Water District Board OKs Barham Ranch Project as Open Space
The Serrano Water District board of directors unanimously voted last week in favor of legally ensuring that Barham Ranch would remain permanent open space if the Orange Unified School District agreed.
But Wednesday’s vote may not mean much in the end, especially since the school district has said it is not interested in limiting the use of the land if it is sold.
Concerned that Barham Ranch could be sold to a developer, Villa Park and Orange activists from Save Barham Ranch on Jan. 24 requested a deed restriction as part of the purchase agreement between the school and water board to preserve the 525 acres of wilderness.
The school district accepted the Serrano Water District’s offer Jan. 21 to become sole owner of Barham, severing ties with the water district in the hope that owning all of the property will give the district leverage to trade or sell the land for school sites.
The agreement between the water district and Orange Unified did not stipulate the land would not be sold to a developer.
Although the school board listened to several speakers’ pleas during Thursday’s board meeting to issue the deed restriction, the school board did not respond to the request, leaving the Save Barham Ranch group at a loss.
“We don’t want [Barham Ranch] left in the hands of the school district,” said activist Shirley Grindle. “They should not be in the open-space business.”
Although the district’s top priority is acquiring land for future schools, the board is still interested in preserving the parcel.
School Board President Linda Davis said including a deed restriction would lessen the value of the property.
“It’s not something the district is interested in doing at this time,” Davis said. “It may [be an option] in the future, but I have to say it’s not an option right now.”
The school district is purchasing Serrano’s half-interest in Barham for $2.4 million, with $1.5 million up front and the rest in eight annual payments.
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Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.
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