ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Greenbelt: Be Careful How You Use It

Last week, more than 30 mountain bikers turned up the heat on the four-member Coastal Greenbelt Authority, charged with managing a newly created seven-mile wilderness preserve bordering Laguna Beach. They asked the authority to allow them into some areas while uses of the park are studied.

It’s not a good idea. The authority ought to take its cues from the Laguna Beach City Council, which, like the authority, did not have the luxury of acting in a political vacuum. Despite the clamor from various interest groups wanting to get at this resource, the city decided to take a cautious approach to opening these 2,500 acres of sensitive wildlife habitats to the public. The authority, which plans to tour the area before making its own decision, is wise to also take a cautious approach.

Recently, the City Council endorsed a county-designed plan that would protect the sensitive habitats by limiting access. The plan then moved on to the authority for review while biologists study the area more carefully and recommend which areas to use for various activities. This was a sensible move that bought time.

Caution is best because, as Elisabeth Brown, a member of the Coastal Greenbelt Authority, has said so aptly, the land must be protected from those who might “love it to death.” Once part of the land was opened to potentially harmful activities, it probably would be very difficult to withdraw access, even for the preservation of the environment.

The pressure has come not only from mountain bikers but also from dog owners and others upset about potentially being shut out of the land. This sprawling greenbelt understandably has been attractive to a wide range of such recreational enthusiasts, who also include hikers, horseback riders and picnickers. The territory includes the Laguna Laurel property, Sycamore Hills, Laguna Heights and part of the Irvine Coast. Until now, some of the land has been closed to the public, while some hiking and bicycling have been allowed in Laguna Heights.

In the long term, the land may be accessible for such activities as bird-watching. What can be opened safely should be opened but take care that sensitive land is not destroyed inadvertently in the rush to access.

The county wisely proposed a temporary management plan to determine the impact of public use. These exciting reserves need to be surveyed and measured. But proceed slowly.