Unpermitted Mowing of ESHA, done under False Pretenses, in order to Facilitate Development

Section of the Newport Beach Coastal Land Use Plan says the following: Another important habitat within the City of Newport Beach is coastal sage scrub (CSS). Although CSS has suffered enormous losses in California (estimates are as high as 85%), there are still thousands of acres in existence and this community type is no longer listed as rare by CDFG. Nevertheless, where CSS occurs adjacent to coastal salt marsh or other wetlands, or where it is documented to support or known to have the potential to support rare species such as the coastal California gnatcatcher, it meets the definition of ESHA because of its especially valuable role in the ecosystem

Section of the Newport Beach Coastal Land Use Plan says the following: Another important habitat within the City of Newport Beach is coastal sage scrub (CSS). Although CSS has suffered enormous losses in California (estimates are as high as 85%), there are still thousands of acres in existence and this community type is no longer listed as rare by CDFG. Nevertheless, where CSS occurs adjacent to coastal salt marsh or other wetlands, or where it is documented to support or known to have the potential to support rare species such as the coastal California gnatcatcher, it meets the definition of ESHA because of its especially valuable role in the ecosystem or known to have the potential to

"......I have no doubt that these areas would be dominated by California sunflower suitable for gnatcatcher foraging and possibly nesting without continued mowing." Coastal Commission biologist Dr. Jonna Engels

Unpermitted Mowing of ESHA, done under False Pretenses, in order to Facilitate Development

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o = Plant species native to Orange County. Acceptable in all fuel modification wet and dry zones in all locations.

Fire Safety

Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for Newport Beach Buck Gully

Dry Summer vegetation in Buck Gully

Fire buffer between dense vegetation and homes in Buck Gully

Fire Breaks in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (Buck Gully)

Sunset Ridge and Fires

“The pampas grass went up like a torch and set the balcony on fire.”

Sunset Ridge and Non-Fire Resistive Plants

Buffers

Photo from 2007 showing mowing limited to 100 feet from structures 100 foot buffer

“Park development clearing at Sunset Ridge Park” ( not fire safety)

Access for Emergency Vehicles

Hospitals

Olive View Hosptial

Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo South Coast Medical Center, Laguna Beach

University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center

Vegetation currently present near Olive View Hospital

Retirement Homes

Laguna Woods (Leisure World) Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Sports Fields

Between City of Newport Beach parks and City of Costa Mesa parks, and Newport Mesa Unified School District school yards, there are 34 practice fields or game fields available.

500 yards away. One basketball, one baseball, one softball, three soccer and six tennis courts are planned for a 15-acre sports complex 500 yards

Summary 1.Allowing unpermitted mowing of ESHA under false pretenses in order to facilitate development would be a bad precedent. 2.Park can easily be redesigned in a manner to avoid Encelia scrub. 3.Deny project in its current form.