Thursday, March 25, 2004
By Sara Feldman
Southern California Director of the California State
Parks Foundation
A seemingly local controversy in Orange County has
statewide implications. The exclusive use of public land by private individuals
and companies challenges Californians to ensure access to its parks and open
spaces. This is nowhere more apparent than at Crystal Cove State Park, which
was purchased in 1979 from The Irvine Co. with $32.5 million in tax dollars. At
the time, it was the most expensive purchase in the history of the state parks
system. The purchase included the El Morro trailer park, a collection of
trailers along the beach and up the canyon on land leased from The Irvine Co.
on a month-to-month basis. In lieu of a monetary "relocation
benefit," the residents lobbied for and were given a 20-year, supposedly
final lease. However, in 1998, residents quietly and successfully lobbied for
an additional five years. There was no public review of this extension and the
public gained nothing in exchange for it. Even the line of trailers right on
the beach was allowed to stay.
This lease expires Dec. 31, 2004. The trailer park residents have hired
consultants, public relations firms and high-powered lobbyists in an effort to
continue their exclusive use of this public land. They intend to ask the
governor for another extension under the guise of revenue generation from their
leases.
Californians have waited more than 25 years to use and enjoy a park they paid
for with tax dollars. Trailer residents will have enjoyed exclusive use of
prime public lands at bargain rates for 25 years and have profited from it.
Subletting is commonplace, continuing and highly profitable. According to state
park officials, only 38 percent of the tenants use El Morro trailer park as
their primary mailing address, meaning that fully 62 percent do not live there
full-time. Many sublet their trailers by the week and by the month and make
very substantial profits.
With the Park Bond Act money already allocated and approximately $2 million
having been spent on the planning process and other improvements, the
California State Parks Department plans to replace the asphalt-covered canyon
with coastal habitat, picnic tables and 60 campsites that will be open to the
public. A restored El Moro canyon (it has a variant spelling) and beach will
provide panoramic coastal views, a sandy beach, camping and picnic sites
unequaled in the state. Affordable campgrounds are in high demand and currently
lacking in this state park. Once it is opened to the public, the mobile-home
parcel will be the only place in the park where visitors can access the trails
to the coastal hills from the beach. Finally, it will be the only place where
disabled people can easily access the beach in the state park.
The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for these plans was circulated,
then certified Aug. 13, 2002. Trailer park residents filed suit, claiming the
DEIR was inadequate. The state Attorney General's Office vigorously defended
the long-delayed implementation of the park's approved General Plan against
this frivolous and self-serving litigation.
A community coalition consisting of a wide range of
groups submitted an amicus brief in support of the state. The trailer park
owners lost that suit, but they have filed an appeal to further delay public access.
Amazingly, they contend the Parks Department, an agency entrusted with caring
for the state's natural resources, didn't pay enough attention to the
endangered California gnatcatcher by restoring the canyon to native habitat.
The broad and deeply committed coalition working to open the park has pledged
to make this state land accessible to its rightful users - all Californians -
and not just a few trailer park residents. The public has waited too long to
experience the pleasures of their land, beach and ocean at Crystal Cove State
Park.