POST Acquires 4,262 Acre Property On
San Mateo Coast
May 8, 2001
The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced today that it has acquired one of the largest undeveloped pieces of land on the San Mateo Coast, a 4,262-acre property known as Rancho Corral de Tierra.
Located six miles north of Half Moon Bay and 10 miles south of San Francisco, the property surrounds the coastal towns of Moss Beach and Montara. It rises up dramatically from Highway 1 almost 2,000 feet to the top of Montara Mountain and drops back down to sea level agricultural lowlands.
Rancho Corral de Tierra is one of the major properties that will be protected through POST's $200 million campaign, "Saving the Endangered Coast," launched last month with two $50 million gifts from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
"This is a critical acquisition in our effort to preserve the unique, rural character of the San Mateo Coast," said POST president, Audrey Rust. "This spectacular property includes a panorama of awe-inspiring views, rich agricultural land, important watersheds, several miles of public trails, and an incredible array of wildlife and vegetation.
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"Rancho Corral de Tierra is one of the signature properties in our new campaign. By preserving this property as permanent open space, we can protect vital natural resources, keep valuable farmland in production and curb future development along the coast."
In 1996, the property's three principal owners pursued permitting processes for ranchette and housing development. Due to public and procedural resistance, the project was withdrawn and the owners briefly put the property up for sale for $52 million. In April of 2000, after the death of one of the owners, it was placed back on the market. Following several months of negotiation, POST reached an agreement to purchase the land for $29.75 million.
"There was a very real threat of development on Rancho Corral de Tierra," Rust said. "Given the appreciation in real estate on the coast, the quest for luxury home sites in the area, and the development potential of this property, we felt there was substantial risk that it would be purchased by a developer."
The foothills of Montara Mountain create a dramatic backdrop for the residents of El Granada. By purchasing Rancho Corral de Tierra, Peninsula Open Space Trust establishes a firm boundary against suburban encroachment on the northeastern border of El Granada.
The land includes two of the four main peaks of Montara Mountain–Montara Knob and South Peak, which offer sweeping views of the entire Bay Area–and some of the richest farmland in Northern California. Brussels sprouts, pumpkins, leeks, fava beans, and peas are currently farmed on the property. Montara Mountain and the surrounding trails provide popular hiking, biking, horseback riding, and picnicking areas.
In addition to the existing agricultural, equestrian, and recreational activities on Rancho Corral de Tierra, POST's acquisition will protect all or part of four watersheds (the Denniston, San Vicente, Montara and Martini Creeks) and natural habitat for several endangered species of wildlife and vegetation.
The property supports the endangered peregrine falcon, San Bruno elfin butterfly, San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog. Healthy populations of fox, coyote, bobcat, deer, mountain lion, brush rabbit and eagle also reside on the land.
Because of the ocean influence and rapid altitude changes, plants grow on Rancho Corral de Tierra that are found nowhere else in the world. Native vegetation includes the endangered Hickman's cinquefoil, as well as the unique Montara manzanita.
Over four miles of the property's boundary are contiguous to existing public lands–state and county parks, the San Francisco Water Department, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).
POST hopes to transfer Rancho Corral de Tierra to federal and state ownership within three years, Rust said.
"We will work with the National Park Service to obtain Congressional approval to expand the boundaries of the GGNRA to include Rancho Corral de Tierra," she said. "To complete this purchase, we will be seeking approximately $15 million in federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Our challenge is to gain widespread support and raise the local matching funds needed to attract federal involvement and funding."