The 'Blueprint' for the Conservation of Hearst Ranch

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After more than 40 years of threatening to develop the coastline with resort complexes, golf courses, and luxury housing, the Hearst Corporation announced at the end of 2002 the intent to sell the public an agricultural easement over most of Hearst Ranch. The plan calls for a mixture of resort, retail and residential development scattered across the property with the remaining land left in some sort of agricultural use.

The actual components of the deal have not been revealed to the public or to the groups who have long fought to protect the Ranch from inappropriate development. The Corporation's proposal, comprised of a single page of bullet points, is long on promises and short on details. Crucial information as to the true nature of the proposed easement has not been forthcoming in the last six months, in spite of purchase negotiations moving ahead with public agencies. From what can be gathered, the price for the easement is close to $100 Million.

One nonprofit group, Friends of the Ranchland, decided it was time to put forth their own 'Blueprint' for what should be included in any deal for Hearst Ranch. The help of their longtime legal representative, the Environmental Defense Center, and of numerous local experts was enlisted in creating this guideline for true conservation. Already, 33 other state and local environmental groups representing more than 22,000 members have endorsed the 'Blueprint'. While very supportive of real conservation on the Ranch, these groups cannot endorse the current proposal and cannot be sure the proposed easement is worth such a significant public investment, given the paucity of detail.

At 70 pages, the "Blueprint" addresses the key issues of habitat conservation and restoration, public access, protection of cultural and scenic resources, restrictions on future development and the possible conversion of grazing land to wineries and dude ranches. The document emphasizes the key elements that need to be incorporated into the Hearst proposal if it is to receive broad public support. A main concern is the secrecy being demanded by the Hearst Corporation in spite of funding for the easement coming from taxpayer dollars. There must be a full public accounting long before any transaction occurs to ensure a lasting public benefit commensurate with the considerable purchase price.

Since the certified coastal plan for the area places strict resource constraints on new development, it is possible that this proposal could actually result in more development on the ranch than the Hearst Corporation could realize through the usual public planning process. Also, there are no guarantees that the easement offered is comprehensive enough to actually protect true agricultural use and conservation values, given county zoning allowances for such uses as dude ranches and golf courses. Lastly, the price and concept are such that this transaction is bound to be precedent setting for all the state's future conservation efforts and could conceivably compromise other worthy acquisitions.