May 2005

HACIENDA VIEJA PROJECT The appeal on the Hacienda Vieja Project was heard by the Board of Supervisors on 15 February. Unfortunately, we did not prevail. The final vote was 4-1 against the appeal, with Second District Supervisor Susan Rose presenting passionate arguments for this project being the place we “draw the line in the sand”…

A Different Look At More Mesa … As you all know, we have been experiencing very atypical weather across the South Coast since late spring.  Strong winds, never ending fog, and drizzle are rarely such large components of our weather.  And, of late, heavy rain, with accompanying thunder and lighting have been added to these unusual…

Bio Study Report We are still awaiting release of the draft report on the year long Updated Biological Resources Study of More Mesa.  Field work was completed in the early summer and the report is expected to be out within the next month or so. Another Award for the More Mesa Handbook MMPC is both…

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…

Restoration Event Our first restoration session in More Mesa County Park was held on the beautiful sunny morning of March 27th. Thirteen hearty volunteers showed up to hear Stephanie Langsdorf, of Growing Solutions, teach us the basics of the area’s ecosystem, and the particulars of natives and non-natives as well. Then, pitchforks and shovels in…

Mother Nature Does Her Thing, Even with a Record Breaking Drought In spite of what is shaping up as yet another drought year, More Mesa is green and blooming. In one short walk we spotted Poppies, California Brittlebush, Blue-eyed Grass, Redmaids, Owl’s Clover and Miniature Lupine. Many of these were in profusion and all a…