I hope this is not considered inappropriate activism for this forum. I apologize in advance if it is, but I do think it relates directly to future prospects for landscape photography in the Antelope Valley, and so readers here might be interested.
If you visited the Antelope Valley this spring, you may have noticed signage for a major development proposal on one of the many parcels of private land near the Antelope Valley California Poppy State Reserve. The property is at Highway 138, stretching from the roadside south to the crest of Fairmont Butte. The proposal is for what the developer has named the "Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park". It is to be a private upscale racetrack with lodging, bar/nightclub, garages, parking, lighting, loudspeakers, etc. Development is not planned for the slopes of Fairmont Butte itself; but the wash (Broad Canyon Wash) at its base, and the upland bench between the wash and Highway 138, is to be almost totally developed.
I wanted California landscape photographers to be aware of this development and the ability for the public to comment on it. For those unaware of the location: this property is 1-2 miles from the Poppy Reserve, right in the heart of the Antelope-Fairmont Buttes complex, where the best and most consistent large-scale wildflower blooms occur in Antelope Valley. This year, perhaps still going on as I write, this exact property is experiencing a massively spectacular carpet bloom of poppies and goldfields.
As many long-time observers of the area know, usually the bloom outside the Reserve is better than inside, and this area around Fairmont Butte is the best of the best on many of those occasions. In fact, this subject property was inside the boundaries of the original state Study Area for the Reserve back in the 1970's, and though it was not acquired by the state, it was expected to be "managed in harmony" with the Reserve lands.
Currently this project is before the Los Angeles County planning commission, where the developer is seeking approval (and rezoning, since current zoning would disallow this kind of project). You have the ability comment on this, even if you don't live in the area. Send comments by US mail to:
Attention: Jodie Sackett
County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning
Room 1382
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
or by email to:
jsackett@ planning.lacounty.gov
Local opponents of the project have put together this Web site: http://www.sio2.com/savethepoppyreserve/
The developer has put together this Web site: http://www.fairmontbuttemotorsportspark.com/
Comparing the homegrown nature of the opponents' site versus the slick polished developer site, I think which side the money is on, is obvious.
Apparently this proposal has been germinating for several years now, and has been before the planning commission since last fall. Unfortunately seeing the signage on Highway 138 this April was the first I had heard of it.
I've enjoyed the the show out there this spring, in fact I was there on Friday. Just exactly by the west streets is this, anywhere around 170th Street West? My first spring out there I was wondering I saw some signs.
I am not personally familiar with this area but can also offer additional comments regarding how projects such as this are reviewed. The regional office of the CA Dept. of Fish and Game will be asked to comment. If there are any listed species there or California Native Plant Society plants of interest, they will make comments after their review. Also, if there are species that are listed by the Federal government under the Endangered Species Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service also has review authority. That would be handled by the Ventura Field Office. I don't know any specifics but that is how the process works. Any photographer who has photos of listed plants, or animals for that matter, in that area could help the agencies document what is there.
Paul, yes, the property is at Highway 138 between 150th and 155th "Streets" (dirt tracks, more like), extending south to the crest of Fairmont Butte. You can see a map of the location on the opponents' Web site here:
Anyway, the property is clearly located in the 170th Street / Highway 138 / Fairmont Butte "nexus" that is frequently gangbusters in all the good springs such as this year, 2005, 2003, etc. In fact, I visited the property 2.5 weeks ago (150th and 155th are public rights-of-way, so it is legal to drive or walk in along these tracks), and the floor of Broad Canyon Wash was a solid mass of goldfields and poppies so thick the earth could not be seen. This was right where the racetrack would cut. I'd post a frame if I had one scanned yet; I'm still editing the 6x7 film. To give you a flavor, here's a photograph of the location from the crest of Fairmont Butte, taken in another spring and posted on the opponents' Web site:
Peter, I do know that this has been before LA County since 2009. I presume the county planning folks have been in consultation with the agencies you mentioned. A DEIR is already out, and they're expecting the final possibly next month. There must not be any slam-dunk showstopper in the report, because the proposal hasn't been stopped yet. An archive of documents related to this proposal, received by the planning commission, is available at their Web site here, if interested:
Many times local agnecies completely ignore input they have received from State and Federal natural resource agencies particularly in regards to endangered species issues. They say they've addressed concerns but in reality they have competely ignored what was sent to them. Local folks can help by checking with the agencies to see what comments they might have provided to LA County. Given the number of people that were reported out viewing the flower show this spring, I would expect there would be intense local/regional interest in this proposal. I'd be willing to bet most people don't even know this has been proposed. Some local folks need to get this on the radar screen.
