Home Page for Save Banning Ranch.

We are a group of people that is against development of Banning Ranch. Banning Ranch is located along the Santa Ana River and Pacific Coast Highway, and is 412 acres of wetlands and adjacent bluffs and mesa. This property has escaped the residential development that is characteristic of much of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach due to its use for oil production. Banning Ranch is the largest piece of privately held open space in the West Newport Beach area. From the mesa on Banning Ranch, one has a beautiful panoramic view that stretches from the Santa Ana River to the Pacific Ocean. One can see Catalina Island, and enjoy cool ocean breezes. There is coastal sage scrub and Banning Ranch is the home to a plethora of wildlife including endangered species. Banning Ranch serves as a link between publicly owned open spaces on all sides. To the west of Banning Ranch are wetlands. Immediately north is the Talbert Nature Preserve and further up the river is Fairview Park. On the east side of Banning Ranch is Sunset Ridge that is dedicated to become park space. Finally, a parcel of undeveloped school district property sits on the eastern border of Banning Ranch. Below is an artists sketch of what we could have if all goes well. This could truly be The Westside's Back Bay.

The owners of Banning Ranch are AERA Energy, LLC. The owners are proposing to build 1375 homes, a shopping center and a resort on the site. Such massive development would result in the loss of open space and endangered species habitat, as well as resulting in the degradation of the adjacent wetlands which are already protected by current laws.

The Sierra Club's Banning Ranch Park and Preserve Task Force (link) is working to arrange a purchase of the entire area at a price agreeable to both the owners and public. Banning Ranch would then be able to join the previously described adjacent open spaces to create a "Greater Orange Coast River Park" which would encompass over 1200 acres.

The Task Force is affiliated with the Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club. Their work includes educating the public and local officials about Banning Ranch and securing funds for the eventual purchase of Banning Ranch. They have initiated dialogue with the owners who have said they will consider selling the property with the right offer. The passage of Proposition 84 in the November 2006 general elections makes available up to 25 million dollars for acquisition of properties along the Santa Ana River. The Task force is currently working to access as much of these funds as possible.

The Banning Ranch Conservancy (link), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is now on board as well to help save this area from development. All donations to this organization are tax deductable and are devoted to preserving the ranch as open space. Money donated to this organization is well spent and gets us that much closer to saving "The Ranch."

For volunteer information, event information, free bumper stickers, or any other questions you might have, please visit the contact page and send us an e-mail or give us a call. We need all the help we can get.