Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy: acquisition of real property.

Existing law establishes the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and prescribes the membership, functions, and duties of the conservancy with regard to the acquisition, preservation, and improvement of real property within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone, as defined. Existing law authorizes the conservancy to acquire and improve real property, or any interests therein, anywhere within the zone upon a finding that the action is consistent with a specified plan. This bill would exempt the conservancy's acquisition of real property or interest therein initiated after January 1, 2021, to address or resolve an encroachment, as defined, on real property owned by the conservancy from the Property Acquisition Law, unless the value of the real property or interest therein exceeds $500,000, as adjusted annually pursuant to the Consumer Price Index. The bill would, notwithstanding those provisions, authorize the conservancy to request the State Public Works Board to review and approve specific acquisitions. The bill would require the executive director of the conservancy, at least 45 days prior to the conservancy taking action to acquire the real property or interest therein, to provide written notice to the adjacent landowners and the city council or county board of supervisors where the real property is located. The bill would require the conservancy to hold a noticed public hearing when an adjacent landowner or a city council or a county board of supervisors where the real property is located objects to the acquisition before the conservancy votes to recommend an action by the conservancy. The bill would require the value of the real property or interest therein subject to acquisition to be determined by an independent third-party appraisal.