A Brief History

In 1993, Friends of the RanchLand (FRL), a public charity, was formed as a citizens group in response to the planned inappropriate development of the former Fiscalini Town Ranch located in the heart of Cambria.  Work was begun by FRL to insure minimum adverse impacts on the local infrastructure, and to maintain reasonable open space and public access along our local coastline.

The 414 acre ranch was renamed the East-West Ranch when purchased for development in 1993.  The new owners began to tighten up on access, requiring photo IDs and hiring guards.  In addition, their local manager hired consultants, planners, and attorneys, and launched a development mode despite the lack of an apparent water supply.

Development plans increased over time from three ranchettes, to 100, 190, and to 265 homes in a gated community.  Due to lack of resources the developer proposed private desalinization and sewage plants.  These plans were defeated, primarily through the efforts of FRL.  In June, 1997, the owners threatened the County with litigation since their plans had been turned down.  Under that threat they insisted on 730 homes in a gated community.  In response the Board of Supervisors passed an amendment to the General Plan which would allow 265 homes.

Also in June 1997, the Hearst Corporation received approval of a General Plan amendment, this one to create a five-star destination resort with 650 rooms, a 27-hole golf course, restaurants and shops.

The Friends hired the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), Santa Barbara, to help fight both the Hearst and the East-West development plans, due to go to the California Coastal Commission in January, 1998.  In January 1998, with the support of hundreds of citizens, the Coastal Commissioners unanimously defeated both the East-West Ranch and Hearst Resort proposals.

Later in 1998, FRL directors voted to try to buy East-West Ranch.  American Land Conservancy (ALC) agreed to help.  Negotiations took nearly a year, and ALC launched a campaign to raise $11.1 million, the appraised price.  Locally, FRL led the effort to raise what turned out to be $1.2 million.  The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD), the County, and the Coastal Conservancy raised $9 million and Mid-State Bank donated 21 acres to complete funding.  The ranch became “open space forever” on November 2000.  The CCSD owns the ranch in fee title. The conservation easement holder is North Coast Small Wilderness Area Preservation (SWAP). The back-up easement holder is FRL.

In 2000, the Hearst Corporation began talking to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) about making a deal with the State to put most of its 82,000 acres under a conservation easement.  After some 15 months, ALC replaced TNC as the land conservancy, issuing with Hearst a one-page “Framework” for protecting the ranch.  There were no details provided.  The Friends, with the help of EDC, put together a 72-page “Blueprint for the Conservation of Hearst Ranch” and delivered it to State officials in June, 2003.  The “Blueprint” calls for a conservation easement which is enforceable, very limited development, and a public process wherein any agreement is shared with the public before it becomes final.  The cost of the proposed ranch conservation plan is estimated to approach $100 million.  More than 30 environmental groups have endorsed the “Blueprint” while very few have signed on to the “Framework.”  Negotiations between Hearst, ALC and the State apparently are underway at this time.  Hearst Corporation has extended its negotiations deadline several times.

Pertaining to Hearst Ranch, Friends of the RanchLand is dedicated to:

• the protection and preservation of the ranch at a fair price
• the public receiving significant benefits for its tax money
• purchase of virtually all development rights by the state
• public access to the 18-mile coastline (This has been the case for decades.)
• full public disclosure
• no private beaches

Our 72 page “Blueprint” can be seen, along with an Executive Summary, on this website, and also on the website of SLO Coast Alliance (www.slocoastalliance.org).  FRL was a founding member of SLO Coast Alliance.