The Capistrano Insider

Oops. City Researching How Public Land Ended Up Part of a Stable

City staffers are trying to figure out how more than an acre of public land ended up part of a stable -- for perhaps as long as the past 30 years.

As far as anyone can tell, there's no written agreement between the city and what's now Ortega Equestrian Center for use of the land, which was deeded to the city when the offices and commercial properties were built along Calle Arroyo.

Ortega Equestrian Center sits on leased land at the west end of Calle Arroyo. The property has been purchased and is now owned by St. Margaret's Episcopal School, which ultimately plans on building practice sports fields there.

It was during the St. Margaret's planning that city officials learned the land, along San Juan Creek and now home to equestrian improvements, belonged to San Juan Capistrano. City officials have since called former planning officials to see how it ended up in the hands of the stable --long before the current owner -- but haven't gotten any answers, beyond the commercial developer dedicated the land to SJC, and it was going to be used for equestrian purposes.

But there's no agreement anyone can find allowing the public land to be used by the private stable.

"No one remembers how it all got there," Assistant City Manager Cindy Russell said.

She said staffers are working to figure out the issue, then will turn to the City Attorney and City Council to figure out the next steps.

Capistrano Interested in Rodeo Grounds Purchase?

The City Council's closed-session agenda tonight includes a closed-door conversation about the potential purchase of two parcels owned by the Rancho Mission Viejo Co. The properties are only identified by Assessors Parcel Numbers, but one is the Rodeo Grounds at the corner of Antonio/La Pata.

The city is closed-mouthed about a potential deal, which is allowable because it's land negotiations. But the Open Space Committee's finance sub-committee, which includes former Sheriff Brad Gates, Tom Lunnen and Dick Paulsen, has been given wide latitude to approach land owners about potential deals.

The land is technically outside the city boundaries, but could be annexed in with consent of the property owner. City officials, and most residents, have always seen that property as the eastern gateway to the city.

The Ranch has identified the property as "Planned Community" in its approved development plans. Nothing is formalized, but the corner was intended to be some sort of park, while an area between Antonio and the city's eastern limits was seen as potentially holding some sort of congregate care facility and supporting medical offices.

But with those approvals, the land is more valuable, and the county assessor's office taxes it at a value of $34 million.

That would completely tap the city's $30 million open-space bond, of course, and already the Open Space Committee seems to be splitting on whether it's best to spend every cent on acquiring as much property as possible, verses spending the millions it takes to restore open space by removing artichoke thistle and other invasive plants and replanting with natives.

But Rancho Mission Viejo has always thought of Capistrano as its home town, from support of the Mission to owning a good chunk of the best businesses downtown. RMV Senior VP Dan Kelly did say they're talking, though.

"In response to an inquiry from the City of San Juan Capistrano's Open Space Committee, we've agreed to enter into discussions regarding the potential sale of select entitled, undeveloped land," Kelly said. "We're proud of our historic ties to San Juan Capistrano and look forward to forging a win-win agreement with the City."

The council meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Budget Blues: Council Will Hoof It in Equestrian Parade

The city's tough economic situation has forced the City Council to trim everything from the Boys and Girls Club funding to the free dinner they used to enjoy during closed-session meetings.

And now the budget ax has fallen on another San Juan Capistrano tradition: The City Council float in the annual Swallows Day Parade.

The council on Tuesday decided to cut the $1,400 expense from its annual budget.

Councilmember Tom Hribar argued the city should ante up the money, saying the council's float -- a decorated horse-drawn wagon -- adds something to the parade. Councilmember Laura Freese took a hard line, saying the city needs to save the money.

The council decided they'll enter the parade this year, but walk the route on foot together.

Capistrano In the News ... And Not

Capistrano's famous -- but it ain't good.

An article on the Orange County Register's Web site today lists the cheapest place to buy gasoline in Orange County -- in La Habra and Anaheim, about $1.90 a gallon.

But Capistrano gets a mention, too: Our Chevron at Del Obispo and Camino Capistrano has the county's most expensive gasoline, the article says, at $2.29 a gallon. No explaination why.

Here's the full article.

And in another article, I don't know how you write about the equestrian lifestyle in Southern California and don't even MENTION San Juan Capistrano, but the Los Angeles Times found a way.

In a story today, Times staffer Jessica Garrison writes about stables and equestrian-zoned areas falling to urban sprawl and development. The article does mention the Orange County Fairgrounds is closing its stable to build a parking lot, but is mainly Los Angeles-centric.

No talk about San Juan's six public stables, or the community's effort to preserve open space and trails -- which compliment our equestrian lifestyle, of course. Not even a mention of our Equestrian Coalition, which has donated tens of thousands of dollars to the city for trail signs, even an elevated, equestrian-friendly "push to walk" button (so riders can reach it from atop their horses) at San Juan Creek Road and La Novia.

Anyhow, here's a link to the full article.