Hearings Set on Impact Reports

Hearings on the environmental studies for the proposed Ahmanson and Jordan ranch developments in southeastern Ventura County will begin Wednesday afternoon at the county Hall of Administration in Ventura.

The county’s Environmental Report Review Committee will hold its public hearing on the Ahmanson Ranch study Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors hearing room.

The committee’s Jordan Ranch study is set for Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m in the multipurpose room of the administration building.

The hearings will focus on whether the environmental studies are sufficient to meet legal requirements. General testimony about the projects’ merits will not be allowed, county officials said.

“We are concerned that some individuals . . . may be frustrated if they take time off work or other obligations to attend these hearings only to be told that their comments are inappropriate at this time,” said Bruce Smith, manager in the county Planning Division.

The merits of the projects will be argued in public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors early next year, officials said.

Development of the two ranches, which abut Los Angeles County, has sparked debate in both counties for two years.

The Jordan Ranch development also became a federal issue early this year after entertainer Bob Hope offered to transfer 5,700 acres of mountain property to a state parks agency for a below-market $10 million in exchange for approval of plans to build 750 houses and a tournament golf course on 1,200 acres of the ranch.

The 5,477-acre Ahmanson Land Co. proposal includes 3,000 houses and two golf courses, 238 acres of office and industrial development and 3,018 acres set aside as public open space.