Native American tribes and developers agree on Banning Ranch plan

NEWPORT BEACH – Plans to clean up and preserve a significant portion of an aging oilfield for biking, hiking and an education center have been endorsed by two Native American tribes with ancestral ties to the land.

Representatives from the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians and the Tongva Ancestral Territorial Tribal Nation sent letters to the California Coastal Commission on Aug. 4 in support of a two-part proposal to clean and restore 310 acres of 401-acre Banning Ranch and build residential and commercial structures on the remaining land as long as sacred grounds are not bothered.

“The land owners have done exceptional work to include us in an extraordinary manner,” said Tongva tribal administrator John Rosas in a letter.

Development consortium Newport Banning Ranch is proposing to build an 895-apartment complex, a 75-room hotel, 20-room hostel and a small commercial center on another 70 acres.

“To fund keeping that open space, NBR will develop about 20 percent of the land,” said Sam Singer, spokesman for Newport Banning Ranch.

The agreement could clear the way for construction on the largest stretch of undeveloped, privately owned coastal real estate in Southern California after more than three decades of failed negotiations on how to develop the land.

Tribe officials and the developers agreed that sacred areas, such as burial grounds, would not be disturbed, said Andy Salas, chairman for the Mission Indians.

The Coastal Commission on Thursday gave developers the go-ahead to begin digging on the property to determine if there are any archeological or other Native American artifacts. Work could begin as early as Monday, and officials from both tribes will be allowed to monitor it.

“They’ve agreed that if they find anything within that 20 percent, they will immediately stop and preserve it,” Salas said. “I’ve never worked with a developer going out of their way to fulfill the need of us natives to protect those sites.”

The project will be funded through private sources, Singer said.

The Newport Banning Land Trust will assist in the clean up of the land and then take charge of it once complete.

“It’s an operating oil field and it’s highly impacted,” said Executive Director Robyn Vettraino.

The group plans to work with the tribes to build a Native American educational center, create childrens’ nature programs and maintain the planned 7 miles of hiking trail.

Plans to build on the property, located above the Pacific Coast Highway south of the Santa Ana River, intensified last year when developers asked the commission to build 1,375 homes. The commission indicated it preferred a modified plan that called for fewer homes.

The commission is expected to hold a final vote on the project in September.

Contact the writer: B714-796-2478 or lcasiano@ocregister.com

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