Category: Uncategorized

HACIENDA VIEJA PROJECT

BACKGROUND: The Hacienda Vieja (HV) Project is located adjacent to the northeast corner of More Mesa on Vieja Drive. As proposed by the developer, Jack Maxwell, it consisted of four extremely large houses … all two stories high. With Planning Commission direction, all houses were made slightly smaller. However, two structures remain two stories high. Because the More Mesa Preservation Coalition (MMPC), as well as the community, is extremely concerned about the proliferation of large, inappropriate two-story houses on the edge of More Mesa, the decision has been appealed to the Board of Supervisors.

TWO-STORY HOUSES ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR MORE MESA

• Two story houses severely impact views from More Mesa’s trail system.
• Two story houses are entirely inconsistent with character of surrounding neighborhoods.
• Two story houses reverse long term (County) precedents requiring new houses next to More Mesa (e.g., Vista la Cumbre, Diamond Crest) to be single story and relatively unobtrusive.
• Visit More Mesa to see how the immense and obtrusive new (blue), two story construction on the northeast corner obstructs the north view from as far away as the coast and the southwest corner of More Mesa.

CUMULATIVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON NE CORNER IS ENORMOUS

• HV is the fourth new project on the northeast corner of More Mesa.
• HV will double the number of two story houses on edge of More Mesa
• All four projects will result in 13 new structures on northeast corner … a 33% increase in the number of buildings around the entire periphery of More Mesa.

THIS IS NOT THE END … Two Story Houses Could Encircle More Mesa

• Some vacant land around the edge of More Mesa still exists.
• Many large lots can be subdivided.
• Single story houses can be remodeled or converted to two story.
• NUMBER OF HOUSES AROUND MORE MESA COULD BE DOUBLED… AND THEY COULD ALL BE TWO STORIES HIGH!!

MMPC believes it is time to take a firm stance toward reversing this alarming trend. We hope you will stand with us … for More Mesa and its future.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 2004 – January 05, 2005
From the More Mesa Bluffs

• Red-throated Loon
• Common Loon
• Western Grebe
• Red-necked Grebe
• Brown Pelican
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Brandt’s Cormorant
• Pelagic Cormorant
• Surf Scoter
• Red-breasted Merganser
• Willet
• Whimbrel
• Marbled Godwit
• Sanderling
• Wilson’s Snipe
• Bonaparte’s Gull
• Mew Gull
• California Gull
• Herring Gull
• Western Gull
• Glaucous-winged Gull
• Caspian Tern

On More Mesa

• Great Blue Heron
• Turkey Vulture
• White-tailed Kite
• Northern Harrier
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• American Kestrel
• Rock Dove
• Mourning Dove
• Anna’s Hummingbird
• Black Phoebe
• Say’s Phoebe
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Western Srub-Jay
• Bewick’s Wren
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• American Pipit
• Orange-crowned Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
• Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s)
• Common Yellowthroat
• Spotted Towhee
• California Towhee
• Savannah Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Golden-crowned Sparrow
• Purple Finch
• House Finch

Second Update on Hacienda Vieja Project

No changes were offered by the developer at the 25 August meeting of the Planning Commission. After another two hour session, the Commission reiterated the ideas expressed at the last meeting and gave additional, and even more specific, direction for changes they feel are necessary. These included redesigning at least two houses from two story to one story, and reducing the size bulk and scale of all four structures. The project and will be heard again by the Commission on the 6th of October.

To reiterate our position …MMPC believes that in order to protect both the environment, as well as the esthetic qualities of More Mesa:

• No additional two-story structures abutting More Mesa should be permitted
• The size of one story houses should be consistent with other developments in the neighborhood, and certainly no larger than Las Brisas (3610 square feet maximum).

For additional information on the current status of the Hacienda Vieja project, or suggestions about how you can help minimize impact on More Mesa, contact us via the Contact Page.

Usage Survery
Many of us are acutely aware of how very important More Mesa is to our community. However, in order to send the most powerful messages about how much we care, we need statistics, based on actual data. The usage study being launched this month will accomplish this end.

There will be at least three ways to be part of the survey:

• Complete forms provided by volunteers periodically stationed at the Mockingbird entrance to More Mesa
• Complete and mail in forms to be provided in our next mailing (within 2-3 months).
• [The easiest way … complete the form online by clicking here and send it electronically].

