Ed Sauls

Edwin Sauls is President of The Sauls Company, a DBA of Development and Conservation Management, Inc. (DRE Broker ID# 02087949). Since 1979 his land use, strategic planning, government relations, entitlement, environmental and brokerage expertise has resulted in more than one hundred financially successful, community supported, development and conservation projects in

Southern California. 

Developments and Entitlement Approvals

Mr. Sauls has developed a wide range of projects in Southern California including master planned communities, mixed use development, residential subdivisions, multifamily housing and commercial centers in his professional career. He is the co-owner and Development Manager for the 51,000 square foot mixed use Downtown Marketplace in Murrieta, California. As President of The Sauls Company he is a partner in developing The Boulders, a 363-unit, 400-acre, planned development in Diamond Valley. He is the land a use consultant and co-broker for the Saddleback Valley Christian Schools in San Juan Capistrano comprising 58 acres with entitlements to build 470+ homes. Recently he completed approvals and the sale of The Summit, a 160-acre planned community of 350 dwelling units in Lake Elsinore and the sale of Hemet Marketplace for Woods Canyon Associates comprising a 62-acre mixed- use commercial development in Hemet CA. In 2020, he also accomplished approvals for Lake Street Properties LP, a 14-acre, with an 80,000 square feet commercial building a gas and convenience store at I-15 and Lake Street in Lake Elsinore.

Mr. Sauls background includes the Gordon Ranch comprising 2200 homes with an 11-acre shopping center in Chino Hills as Project Manager for Great Plains Western. He entitled this development while obtaining approvals of the 18,000-acre Specific Plan resulting in formation of the City of Chino Hills. As a principal of Woodsboro Development, he developed a mixed-use project comprising the 158-unit Woodmere Apartments and 12,000 square foot commercial office in Ontario. He was owner and homebuilder of Columbia Park Homes, a 45-home residential community in the City of Riverside in partnership with Sant Construction Company. He also managed the development and sale of Wilhelm Ranch, a multiuse 513 dwelling unit 345,000 square foot retail and commercial project in Riverside County.

Environmental Approvals

Mr. Sauls has successfully negotiated environmental permits for developments including approval of five Southern California Habitat Conservation Plans. He was a lead participant in planning agreements for three regional multi-species plans initiating endangered species conservation in more than thirty-five cities in the San Diego County and the Inland Empire of Southern California, sponsored four market-based conservation banks, and negotiated multiple state and federal endangered species permit and mitigation programs.

Policy and Legislation

Mr. Sauls has effected changes in State and Federal policies and legislation. He sponsored and negotiated changes to California State legislation to eliminate duplication in state and federal permits. He was co-consultant to Bank of America in developing the US Fish and Wildlife Service and State of California policy on Conservation Banking; a market-based mitigation credit program. He was an advocate for changes in state and national policy providing greater assurances to local governments and landowners for conservation planning, including the No Surprises Policy and multiple species planning.

Committees/Testimony

Mr. Sauls served as a member of the Advisory Committee to the White House Office on Environmental Policy sponsored by the Keystone National Policy Dialogue on Ecosystem Management, and served on advisory committees to City and County agencies. He testified to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources regarding Implementation of the Endangered Species Act in California and the Merchant Marine and Fisheries regarding Habitat Conservation Planning. He also testified to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Clean Water, Fisheries and Wildlife regarding Incentives for Wildlife Conservation on Privately Owned Lands. He also testified to the California Senate and Assembly Joint Committee in review of the Natural Communities Conservation Plan Program.

Honors & Education

Mr. Sauls holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from California State University at Fullerton, with a Major in Finance and emphasis in Real Estate. He founded, lectures for and earned the professional designation in Light Construction and Development Management (LCDM) awarded by the Home Builders Council of Southern California and University of California, Irvine. He is a licensed real estate broker and was licensed as a General Building Contractor. Mr. Sauls also serves as co-founder and CEO of The California Land Conservancy. Selected awards and honors presented to Mr. Sauls include 1990 Builder of the Year and 2000 Volunteer of the Year awards from Building Industry Association of Riverside County and the 1988 prestigious Case Bradford Award from Home Builders Council of Southern California for his contribution to industry education. He resides in Laguna Beach, California with his wife, Lisa where they raised their three sons and is active in church and local community non-profit organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Sauls were honored as Laguna Beach Citizens of the Year in 2010.