“Lantain Reveals Master-Plan—Santa Monica Mountains”
by Patti Bohn
Site of world’s largest development
In an exclusive Interview with this reporter, the
master-plan of the Mountain Park area of the Santa Monica Mountains was
outlined by Robert Shelton, former city manager of Newport Beach, and president
of Lantain Park Corporation. The Corporation is coordinating the planning and
engineering activities of the coming development which will cover an area as
large as Paris, France, and contain dozens of individual “villages,” power
plants, a lake, a dam, airports, schools, residences, hotels, civic and market
centers.
it is the largest planned building development in the world,
and it will have a phenomenal effect on the future of Topanga, the Valley and
Malibu.
The 11,300 acre area, nearly three times the size of Beverly
Hills, occupies the region extending from Sullivan to Topanga Canyon between
Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive. The property was purchased in January, 1960,
from real estate operator William Zeckendorff by a group of investing
corporations owned by Lazard Treres & Company, one of the country’s leading
investment banking firms, Roger L. Stevens, real estate investor with large
interests on the West Coast, and a small group of associates.
The planning and architectural firm of William L. Pereira
& Associates was commissioned to draw up a program to serve as a guide for
the ultimate development of the vast acreage. it was this dramatic master-plan,
representing more than two years of intensive research and study that was so
aptly explained by Mr. Shelton and Mr. David Parry, the head of the Public
Relations Department of the architectural firm of William L. Pereira.
Regional Influences
Mr. Shelton stated Southern California today is one of the
most rapidly growing regions in the world, and there is every evidence that
this growth will continue. Increasing pressures will be generated to develop fully
the Santa Monica Mountains, which represent an important potential new source
of tax revenue for the city.
Originally part of a large rancho, the property had remained
in one undivided parcel since it was bought in 1872 for a sheep ranch.
In 1960 the Lantain Park Corporation engaged William L.
Pereira and Associates to prepare a Master Plan for tile Mountain Park
properties and to act as planning consultants.
Land For Growth
This scenic land known as Mountain Park, nearly half the
size of San Francisco, is an area of great natural beauty, winding canyons, and
steep hillsides, with magnificent views of the city and of the ocean. Around it
the city is developing and at the present time Mountain Park remains an island,
unpopulated and untouched, mainly because it has a land configuration that does
not lend itself to creeping development.
By reason of its location. Mountain Park has certain unique
advantages. it has a mild, smog-free climate, with an average summer
temperature 15 degrees cooler than the San Fernando Valley and 8 degrees cooler
than downtown Los Angeles. Existing and future freeways will make it accessible
from all parts of the city and the surrounding area. The San Diego Freeway,
when completed, will bring the Los Angeles International Airport within a 25
minute drive.
It is the concept of the Pereira plan that Mountain Park can
become a self-contained community with a character unique among recent urban
developments. By compact grouping and high densities in the areas that are to
be occupied, a population of some 60,000 to 70,000 can be accommodated. In
accordance with this concept, villages would be composed of residential,
commercial, educational and recreational facilities in varying proportions.
Most of them would have one or more employment centers within easy distance of
the majority of the dwelling units. To add employment and to give economic life
to the communities, plans for a university, or graduate institute; a resort; a
trade or festival center and research and a development park are included.
In building, compactness will be the key, with densities reaching
100 persons per net acre in some areas. There would be easy access between the
various areas devoted to play, work, shopping and rest. Children should be able
to bicycle or walk to schools. The planned communities that are envisioned are
based on the principle of a small town with a market-place where it is easy for
residents to obtain such services as laundry, cleaning, medical and dental services.
Geology Report
The Geological reconnaissance of the property, including
reference to previously executed studies of the Santa Monica Mountain
formations, and site inspections have been performed by Engineering Geologists,
Russell Hood and William Schmidt who state the following in their report: “The
Mountain Park properties are located in one of the best mountainous areas in
Southern California from a geology standpoint. The region is underlaid by
generally sound, competent rocks which are readily adapted to engineered
construction. In general, good foundations exist and the few slope stability
problems that might be caused by grading can be anticipated and prevented with
proper investigation, design and construction. An abundance of good-to-excellent
rock and soil material for use as aggregate and earth fill occurs within the
property itself.”
