Cotoni-Coast Dairies added to national monument

Over 5,000 acres of rolling hills, redwood groves and sweeping vistas in Santa Cruz County are now part of the California Coastal National Monument.

On Thursday, President Obama designated the Cotoni-Coast Dairies as part of the existing monument.

Some are thrilled with the news. Others? Not so much.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta praised the new designation and it was welcomed news to local leaders.

“I’m acting as if I’m calm, cool and collected, and I am tremendously grateful and excited for this,” said Fred Keeley, a supporter of the designation.

“We are excited. This is a piece of property this community has fought to protect for a long time. It’s extraordinary that President Obama recognized it,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty.

The California Coastal National Monument was established by former President Clinton. The inclusion of Cotoni-Coastal Dairies adds a diverse landscape on 5,800 acres of land near Davenport.

“It’s where redwoods are. It’s where marine terraces are. It is where a unique blending of flora and fauna are,” said Keeley,

It’s also where the opponents are.

“Well, it’s always disappointing to lose a battle,” said Ted Benhari, a longtime opponent, who fought the issue for over two years.

Benhari and others worry the designation will add to traffic and impact local services.

“Mostly what our concerns are what’s going to happen to the neighboring communities? There’s nothing in the proclamation’s language that the supervisors of Santa Cruz County asked for dealing with emergency services and other impact on local services,” said Benhari.

He also complained about a lack of preparation.

“We thought that the planning should go on before the national monument designation the impact should be studied before that,” said Behnari.

Coonerty says the area won’t open until the county develops a plan.

“There really won’t be much access until we know how best to manage those visitors and the traffic and trauma that may come with them,” he said.

It will take up to three years before all the land is fully accessible. The Bureau of Land Management will spend that time conducting an impact study on the effects of added foot and vehicle traffic.