Went to the website you provided and poked around, Yep, it's exactly where I was Friday 4/30 a little past it's prime now, but still amazing. It would certainly be a criminal shame to lose this area to development. Sent a negatory e-mail to Ms. Sackett on the Planning Commision. If you don't mind I'll post a photo from Friday, to give anyone who looks in an idea of what we are about to lose.
Again it's our voices, our outcry that may stop this horrible thing. If we remain silent then we get what we deserve.
Paul, that's a beautiful photograph, and yes that does look like the same general location. That's Fairmont Butte in the background, if I'm not mistaken.
For people who want to comment, here's some additional suggestions I posted in the Calphoto Yahoo group just now:
-------------------------
A few more thoughts and tips to everybody on what you might put into your comments:
- Mention the case number and project name, for their reference, just so there's no ambiguity what you're talking about: Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park, Case #02-176.
- I suggest mentioning how often you visit the Antelope Valley area, and how much you spend in the general area per visit.
- Also in your comments, don't assume the planners know that Antelope Valley is a nationally-famous (or internationally-famous) wildflower area among the community of nature photographers. Tell them, and mention the resulting hundreds of serious photographers who travel from across the state and beyond each good spring and spend/stay in the area like you do.
- Mention that Fairmont Butte and Antelope Buttes -- the immediate surroundings of the Poppy Reserve -- consistently produce the best large-scale bloom anywhere in Antelope Valley (which is true, if you've been observing the area for a while). This proposed development abuts Fairmont Butte. So basically it is situated right in the "creme de la creme" attracting these photographers and their money.
- Finally, you probably should "cc" (send a copy of your comment to) LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. His district includes Antelope Valley. When the planning commission is finished, if they approve the project, I think the way this works is that the project then goes before the county Board of Supervisors -- so at that point it essentially enters the political process. Its not too early, I suspect, to begin sending comments to the guy whose district this is. His email address is fifthdistrict@lacbos.org and mailing address is:
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
500 West Temple Street, Room 869
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Scott
PS. If anyone in the area can attend, the next (possibly last) planning commission hearing is in LA on June 9. The developer's Web site helpfully provides the address and time: http://www.fairmontbuttemotorsportspark.com/downloads/June_9_Next_Public_Hearing.pdf
Discussion
6 repliesI hope this is not considered inappropriate activism for this forum. I apologize in advance if it is, but I do think it relates directly to future prospects for landscape photography in the Antelope Valley, and so readers here might be interested.
If you visited the Antelope Valley this spring, you may have noticed signage for a major development proposal on one of the many parcels of private land near the Antelope Valley California Poppy State Reserve. The property is at Highway 138, stretching from the roadside south to the crest of Fairmont Butte. The proposal is for what the developer has named the "Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park". It is to be a private upscale racetrack with lodging, bar/nightclub, garages, parking, lighting, loudspeakers, etc. Development is not planned for the slopes of Fairmont Butte itself; but the wash (Broad Canyon Wash) at its base, and the upland bench between the wash and Highway 138, is to be almost totally developed.
I wanted California landscape photographers to be aware of this development and the ability for the public to comment on it. For those unaware of the location: this property is 1-2 miles from the Poppy Reserve, right in the heart of the Antelope-Fairmont Buttes complex, where the best and most consistent large-scale wildflower blooms occur in Antelope Valley. This year, perhaps still going on as I write, this exact property is experiencing a massively spectacular carpet bloom of poppies and goldfields.
As many long-time observers of the area know, usually the bloom outside the Reserve is better than inside, and this area around Fairmont Butte is the best of the best on many of those occasions. In fact, this subject property was inside the boundaries of the original state Study Area for the Reserve back in the 1970's, and though it was not acquired by the state, it was expected to be "managed in harmony" with the Reserve lands.
