The Pacifica Land Trust signed a $3.1 million option agreement with the City of Pacifica on July 25 to purchase 9.2 acres of open space land at the scenic gateway to the Golden Gate National Recreation Areas Sweeney Ridge trailhead in San Bruno. The property is also adjacent to watershed land belonging to the San Francisco Water Department. This land currently provides a protected buffer between a nearby residential area and the Sneath Lane trailhead. A sag pond at the base of the slope is considered to be prime habitat for endangered San Francisco garter snakes and California red-legged frogs.

The slope drains directly into a small creek and an active natural aquifer that feeds directly into San Andreas Lake. The property, which is zoned R1, has been under the threat of development since last December when the City of Pacifica, owner of the surplus property, issued a Request For Proposals from residential developers. Soon after, a local organization was formed (Friends of Sweeney Ridge) and this group sought the assistance of the Pacifica Land Trust in an attempt to preserve this unique property. The Pacifica Land Trust was able to persuade the City of Pacifica to give them a chance to acquire the property for open space preservation.

The Pacifica Land Trust has been working closely with the City of Pacifica since March after they signed an "exclusive rights to negotiate" agreement with the City. The signing of the 12-month option agreement contract is a huge step towards achieving the ultimate goal of purchasing the property. Both the National Park Service and the San Francisco Water Department has expressed interest in managing the property if PLT can obtain sufficient funds to buy it. In that regard, there are some tantalizing and realistic funding opportunities that should work well for this project. These will be pursued vigorously over the next year.

The SFWD sees the protection of this property as being important to the integrity of the water department's hydrological system. In addition to water quality issues, the GGNRA, which is part of the NPS, and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council feels protection is also important and sees it as a key link to a planned future trail connecting the Sweeney Ridge Trail with the existing San Andreas Trail. The City of San Bruno is also supporting the effort of preservation and sent a letter to the City of Pacifica in February asking Pacifica to work with the PLT towards preserving the land. The Mayor of San Bruno, Larry Franzella, and other City Council members participated in a Friends of Sweeney Ridge Walk-a-Thon on June 16 that netted over $3,000. So far, the Friends of Sweeney Ridge has raised about $6,000 to help defray costs of the PLT as part of their effort to acquire this land.

In short, almost everyone familiar with the property sees the virtue in securing it for open space protection. Although the purchase price is relatively high, it is realistic given real estate costs for such beautiful property with R-1 residential zoning and considering the numerous constraints to building on such sensitive land. The PLT hopes that by following this path, the City of Pacifica will obtain the fair market value for this property much sooner than if they went with developers and the broader community - including Pacificans - will benefit, particularly those who support parks and water quality.

More details can be obtained by visiting the website www.pacificalandtrust.org . To make a tax deductible donation, mail check to Pacifica Land Trust, P.O. Box 988, Pacifica 94044 and designate for "Sweeney Ridge Project".

Return to more info on Sweeney Ridge