Bill to Extend Park Conservancy Clears Senate Test

A measure to extend the life of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy by four years passed its first test in the Senate on Tuesday.

The bill, carried by Assemblyman Gray Davis (D-Los Angeles), also was revised to allow the agency to spend $6 million to buy 973 acres of open space in Lower Zuma Canyon in Malibu.

The package was approved on a 5-2 vote in the Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee and sent to the Budget Committee. Sens. Milton Marks (R-San Francisco) and John Seymour (R-Anaheim) voted against the proposal, which won Assembly approval last month on a 60-7 vote.

Since the conservancy was created on Jan. 1, 1980, the state agency has spent more than $15 million to acquire about 3,600 acres for parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains and the foothills bordering the San Fernando Valley, either for itself or for other agencies such as the National Park Service.

Deadline Now July, 1986

The conservancy is to be phased out on July 1, 1986. Davis’ measure would extend that deadline until 1990.

Under the Davis bill, the future of the conservancy would be decided after a 1987 legislative hearing on the conservancy’s record.

Under questioning from lawmakers, Davis said he would abide by the recommendations that stem from the hearing. But he added, referring to the conservancy, “I don’t see it going on indefinitely.”

Davis persuaded the committee to include the $6-million appropriation for 973 acres north of Pacific Coast Highway and west of Kanan-Dume Road. The area would be used for camping, picnicking, hiking and horseback riding.

Assurance Needed

Joseph T. Edmiston, the agency’s executive director, said the proposal depends on his obtaining “adequate assurances” from the National Park Service that it will buy the land within four years.

Under provisions of the bill, if the purchase is not made in four years, the conservancy would be required to sell the property at fair market value.

However, Edmiston and a representative of the Park Service said they are optimistic that Congress will set aside the money needed.

The 973 acres, along with an adjoining plot of about 530 acres, are owned by members of the Adamson family, who are descended from the Rindge family, which first acquired it in 1890.

Edmiston said the conservancy will also obtain an option to purchase the 530 acres.

Alfred Edgerton, director of legal services for the Adamson Cos., said that the firm had once planned to place a golf course and hotel on the hillside property.

But, because both the state and the federal governments had placed a high priority on it for parkland, Adamson Cos. is willing to sell, he said.

“Rather than go to court, we’re willing to negotiate a sale to the state,” Edgerton said.

Daniel R. Kuehn, superintendent of the Park Service’s Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, warned the committee in a letter that, if the sale is not approved, Adamson can “pursue other options” or “a delay in acquisition could result in higher future cost.”