HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10151991 - S.3 TO: '' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM:
Supervisor Tom. TorlaksonCOSta
DATE: vont'
October 15, 1991
SUBJECT:
REVIEW ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC LINK BETWEEN MT. DIABLO STATE PARK
AND THE MORGAN TERRITORY PRESERVE
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Refer to the East Bay Regional. Park
Liaison Committee the issue of the establishment of a public and
environmental link between the Mt. Diablo State Park and the Morgan
Territory Preserve including the acquisition of the Musco Property.
Direct the Growth Management and Economic Development Agency, County
Counsel and the Community Development Department to review the issues
and provide a report for the committee.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Please refer to the attached
letter.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD,COMMITTEE:.
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) J-
ACTION OF BOARD ON October , APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT --- ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE'-
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES;OF'THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Count Administrator October 15 , 1991
CC: y ATTESTED
Community Development Phil Batchelor;Clerk of the Board of,-�—
Supervisor Torlaks_on `
Supervisors and County Administrat0f, n, .�
M382/7-63
BY , DEPUTY
am T®riaka®n s_=
.�� o� 300 East Leland Rd.
=_. Suite 100
Supervisor, Distrlot Five •;�fes ` t• (41t5)427.8138ornia 94565
Contra Costa County ;s
Board of Supervisors
August 30, 1991
James Duncan, President
Board of Directors
East Bay Regional Park District
11500 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619
Dear Mr. Duncan:
As a long time supporter of the preservation` of -Mount`Diablo,
and someone interested in better access and- use of-our 'amazing�-open
space resources locally, I would like to wholeheartedlyEsupport -the
EBRPD in its efforts in Riggs Canyon. I- have `!followed.,,your,efforts;
and those of the State and Save Mount Diablo, in bridging� the. gap
between Mount Diablo State Park and Morgan..Terri tory:'.'.Regional.,,-,Park .
over the years . I have watched with .great pleasure''as,'.the.d stance
between the two parks narrowed. I was privileged'',:to' be �a`�speaker at
the dedication of Save Mount Diablo's Morgan .acquisition>�when..the
gap finally closed.
Although your acquisition of part of the Wirthman:,property' !
helped cement that joining of the two parks,. the proposed.' acqui_si
tion of lower Riggs Canyon will .ensure':the. long, term".:protection' of'
the Canyon's steep, unstable topography as well as,-.its;; abundant`,:
animal and plant life. As a biology. and ecology teacher,s',,I„know-the
need to have wide, contiguous corridors to-.truly support'z,and protect
the wildlife resources . In my' opinion,: the "tinybri.dge',',jxpr�oposed'
by the owners is inadequate for this:;,purpose.
At the same time, from a public • use perspective,' 'turriir�g'.the
connection into one with real significance will mean'-}that,L rstep in
the wrong direction will not cause the hiker to be ,'trespa.ssing�'on
private property. ” Just as importantly, acquisition'; of'*i':,the '�former
Musco (now Mariani, Matter & Fizmeyer) property willallow.` a, very
rare, easily accessible new entrance to the two parks very much on
the scale of the ,State's Mitchell Canyon entrance on Diablo's north
side. In 1974 we could only guess at how the County's population
would increase, and Save Mount Diablo and others were foresighted
enough to work at preservation of Mitchell Canyon. It"takes .no more
foresight to know that the booming San Ramon Valley 'w l'h;-,thank� us
for a Finley Road entrance in the future. Certainly,'.,:equestrians
will thank us as soon as an entrance is opened to the' -Public..
James Duncan
August 21, 1991
Page TWO
The use of eminent domain is a step I know is never taken
lightly. Your board and staff deliberate very carefully on such
matters . If, however, there was a time to utilize a "resolution of
need and necessity, " now is that time. It is in the public interest
to acquire and protect for future generations the entire property in .
question. This will vastly improve the open space greenbelt con-
nection between east and central county--between the fantastic
resources of Mount Diablo, Morgan Territory, Round Valley., the- Los
vaqueros watershed and eventually Black Diamond' Mines and Contra-
Loma Regional Park. It is in the vublic interest and such action
would be compatible with county planning and 'open spacegoals:_ .
embodied in the 65/35 plan. It is in keeping 'with: the"
goals',�of; the
State of California and its park system. Most significantly, '
however, it is in keeping with the goals of the EastBay Regional
Park District. Your district, in this instance, has the most
immediate perspective, most local focus and the most proximate
responsibilty.
Where this is not directly in the county's realm of operations
and while the State of California's park perspective is statewide,
the EBRPD knows what a treasure this area is for Contra Costa
residents and the Bay Area. This precious area represents the
linkage and creation of a pristine natural open space' resource 'in
the midst of a busy and urbanizing area. It will provide a refuge
from the fast pace of city life for thousands of future users. It
will be a significant wildlife resource, in and of itself, and at
the same serve as a major educational resource for school .groups and
citizens interested in the natural beauty of Contra Costa ,.County.
In the part of Contra Costa that I represent, there 'are '.many
citizens who do not have a getaway place at Tahoe or'°do' not`.even
have the means to afford long drives to get to the pristine 'areas of
the Sierra-Nevada. We have in Riggs Canyon, Morgan Territoryand ,
the Mount Diablo area wilderness experiences to rival' those� of,' the
Sierra or any part of our magnificant North American continent.
I thank you again for your past leadership on thesematters 'and.
urge you to continue your efforts to expand the Morgan`'Territory
Regional Park. I look forward to your continued efforts` •-in 'just
this sort of endeavor--solidly connecting already established open
spaces that their sum shall be greater than their pieces .
Sincerely,
j 0 2ldr)i�
Tom Torlakson
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