Lancaster Seeks Ritter Ranch Report
Stepping into the middle of a dispute over a huge residential development, the Lancaster City Council will ask the county to require an environmental impact report before approving a $13.6-million water system for the planned 7,200-unit Ritter Ranch project west of Palmdale.
The council voted 5 to 0 Monday to endorse a request by Mayor George Root that the report be required, amid concern that ground water pumped for the Ritter project could drain water supplies under Lancaster. Root said he will send the request to Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.
Last month, the Board of Supervisors postponed a decision on the developer-funded water system until July 16. Earlier in May, the Palmdale Water District and two area town councils filed a lawsuit challenging the county over not requiring the environmental review.
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