News of the Arroyo
Title: | Verdugos part of national park? |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2003-03-06 |
Summary: | March 6 -- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) testified Tuesday in front of a Senate subcommittee, urging congressional approval of a federal study that would connect the Verdugo and San Rafael mountains and hills above Burbank, La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. |
Author: | Ryan Carter, News-Press |
Publication: | Los Angeles Times |
Content: | Local Headlines -- Schiff testifies to urge Senate passage of mountain protection study. GLENDALE -- An effort to study the possibility of the National Park Service securing local mountain land and connecting it to almost 750,000 acres in the largest urban park in the world has inched a step closer to reality. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) testified Tuesday in front of a Senate subcommittee, urging congressional approval of a federal study that would connect the Verdugo and San Rafael mountains and hills above Burbank, La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. \"I think the hearing went very well, and I was delighted that the National Park Service testified in support of the bill,\" Schiff said. \"Last year, they were neutral because they were concerned about the cost.\" The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which was involved in the recent purchase of the Oakmont V hillside property, offered $100,000 in support of the study. Several local environmental and municipal agencies are supporting Schiff\'s Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act, including the cities of La Canada Flintridge and Glendale. \"We think it\'s important for the area because what it will do is bring a federal component to bear on the preservation of open space in the area,\" said Marc Stirdivant, president of the Glendale-based Volunteers Organized in Conserving the Environment. \"We learned with Oakmont that without federal agencies involved there was no federal land or aspect to the mountains.\" Along with local mountain land, the corridor includes area from Santa Clarita to the Arroyo Seco. About half of the proposed new area is privately owned, Schiff said. Nothing in the bill would authorize the use of eminent domain, he said. The act would require the two agencies to consult with state and local governments and submit a report to Congress within three years. The effect on Glendale mountains could be minimal, local developer Lee Gregg said. \"About 80% to 90% of Glendale hillsides are already owned by the city or the Santa Monica Conservancy in some way,\" Gregg said, adding he could not speak for areas outside Glendale. \"I\'m not sure what the federal government getting involved would do. I don\'t see it as having any impact on Glendale.\" --- |
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