Open-space Protection Program - - CA Public Resources

Section § 33700

This section defines "mountainous lands" in the Coachella Valley area as land above the valley floor or above any alluvial fan as shown on a specific map from 1999. The conservancy can adjust the boundaries of these lands by up to 100 yards to avoid splitting lots or to match identifiable landmarks, as long as they don't harm important natural resources.

Also, if there's a discrepancy between the map and the written definition, the written definition is what counts. Additionally, "natural community conservation lands" are areas that need to be preserved to support a conservation plan recognized by the Department of Fish and Game.

(a) As used in this chapter, “mountainous lands” means all lands, irrespective of their angle of slope or other natural or manmade terrain features, within the territory of the conservancy that lie above the floor of the Coachella Valley, if there is no alluvial fan, or that lie above any alluvial fan extending onto the valley floor, as more specifically set forth in that certain map entitled “Coachella Valley Mountainous Lands Map” and dated ____ __, 1999, and placed on file with the Secretary of State, which map is hereby incorporated in this subdivision by this reference. The map described in this subdivision may be combined with, and made a part of, the map described in Section 33502.

(b) The governing board of the conservancy may adjust the boundary delineating mountainous lands within the conservancy’s territory, but not by more than 100 yards from the boundary mapped as specified in subdivision (a), to avoid bisecting any single lot or parcel in existence on January 1, 1991, or to conform the boundary to more readily identifiable natural or manmade features in existence on January 1, 1991, if the adjustment will not jeopardize any of the resource values specified in Section 33500. Any adjustment in the boundary shall be reflected in a revision to the map specified in subdivision (a), which revision shall be promptly filed with the Secretary of State.

(c) In the event of any inconsistency between the definition of “mountainous lands,” as set forth in this section, and the map described in this section, the definition shall control.

(d) As used in this chapter, “natural community conservation lands” means all lands within the territory of the conservancy, the preservation of which is necessary to implement a natural community conservation plan that has been approved by the Department of Fish and Game pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code.

mountainous lands Coachella Valley alluvial fan boundary adjustment resource values natural community conservation Department of Fish and Game conservation plan natural or manmade terrain territory of the conservancy parcel bisecting land preservation natural landmarks Fish and Game Code map revision

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 419, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2000.)

Section § 33701

This law states that the conservancy cannot directly take land through eminent domain, but they can ask the State Public Works Board to do so for uninhabited, mountainous lands in their area. The conservancy must notify relevant local or tribal authorities 60 days before making such a request. The State Public Works Board cannot proceed with acquiring the land if the land isn't mountainous or if there is an official objection from the relevant city, county, or tribal council made within 60 days of receiving the notice. However, these objections can be withdrawn later.

The conservancy may not exercise the power of eminent domain. The conservancy may request the State Public Works Board to exercise the power of eminent domain on behalf of the conservancy pursuant to the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The conservancy may initiate a request only with respect to uninhabited real property within the territory of the conservancy containing mountainous lands and after providing at least 60 days’ notice of its intention to request acquisition by eminent domain. The notice shall be sent either to the city in which the real property is situated; the county if the real property is situated in an unincorporated area; or the Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians if the real property is situated within the trust lands of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. The State Public Works Board shall not, acquire any real property by eminent domain in response to a request of the conservancy if either of the following is the case:

(a) No part of the real property is mountainous land.

(b) The acquisition is objected to by the city in which the real property is situated; by the county if the real property is situated in an unincorporated area; or by the Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians if the real property is situated within the trust lands of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. To be effective, the objection shall be made by a resolution of the city council, the county board of supervisors, or the Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, as the case may be, adopted within 60 days from the date of receipt of notice from the conservancy. The city, the county, or the tribal council, as the case may be, may at any subsequent time rescind its objection.

eminent domain State Public Works Board Property Acquisition Law uninhabited real property mountainous lands notice requirement city council objection county board of supervisors Tribal Council objection Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians trust lands land acquisition rescind objection real property conservancy request

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 963, Sec. 7. Effective September 27, 1996.)

Section § 33702

This law outlines rules for acquiring and disposing of real property by a specific conservancy. Typically, the acquisition follows the Property Acquisition Law, but there are exceptions for certain low-value properties. If the property is under $250,000 and located in a National Scenic Area or acquired by Riverside County due to tax default, it may bypass this law. Moreover, an advisory committee aids the conservancy in implementing community conservation plans, like those in Coachella Valley.

The conservancy can acquire property to fulfill its goals, often collaborating with public and nonprofit entities. However, selling or leasing mountainous or conservation lands is restricted unless approved by a significant vote of the board or local electorates. Transfers to entities focused on land preservation are allowed with specific agreements on land care. For non-mountainous lands, the conservancy has more flexibility in terms of disposal.

