Year: 2005

Once again it has been a very busy year for the More Mesa Preservation Coalition

• In March we published a Newsletter describing our activities in the past three years, and current threats to More Mesa . primarily from development around its edges. More than 1,000 Newsletters have been distributed to members of the community.
• The More Mesa usage survey has been ongoing through most of the past year. Statistics have already been analyzed for the 230 responses we have collected thus far.
• As a result of community interest and outreach activities (Earth Day, EDC TGIF event and contacts with various associations) our supporter data base has grown to more 700 entries.
• Finally, many hundreds of hours were spent in the task of insuring appropriate development on the edges of More Mesa. During this process, we became state-wide “path finders” by highlighting the issue of inappropriately large houses despoiling the Coast to members of the California Coastal Commission. Although we did not prevail during the final Coastal Commission hearing on the Hacienda Vieja project, we believe we were heard and are making a difference. MMPC is convinced that insuring appropriate development around the edges of More Mesa is essential to our ultimate goal . to preserve More Mesa forever!

Celebrate the season in a most glorious way … visit More Mesa! It will recharge and rejuvenate your spirit. Our warmest holiday wishes to all of you.

Coastal Commission Appeal Not Upheld
The Coastal Commission heard MMPC’s full appeal of the Hacienda Vieja Project on 16 November. Unhappily we did not prevail, and the project was approved, 7-4. While additional conditioning was placed on the wetland, kite related issues, and landscaping, the two-story houses remain as part of the development. However, we can hold our heads high as we move forward toward our goal of preserving More Mesa. As a group, we have achieved a laudable measure of success in the course of our 19 month involvement with this development. Specifically:

• the initial design, consisting of four two-story houses was reduced to two two-story houses, and two one-story houses
• all four houses were reduced approximately 10% in size
• heights were lowered
• the wetland has been taken out of the hands of the homeowners association, and will be bonded and monitored to insure it is restored and maintained properly.

Our sincerest thanks to all of you who have written dozens and dozens of support letters and sat through more than 40 hours of meetings with Planning and Development, the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors and the Coastal Commission. Without all of your efforts, our voices would never have been heard at all!

Myrtle Warbler, More Mesa

How One Person Can Make a Huge Difference Toward Preserving More Mesa
Last winter’s heavy rains produced a fabulous wildflower show in spring. Unhappily, fennel seedlings also exploded all over the South Coast, and on More Mesa. Fennel is a robust invasive that can destroy the beauty, accessibility and ecology of More Mesa, if it is allowed to proliferate. Thousands of new fennel seedlings are now established, and will return larger and taller next year. New plants, and the ones that are already firmly established, have produced millions of seeds all over More Mesa; seeds that are long-lived and tenacious. Fennel seeds can be easily scattered by wind … and folks moving about on More Mesa. Walkers, runners, bikers, dogs, riders and horses brushing up against fennel plants, end up inadvertently dropping seeds onto the trail, where they can then be transported to other sections of the Mesa … to start still more colonies next year.

Wind we can’t control, but it would be extremely helpful if More Mesa users could refrain from using trails where they encounter fennel, and are likely to loosen and scatter seeds. It is also crucial not to cut new trails with so many of these seeds around. This practice opens up disturbed ground, which is perfect for colonization. Just these two simple practices … staying clear of fennel and not cutting new trails, can make a world of difference to More Mesa in years to come. Thanks so much for helping!

A New Feature
MMPC is delighted by the numbers of Usage Survey web submittals we have received thus far. As those of you who have completed the survey are aware, the last line is available for any comments the respondent may wish to make. We are very gratified by the fact that many of those completing the survey have indeed taken the time to fill out this optional section. Because of the deep feelings for More Mesa expressed in these anonymous comments, we have chosen to share some of them in a new feature. You can read about why others in our community think that saving More Mesa is so very important by clicking here. Many thanks to all of you who have already participated in the Usage Survey and recorded such beautiful thoughts.

[* Survey may be completed here.]

Newsletter Available for Download
Earlier this year, our four page, full color Newsletter was distributed. It contained an update on conditions on and around More Mesa, and the activities of the MMPC. At that time, more than 800 members of the community interested in the preservation of More Mesa received the document. Since then, we have had extremely positive feedback on this publication. As of this month, the Newsletter is available on line. To read or download the Newsletter please click here.

EDC TGI
On August 12th , the More Mesa Preservation Coalition and three other groups sponsored the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) “Thank Goodness It’s Friday” monthly summer event. During the evening we were able to connect with many old friends and make some new ones as well. A good time was had by all!

The EDC has been a major force in protecting More Mesa for more than 25 years. Our sponsorship of this event is but a very small expression of our thanks for all they have done.