NORTH : BREA : Panel: Open Spaces Should Be Preserved

Following an 18-month study, a City Council-appointed task force has released a series of recommendations about preserving open space, including the prominent ridgelines and hillsides north of Brea.

The seven-member Open Space Task Force presented its final report to the council last week. Committee Chairman Clay M. Smith, an attorney who specializes in land use and environmental law, said the study found “a broad diversity of opinion” about how best to preserve open space, but he said that five basic themes emerge in the report.

These themes are that open space is highly important to Brea residents, that the rights of property owners need to be considered, that the open space should be accessible, that residents are generally reluctant to shoulder a tax increase, and that there should be a master plan for hillside property within in Brea’s sphere of influence.

The study was a follow-up to the city’s “vision-building process” of 1992, in which public opinion was sought about the future of Brea. As part of the process, many residents expressed concern about the loss of open space, including views of the Puente/Chino Hills.

The 7.4-square-mile hillside area within Brea’s sphere of influence is principally owned by the Shell and Unocal oil companies.

Although a significant portion of the property has been used for oil production over the decades, some areas are still in an undeveloped state and contain important natural resources such as wildlife corridors.

Among the task force recommendations are that the council should maintain a commitment to open space, create a master plan for the area and establish incentives for developers to preserve open space.

Mayor Pro Tem Bev Perry invited public comment on the task force findings. Mayor Glenn G. Parker asked city staff to analyze issues raised by the study and later present them for council consideration.