Browns Canyon Property Transfer to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

In March of 2015, the County acquired the subject 27 .15-acre Green Ranch property in Browns Canyon (Property), for the purpose of building an equestrian facility and trailhead to provide access and trail connectivity to the thousands of acres of open space at the adjacent Michael D. Antonovich Regional Park at Joughin Ranch. The County has already cleared the Property by removing debris, trash, vehicles, equipment and dilapidated structures including the previous equestrian center and all other structures. The County has also added approximately 100 feet of coral fencing running both directions from the entrance gate, performed minor repairs to the gate as well as adding road base approximately 50 feet on each side of the bridge to prevent erosion. LA County Parks coordinated with the Department of Public Works (PW) to investigate the Property and the requirements of converting the current private road, which serves as the sole site access, to legal public access. Per PWs investigation, the rough cost estimate to upgrade the private road to current standards was estimated at approximately $2,000,000, with an additional $150,000 required every few years for maintenance. This estimate, however, did not-include unforeseen events such as fires and storm washouts that would require additional expensive road repairs and/or reconstruction. Due to potential unforeseen costs, the initial PW estimate is not a clear indicator of future maintenance costs for the road. As such, the County's ability to forecast future maintenance costs toward securing future access rights for the Property via the sole private road that provides ingress and egress, renders further development of the Property by the County infeasible. To ensure continued public trail access, regional connectivity, and long-term preservation of the site as open space in perpetuity, LA County Parks will transfer the property to MRCA for permanent ownership and stewardship. The MRCA is a joint powers agency dedicated to the preservation and management of open space, parklands, wildlife habitat, watershed lands, and trail systems throughout the region. Within the Browns Canyon area, MRCA manages significant public lands, including the adjacent 257-acre Hidden Creeks Parkland and the 11,000-acre Michael D. Antonovich Regional Park at Joughin Ranch, which together contain an extensive multi-use trail network. The proposed transfer will protect existing trails within the property and support the enhancement of regional trail connectivity, including potential future linkages with the adjacent Porter Ranch residential community in the City of Los Angeles and with the MRCA's Hidden Creeks property. The action will ensure the continued operation of the property as publicly accessible open space and preserve opportunities for future trail improvements consistent with the regional trail network in the Santa Susana Mountains. The MRCA will maintain the property in perpetuity for public use, ensure trails remain open and available for multi-use recreation, and install signage identifying the property as public land and noting its hours of operation. This action advances the Board's priorities to expand equitable access to parks and trails, strengthen regional connectivity, and protect critical natural lands and habitat corridors within Los Angeles County's system of parks and open space.