County Sues for Trail Access

Los Angeles County became the third party this week to sue a San Gabriel Valley homeowners association for keeping a popular horse and hiking area off-limits to the public.

Also named in the county suit filed Thursday were three developers involved in construction of La Vina, a 272-home gated community on 220 acres in Altadena, next to the Angeles National Forest.

According to the county’s lawsuit, the developers never built the trails in Millard Canyon that they had agreed to during permit negotiations in the late 1980s.

“All of the entitlement granted by the county for the development of the La Vina specific plan contemplated and required the construction of a public hiking and equestrian trail. We are seeking to enforce those conditions,” said Larry Hafetz, an attorney for Los Angeles County.

The county lawsuit also seeks an easement, or right of access, of land from the homeowners association so the county can build the trails.

Named in the suit are Southwest Diversified La Vina Ltd., Cantwell-Anderson and Brookfield Homes.

Two other groups, Save the Altadena Trails and the Center for Law in the Public Interest, filed similar lawsuits in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

Leonard Siegel, an attorney for the La Vina Homeowners Assn., declined to comment on the lawsuits. In the past, members have said that the developers, not the association, were required to provide the trails.

The members also said that the developers ceded all open space to the association. Last year, the group began posting “No trespassing” signs throughout Millard Canyon, an area used by hikers and equestrians for decades.

In addition to the homeowners association, Save the Altadena Trails and the Center for Law in the Public Interest named Los Angeles County and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, a state agency.

Both defendants, they say, are ultimately responsible for dedicating the land for public use and enforcing regulations. The groups also want a donation of additional land for public use. The Center for Law in the Public Interest specifically asked for a donation of 108 acres surrounding the gated community. The Save the Altadena Trails suit asks for an unspecified dedication of open space.

“Just like many other things, you have to sue the government to make it do its job,” said Paul Ayers, an attorney representing Save the Altadena Trails. “It doesn’t matter who owns the land ... ultimately these conditions are enforceable.”

The two groups say the fight over Millard Canyon has larger ramifications for the county.

“Los Angeles is park-poor ... so this land represents a whole range of values, said Robert Garcia, executive director of the Center for Law in the Public Interest. “The Millard Canyon trails are of cultural and historical significance, but they are also beautiful.... This is about health, beauty and open space.”