Impacts of any alteration of the soil runoff and sediment load increase to the West Parcel and Ocean should be studied. This erosion rate needs to be mapped out for the economic life of the houses being proposed to forecast future problems if the erosion rate on the West Parcel and the area immediately to the North of it proceeds at a rate that could cause the inland rerouting of Highway 1. All of the West Parcel, and most of the East Parcel, although zoned RM, have been identified as prime agricultural soils. Although agricultural preservation policies do not apply within the urban boundary, farming and ranching operations are part of the land's history and consideration should be given to the cumulative impact of the loss of the potential of these soils from the San Mateo Coast. Previously, the parcels were used for cattle grazing.
Local memory indicates the crop was generally irrigated artichokes and Brussels sprouts.
The USGS 1946 aerial indicates row crops on both parcels. El Granada School and what appears to be pasture land on the east parcel. The west parcel appears to be in agricultural use. Three or four years ago, the pasture was plowed and seeded to rye grass to enhance the horse feed. From the 1790s to the 1860s, these two parcels were grazing lands.