I was traveling through DC with my politically educated uncle and I asked why they did not simply widen the streets as the traffic was horrible. He said there were laws about not being able to remove (I think) plaques and monuments. He started pointing out monuments. There were enough that it would be impossible to widen the streets.
Once land has been designated as a monument (and probably other designations) it can’t ever be changed or developed differently. The idea in California is to prevent access to oil, minerals or other development. This is intended to purposely hold back the economy. It is to hurt America.
You were right on “other development”
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2009/10/un_agenda_21_coming_to_a_neigh.html