Currently this project is before the Los Angeles County planning commission, where the developer is seeking approval (and rezoning, since current zoning would disallow this kind of project). You have the ability comment on this, even if you don't live in the area. Send comments by US mail to:
Attention: Jodie Sackett
County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning
Room 1382
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
or by email to:
jsackett@ planning.lacounty.gov
Local opponents of the project have put together this Web site: http://www.sio2.com/savethepoppyreserve/
The developer has put together this Web site: http://www.fairmontbuttemotorsportspark.com/
Comparing the homegrown nature of the opponents' site versus the slick polished developer site, I think which side the money is on, is obvious.
Apparently this proposal has been germinating for several years now, and has been before the planning commission since last fall. Unfortunately seeing the signage on Highway 138 this April was the first I had heard of it.
Thanks for your consideration,
Scott
I've enjoyed the the show out there this spring, in fact I was there on Friday. Just exactly by the west streets is this, anywhere around 170th Street West? My first spring out there I was wondering I saw some signs.
Paul
http://www.sio2.com/savethepoppyreserve/html/maps.htm
The developer has a similar map on his Web site.
Anyway, the property is clearly located in the 170th Street / Highway 138 / Fairmont Butte "nexus" that is frequently gangbusters in all the good springs such as this year, 2005, 2003, etc. In fact, I visited the property 2.5 weeks ago (150th and 155th are public rights-of-way, so it is legal to drive or walk in along these tracks), and the floor of Broad Canyon Wash was a solid mass of goldfields and poppies so thick the earth could not be seen. This was right where the racetrack would cut. I'd post a frame if I had one scanned yet; I'm still editing the 6x7 film. To give you a flavor, here's a photograph of the location from the crest of Fairmont Butte, taken in another spring and posted on the opponents' Web site:
http://www.sio2.com/savethepoppyreserve/html/racetrack_flowers.htm
Peter, I do know that this has been before LA County since 2009. I presume the county planning folks have been in consultation with the agencies you mentioned. A DEIR is already out, and they're expecting the final possibly next month. There must not be any slam-dunk showstopper in the report, because the proposal hasn't been stopped yet. An archive of documents related to this proposal, received by the planning commission, is available at their Web site here, if interested:
http://planning.lacounty.gov/case/view/tentative_parcel_map_no_26805_project_no_02_176_fairmont_butte_motorsports/
Anyway, I hope folks mail or email in their comments. Thanks for your consideration.
Went to the website you provided and poked around, Yep, it's exactly where I was Friday 4/30 a little past it's prime now, but still amazing. It would certainly be a criminal shame to lose this area to development. Sent a negatory e-mail to Ms. Sackett on the Planning Commision. If you don't mind I'll post a photo from Friday, to give anyone who looks in an idea of what we are about to lose.
Again it's our voices, our outcry that may stop this horrible thing. If we remain silent then we get what we deserve.
Thanks again Scott
Paul
For people who want to comment, here's some additional suggestions I posted in the Calphoto Yahoo group just now:
-------------------------
A few more thoughts and tips to everybody on what you might put into your comments:
- Mention the case number and project name, for their reference, just so there's no ambiguity what you're talking about: Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park, Case #02-176.
- I suggest mentioning how often you visit the Antelope Valley area, and how much you spend in the general area per visit.
- Also in your comments, don't assume the planners know that Antelope Valley is a nationally-famous (or internationally-famous) wildflower area among the community of nature photographers. Tell them, and mention the resulting hundreds of serious photographers who travel from across the state and beyond each good spring and spend/stay in the area like you do.
- Mention that Fairmont Butte and Antelope Buttes -- the immediate surroundings of the Poppy Reserve -- consistently produce the best large-scale bloom anywhere in Antelope Valley (which is true, if you've been observing the area for a while). This proposed development abuts Fairmont Butte. So basically it is situated right in the "creme de la creme" attracting these photographers and their money.
- Finally, you probably should "cc" (send a copy of your comment to) LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. His district includes Antelope Valley. When the planning commission is finished, if they approve the project, I think the way this works is that the project then goes before the county Board of Supervisors -- so at that point it essentially enters the political process. Its not too early, I suspect, to begin sending comments to the guy whose district this is. His email address is fifthdistrict@lacbos.org and mailing address is:
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
500 West Temple Street, Room 869
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Scott
PS. If anyone in the area can attend, the next (possibly last) planning commission hearing is in LA on June 9. The developer's Web site helpfully provides the address and time: http://www.fairmontbuttemotorsportspark.com/downloads/June_9_Next_Public_Hearing.pdf