Couple Donate Pristine Land to Conservancy

A pristine 80-acre parcel of chaparral-covered ridgeline that provides stunning views of the Ojai Valley has been donated to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, which will retain the tract in its natural state for perpetuity.

The conservancy was created in 1988 with the goal of preserving open space, including persuading property owners to allow the group to manage such lands in the public interest.

“This 80 acres is the first outright donation that we’ve received,” Administrative Director Richard Handley said. “We were holding our breath during the transactions.”

The land conservancy is also awaiting word on the potential donation of 1,700 acres of wild land near Rancho Matilija, as well as a federal grant that would allow the purchase of open space next to Nordhoff High School.

Santa Barbara cardiologist Dr. Joseph Ilvento and his wife, Judy Dean, donated the land, located off Reeves Road in the valley’s eastern end. The property is surrounded by Los Padres National Forest, between Thatcher and Ojai Valley schools.

The couple originally planned to live on the site, but changed their minds, Handley said.

A trail runs through the property, which is expected to be used for educational programs.

The donation is unusual in that similar contributions elsewhere have usually involved granting conservation easements to land preservation groups, an arrangement that guarantees such parcels will never be developed, but enables the donor to retain ownership, Handley said. However, Ilvento and Dean chose to make an outright gift of the land.

“In itself it does provide wildlife habitat and a wildlife corridor and it does provide a view shed,” Handley said.

“And because it’s the first gift, it will help encourage people in similar situations to come forward and see the advantages in doing this.”

Ilvento and Dean will be honored at a celebration this spring when the land will be dedicated in their names.