Drone Day: ABC7 Soars Over Preservation Development

Sea Summit at Marblehead unveiled its 100-acre nature preserve and hiking trails. ABC7 TV unveiled its drone camera. It was a match made on land and sea and sky. 

Sea Summit at Marblehead in San Clemente is not only building a famously delayed coastal community, it is preserving and restoring over 100 acres of precious natural habitat. This includes a new wetlands preserve which provides a home for endangered waterfowl and helps divert and cleanse groundwater runoff during California drought conditions. The Center for Natural Lands Management meticulously oversees the preserve.

JSPR invited select media to join with The Center for Natural Lands Management and developer Taylor Morrison in a tour of the emerging community and nature preserve. And ABC7 News returned to shoot extensive drone coverage of the area.

Preservation Development

It has taken four decades for Sea Summit at Marblehead to get going. During that time, this precious coastal property underwent rigorous approvals and seemingly endless community input (and lots of opposition!) The recession also slowed things down: The  previous developer, SunCal, was backed by Lehman Brothers, one of the mega banks not to survive the financial meltdown.

But like a gem compressed over time, the final result is stunning. New developer Taylor Morrison Homes has begun integrating resort-style residences behind a nature preserve of canyon and bluff habitat. These more than 100 acres -- including 4 miles of hiking trails -- are overseen by the Center for Natural Lands Management. And the project enjoys widespread support.

Recent media attention has included an A-1 cover story in the Los Angeles Times and ABC7's Eyewitness News.