Thursday, April 14, 2005

By SPENCER SOPER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sonoma County's open space district is poised to buy a 1,737-acre ranch southeast of Petaluma for what would become a showcase park even though an effort to raise half of the $18 million purchase price from outside sources fell $2.7 million short.

County supervisors are expected to approve a deal Tuesday in which the county Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District would pay up to $11.7 million for the Lakeville Highway ranch, with the remaining $6.3 million coming from state, federal and private sources.

If the deal goes through, it would be the second largest in the county park system behind the 1,753-acre Hood Mountain Regional Park. And it would rival Spring Lake with its recreational offerings that would include a 200-acre lake and trails to ridgetops overlooking San Pablo Bay.

A one-year option to buy the property from the Cardoza family expires Wednesday, and Supervisor Mike Kerns said the project is worth upping the open space district's contribution.

Individual donors and private foundations contributed more than $550,000, which underscores the project's popularity, Kerns said. Other funding sources include the state Coastal Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation board and Department of Fish and Game, and a federal grant for water conservation.

"I think it's a huge acquisition that will benefit not only south county, but all of Sonoma County and the region," said Kerns, who spearheaded the fund-raising campaign. "It's a large enough property with many components that it will be a project of regional significance."

Supervisors Valerie Brown and Paul Kelley said they would support kicking in additional funding to close the deal.

"Considering the current economic challenges for all levels of government, to raise more than $6 million from private, state and federal sources in a year is quite an extraordinary feat," Kelley said.

Supervisor Tim Smith said he wants to weigh the proposal against other open space district priorities, but also expressed optimism that the district would find a way to buy the property.

"I think there is still a good chance to make it happen," he said.

Creating a big south county park could be a political boost for the district, which was created in 1990 when voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for its operations. The sales tax, which generates about $17 million annually, will expire in 2011 unless voters extend it.

The district has made a number of landmark purchases in recent years that will greatly expand park space in the county. They include a $20.8 million deal approved this month to add 3,373 acres to Sonoma Coast State Beach and the $9.1 million purchase of 1,290 acres of the historic Beltane Ranch in Sonoma Valley approved in 2003.

But the district also has been criticized for buying far-flung properties few people can use and paying to prevent development on other land where little construction could occur because of restrictive zoning laws.

Failure to make Tolay Lake into a county park could alienate the district with south county voters and threaten its survival, Petaluma Mayor David Glass said.

"This will define whether the open space district is successful in the south county," he said. "This is a make or break deal for them . .. and I hope it's a make."

A park wasn't always envisioned for the property.

In the 1970s and '80s, the county eyed Tolay Valley for a huge wastewater reservoir that would have irrigated south county farms. The Cardozas, who have owned the land for 60 years, resisted the plan and it was ultimately abandoned.

© The Press Democrat. For copyright information view our User Agreement