This article was contributed by San Benito Agricultural Land Trust.
The San Benito Agricultural Land Trust (SBALT), in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), is pleased to announce it has secured an opportunity to purchase a 540-acre [section of the historic] Nyland Ranch and preserve the land for continued cattle grazing and open space.
Located directly south of San Juan Bautista and Highway 156, the property was recently slated for a Formula One racetrack with a raceway, vehicle technology testing facilities, convention center, luxury hotel, and condominiums all being proposed for the site.
With the property now under contract, SBALT has the ability to purchase the land and preserve the ranch forever.
“The proposed acquisition of this [large portion of] Nyland Ranch not only represents an opportunity to protect continued grazing of the land, but also the bucolic and rural feel of historic San Juan Bautista”, said SBALT Board Member Emily Renzel. “The Land Trust is truly excited about this opportunity and we are hopeful our current fundraising efforts will succeed within the timeframe agreed to with the landowner.”
San Benito Agricultural Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land will now begin applying for a number of public grants available through the State of California, while also reaching out to local elected officials for political support and to community members to help raise the necessary funds to acquire the ranch. If successful, a closing would occur by late 2019.
On Tuesday May 15th, SBALT will participate in San Benito Gives, an online fundraising drive for local nonprofits, hosted by the Community Foundation for San Benito County.
The San Benito Agricultural Land Trust (SBALT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage and facilitate preservation of productive and regionally significant agricultural lands within San Benito County through acquisition, holding, monitoring and managing conservation easements and real property interests in a manner designed to protect and enhance sustainable agricultural production and maintaining the rural character of the county. For more information, visit www.sanbenitolandtrust.org.
