Planner’s Qualms a Hopeful Sign

Over the years, Los Angeles County’s Regional Planning Commission has earned a less than flattering reputation among many residents in the northern parts of the county. Private citizens and even public officials jokingly labeled the phrase “county planning” an oxymoron because of the commission’s willingness to approve many of the development projects that came before it.

So last week’s announcement by one of the panel’s five commissioners that she might not support the massive Newhall Ranch project near Santa Clarita unless developers moved much of it away from the Santa Clara River caught a few people off guard. Commissioner Cheryl Vargo’s comments came near the end of a hearing on the project, and the commission decided to debate the issue at its next Newhall Ranch meeting in June.

For developer Newhall Land & Farming, such a switch could mean huge changes that might delay the mini-city for months. That would be good news to opponents who want the project scaled back or killed altogether. Whichever side the commission comes down on, it’s at least good to know that the panel is listening, thinking and asking questions.

In Southern California today, public officials scramble to satisfy the businesses that help pay society’s bills. On one hand, it’s hard to turn down a company like Newhall Land that’s promising to build homes for families and generate millions of dollars in tax revenues. But once the land is gone, it’s gone forever.

Decisions like that deserve serious, careful consideration. What a comment on the current state of affairs that aggressive, responsible oversight comes as a shock.