October 28th 2024.
For almost ten years, developers have been attempting to construct a sand and gravel quarry on Sargent Ranch, a vast property spanning 6,500 acres along Highway 101 south of Gilroy. This land is rich in cultural history, teeming with wildlife, and has seen numerous unsuccessful development proposals over the years, ranging from golf courses to a casino.
The quarry project has been met with strong opposition from environmental groups, multiple city councils, including those in Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale, and the Amah Mutsun tribal band, who have inhabited the area for thousands of years. However, in a significant turn of events, a portion of the Sargent Ranch will now be preserved as open space.
Thanks to the efforts of the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), a Palo Alto-based environmental group, a deal was closed on October 18th to purchase 1,340 acres of land along the southwestern edge of Sargent Ranch. Known as Pescadero Ranch, this rustic landscape is home to oak-studded hills, pastures, and streams, and is even larger than San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Ezekiel Schlais, a senior property manager at POST, describes the property as "inspirational" and "unique." He explains that while there are some cattle fences and dirt roads, the majority of the land remains wild and untouched. As part of the deal, POST plans to continue allowing cattle to graze on the ranch, but their ultimate goal is to transfer the land to another owner who will be legally bound to keep it undeveloped.
It is unclear how this deal will affect the quarry project on the remaining portion of Sargent Ranch, which has been a contentious issue in the South Bay for several years. The property is currently owned by an investor group led by Howard Justus of San Diego. In 2022, the owners completed a draft environmental study for the quarry project, and the Santa Clara County planning officials are currently responding to over 10,000 public comments on the plan. It is expected that a final environmental report will be released next year, and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will vote on the project in late 2025 or 2026.
Justus, who could not be reached for comment, previously stated in a 2019 interview with the Mercury News that the quarry would provide much-needed sand and gravel for building projects in the Bay Area and would only affect a small portion of Sargent Ranch. He also expressed a willingness to allow public hiking on the property.
Justus's group purchased Sargent Ranch in 2013 from Wayne Pierce, a developer who had tried to build various projects, including golf courses, hotels, and a casino, but ultimately filed for bankruptcy. In 2017, Justus sold 1,340 acres of the property to investor David Wallace, who considered different plans before ultimately agreeing to sell to POST.
Wallace explains that their initial goal was to develop the land in a way that respected its natural beauty while also maximizing economic returns. However, after spending time on the property, he came to the realization that preservation was the best path forward. With this new deal, it seems that the Sargent Ranch will remain a beautiful and untouched piece of land for generations to come.
For nearly ten years, developers have been determined to establish a sand and gravel quarry on Sargent Ranch, a vast 6,500-acre property located along Highway 101 just south of Gilroy. This property holds a significant cultural history, is home to a diverse range of wildlife, and has seen numerous failed development proposals, from golf courses to a casino.
The quarry, situated on one of the largest remaining private undeveloped landscapes in Santa Clara County, has faced strong opposition from environmental groups, as well as several city councils, including those in Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale. The Amah Mutsun tribal band, who have inhabited the area for thousands of years, have also been vocal in their opposition to the project.
However, in a significant and welcome shift, it has been announced that almost 20% of the original Sargent Ranch will now be preserved as open space. This exciting development comes as the Peninsula Open Space Trust, an environmental group based in Palo Alto, recently finalized a $15.6 million deal to acquire 1,340 acres of land on the southwestern edge of Sargent Ranch. This property, known as Pescadero Ranch, is a picturesque expanse of rolling hills, oak trees, pastures, and streams, covering an area 30% larger than San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
According to Ezekiel Schlais, senior property manager for the Peninsula Open Space Trust, Pescadero Ranch is a truly special and unique property that is sure to inspire all those who visit. He notes that the land has remained virtually untouched, with only a few cattle fences and dirt roads, making it an ideal location for nature lovers and hikers.
Despite the trust's plans to continue grazing cattle on the ranch, their ultimate goal is to transfer the land to another owner, such as a rancher, tribe, parks agency, or another suitable entity. This transfer will come with legally binding language in the title, preventing any future development on the land.
It remains unclear, however, what this deal means for the future of the quarry project on the rest of Sargent Ranch, which has been at the center of a heated land use battle in the South Bay for several years. The ranch is currently owned by an investor group led by Howard Justus of San Diego, who completed a draft environmental study for the quarry project in 2022. County planning officials are currently reviewing more than 10,000 public comments on the proposal, with the aim of releasing a final environmental report next year. A decision from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on whether to approve or deny the quarry is expected to come in late 2025 or 2026.
Unfortunately, Justus was unavailable for comment on this recent development. However, in a 2019 interview with the Mercury News, he stated that the quarry would provide much-needed sand and gravel for construction projects in the Bay Area. He also assured that the project would only impact a small portion of Sargent Ranch, and he would be open to allowing some public hiking on the land.
Justus, who also serves as the managing director of Debt Acquisition Company of America, purchased Sargent Ranch in 2013 from Wayne Pierce, a La Jolla developer who had previously attempted to build golf courses, hotels, a casino, and other projects on the land, only to file for bankruptcy. Four years ago, Justus sold 1,340 acres of Sargent Ranch to David Wallace, a Danville investor who considered various plans for the property before ultimately agreeing to sell it to the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
In a statement, Wallace explains that his initial goal was to develop the property in a way that would respect the land while also providing a good economic return. However, after spending more time on the ranch, he came to the realization that preserving it was the best course of action. This sentiment is shared by many who are delighted with the recent land deal, which will protect this beautiful, untouched piece of property for generations to come.
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