Editor:

Your article “Arkley v. Humboldt” (Nov. 26) implies that our companies that own the Loleta area land in question intend to develop it as a subdivision. Had your reporter contacted us before writing the article, he would have learned that we have no intention of doing so. Nevertheless, ascertaining the correct number of legal parcels on a particular property is only prudent land management.

Since July 2007 we have sought from the County Planning Department Certificates of Compliance. Inasmuch as the land is made up of a number of small parcels, the certificates would clarify the status of each. The process begins with a “Determination of Status.” The county’s instruction sheets states, “The purpose of the Determination of Status is to assist applicants in obtaining quick and accurate information of the legal status of parcels.” I do not know how the planning department defines “quick,” but I think almost no one would consider 18 months “quick”. That is the length of time we have been waiting for the certificates. We are aware of other land owners who have had similar experiences. We finally filed suit for the purpose of bringing the issue to a conclusion.

Meanwhile, all of the land in question is under lease for cattle ranching, have been planted with more than 100,000 redwood seedlings and are managed for future Arkley family generations which is hardly indicative of a “pending subdivision.”

— Randy Gans, Vice President of Real Estate, Security National

Ryan Burns responds: I appreciate Mr. Gans objection to not being contacted for the story. That’s a valid point. To clarify, though, I did not mean to imply that the companies in question intend to “develop [the land] as a subdivision.” Rather, my comment, “Perhaps looking to subdivide the property ...,” was intended as inquisitive: To what end are the companies pursuing these documents? Subdividing land is done for many reasons, and if my phrasing conjured images of a cookie-cutter housing development in Loleta, that certainly was not my intention.

I am puzzled by the “pending subdivision” in quotes at the end of the letter. That phrase did not appear in my story.

Regardless, cheers to the property owners for the redwood seedlings. They’ll be welcome residents.