Sycamore Park homeowners are continuing to battle Joe Edmiston of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) over public access through their neighborhood.
In January, the MRCA purchased an undevelopable plot in the residential neighborhood, which is served by a private road, and opened it up to visitors as a route to hike toward Escondido Falls. Later, the MRCA added a picnic table, trash cans and signs, making the area more welcoming to visitors—and further angering neighbors.
Since that time, homeowners and their attorneys have been looking for ways to legally challenge the move, which they say so far has brought hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors through the neighborhood.
On Monday, several homeowners came to speak to City Council, where they were reassured the city was taking steps to ensure the agency was following city rules.
“When we heard signs had been posted, and a bench and trash can installed on the MRCA’s property, code enforcement immediately started reaching out to the property owner about this violation, and we’ve gone through the typical steps in terms of responding to a code violation,” Planning Director Bonnie Blue described.
“We believe that they do require a conditional use permit from the city, so the notice of violation was placed on the property,” Blue added.
“I understand you asked them just to cover the signs,” Council Member Lou La Monte replied. “Is there a reason why you didn’t ask them to take it down?”
Blue said covering signs was the quickest and most efficient way to bring the property into compliance.
Of the many solutions brought forth by Sycamore Park neighbors, the installation of a gate across the private road appeared to have gathered steam since it was first introduced a few weeks ago.
One potential issue with the installation of a gate would be it may block through access between public streets—this would not apply in the case of Sycamore Park.
“The planning department’s view of this is a gate for vehicular access would not have an adverse affect on through traffic, because there’s no outlet yet among the streets,” Blue described, adding that pedestrian access may be another story. “We did suggest the neighborhood include a pedestrian access gate just relative to an easement the MRCA is reported to have.”
La Monte asked city staffers to place the issue on the next city council agenda for discussion.
Former mayor Ken Kearsley, who has taken up the cause for his Sycamore Park neighbors, said they were not the only group dealing with these issues.
“We have formed an informal group; it’s becoming more formal,” Kearsley described. “We’re going to call it a federation of all the neighborhoods that are being threatened, including Latigo and Ramirez and what have you—the six or seven. And try to oppose what is happening to the city of Malibu.”