In a first, California considers allowing housing project on San Diego ecological reserve

[Zorro]

A developer says the unprecedented land deal would benefit the environment. Conservation groups say it’s illegal.

Normally, sitting on the California Wildlife Conservation Board is a feel-good job, mostly consisting of unanimously approving millions in state dollars to protect natural habitats, from mountain meadows in Lassen County to lagoons in Newport Beach.

That’s why it was so jarring when the seven-member board was asked a few months ago to allow the construction of an opulent housing development on 219 acres of ecologically prized San Diego County land — pristine coastal sage scrub that’s home to the federally endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly.

In exchange, the developer, GDCI Proctor Valley L.P., would trade the state roughly 339 acres of nearby undeveloped land and place another 191 acres under a conservation easement.

Stunned board members, still digging through hundreds of pages of technical and legal documents, listened as their traditional allies, independent biologists and conservation groups, blasted the proposal as “illegal.”

Adding to the tension, Chuck Bonham — the board’s chairman and head of the agency it oversees, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — had personally orchestrated the deal with the developer and San Diego County officials. He went so far as to recuse himself from voting on the issue.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/story/2020-12-06/san-diego-developer-ecological-reserve

[Auggie]

1. It's been my experience that developers will promise the moon to get their way

Just. Say. No.

[2naSalit]

2. Looking at the map of the proposed land exchanges...

As usual, the developer wants a solid chunk of land while offering split up parcels that are not conducive to the longevity of wildlife populations. That area is rapidly expanding and they need all the green space they can preserve.

This sounds like Mr. Chuck has taken a payoff of some kind in order to sell out the conservation project. Not an uncommon situation.

[Bayard]

3. Give it no consideration

Shouldn't even be a question.

[quaint]

4. F'