Skyline Field Office

Need for a More Functional Workspace

Midpen staff have been working at the current SFO site since the mid-1980s, and the current SFO office building has been in use since its construction in 1996. Since then, the acreage of open space land that SFO staff care for has more than doubled to over 41,000 acres, out of Midpen’s approximately 70,000-acre total.  

In order to meet expanding land management and public safety responsibilities, the number of open space technicians and rangers based out of SFO has also grown. However, staff have run out of room at the current SFO to carry out their responsibilities effectively and store the necessary tools and equipment needed to manage open space lands. The site cannot accommodate further growth.  

An appropriately sized facility and site with an efficient layout will provide current and future SFO staff with the space needed to properly plan and carry out their field assignments to further Midpen’s mission of protecting, restoring and expanding access to open space lands. 

The new office is expected to accommodate approximately 70-75 staff members, accounting for projected staff growth and equipment over the next 30 to 40 years. This expansion is critical to supporting the operations of Midpen’s SFO staff and enabling them to deliver on key public safety services, including wildland fire resiliency work and emergency first responder duties in the Skyline region.

Selecting an Appropriate Site

Midpen assessed three sites based on several criteria to determine which location would best meet project goals and needs while minimizing environmental and visual impacts. At a public meeting on January 22, 2025, the Midpen board of directors reviewed this assessment and selected a portion of the Sherrill site in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve as the location for the new SFO. The site used to be the location of a former winery and includes approximately 2 acres of the 52-acre Skyline Christmas Tree Farm. Midpen is working with the Skyline Christmas Tree Farm to minimize impacts to their operation. Midpen is currently developing schematic designs for the new field office.