Angeles Forest : Forest Service Land Swap

U.S. Forest Service officials are proposing to swap almost 83 acres of Angeles National Forest land in exchange for 650 acres of private land in the Mt. Baldy Village area.

The forest land is in the northern part of the village where about 100 summer homes and resorts are located. The 650-acre undeveloped tract, owned by the San Antonio Liquidation Trust, is a riparian area south of the village along Mt. Baldy Road.

The Forest Service is completing environmental impact studies on the swap. To discuss the proposal, the federal agency has scheduled a public meeting Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Glendora Library, 140 S. Glendora Ave.

“The forest will benefit as far as acreage,” said Charlie McDonald, environmental coordinator for Angeles National Forest. “We’re giving up land . . . that is village in nature. We’re not into managing ‘cities.’ ”

Since the turn of the century, Mt. Baldy Village--which straddles the Los Angeles and San Bernardino county lines--has developed into a mountain community as the Forest Service has gradually granted permission for a collection of resort and vacation structures to be built. “It’s a major administrative headache for us,” McDonald said.

Written comments on the proposal can be sent to Angeles National Forest, 701 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91204. More information is available by calling the Mt. Baldy Ranger District at (818) 335-1251.