--Letter from Neil Nadler, Developer of Proposed Park--
Dear Castaic Town Council and Supporters of Castaic Action Sports Canyon and Business Park,

I sincerely appreciate your efforts regarding the Castaic Action Sports Canyon and Business Park project. I am deeply sorry to report that I am unable to proceed with the approvals on the Castaic Action Sports Canyon. As you know, I have spent over 18 months of my time and over $150,000 of my own money in pursuit of this project. I have paid for many engineering studies, sound studies, traffic studies, architects plans and six project revisions.

The Budget costs have exploded from my initial budget in April of 2005 of $3.0 million to over $10.0 million. This excludes the Castaic Business Park. I have pursued both public and private financing for this Motorized Off Highway Vehicle “OHV” Park and there is no individual or group interested in either loaning me the money or purchasing the land for an OHV park. The OHV Park does not make economic sense. Also, Public Funds for OHV may potentially be available in the future, however it could take up to five (5) years, and there are no guarantees of funding. It’s also subject to “political” influences.

Further, with the opposition to this project, the cost to get the project approved is approximately $1.8 million dollars. And, there are no guarantees that the LA County Board of Supervisors will approve the project. This $1.8 million dollars is money I am not willing to risk in hopes the Supervisors approve the project. It’s simply too great a gamble for me to take on.

In response to my critics saying that I had planned this out and intended on only doing the Business Park, I say to them I have had the Business Park planned first. Then I went to Castaic Town Council and Land Use for ideas on what to do with the remaining land. I could have processed the Business Park on the front portion over 16 months ago. I didn’t need to create controversy or waste time or money, which has occurred due to the OHV Park. To prove my point, just look at any article that appeared in any of the local or LA papers and you will see that almost 100% was written about the Motocross Park.

I know this OHV Park issue has divided some people in the Castaic community and I wished that did not occur. All I was attempting to do was provide the Castaic Community what was the most beneficial for the whole community. I did not generate the OHV idea and was encouraged to pursue it by members of your own Castaic Area Town Council Land Use Committee and Town Council.

As promised, I will be returning to the Castaic Town Council before I process any plans for the Business Park through the County Of Los Angeles.

Once again, thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.