THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Case Study: Alese Bell, "Stewart St. Pocket Preserve" Cambria

Overview/History

During the 1930s, Cambria was subdivided almost entirely into 25x75-foot lots in hope of turning Cambria into a community of vacation bungalows. During the 1980s, planners and other conservation-minded officials recognized that Cambria was home to one of three Monterey Pine forests -- a species of worldwide significance along the Pacific Coast -- and realized that the numerous small lots and individuals interested in developing them posed a possible threat to this forest. Since 1986 The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has purchased over 400 of these lots and promised to perpetually steward these lands in hopes of preserving this forest.

Agency and Community Collaboration

• Cambria Community Services District
• Local neighbors

Property Description and Location

The Land Conservancy's Stuart Street Pocket Preserve (as it is informally known) is a property comprising five separate lots that make up an egg-shaped block in Cambria. It is about an acre in size and is zoned for residential use. The site hosts rare Monterey Pines while providing stunning views of the Santa Lucia mountain range to the east.

The property is located just west of Highway 1 in Cambria.

Conservation Tools Used

• Direct acquisition
• Annual weed abatement & maintenance

Our Goal

The goal of this project was to provide an area for neighbors to gather and socialize while simultaneously preserving the rare and significant Monterey Pine forest.

The Challenge

The main challenge on this project was obtaining funding to purchase and protect this unique property. The Land Conservancy had previously owned two of the five lots in question. The remaining three lots were appraised at $126,000. The Cambria Community Services District had given The Land Conservancy a $100,000 grant to purchase the property, leaving a $26,000 deficit. After an extensive grassroots fundraising campaign raised $17,500, local neighbors Bob and Alese Bell stepped in and paid the remaining $8,500 in hopes of preserving the character of their neighborhood and the Monterey Pines.

Special Considerations

This project was unique in that it involved the conservation of rare and endemic Monterey Pine Forest in an established Cambria neighborhood.

Actions

• Planning and research
• Site survey and analysis (define Monterey Pine areas)
• Mapping & site inventory (established baseline report)
• Grassroots organizing & fundraising
• Land acquisition and Long-term monitoring

Results

The collaboration of conservation-minded neighbors, a public community agency and a private land trust led to the conservation of a quiet, natural neighborhood commons boasting majestic Monterey Pines. This preserve has been coined the "Vince Howlett Memorial Forest" by the locals in honor of their neighbor Vince Howlett, who succumbed to an ongoing battle with cancer during the acquisition of this special property. The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County owns and maintains the site in perpetuity