History of the Project and Old News
The initial home on the hill is planned to entirely block all access into The Forest of Nisene Marks via the Cabrillo Trail which starts at Cabrillo, continues up the hill commonly known as Cardiac Hill connecting to Westridge Trail and Aptos Creek Road. This home will be located on portion of the Koch Property that is bordered on 2 sides by State Park boundaries and contains significant Aptos Creek watershed. (Click here to see how you can VOICE YOUR SUPPORT for the Nisene 2 Sea Corridor)
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Developer’s Application for Approval of Past Illegal Grading
and Proposed Extensive New Grading of Home Site and Road Pending
The Santa Cruz County Planning Department is currently reviewing the Developers’ application for approval of their past illegal grading and proposed extensive new grading of road/driveway and home site. The extent of the required environmental review of the project is also under consideration by the County. Notification of proposed County action expected in late summer 2001. Public input needed. Click here for details.
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park General Plan Process
Addresses Needs for Additional Park Access Points and Proposes Connection
Between Cabrillo College Lands and Nisene Marks
In March and June of 2001, The Nisene 2 Sea Open Space Alliance, with the support of both of The Advocates for Nisene Marks State Park and the Sierra Club Ventana Chapter, presented details about its mission and the Nisene 2 Sea Open Space Corridor at the Public Workshops concerning the The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park General Plan. The response was favorable.
Click here for October 2001 Nisene Marks General Plan Newsletter #4
Click here for June 2000 Nisene Marks General Plan Newsletter #3
Nisene 2 Sea showed how acquisition will preserve and continue to permit a year-round western access to this park with open space links to the new Cabrillo College Environmental Horticulture and Botanical Garden, New Brighton State Beach, Seacliff State Beach, and the proposed Coastal Rail Trail.
Cabrillo College Environmental Horticulture and Botanical Garden
Adjoins the Koch Property; Construction Underway
Click headline for story. For further information about Cabrillo's Horticulture Program, click here for Cabrillo's site.
Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission
Draft 2001 Regional Transportation Plan
includes the Bike/Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 1
from Cabrillo College to New Brighton State Beach
Click headline for details.
Front Page Headline Article in Santa Cruz Sentinel
Addresses Corridor Issues
Click here for article, PLAN FOR DREAM HOME HITS OPPOSITION. By Brian Seals, Sentinel Staff Writer, April 10, 2001.
The Advocates for Nisene Marks State Park
Support Preservation of Koch Property and Nisene 2 Sea Corridor
Click headline for details.
Native Coastal Terrace Prairie Grasslands and
Ohlone Tiger Beetle Habitat on Koch Property
Recently, thanks to careful investigation by Randy Morgan a specialist on Santa Cruz County plants and other biotic resources, we have determined that there is extensive suitable habitat is present on the flatter portions of former Koch Property for the Ohlone Tiger Beetle (Cicindela ohlone), a federal candidate for endangered listing. In addition he found that most of the flatter portions of the property were originally covered by the native Coastal Terrace Prairie habitat (see www.cruzcnps.org/plant.html) and although some areas are now overgrown and fragmented by tree and shrub growth, the native grassland remnants are still extensive and in good enough condition in many places to support other special-status coastal terrace plants such as Plagiobothrys diffusus (San Francisco Popcorn Flower) and Holocarpha macradenia (Santa Cruz Tarplant). The native Coastal Terrance Prairie habitat is included within the native California grasslands which are considered the eighth rarest ecosystem in the United States. (Click here to see detailed report of Randy Morgan)