Stop Landslides, Then Develop

Developer Barry Hon has asked the city of Rancho Palos Verdes to permit him to develop the upper and eastern portion of the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex moratorium area with homes and a golf course. Mr. Hon indicates he will stop the landslide, and this concept has merit if the area is stabilized.

An owner has the right to develop provided others are not injured. The geology studies indicate that the land will probably be stable. But, it is not unreasonable to assume that during development when previously marginally stable land areas are excavated and filled, drainage interrupted, and we again receive heavy rains or maybe a nearby magnitude 6 earthquake, that this development may trigger a landslide eventually connecting the whole crest of the hill with the Flying Triangle and the active Portuguese Bend landslides.

An EIR should be mandatory before considering moratorium changes for this large land and environmental proposal.

The concept of indemnification for property owners downslope in the landslide complex along with those adjacent and above the proposed development both in R.P.V. and the city of Rolling Hills must be included. To preclude city liability, the developers must provide an insurance policy, cash deposit or bond to indemnify the present property owners, as was ordered before on another project by the city, for damages that may be suffered as a result of construction of the project. For this case, indemnification (should) be based on replacement value of land and improvements (by appraisal for equivalent property in a non-landslide potential area) and carried forward 10 years with cost escalation after completion of the development.

To further protect the taxpayers, the 70 proposed homes should also have this 10-year indemnification.

A landslide in the Peacock Flat area of Portuguese Bend could easily have hundreds of homeowners clamoring for damages. It seems that the wisest course would be to permanently stop the landslides, then talk of development.

MAUREEN GRIFFIN

Rancho Palos Verdes