Millwood Bust: Rancher Fills Creek with Debris

PACIFICA — A ranch owner has run afoul of city, state and federal laws by building several horse structures without a permit and endangering local wildlife habitat by illegally filling a creek with construction debris, according to officials. Millard Tong founded Millwood Ranch four years ago, a 166-acre horse boarding and riding facility tucked into the hills behind Pacifica's Linda Mar neighborhood. In the past year and a half, he has received five stop-work orders from Pacifica building officials for illegal construction work, ranging from July 2008 to November 2009. Tong finally halted his construction work on Nov. 4 after city officials arrived with police officers, according to city officials. The most serious violation at Millwood Ranch involved the illegal dumping of soil in an 85-foot stretch of sensitive creek bed in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. This prompted a cease-and-desist order from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late October and could make Tong liable for serious fines and cleanup requirements.....CLICK LINK TO READ FULL STORY BY JULIA SCOTT

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_13931814

Comments

[todd bray]

Craigslist killed newspaper ad revenues.

Clark, the property is behind Terra Nova's new football field and can be accessed from Everglades (the street Larry De Martini lives on) by turning down Picardo Ranch Road where it intersects with Everglades.

[Steve Sinai]

"Please place Millwood on a map to give an accurate picture of the location."

If you go to Google maps and type in "1 Picardo Ranch, Pacifica, California" you'll see where Millwood is.

[Lionel Emde]

The Chronicle says it showed a profit recently--by doubling the subscription rates!
Ad sales are no longer the "business model" by which they operate. Is that sustainable? We're not happy with their decline in quality.
Medianews (virtually every other paper in the Bay Area) has a huge debt that could wipe them out if their creditors yank their chain.
BTW, Trib editor E. Larsen promised this story will be in the Trib next Wed.

[Clark Natwick]

Please place Millwood on a map to give an accurate picture of the location.

[Bruce Hotchkiss]

Okay, a little off topic, but following Lionel's reply, I read yesterday that two newspapers are seeing signs of a turnaround in ad revenues. Maybe the general public has realized that instant "news" from bloggers is not always that reliable?

[Lionel Emde]

"How come the frog lovers aren't screaming about Millwood??"

It's got to come to public light before anyone decides what to say about it. This is why it's so dangerous that newspapers, as well as frogs, are endangered.

[Bruce Hotchkiss]

I love frogs - a lot of butter, a little garlic - excellent!

[Dan Underhill]

Are there frog lovers who aren't screaming about Millwood???

[jim alex]

San Pedro Creek has a branch that flows right through Millwood Ranch, under Oddstad Boulevard, and into the main part of the creek behind Park Mall. How come the frog lovers aren't screaming about Millwood??

[todd bray]

Pleading ignorance is not a defense.