Park Service OKs $8-Million Deal With Conservancy

The National Park Service said Monday it has agreed to pay $8 million to a state parks agency for about 1,800 acres to be added to federal parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

In addition to selling the 1,665-acre Circle X Ranch in southeast Ventura County and 132 acres in Zuma Canyon to the Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has proposed committing the $8 million to buy more parkland in the national park, federal officials said.

The National Park Service has approved the deal, spokesman William G. Thomas said Monday. Conservancy officials would not comment, saying the deal still must be approved by state real estate officials. But the conservancy has scheduled a formal announcement for Wednesday.

The Park Service had earmarked the $8 million to buy the 320-acre Renaissance Pleasure Faire site in Agoura. Because the conservancy proposal would allow the Park Service to determine where the $8 million would be spent, the money could still help pay for the site, if the property’s owner were willing to sell.

But developer Brian Heller has said he will not sell. He is seeking Los Angeles County approval for a 159-home development on the property. The county Board of Supervisors is expected to make a decision on his proposal Jan. 12.

The county general plan now allows 103 homes to be built on the land. Approval of 159 homes there would almost certainly mean the park agencies could not afford to buy it, their officials have said. Those officials have estimated the current value of the land, known as the Whizin property, at $12 million to $14 million.

“We’re not ready to write off getting the Whizin property, especially if the supervisors’ decision goes our way,” said Melissa Rice Kuckro, an aide to Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Tarzana), a key congressional ally of the Park Service.

Earlier this year, Congress appropriated $11 million for land acquisition in the Santa Monicas. About $3 million of that is to be paid to the conservancy for 646 additional acres in Zuma Canyon.

The proposed conservancy deal would transfer the remaining $8 million into the state’s hands, meaning Congress could not rescind the money.

In 1981, the Reagan Administration obtained congressional approval for the rescission of $14 million in Park Service funds. On other occasions, the Administration has proposed rescissions that were not approved but that tied up the funds for months at a time, Kuckro said.