Our Mission
Tejon Working Group Mission Statement
To preserve the biological, agricultural,
scenic and cultural resources of the Tejon Ranch through science-based
planning that is comprehensive and
inclusive.
The Tejon Working Group seeks to achieve their mission through a
number of initiatives including:
- Securing Appropriate State-level
Policies for the Ranch:
Federal and state interests related to the Ranch include: promoting
land uses on the Ranch that are compatible with Navy fly-over operations,
protecting endangered species and their habitat and protecting
prime farmland. A comprehensive
planning process would allow the two Counties and the Tejon Ranch
Corporation
to engage in a dialogue with key agencies and concerned stakeholders.
This approach would build consensus and identify shared solutions
to the very
real impacts of development on Tejon Ranch.
- Supporting Sound Local
Policies for the Ranch:
Both Los Angeles and Kern County are currently updating their General
Plans. Each of the proposed development projects on the Tejon
Ranch would require
major General Plan amendments to be approved. These General Plan
updates provide an opportunity for shaping the future uses of
the Ranch and putting
into place sound policies for conservation of the resources on
the Ranch.
- Conserving Significant Portions of the Ranch for Future Generations:
The Trust for Public Land and the Tejon Ranch Company announced an
agreement to conserve portions of the Ranch. The Working Group,
its partners and
the Conservation Biology Institute are working to ensure that
the right areas
of the Ranch are permanently conserved by prioritizing habitat
types and vegetation associations that are under-protected in the
region, identifying potential habitat for listed and sensitive species
that
may be present
on
Tejon Ranch, and ultimately working to target key areas for
acquisition
through purchase from the Tejon Ranch Company or dedications
in return for appropriate
development.
- Identifying Smart Growth Solutions for the Region:
The stakes are high for identifying "smart growth" solutions
for the region that direct new growth to existing urban areas,
provide jobs in
balance with housing and conserve high quality agricultural
and habitat lands. Air quality in both Kern and Los Angeles Counties
are among
the worst in
the nation. Growth occurring outside of existing communities
is costly and generates impacts related to loss of habitat, prime agricultural
lands, air
quality and traffic, among other significant impacts. The
Tejon Working
Group will commission a study to determine the economic and
environmental costs
of sprawl. This study will be completed with the participation
of the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development.
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