Pierce Equestrian-Center Plan Draws Fire

A private company’s plan to build a $10-million equestrian center on Pierce College farmland was harshly criticized Wednesday by students and Woodland Hills-area homeowners.

Opponents of the proposed 80-acre development maintained that it would take up valuable open space and interfere with other agricultural operations if it is built next to De Soto Avenue.

The complaints came as Burbank-based investor John Graham outlined his development concept at the first of two public forums organized by Pierce students. The second session is scheduled for 7:30 tonight at the campus Agriculture Science Building.

The forums have been criticized as premature by college officials, who say they expect to begin reviewing a rival proposal for a $3-million, school-built equestrian center next month. Before Wednesday’s forum, school administrators ordered student body leaders to drop their sponsorship of the meetings on grounds that the discussions would be “one-sided.”

Graham said his horse center would provide a badly needed equine veterinary facility, stables and horse-show space for the San Fernando Valley at no cost and no risk to the Los Angeles Community College District.

He said the horse center would make money for the college district, be a source of 200 part-time jobs for Pierce students and provide a much-needed boost to the school’s struggling agriculture department.

“It can do nothing but help,” said Graham, who is a Woodland Hills resident and former Pierce College student. “We were invited into this by the school. . . . We will cooperate with Pierce for any agriculture programs.”

Most in the audience of about 50 were unimpressed, however.

“I don’t just want to learn about horses; I want to learn about everything,” said Marie Caulkins, an animal-science student at the college.

Horse-science student Mary Murphy said a new equestrian facility is needed, but Graham’s project would be too big for the campus site. “It wouldn’t be for young people learning a trade, but for people who wanted a place to board their horses. The jobs would be more cleaning stalls than anything else,” she said.

Homeowner Samuel Roth complained that the horse project would be more recreational than educational. “It has nothing to do with agriculture except for the manure,” Roth said in urging that the land be left untouched.

Veterinarian Michael W. Giacopuzzi, whose family once farmed land now known as Warner Center, said Graham’s horse hospital is not needed in the Valley and probably would not be of direct value to Pierce students.

“You’ll be taking on more than you’re probably aware of,” warned Giacopuzzi, who said he recently opened his own equine hospital in Somis and knows that such facilities are not always financially successful. “It will hurt us a lot--not just me, but others around here.”

But LeAnna McGuire, a student majoring in English and agriculture, urged people to keep an open mind about Graham’s plan. “What we so affectionately call the farm is a valuable piece of property,” she said, suggesting that it might someday be sold for commercial development.

“The probability of a cement nightmare there is real. It will happen if we don’t use this land.”