SIMI HILLS : Ahmanson Ranch Lawsuit Considered

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will decide today whether to follow the city of Calabasas and sue to block the massive Ahmanson Ranch housing project in the Simi Hills.

Although the 3,050-home project will be built entirely within Ventura County, its only access will be over Los Angeles County roads. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved construction of the development Dec. 15, despite a storm of protest from officials in western Los Angeles County who complained that their communities would suffer most of the project’s adverse affects.

Supervisor Ed Edelman, who represents that area, asked the board last week to authorize the county to mount a legal challenge against the project, probably by suing the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and perhaps the Ahmanson Land Co., as well. That request was delayed for a week so county negotiators could continue bargaining for concessions with the land company.

State law requires that any lawsuits against the project must be filed within 30 days of its approval. If the board authorizes legal action, county lawyers would have until Friday to file a suit.

The Calabasas City Council last week voted to sue the Ventura supervisors, the developer, or both to kill or scale back the project. The Los Angeles City Council will decide Wednesday whether to challenge the project’s approval.