SANTA CLARITA / ANTELOPE VALLEY : Ruling Gives Ostriches Peace

Trying to smooth a case of ruffled feathers, a commissioner has ordered a prominent developer to avoid early morning construction work that a nearby Agua Dulce resident claimed was disturbing his flock of ostriches.

Superior Court Commissioner Bertrand Mouron’s ruling apparently satisfied Robert Loving. But an attorney for the developer said the order won’t change much because workers were not starting before 7 a.m., when work can begin under the order. In addition, the project is almost done.

“It’s not your run-of-the-mill thing when you run into an ostrich farmer,” admitted Woodland Hills attorney Stephen Rishoff, who represented Santa Monica-based Watt Land Inc. in Thursday’s hearing. Rishoff said the 7-foot-tall, 300-pound birds apparently are sensitive to unfamiliar noises.

At issue was work on a large water storage tank and pipelines in a canyon area above Sierra Highway near Agua Dulce Canyon Road. The tank will serve Watt’s nearby Sierra Colony Ranch, a planned equestrian community where the developer is offering 145 home sites from $180,000 to $280,000.

Rishoff said he suggested the start time contained in the order. Under a county ordinance, construction work may not begin before 6:30 am.

“We don’t want a mad neighbor,” Rishoff said. “We’re going to be selling out there for quite a while.”

Watt officials on Friday said the remaining work involves painting the water tank and installing paving and landscaping.

Loving said he plans to breed the flightless birds partly to sell for meat and other products.