friends for flanders - Who we are

We are a group of passionate neighbors who have mobilized to protect the peace and beauty of our neighborhood and our beloved Mission Trail Nature Preserve (MTNP).  We have joined forces with our local volunteer organization, Friends of Mission Trail Nature Preserve (FOMTNP), who have a 16-year record of excellence in protecting and restoring the paths and plant life along the Mission Trails.

With their expertise and guidance, we have the oversight, organization, and infrastructure to commit to maintaining, renovating, and transforming Flanders Mansion into a relevant and purposeful asset that has a negligible downside impact on the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

Our joint purpose is to see Flanders serve our community’s needs without degrading the neighborhoods within which it resides.

Therefore, we sincerely believe that Flanders should neither be sold off as a single-family residence nor be turned into a public event destination under the guise of a “non-profit” organization. We believe Flanders should remain in service to the Preserve as it was initially intended and become a resource for all of Carmel in protecting its remarkable forests, natural habitats, and wildlife as we move into the future.

• Our plan is to establish a live-in ‘resident ranger’ to oversee the daily maintenance of Flanders Mansion, the Mission Trail Nature Preserve (FOMNTP), and Lester Rowntree Garden and provide continuity and direction for potentially two fellowship students for a set term.  FOMTNP would assume all oversight and responsibility for restoring, maintaining, fundraising, liability, and ensuring the Flanders building and property are integral to the Mission Trail Nature Preserve.

• We intend to partner initially with well-known, highly respected local conservation nonprofits or academic institutions that have established student-level programs for forest conservation, land stewardship, and climate change management, including best practices in fire safety. Flanders Mansion will provide housing for the ‘resident ranger’ and two fellows for a set term, using the Mission Trail Nature Preserve as their living laboratory. FOMTNP would select the candidates, but our fellowship partners would guide the curriculum and direction.

• Focusing on the maintenance and health of the entire Mission Trail Preserve, the Flanders Fellowship Program will keep surrounding neighborhoods intact without exposing them to traffic hazards or excess noise caused by using Flanders as an event space or public museum. Instead, it leaves the entire Preserve as it was intended: a communal space to be close to nature and enjoy its tranquility and serene beauty.

• We envision Flanders Mansion as a thriving, self-sustaining cornerstone of the Mission Trail Nature Preserve (MTNP), restored and protected to honor its legacy and historic designation while safeguarding its surrounding neighborhoods' safety, beauty, and tranquility.  

• By embracing a 99-year lease and leveraging tax-deductible private funding, we will forge transformative partnerships with highly respected local nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and private funders to create a consequential fellowship program. This program will become an indispensable hub for forestry expertise, environmental preservation, and innovative responses to the challenges of a changing climate.  

• Our vision embodies a harmonious balance between restoration, community needs, and environmental stewardship, specifically:  

  ·     Ensuring sustainable long-term support for effectively managing Flanders Mansion and the Mission Trail Nature Preserve.  

  ·     Strengthening forest and canopy protection to preserve Carmel-by-the-Sea’s unique natural beauty and character.  

  ·     Promoting responsible fire management practices to enhance safety in residential areas.  

  ·     Inspiring forestry & climate leadership, fostering community engagement, and protecting Carmel’s extraordinary forests, habitats, and wildlife.

Selling Flanders as a Single Family Residence:

While at first this may seem to be the most low impact solution, it’s not as simple as it seems; since Flanders is a public building, selling it as a single residence would require a public vote which would invite costly and time-consuming legal battles as it has in the past. Having a family inhabit Flanders would also likely require fencing around the property to avoid public access.  This would create an “in-holding,“ which reputable land conservationists universally agree is highly detrimental to successful land conservation projects—creating visual barriers, affecting the trail entrances, and requiring a reworking of the Preserve’s layout.

Making Flanders into an Event Space/Cultural Meeting Place:

Introducing a commercial video business in a nature preserve contradicts its purpose as a space for calm and reflection. MTNP is treasured for activities like dog walking, birding, hiking, and enjoying nature's serenity, and could face significant negative impacts from such a proposal.

The proposed “up to 99 person” limit for video and cultural events will likely cause significant traffic and parking issues in an area ill-equipped for large gatherings. Insufficient parking and noise from events would disrupt our quiet neighborhoods. An environmental impact study is necessary and would be time-consuming and costly, ultimately reinforcing the common-sense conclusion that this is an inappropriate use of Flanders, posing risks to our peace.s.