Extension Sought to Study Housing Plan

Ventura County supervisors on Tuesday requested more time to review environmental documents on a massive housing project planned in neighboring Los Angeles County, even though the deadline has already been extended from 45 to 120 days.

“We need more time to take a thorough look at it,” said Supervisor Maggie Kildee. “This project is going to have a tremendous impact on our county and our future.”

The board agreed to send a letter to the Los Angeles County Planning Commission asking for an extension of the environmental review period on the Newhall Ranch project from Dec. 5 to Feb. 5.

Newhall Land & Farming Co. has proposed building 25,000 homes, 10 schools, several shopping centers, a business park and a golf course on a 19-square-mile tract near the Ventura County line.

Supervisor John Flynn said he is most concerned about the potential environmental impacts on the Santa Clara River, which links both counties.

“The Santa Clara River could turn into a waste-water channel,” he said.

Although the project’s environmental review period opened in early August, Thomas Berg, director of the county’s Resource Management Agency, told the supervisors Tuesday that his department has not had the time or the resources to do a thorough analysis.

The board agreed to spend $80,000 for a full-time planner and an attorney to review the Newhall development’s potential impacts on traffic, air and water quality in Ventura County.

Meanwhile, a representative for Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, whose district includes the Newhall Ranch property, said that the county Planning Commission is open to considering a further extension to the public review period.

“They left the door open,” said David Vannatta, Antonovich’s planning director.