Mission Viejo’s Open Space to Be Catalogued
A $37,400 contract to map the city’s biologically sensitive areas was awarded by the City Council this week.
Irvine-based Urban Vision will conduct a biological and botanical survey of Mission Viejo’s open spaces to determine the types and locations of environmentally sensitive species.
The project will focus on the eastern borders of the city, near El Toro Road and Marguerite Parkway, but will cover several other areas.
The program was set up in response to weed-abatement activities conducted by the Mission Viejo Co. over the past year. Local environmentalists have charged that endangered species, such as the California gnatcatcher, may exist on open space owned by the development firm.
The city responded to their concerns last year by passing an ordinance requiring a permit for any large-scale weed abatement.
“The main purpose of this project is to help us when someone applies for a weed-abatement permit,” said city engineer Dennis Wilberg. The application “would begin a review of the area by a certified biologist.”
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