton,
Save the Reagan Meadow Foundation
PS
A 3 million dollar public equestrian facility with trail access to the Santa Monica Mountains was recently completed in nearby Newbury Park. (15 miles away) See details at the Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center (Note the aesthetics) How many more new public multi-million dollar facilities do we need? Why not just expand this facility. (Operated under lease by Circle K Riding Stables.)
The State CEQA Guidelines require that an EIR contain an analysis of alternatives to the Proposed Project. Alternatives are to be developed based upon their ability to satisfy basic project goals and objectives, and to identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate environmental
impacts. Specifically, Section 15126.6(a) of the CEQA Guidelines states that an EIR should
“...describe a range of reasonable alternatives to the project, or to the location of the project, which would feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project, but would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project, and evaluate the comparative merits of the alternatives.”