A. Highways
The accessibility circulation concept of Highways will be a
key feature in the concept: an improved Mulholland Drive providing connections
to the Ventura and San Diego Freeways: an entrance link connecting Mulholland
Drive with an interior loop which has been named the “Rim Road”; the road
itself being the main loop for internal circulation. High shoulders of land
with views of the ocean, and overlooking lower Topanga Canyon, make up the
principal acreage of Topanga Ridge. Access is to be provided to the Rim Road
and its connections, by a road directly to Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
A distinct challenge to the planners and engineers of Quinton
Engineers Limited was proposed by architect Pereira, as the design and construction
of a network of roads must satisfy the transportation requirements and, at the
same time, conserve the natural landscape and scenery. The road routes will
follow the land contours, keeping the roads as inconspicuous as possible, with
a major effort made to hold the scarring gouging of the land to a minimum.
The key element, in the construction of Mulholland Drive
from the San Diego Freeway west to Topanga Canyon Road is included in the
city's Capital Projects List for final construction in 1966-67. Preliminary
right-of-way and route studies bare been accomplished by the city providing for
a road section with 48 feet of pavement and an 8 foot wide emergency lane on
each side. The Planning Commission has approved these studies, with the
condition that 120 feet of right-of-way be set as a minimum so that road may
eventually be widened to a full eight-lane expressway.
B. Drainage
The major portion of Mountain Park property drains in a
southerly direction toward the Pacific Ocean through the following natural
canyons:
Sullivan Canyon
Rustic canyon
Rivas Canyon
Temescal Canyon
Pulgas Canyon
Santa Inez Canyon
Parker Canyon
Land along the west line drains in a westerly direction
toward Topanga Canyon. Under the 1958 Los Angeles County Storm Drain Bond
issue, adequate storm outlets are being designed for the lower reaches of Temescal
and Puglas Canyons, and a proposed drain in lower Santa Ynez Canyon, where a
study has shown the physical feasibility of the construction of a dam. The
basin is designed so that a recreational lake, resort hotels, golf course and
resort center for trade and art can be developed.
C. Sewerage System
Logical development of land areas tributary to Topanga
Canyon calls construction of a gravity sewer system. It had been assumed that,
since there are no existing or contemplated county facilities in the Topanga
Canyon area, this system would connect to the City of Los Angeles trunk mains
for disposal. However, discussions with the city agencies so far do not
indicate a willingness to include the Topanga Canyon tributary area as a contributory
source at the city's presently overtaxed sewer system in Pacific Coast Highway.
Therefore, an alternate solution is proposed, pending construction of the
Topanga Canyon trunk and adequate facilities along the Coast Highway. In both
the Malibu and Topanga Canyon areas, construction of local sewage treatment
plants whereby the effluent from these plants would approach drinking water standards
and would provide irrigation and new life in old stream beds.
D. Water System
There are two primary sources of water supply available to
serve the area. They are the Pacific Palisades Reservoir, located to the south
and the Encino Reservoir, located to the north. The capacities of the two reservoirs
are 6.42 and 965 million gallons respectively. The amount of water available to
the Mountain Park property from the Palisades Reservoir has been set by the
Department of Water and Power at a maximum daily flow of 16 cubic feet per
second, or 10.34 million gallons per day, thus 1/3 of the population,
approximately 20,800 persons can be served with the remainder coming from Encino.
The location of pumping stations will be set to provide maximum flexibility
based on probable phasing of the development from elevations of 530 feet to
2140 foot systems. A proportionate refund basis for areas contiguous to Mountain
Park will be set up, from the proposed Mulholland station, based on acreage
served. The first party requiring water service will deposit funds with the
Department of Water and Power, to construct facilities. A proportional refund
will be paid as other areas press for similar services.
E. Gas System
The Southern California Gas Company already has an existing
30 inch, 300 pound pressure main that extends through property in Sullivan Canyon,
also 30 pound pressure distribution mains, varying in size from 6 to 12 inches,
south of the property along the Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard. As
needed, mains will be built to serve the area, from funds on deposit, which
will be refunded depending on actual usage as the Southern California Gas
Company provides for “free lengths" for various gas usages.
F. Electricity
Electrical distribution for the entire area is calculated as
full underground service. An electrical transformer and switching station will
be located as close to the electrical center of load as possible. This station
will both step the primary voltage of 34,500 volts down to 4,800 volts and
provide switching capability to 34,500 volt circuits. The service utility will
be the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
G. Telephone
The telephone system, as the electrical, will be
underground, except in selected service areas. Wherever underground, lines
would be run in concrete-encased duct banks and manholes. The serving utility
will be General Telephone Company of California.
(Information, and
acknowledgements, as well as photographs, concerning the creation of Mountain
Park, and its development through the Master Plan unit have been, and will be,
for future planned articles, introduced through the President of the Lantain Park
Corporation, Mr. Robert Shelton.)
