The Banning Ranch Conservancy, a Sec. 501(c)3 non-profit conservancy, is dedicated to the preservation, acquisition, conservation, and maintenance of the entire Banning Ranch as a permanent public open space, park and coastal nature preserve.
We are working toward the creation of Banning Ranch Park and Preserve, an open space and wildlife preserve/public wilderness park encompassing the entire Banning Ranch property. The property will require significant cleanup. While the extent of contamination and costs are largely unknown there could be alternative resources and funding available. Click for more information on clean up/acquisition alternatives.
Newport Banning Ranch (NBR), the company that is planning to build the development on Banning Ranch, is always working on public relations, touting the many fine benefits the public will receive as a consequence of the development.
Recently they sent a letter to many of the neighbors, emphasizing, once again, that they will be preserving 75% of the Ranch as open space.
It is a stretch for NBR to make that claim, but they continue to promote this aspect of the project. Their claim deserves a closer look that 75% of the property is to be preserved as open space. The claimed 75% includes an area of continued oil operation, as well as 22 acres of planned lighted sports fields. Most environmentalists don't really view oil operations and lighted sports fields as "open space."
The remainder of the 75% are areas that NBR could never legally build on anyway (wetlands, bluff faces and arroyos). That NBR is not building on these areas is not because of an act of generosity to the community, but simply because they cannot develop these environmentally sensitive areas due to Federal and State restrictions. It is like a neighbor trying to add a third story to their home with the selling point….. “Out of a sense of giving back to the community, I’m going to forego building a fourth and fifth story and instead only build a third story.”
Also, most of the wetlands aren't going to be restored by NBR, but rather left as a "mitigation bank" where outside developers can come in and restore them as mitigation for outside development projects. This isn't a bad thing (The Banning Ranch Conservancy will likely use this approach as well) but for NBR to indirectly imply NBR is going to pay for the wetlands restoration is a little misleading.
NBR is trying to promote the idea that Banning Ranch is some kind of wasteland in which the best hope for the wildlife is that NBR comes in and, at great expense, “restores” the habitat. When one looks at the actual wildlife data (not the self-serving reports provided by NBR’s paid biology consultants) one sees that wildlife is flourishing on Banning Ranch!!! This is mainly because there has been very little human intrusion in Banning Ranch during the last 70 years (just a small crew of “roughnecks” who manage the oil field during the day). To state that 1375 homes and 3000 people moving into Banning Ranch is going to have a positive effect on the wildlife is an irresponsible statement.
One single thing that could be done to improve wildlife habitat on Banning Ranch would come at no cost - and actually, it would save money!!! This is, of course, to stop the excessive mowing that occurs regularly over large portions of the mesa. This clearly has the effect of preventing the further spread and establishment of sage scrub habitat. NBR claims that this mowing is permitted and is necessary for fire safety. Nearly all outside observers discount this view, noting that the mowing occurs far in excess of the 100 feet from structures recommended by the OC Fire Authority. There is also the question of whether this mowing is permitted under the Coastal Act.
NBR’s habitat "restoration" is to be paid for by a fee imposed on the sale of their anticipated homes, and not really paid for up front by NBR. This means if no homes are built or sold, there will be no funds for wildlife habitat "restoration".
Finally, the public should understand what a huge project this is (twice as large as any previous Orange County Coastal Project ever built and at least four times as dense per acre). The proposed plan uses the absolute maximum they can build as allowed under the current City of Newport Beach General Plan.
The vision put forth by the Banning Ranch Conservancy will preserve 100% (the only exception might be a small platform where continued oil operations might exist) of Banning Ranch at no additional cost to the tax payer. We plan to use existing funding already allotted for such purposes (mitigation funds from Measure M and other public monies as well as creating a "mitigation bank" similar to NBR) and have no plan to levy any additional taxes on the public or float additional bonds to pay for our vision. Private money will also be a key factor in our vision. There will be no homes, no hotel and no commercial area. While our vision does include a sports component, it will be an environmentally-friendly sports area, not the huge 22-acre lighted “complex” that NBR promises.
The Banning Ranch Park and Preserve could be a place to walk, ride, sit and enjoy a rare piece of the unique Southern Californian natural coastal environment. Strategically placed boardwalks and birding blinds could enable enthusiasts to observe the many species of birds that reside in the restored wetlands. From the bluffs it could be possible to sit and enjoy a sunset along with the ocean breeze.
We would like to acquire and protect this open space to achieve the following goals:
Provide Open Space for Orange Counties most densely populated areas Provide more recreational space Provide a home for endangered species and for migrating and wintering birds Provide a local laboratory and observation area for schools, the public and scientists Provide a valuable link between different parts of the proposed 1,000 acre Orange Coast River Park
Our vision is for “a permanent public open space, park and coastal nature preserve on the entire Banning Ranch.” It will be the envy of Orange County and the crown jewel of the Orange Coast River Park.
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Newport Banning Ranch (NBR), the company that is planning to build the development on Banning Ranch, is always working on public relations, touting the many fine benefits the public will receive as a consequence of the development.
The vision put forth by the Banning Ranch Conservancy will preserve 100% (the only exception might be a small platform where continued oil operations might exist) of Banning Ranch at no additional cost to the tax payer. We plan to use existing funding already allotted for such purposes (mitigation funds from Measure M and other public monies as well as creating a "mitigation bank" similar to NBR) and have no plan to levy any additional taxes on the public or float additional bonds to pay for our vision. Private money will also be a key factor in our vision. There will be no homes, no hotel and no commercial area. While our vision does include a sports component, it will be an environmentally-friendly sports area, not the huge 22-acre lighted “complex” that NBR promises.
