TOPANGA : Conservancy OKs Bond Use for Parcels

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s board of directors gave top priority this week to buying about 570 acres proposed for development in the hills between Topanga and Laurel canyons for parkland.

At its regular meeting Monday night, the board unanimously approved the use of Los Angeles County bond money for the purchase of five parcels, pending approval by the county Board of Supervisors as early as Aug. 17.

The land includes the 419-acre site of the proposed Mulholland Hills Estates in the Corbin Canyon area, the 63-acre site of the proposed Woodland Hills Estates near the western end of unpaved Mulholland Drive and the planned 52-acre Griffin Homes development south of Sherman Oaks.

The board also gave top priority to buying 32 acres in the Little Fryman Canyon area south of Studio City and four acres of Elrita Bowl next to Laurel Canyon Park, and to constructing an equestrian trail next to Sunland Boulevard between Stonehurst Avenue and La Canada Way.

Although each of the properties has been proposed for development, all of the landowners are willing to sell, said conservancy Project Director Paul Edelman.

If approved, $14 million in county bond funds available for projects within the city of Los Angeles probably would be used to put down payments on the five parcels and several others, and to fund trail-building and park projects, Edelman said.

The conservancy also plans to submit a package of proposals for $26 million available for land purchases and projects within Los Angeles County.

“The money is there for us,” said conservancy Deputy Director John Diaz. “It looks like everything will go without a problem.”

After consideration by the Board of Supervisors late this month, the proposals would be returned to the conservancy board for final approval in early September, Edelman said.