Letters : Community Development Gone Awry

My heart sank when I read the Dec. 7 article on the “Santa Clarita Growth Study.” The Planning Commission called upon to do the study are appointees of the Board of Supervisors. Together they are a reciprocal catering to the needs of developers--the kind of developers that get things done, but at the expense of long-range, comprehensive community planning.

I have attended meeting of this Planning Commission and observed it to be the ultimate in “I-could-care-less” about the needs of the people to be who will populate the Santa Clarita Valley. What irony then that this group be in charge of an impact “study.”

It is well-known that our schools right now are operating to maximum space capacity. Add 7,428 homes to this already crowded condition and only a ninny would need a “study” to justify the need for more schools, roads, teachers and water.

These same developers have contributed lavishly to defeat pro-bond issues M and Z, which would have alleviated the school burden by passing costs of schools on to the developer and/or the buyer. Not an ideal solution, but at least it would have been a means of evening the ratio of new students to the schools. Sure, developers are setting aside 30 acres for parks and schools. But do they say how much is for the schools? No. Space for senior high schools is recommended at 50 acres, junior high 15 and elementary 10 acres. So these developers are donating 30 acres? Big deal!

I, for one, request an objective impact report done by outside professionals who are in no way affiliated with Los Angeles or its Planning Commission. Anything less is a waste of time.

SYDELL STOKES

Valencia