Thanks for taking the time to complete this very important survey!

Update on Hacienda Vieja Project

Developer has been asked to modify the project: At a meeting of the Planning Commission on 28 July, the Planning Commission asked some extremely pertinent and important questions concerning the Hacienda Vieja project. After more than two hours of comment and deliberation, they voted to continue discussions on the project. The applicant was asked to come back to the Commission with alternatives to the four unit development; specifically, fewer, smaller units and a design that would be less visible from More Mesa. As part of considerations of public views, one of the commissioners suggested that the second stories be eliminated. The project will be heard again by the Commission on the 25th of August.

To reiterate our position …

MMPC believes that, in order to protect both the environment, as well as the aesthetic qualities of More Mesa:

• No additional two-story structures abutting More Mesa should be permitted
• The size of one story houses should be consistent with other developments in the neighborhood, and certainly no larger than Las Brisas (3610 square feet maximum).

For additional information on the current status of the Hacienda Vieja project, or suggestions about how you can help minimize impact on More Mesa, please contact us via the Contact Page.

“More Mesa Friendly Plants” for Your Garden
Last month we introduced a section on invasive plants. This month we present the “flip” side of invasive plants; a section for those interested in using native plants in the garden.

The research for this section was prompted by inquiries from homeowners who live on the periphery of More Mesa. They asked that we suggest plantings that would be consistent with the environmentally sensitive nature of the area. The information on planting natives, which can be found starting from this page, as well as information on invasive plants at this page, was compiled by our webmaster, Lynn Watson.

Building on the Periphery of More Mesa

MMPC is deeply concerned about a distressing and dangerous precedent in the making. 

Major environmental impact is being felt on More Mesa from development on its periphery. Two large and elaborate, double-story houses have already been permitted off Mockingbird Lane (northeast corner of More Mesa). The permitting of these houses disregarded more than two decades of precedence concerning the size and height of structures built on the edge of More Mesa. Construction of these, and the eight others in the adjacent Las Brisas project are affecting both wildlife and the magnificent views looking north. That is, there is already significant cumulative impact from the additional ten structures, in construction, or planned. Photos of the construction can be seen here.

Now a new project, Hacienda Vieja, proposes four additional, two story structures … 4000 square feet, and much larger than any previous development in the neighborhood. These four buildings, currently under consideration by the Planning Commission, will be located immediately north of a wetland abutting More Mesa, and a particularly important grove of trees used for hawk roosting and nesting.

MMPC believes that, in order to protect both the environment, as well as the aesthetic qualities of More Mesa:

Therefore, in keeping with the above, the position of the MMPC is that structures in the Hacienda Vieja project should be only one-story high, as well as reduced in size and number. In addition, we believe that the wetland and associated trees should be placed under the protection of a third party; a land trust or other organization, who will be responsible for maintaining this wildlife habitat.

For additional information on the current status of the Hacienda Vieja project, or suggestions about how you can help minimize impact on More Mesa, contact us via the Contact Page.

Invasive Plants
The California legislature has proclaimed July 19-25, 2004 as Invasive Weeds Awareness Week in California. Under the Restoration Section in the More Mesa web site, there is a new menu option “Invasive Plants“. This consists of a list of common invasive plants found on the central coast. Those that are or have been sold in nurseries for landscaping are marked “Used in landscaping”. Invasive plants known to be on More Mesa, are marked as “Present on More Mesa”. This list will be updated as missing pictures become available or when other plants need to be added.

Concert For The Coast
The Concert for the Coast, jointly sponsored by the Isla Vista Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and the Shoreline Preservation Fund, was held on 15 May in Isla Vista. The objective of this yearly event is to raise awareness of local issues. This year, preservation of More Mesa was highlighted, both in messages from the stage, and at our display table. (Check out the photos in the Special Events section.)

In addition, $450 in proceeds from a raffle, held concurrent with the concert, were donated to the More Mesa Preservation Coalition. Our thanks to Paul Colbert, organizer of the concert, and all the attendees. We truly appreciate your interest and support!

Usage Survey
Many of us are acutely aware of how important More Mesa is to our community. However, we need statistics, based on actual usage data, to accompany powerful messages about how much we care about More Mesa. For this reason, we will be conducting a More Mesa usage survey. Look for several different opportunities to complete this survey in the near future.