San Juan Capistrano’s Ecology Center could be getting a farm

San Juan Capistrano’s nonprofit Ecology Center could be getting a working farm, community gardens, a culinary/farm institute, a café and a special-events facility.

Not only would the plan expand The Ecology Center’s grow-your-own-food and sustainability programs, but it would add on-site public parking, sidewalks and other infrastructures.

The center, a popular San Juan attraction, is at 32701 Alipaz St., next to a privately operated 26-acre farm that the center hopes to meld into its programs.

City Council members liked the concept when The Ecology Center presented it Jan. 16, voting 5-0 to enter into a 90-day agreement to try to negotiate a proposal and possible terms for a lease with The Ecology Center.

The city owns both properties – the one-acre Ecology Center near the corner of Alipaz and Camino del Avion and surrounding farmland. South Coast Farms grows and sells organic produce under a lease with the city that expires in August. The Ecology Center is operating under a 20-year lease awarded by the City Council in 2016.

Evan Marks, who founded The Ecology Center in 2008, converted a 140-year-old house and a surrounding dirt lot into a discovery center he said has served more than 150,000 visitors.

“Our vision … with a greater footprint … is to build a world-class model for a community farm that inspires future generations,” Marks told the City Council.

The city purchased the land in 1990 through a bond election to preserve agriculture and community open space. The escalating cost of water has caused hardships for the farm, officials said, and over the last year, South Coast Farms and The Ecology Center discussed ways to preserve farming by making it a community-serving Ecology Center farm.

An institute would offer farming and culinary education; a “maker village” would incorporate artisan culture; a community grange would enhance South Coast Farms’ model of selling fresh produce straight from the farm, Marks said.

“This goes from a for-profit enterprise that is off-limits to a place that everyone feels is theirs,” he said. “The city was built on agriculture. You guys had a vision in 1990 to protect it. Our vision is to protect it forever. This is the business model that allows it to be protected.”

Marks said the center is prepared to invest up to $5 million and create up to 50 jobs. “Much of our work is funded through philanthropy,” he said, citing corporate and foundation partners.

Local resident Clint Worthington, addressing the council, said “it all sounds good” but that he has documented a long list of municipal code violations at the center including noise, dangerous parking situations and non-permitted activities.  “City Hall, you have a horrible tenant occupying taxpayer property who is unable to follow city, state and federal laws,” Worthington said.

“If that was the case, we certainly wouldn’t be recommending that we expand our relationship and partnership with them,” City Manager Ben Siegel responded. He said the center is responsive anytime issues are raised, and proposed on-site parking can address parking issues.

Resident Steve Behmerwohld said he knows no one else in town who dislikes The Ecology Center.

“I can’t think of anything that would do more to preserve the agrarian heritage of our town than this project,” he said.

Councilwoman Kerry Ferguson said she sympathizes about noise and parking complaints and hopes the plan will provide adequate parking and a shell that projects noise away from neighbors.

“With this amount of space, it should be possible,” said Ferguson, who supported the concepts.

Councilman Derek Reeve said South Coast Farms has faced challenges, while The Ecology Center is very popular with residents and a vibrant member of the community.

“If they can make this work and provide this service to our residents and guests, I think it’s something we should certainly explore,” Reeve said.