Barham Ranch Deed Limit Sought

Concerned that Barham Ranch could be sold to a developer, Villa Park and Orange activists from Save Barham Ranch requested legal assurance from the Orange Unified School District Monday to keep the 525 acres of wilderness as open space.

The school district accepted the Serrano Water District’s offer Friday 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 does not stipulate that the land will not be sold to a developer.

School district officials have stated that although preserving Barham is important, the district’s top priority is acquiring land for future schools.

Community members who have been urging the water district and school board to preserve the land for the past several months said they are upset the school district would consider selling the land to a developer and will fight to ensure it is kept as open space.

“The credibility of these two agencies has been seriously questionable over this weekend,” said Villa Park resident Carol Kawanami during a recent Villa Park City Council meeting. “We feel betrayed.”

Activists have requested that the school board, at its next meeting Feb. 10, require a deed restriction as part of the purchase agreement with the water district that ensures that Barham will remain permanent open space.

School Board President Linda Davis could not be reached for comment, but a district employee said that the district received the request from the activists and that it will be communicated to the school board at the next meeting.

David Noyes, Serrano’s general manager, said the water district would not object to the deed restriction if that is what the school district wanted.

“We feel the community would like it to remain open space, and I feel that is what the school district really wants to happen too,” Noyes said. “But where it’s going now, I’m not sure. I’m as confused as anybody.”

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.

Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.