Open space will be the unifying element of Las Lomas. By clustering homes and other structures on the 550-acre site, more than half of the property will be preserved as open space for neighborhood parks, trails and nature preserves.
The site is located at the confluence of the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountain ranges. Natural open space preserves will be included on the site in various areas along the project’s perimeter. Within the developed portion of the project, “open space designations” will be located to serve the Las Lomas communities. Additionally, the creation of vista points, trails and paths would facilitate the use of active and passive open space areas.
Specific open space and green space attributes include:
- Animal culverts: A bridge over The Old Road will provide animals, currently isolated by the I-5 and SR-14 freeways, greater freedom of movement between the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountain ranges.
- Oak trees: The project site has approximately 3,000 on-site and existing oak trees which will be retained to the greatest extent possible. Oak trees that must be replaced will be replaced at a 2:1 ratio. Trees designated as heritage oaks will be replaced at a 10:1 ratio. Las Lomas will have an on-site oak tree nursery that will harvest acorns from area trees. This nursery will ensure that trees from the same genetic strain will be repopulated in the surrounding area.
- Urban reforestation: Las Lomas will work with Trees for a Green Los Angeles, an organization designed to provide trees for neighborhoods in urban areas, specifically the Northeast San Fernando Valley, South and East Los Angeles, and other key environmental non-profits to reforest Los Angeles with trees from Las Lomas.