SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Senate Panel Limits Use of Mountain Parkland Funds
Acting at the behest of Soka University, a Senate subcommittee in Washington stipulated Tuesday that the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area use land acquisition funds in 1994 to buy a specific property--but without providing nearly enough money to acquire the site.
The Senate Appropriations interior subcommittee threw a monkey wrench into the acquisition process by approving $4 million for the Santa Monicas for the next fiscal year and stating its intention that the funds be used solely to buy Paramount Ranch. Park advocates, who had sought a far larger sum, say that they will be unable to acquire the scenic Agoura property this year because they need more than $13 million to complete the purchase.
The language was inserted in the bill in response to concerns raised by Soka University, which is fighting park officials’ efforts to acquire part of its property in a meadow next to Mulholland Highway for a visitors center and park headquarters.
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