Residents Tell Town Council They Want Nature Conservancy

Community members showed strong support Thursday for a .

More than six residents wrote letters and about five others, including residents who live near the proposed open space, spoke in favor of a nature preserve at the top of Rosemont Avenue.

Many stressed that they wanted the land kept from a future developer, a goal the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy aims to make happen.

“I feel that [the open space] is something that should be preserved,” said La Crescenta resident Ben Fitzsimmons. “It seems to me that it’s important that we get the land preserved from development.”

. The group needs financial support from the community, and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors before it can be purchased. 

To develop the plan, a biological survey would need to be completed, according to the AFC. In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, local nonprofits and volunteers would work together to move brush and invasive species, plants that thrive in non-native areas and began growing following the .

Proposition A bond funds could benefit this rural, open space and development of public parks project, said Executive Director John Howell.

Other concerns among residents included increased traffic and whether the area would be fenced. 

Increased traffic and what will happen in 10 years was a concern.

“We’re trying to be good neighbors to all the adjacent properties,” said AFC Vice President Lawren Markle.  

With biologists to survey the area, the AFC will see if there is an opportunity to develop the trail further up the hill, Markle said.

Markle also assured residents that if for some reason, the AFC no longer operated, that the preserve at Goss Canyon would not be available for purchase by developers. 

“Our only reason for existing is to preserve open space,” Markle said. “The property could not be transferred to anyone if AFC disappeared, prop would fall into another land trust.”

As for sediment, and how the area will react to rain, the debris area is on the property, AFC Treasurer and La Crescenta local Paul Rabinov said. So far, there is no indication of any sort of improvement for that area.

“This is not going to be a park, it’s not going to be Two Strike Park ‘two,’” Rabinov said. “Like all private property owners, this prop has on it areas that are controlled by flood control either by channel or debris basins.”

If you're interested in the AFC and its efforts to create more open space in La Crescenta, volunteer online or tell the organization your thoughts.