Developers face costs for saving frog in Calif.
The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 7, 2009; 9:09 PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Federal wildlife officials estimate that measures needed to protect the California red-legged frog will cost developers up to $507 million over the next two decades.
The cost to developers of regulatory delays and of buying land elsewhere to offset projects they are building on frog habitat were among the factors federal officials considered.
Al Donner, a spokesman for the federal agency, says developers could save money if they start the regulatory process early.
The frog, the largest species native to the Western U.S., was listed as threatened in 1996.
Editor's note:
Of the 1.8 million acres of critical habitat designated for the red legged frog, no part of Pacifica, or Sharp Park, is a part of that designation. (FYI, "critical habitat" is the legal designation for properties/habitat considered critical to the survival and/or recovery of the species in question)
4 comments:
There may be a lack of San Francisco Garter Snakes at Sharp Park Golf Course, but there certainly is no lack of "snakeoil" in the battle for determining the fate of the historic Alister MacKenzie Sharp Park Golf Course...
The cost of protecting the controversial red legged frog and San Francisco Garter Snake habitats at that course is becoming not only a financial challenge, but a moral one as well...if the latest Mitigation Banking Concept, as presented by the opponents of the Sharp Park Golf Course, takes place.
According to a recent report out of Sacramento on October 7th, developers are facing high costs for saving the frog in California...The high cost to developers of regulatory delays and of buying land elsewhere to offset projects they are building on frog habitat were among the factors federal officials cited in the report...
It is stated in this same report that developers will be paying up to $507 million over the next two decades. What might this mean for the possible fate of the Sharp Park Golf Course? And just what is it that developers might be buying?
Well, it's still in the investigative stage by the SF RPD, but rumor has it that the "plan" is to dismantle the historic course and make the Sharp Park Golf Course links into a "frog farm" by dividing up the golf course land, and possibly even more acres of the Honora Sharp estate land, into one acre parcels and then trading them for $2-$3 million dollar "credits" to developers in a plan called "Mitigation Banking".
This is what has been said to have been presented to the San Francisco Rec and Park Dept by those that are advocating for the closure of the Sharp Park Golf Course.
The "Mitigation Banking" concept has been presented to the SF PROSAC Committee. as being a source of "free money" to San Francisco, undoubtedly to heavily entice San Francisco to adopt the "plan".... Sounds like we are talking more about "snakeoil" salesmen than snakes, folks...Because there is one thing that we in this world all know...there is no "free money"...somewhere, someone pays...
And what do these "mitigation" credits do? What exactly is being "mitigated"? Well, it seems that they will allow the killing of frogs and other animals elsewhere, while they preserve the frogs here... Yes folks, it seems that if you pay enough to save and enhance the frogs in one zip code, you've got the "license to kill" the frogs in another zipcode...
Now, how "morally bankrupt" and "morally corrupt" is that? What happened to the "higher moral authority stance" of protecting the animals, period?
Another piece of "collateral damage" with this plan is the apparent manipulation of our own kind hearted and environmentally sensitive Pacificans, who have joined forces with these "carbetbaggers" but, with the object of saving animal lives in mind as a goal...not the taking of animal lives as a result...
What about the other animals in the other zipcodes that will be killed by those deep pocketed developers? Do their lives not count for anything?
Those in favor of saving the Sharp Park Golf Course want to keep everyone safe...snake, frog and golfer...with no killing anywhere...granted you might not make the big bucks that you could get from allowing the killing of animals elsewhere, but you can sleep at night and you won't be pitting Pacifican against Pacifican, while catching the midnite train out of town, with a satchel full of "blood money"...now tell us, what's wrong with that?
Why do these outsiders come in and tear Pacifica apart? (Or am I only allowed to use that one for out-of-town developers?)
In response to "woman in a frog costume", I think you want to separate-out the two issues which seem to be confused for you. One is tearing down an existing 77 year old, historic golf course without valid cause in favor of a sand, rock pile. The other is providing an economic base for this city on a needed, substantial scale. Outside, larger developer corporations have the resources and the expertise to do that.
This piece on the potential deleterious effects of Mitigation Banking concepts is spot on! And, probably the only place the general public will get to read it...
Normally I look for this type of in-depth reporting on Pacifica Riptide, but apparently those days have gone...Pacifica Riptide has lost it's balance. It's a shame. It was once on the "cutting edge", now it's simply "over the edge"... Move over Riptide...looks like there are some new kids in town and they definitely know how to play the game...
The Riptide Editor has a new title with his "enhanced" business venture...no longer fair and balanced "Editor", bur rather bought and paid for "Press Agent"...
Looks like "fixpacifica" is going to do just that...fix Pacifica! Rock on! A new day has come!
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