A Plan for Responsible Growth

As the population of greater Los Angeles rises from 9.4 million in 1995 to an estimated 12.9 million in 2020, we face a critical choice about whether growth will negatively or positively affect our region and our quality of life.

We can watch land be developed haphazardly; a subdivision here, a business park and strip mall there. Or we can carefully and responsibly master-plan development to build attractive, balanced communities that protect the environment, create jobs, offer a high quality of life and have infrastructure in place for current and future needs.

I believe that Newhall Ranch, a community proposed for development in the Santa Clara River Valley west of Valencia over the next 25 years, represents the best of responsible growth for the 21st century. Here’s why:

The Newhall Ranch master plan was not created in a vacuum. For two years, Newhall Land & Farming Co. representatives held more than 25 community task force meetings. We listened to the concerns of residents and businesses in the area and we created a master plan that addresses those issues.

Many people want to preserve Newhall Ranch’s beautiful and diverse environment. More than 9 square miles (49% of the site) would be maintained in its current natural condition, including 3,950 acres of the Santa Susana Mountains high country. This land, long off-limits to the public, would be open to hikers, equestrians, bird watchers and anyone else who wanted to enjoy the great outdoors.

In areas targeted for development, Newhall Land would take extraordinary measures to protect Newhall Ranch’s existing flora and fauna. Of the estimated 16,314 native oak trees on the property, for example, fewer than 4% may be impacted (in most cases removed or relocated) by development. More than five miles (totaling 813 acres) of the Santa Clara River, home to many birds and small animals, including two endangered species, would be preserved in its natural free-flowing condition, without removing its beautiful vegetation or encasing it in concrete channels.

Above all, the proposed development has been designed to fit into the natural topography of the site, rather than force the topography to fit the development. Residents looking out their windows would see unspoiled hillsides and ridgelines, not rows of houses.

In the community task force meetings, many people expressed concern about the supply and quality of water. Newhall Ranch would have its own sanitation district and a new water reclamation plant that would supply approximately one-third of the community’s needs. The overflow of Castaic Creek and new sources of state water would supply the remainder. The development would not impact existing ground water or other supplies.

Many task force participants also expressed fears of clogged roads and traffic jams because of Newhall Ranch. To avoid this, Newhall Land would extend and widen existing roadways, including California 126, build new interchanges and add more than 30 miles of new arterial roads. Newhall Land would also pay for transportation improvements in Santa Clarita and as far away as Fillmore in Ventura County.

The Newhall Ranch site is easily accessible, within 10 to 15 minutes of regional transportation corridors, including the Golden State, Antelope Valley and San Diego freeways. It also is near the Saugus Metrolink station, and eventually we hope it would have its own Metrolink station. As employment grew in the Santa Clarita Valley, fewer people would be forced to commute to Los Angeles or other areas, benefiting freeway traffic flow throughout the region.

Education and our children’s well-being are a primary concern for every resident. So, Newhall Land proposes to build five elementary schools, one junior high and one senior high school at Newhall Ranch. A school agreement is in place with one school district and similar agreements are pending with the others.

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Finally, some people worried that Newhall Ranch might be a drain on public coffers. Actually, we believe it would benefit local governments. Our consultant’s findings, contained in the Newhall Ranch specific plan draft environmental impact report, indicate that after paying for all new necessary government services, Los Angeles County would derive a $300-million surplus from Newhall Ranch during its 25-year development and a $20-million annual surplus after build-out. The city of Santa Clarita would receive $35 million in revenues during development and a $1.8-million annual surplus after build-out. Caltrans would derive $140 million in revenues during development and $11 million in annual revenues after build-out for the construction and maintenance of regional transportation infrastructure.

Besides listening to--and acting upon--residents’ and business’ concerns about development in the Santa Clara River Valley, Newhall Land also mailed questionnaires to area residents to learn what features and qualities they wanted at Newhall Ranch.

We found that 93% of those who responded to our query wanted to live close to nature and open space. In addition to the land set aside as permanent natural open space, Newhall Ranch would have 334 acres of public parks, an 18-hole golf course, a man-made lake, a five-mile trail along the Santa Clara River and more than 50 miles of pedestrian and bicycle paths.

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Nearly 50% of the respondents wanted a sense of community and easy interaction with neighbors. A large majority also wanted a small-town feel to their community. Each of the five district Newhall Ranch neighborhoods would have its own mixed-use center, where neighbors could work, shop or meet. All neighborhoods would be connected by the pedestrian and bike trails, and approximately 60% of the homes would be within walking distance of a commercial or mixed-use center.

To create a diverse and satisfying sense of community, Newhall Ranch would offer a broad spectrum of 25,000 homes for almost every economic and social need and lifestyle, including apartments, condominiums, townhomes, single-family attached and detached homes, and large executive and estate homes.

If you want a sneak preview of Newhall Ranch, take a look at Valencia, which has been developed by Newhall Land over the past 30 years. Slightly larger than Newhall Ranch, Valencia is a well-rounded community of homes, businesses, schools, parks, shopping and entertainment.

Newhall Ranch would build on Valencia’s successes, and it would become a community with an outstanding quality of life, nestled in some of the most spectacular terrain in Southern California.

Our company has responded to our region’s projected growth with a systematic and organized management of community development that serves everyone. Newhall Ranch is a win-win situation for Los Angeles County, the Santa Clara River Valley and Angelenos looking for an outstanding quality of life.