Group Forms To Head Off Neverland Development

Michael Jackson's former neighbors are organizing against any move to turn his former home into a tourist destination that could disturb the area's rural tranquility.

On Monday, the residents of Santa Ynes Valley announced a new group called "Never!" The group is backed by area community organizations that want to head off any attempts to convert the Neverland ranch in remote Los Olivos into a commercial venue like Graceland.

Spokesman for the group, Bob Field, said that the area doesn't have the roads, police or other infrastructure to support crowds drawn to a Graceland-like tourist attraction, which residents fear would disrupt the enclave's tranquility.

The Los Olivos Business Organization, which consists of wineries, restaurants and boutiques along the town's small commercial strip, released a separate statement on Monday stating its opposition to a Graceland-like venue as well.

Such development would require the property to be rezoned from agricultural to commercial use. This is a lengthy process that requires a series of public hearings where residents are able to express their opposition. Nicole Koon, a Santa Barbara County spokeswoman, says officials have not been contacted by the properties owners or the Jackson family about a zoning change.

Thomas Barrack, co-owner of the property also hasn't proposed developing the site, but Field said the Santa Ynez Valley residents in his group want solid reassurances that he won't.

We have received mixed messages, some reassuring, some troubling. We'd like clear, concrete signs that there are no plans to pursue turning this into a tourist attraction."

Field says he was suspicious of Barrack's motives after he invited local politicians and opinion leaders to the ranch for tours, followed by lavish breakfasts or barbecue dinners. Field says he joined one of the tours where a Barrack representative assured guests at the event that there were no immediate plans to attempt to have Jackson buried at the ranch or to convert it into a tourist attraction. But the representative did not unequivocally deny such plans. Field was also concerned that staff members at the event distributed baseball caps embroidered with "Neverland 2009" to the guests.

Source: MJFC / mymotherload.com