Banning Ranch neighbors fear expansion

The Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission faced a tough crowd Wednesday night, when elements of the Santa Ana River Trail Vision Study were met with vociferous opposition from neighboring residents.

The study, part of a multicity initiative providing recommendations for habitat restoration and passive recreation activities along the river, identified a number of access points and other feasible recreational facilities that could enhance the river bank trail.

Some neighboring residents, however, voiced a number of concerns, including increased foot traffic around their quiet neighborhoods and fears about a possible rise in crime.

Of particular concern was a proposal included in the study that would provide access to the trail via the east side of the Banning Ranch channel — a place residents said was notorious for violent crime, gang activity and other unsavory elements.

The commission heard numerous horror stories of sexual harassment, hate crimes and even the attempted assault of children along the trail — all things commenters feared would increase should public access be granted nearby.

“I’ve been out in my backyard with my 5-year-old niece and have had to endure pedestrians throwing rocks at my niece across the channel into my yard,” resident Marianne Plunkett said. “I just thank God they were across the channel width and not in my backyard.”

Clay Epperson, a Costa Mesa Police Officer, said he “strongly opposed” opening Banning Ranch as an access avenue for the Santa Ana River, saying the move was “disturbing and reckless.”

“I’m on that trail all the time, and I’m aware of the good parts and bad parts,” he said.

“There’s an out-of-control homeless population on that trail, even a homeless homicide on that trail, and my crew has worked on an ongoing serial harasser of women on that trail — substance abuse, tagging, and so on. I use it with my children, but I would not let them use it alone.”

Commissioners were quick to point out the document was merely a study identifying potential projects, not a plan with which the city would necessarily move forward.

“I think we should send (this report) onto the council as it is,” Chairman Robert Graham said. “These are all good opportunities, and as time goes on — 50, 100 years — if these trails need widening, we’ll have (this report).”

Commissioner Mike Brumbaugh thanked those who offered public comments for bringing their concerns to the commission’s attention, and urged the City Council to address some of the problems raised by residents.

“I’m hearing a lot about safety — from what I understand and what I’ve heard, we have existing problems,” he said. “So, the first thing I think we need to pose is: How do we take care of the existing problems? I agree we shouldn’t enhance any of these problems, but let’s start at square one — police department, city council.”

Ultimately, the commission voted to present the City Council with the study, with attached concerns expressed by residents and members of the commission.

The commission also recommended proposed expansions of the Costa Mesa Bark Park, which would broaden both the small and large dog sections. Both proposals will be heard by City Council sometime later this quarter.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].