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the acquisition of real property or interests in real property under this division is subject to the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(b) Any acquisition of real property or any interest in real property within the territory of the conservancy that is located in an area designated as a National Scenic Area and that has a value of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), is not subject to the Property Acquisition Law.

(c) Any acquisition of real property from the County of Riverside that was acquired by the county as a result of the nonpayment of taxes, and that has a value of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), is not subject to the Property Acquisition Law if the Administrative Secretary of the State Public Works Board has received written notice that the conservancy has adopted a resolution requesting that the real property be removed from public sale and the Director of Finance has not, within 60 days from the date that the written notice was received, notified the executive director of the conservancy that the real property must be acquired under the Property Acquisition Law.

(d) The committee that is responsible for developing the Coachella Valley natural community conservation plan as of December 31, 1999, or any subsequent committee that is responsible for overseeing the implementation of any state-approved Coachella Valley natural community conservation plan, habitat conservation plan, or similar program, shall be the advisory committee to the conservancy in its implementation of any aspect of the plan or program. Prior to the acquisition of property or the taking of other actions in furtherance of the plan or program, the conservancy shall consult with the advisory committee.

(e) Except as provided in Section 33701, and subject to Section 33507, the conservancy may acquire any property, and any interest in property, on behalf of itself or a state agency represented on the governing board, within its territory if acquisition of the property is in furtherance of the conservancy’s purposes, as set forth in Section 33501. The conservancy may initiate, negotiate, and participate in agreements with local, state, and federal public agencies or nonprofit entities for the management of land under the conservancy’s ownership or control, in furtherance of the conservancy’s purposes. The conservancy may also hold, manage, maintain, administer, occupy, and care for that property in the event that no appropriate public or private entity is available to undertake that responsibility without cost to the conservancy.

(f)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the conservancy shall not sell, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of or encumber, any mountainous lands or natural community conservation lands unless authorized by a four-fifths vote of the governing board or a two-thirds vote of the electors residing within the conservancy.

(2) The conservancy may transfer any mountainous lands or natural community conservation lands to another public agency or to any nonprofit organization that has as its primary purpose the preservation, protection, or enhancement of land in its natural, scenic, historic, agricultural, forested, or open-space condition or use, if the transfer is authorized in the presence of a quorum and upon the recorded votes of a majority of the voting members of the governing board, and if the transferee agrees to hold, manage, maintain, administer, occupy, and care for the property in perpetuity and in furtherance of the conservancy’s purposes, as set forth in Section 33501.

(3) Any lease entered into pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed five years and shall include the express provision that the lease may be terminated at any time that the governing board determines that the land is needed for conservancy purposes.

(g) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) and the requirements specified in subdivision (f), the conservancy may sell, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of or encumber, property that is not mountainous land or natural community conservation land on any terms that are in the best interests of the conservancy.

property acquisition National Scenic Area Riverside County tax default properties conservation plans Coachella Valley advisory committee mountainous lands land preservation voting requirements land transfers public agencies nonprofit organizations land management land disposal

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 419, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2000.)

Section § 33702.5

This law allows the conservancy to secure rights to buy real estate completely or partially. They can also transfer these purchase options but must follow certain rules outlined in another part of the law.

The conservancy may enter into an option to purchase real property in fee or any lesser interest and may transfer an option subject to the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 33702.

conservancy real estate option to purchase fee interest lesser interest transfer of option real property acquisition purchase rights subdivision regulations property transactions

(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 676, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1993. Operative January 1, 1994, pursuant to Sec. 13 of Ch. 676, as amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1286, Sec. 6.)

Section § 33703

This law clarifies that the conservancy does not have the power to plan or control land use in Riverside County or its cities, except for land that the conservancy actually owns.

This division is not intended to infringe on the existing authority of the County of Riverside or the cities lying within the conservancy’s territory to plan and control land uses, and no provision of this division shall be construed as conferring on the conservancy the authority to plan or control the use of any land except those lands that the conservancy may acquire and hold.

Riverside County land use authority conservancy territory property planning local government control land acquisition conservancy land urban planning land ownership rights territorial jurisdiction planning authority municipal land control land use regulations property control conservancy rights

(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 977, Sec. 1.)

Section § 33704

This law acknowledges the important role played by the former Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy and its successor, the Coachella Valley Mountains Trust, in leading to the creation of the conservancy. It requires the conservancy to work together with the trust or any future entity, ensuring they coordinate their programs.

The Legislature hereby acknowledges the role of the former Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, a California nonprofit corporation, and its successor, the Coachella Valley Mountains Trust, a California nonprofit corporation, in providing the leadership within the community that led to the creation of the conservancy pursuant to this division. Accordingly, the conservancy created by this division shall consult, and coordinate its program, with the trust, and any successor entity, for as long as it may exist.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Coachella Valley Mountains Trust nonprofit corporation community leadership conservancy coordination program collaboration successor entity community engagement environmental leadership California nonprofit

(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 977, Sec. 1.)