To the Vanguard News Home page 8-11-04 Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to acquire the land, on which $1.2 million in taxes are owed from as as far back as 1990, and to approve $200,000 for a study into whether it would make a good park for motorcyclists and other off-road enthusiasts. "We have been trying to develop an off-highway vehicle facility at least since the early or mid 1980s. We just have not found a suitable place. It seems to be suitable. We will find out through the study," county parks and recreation spokeswoman Sheila Ortega said of the proposed site. The property is south of Avenue S on the northern slopes and summit of Sierra Pelona, the 4,000-foot ridge separating Acton from the new 5,200-home Anaverde master-planned community under construction in southwestern Palmdale. High-power lines cross one corner.
Acton residents this spring derailed a proposal to install electricity-generating wind turbines on the same ridge, calling them an eyesore and a nuisance for the nearest homes. Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said city officials want to get more information about the off-road park proposal. "I'm not sure what conflicts may come out of this," he said, noting the construction of Anaverde and desires by other nearby property owners to be annexed into the city to build more homes. But officials said there is also a shortage of legal riding places for Southern California's multitudes of off-road enthusiasts. "There is a big need in Southern California. I'm sure anything they can do will be appreciated by the riders, by the users," state parks spokesman Joe Rosato said. Supervisors voted Tuesday to pay off the $1.2 million back tax bill using money that is the county's share of state off-highway registration fees collected from off-road motorcycle owners.
The land acquisition requires approval from the state Controller's Office, and notices will be sent to the owners and to lien holders telling them they can redeem it for the back taxes. That could take four or five months, officials said. County records indicate the vacant land belongs to multiple owners in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and elsewhere. If the land is ultimately not used for an off-highway vehicle park, the county must either sell the land as excess property or find money from other funds to reimburse its off-highway vehicle fund -- called the "green sticker" fund for the color of off-road motorcycle registration tags. "If this isn't feasible for OHV use we would attempt to see if there are other recreational needs in the area," Ortega said.
Hiring a company to conduct the feasibility study and to do a preliminary design must wait on the land transfer, officials said. Completion of the study could be a year to 18 months away. Supervisors on Tuesday also took similar steps on smaller parcels to preserve as open space in the Valyermo and Hi Vista area. One parcel is 116 acres north of the Devils Punchbowl Natural Area, on the northern border of the Angeles National Forest near Pearblossom. The other is two acres adjoining the 320-acre Butte Valley Wildflower Sanctuary south of Avenue I at 200th Street East. Those properties' back tax bills -- totaling $67,000 and $10,000 -- would be paid by a 1996 state bond measure. No development is planned on those parcels. The county would preserve them as they are to provide a buffer to the existing parks. Index