EAST COUNTY : Simi Valley Issue : Should the city sue Los Angeles to block the Porter Ranch development?

The city of Los Angeles has approved plans for the $2-billion Porter Ranch development in Chatsworth, which calls for 3,395 houses and 6 million square feet of commercial space. Simi Valley City Council members, who say the project would create tremendous

amounts of traffic and air pollution for the region, voted July 23 to sue Los Angeles over the plans. Some residents agree that legal action should be taken while others fear it would be a costly, losing battle. The deadline to file a lawsuit is Thursday.

* Glen McAdoo, Simi Valley city councilman

The city of Simi Valley is taking legal action against the city of Los Angeles to ensure that the environmental documentation is done properly. And that I support. It’s very hard for us to make a determination on the project itself without an environmental impact report that considers the cumulative impacts of what will ultimately be the district plan. Plus, there are a lot of other problems that we feel are shortchanged in the environmental document. Not that it’s not a complete document. It is, and it’s thick and it’s a fairly decent document but too many important factors have been shortchanged or overlooked. If it takes this type of action to get that done, and to get them to comply with the law, then yes, the city of Simi Valley should take action. I don’t know of anybody that’s trying to stop development of Porter Ranch, whether it be PRIDE or the city of Simi Valley. I do know that a great many people are very concerned about the size of that development in that particular location.

* Teresa Jordan, Simi Valley City Hall watchdog

Even though we’re outsiders, I think it is one of the most positive things our city has done. The concerned citizens of Chatsworth needed a prayer and our City Council’s following suit was the answer. As one who knows how important it is to fight for feasible and practical planning, in order to lessen the impacts on city services and residents, I’m glad we can be of help to those people. I’m not going to say we shouldn’t spend the money. At least I see it as helping those folks over there. I think the lawsuit is worthwhile. To me, it’s money well spent in the long run. The people there, and I myself, are not against the proposed project, but oppose its size. One reason I don’t oppose it entirely is because it contains provisions for senior and affordable housing. But I think they should scale it back, including the regional mall and the number of houses. And Simi Valley should sue to get guarantees for money for connector roads and freeways.

* Joe Trematore, Community activist

I think they’re stupid. In my opinion, the city of Simi Valley should not sue Los Angeles. To me, it’s uncalled for. That project has been in the paper more than one, two, three years. I can remember reading about it for four years. Why after all these years, when the City Council knew that project was going to go through, how come they weren’t there to represent the city of Simi Valley? There is going to be a problem with the traffic. I think the Simi Valley people should have realized as they drove over that freeway, like I do every day, that that area was going to be planned in the future if you kept looking at the north side. I think the reason why they’re doing it is, which is another thing I’m mad about, is because of the regional mall. We’ve wanted a regional mall as long as I’ve been living in Simi Valley. That’s all I’ve been hearing about for the past 23 years is a mall. And all of a sudden, we’re getting one in Porter Ranch. From my point of view, a lawsuit is ridiculous.

* Paul La Bonte, Environmental engineer and activist

Simi Valley is asking the city of Los Angeles to hold its developers to the same development standard as the city of Simi Valley does, namely compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. The city of Simi Valley perceives, and rightfully so, a severe economic and environmental impact upon the community, namely air quality and mobility. For those two primary reasons, yes, the city of Simi Valley should sue the city of L.A. My group, Save California, conducted an independent study of the environmental impact report and found it was a sham. The EIR for Wood Ranch and the specific plan together could be measured in feet. Unlike that, the Porter Ranch development, which is substantially larger than Wood Ranch, the EIR and the specific plan together are probably less than one-fifth the volume of the Wood Ranch development. The cost is not important at all. What’s important is the health and welfare of the city of Simi Valley and the lifestyle that these people enjoy here.

* Bill Jones, President , Simi Valley/Moorpark Republican Assembly

No, they shouldn’t sue and the reasons are twofold. No. 1--I will reflect a view of the Simi Valley/Moorpark Republican Assembly--we’re concerned this is happening awfully fast and we are very concerned how much in legal fees they could wind up racking up. You’re not just suing Moorpark here, you’re suing L.A. and a very large developer. And neither one of those entities separately, let alone together, have demonstrated any compunction at counter-suing. Point two is I don’t like this whole idea of one city suing every time another one is going to do a development. I think the City Council feels this looks good politically to beat their chests and be seen to be the heroes of the people protecting the people of Simi against this development. I think it’s unfortunate political posturing because the people of Simi and their grandchildren are going to wind up paying these lawsuits off for the next 40 years.