Save the Hillside Overlooks

Hillside residents located in the areas surrounding the three Studio City mountain scenic overlooks on Mulholland Drive, constructed in 1984 by the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy, have been subjected to nighttime noise, vandalism, debris strewn over hillsides and fear of fire from campfires.

Because of these conditions, they are demanding that the 22-mile “scenic corridor” parkland development be shut down. The grievances of these homeowners are understandable. However, to even consider or allow the behavior of vandals and gangs to dictate policies that would ultimately result in the demise of the 250-acre parkland area would be a disaster. This would be a major setback to Los Angeles-area environmentalists who have for years lobbied diligently to preserve a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains as open space for hiking, horseback riding and other outdoor activities.

Upon closing the mountain parkland, Joseph T. Edmiston, executive director of the Conservancy, is reported to have said (Feb. 6), the park sites would then be sold to private developers for subdividing. This would be catastrophic!

The result would be the construction of hundreds of homes, and worse, condominiums on the hillside land. The spectacular views of the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood Bowl area would be forever obscured, even if Edmiston and others are successful in trying to “forbid the construction of high-rises.”

Traffic congestion on the canyon roads and on the Ventura Freeway would be exacerbated, while citizens of our communities would be denied access to our national environment. All this because this city cannot keep the park sites under control.

There is a solution. We should have permanent state park ranger patrols for the three park sites on a full-time basis. What a very small price to pay to preserve the beauty of our environment.

The message would quickly spread to undesirable elements that our laws are being enforced, as reported in the article (Feb. 9) “Crackdown Credited for Mulholland Calm.” The message is, there is a stiff price to pay for rowdyism, vandalism, disorderly conduct and illegal parking.

Los Angeles city planners are expected to consider a long-range “scenic corridor” development plan for Mulholland Drive later this year. Let’s go forward with a positive plan to preserve and not abandon our environment to the gangs and rowdyism. To throw in the towel at this point defeats the very goals we have worked for so many years.

WALTER M. McINTYRE

Studio City

McIntyre is a City Council appointee serving on the Ventura Boulevard Citizens Advisory Committee.