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Lower Buck Gully Letter, Explained
posted: January 28th, 2010 07:39 am |
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Several dozen residents along Lower Buck Gully received letters earlier this month, indicating their property might be a candidate for purchase under the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA’s) Measure M habitat protection funds. But actually, the letter is about conserving lands on a volunteer basis, with no sales or ownership changes involved, sources said.
The Jan. 19 letter is part of an OCTA effort identifying areas that could be conservation sites in order to offset the impact from 13 freeway projects built with Measure M sales tax funds. (Voters re-authorized Measure M in November 2006.)
Newport Beach city officials suggested to OCTA that Lower Buck Gully could be a preservation area — but the city’s intent was not to force homeowners to sell any part of their land, said City Manager Dave Kiff.
According to Marissa Espino of the OCTA outreach effort, the Lower Buck Gully area was identified for restoration, not for acquisition. If homeowners want to participate, they would retain ownership and grant a type of easement that would let conservation efforts go forward.
If homeowners do not wish to participate, they don’t have to do anything –- a non-response is considered a “no,” Kiff said.
To see parcel numbers and get more information, visit the OCTA’s website page here, or call Espino at (714) 560-5607.
Espino said she’s received dozens of calls from Lower Buck Gully homeowners who were confused by the letters.
