Housing Development Plan Delayed

A plan to more than double the size of a proposed Santa Clarita Valley development to 2,500 homes was delayed Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, whose members expressed concern about the project’s density and creation of traffic snarls.

The Tesoro del Valle project--large in size, but dwarfed by the proposed Newhall Ranch housing project planned for the same area--has gained attention because the developer enlisted the aid of “soccer moms” and their children to get the project approved.

Evans-Collins Community Builders has promised to donate more than 50 acres in the area to the Youth Sports Assn. for use as playing fields.

In response, the association’s mothers, children and other members sent 5,000 form letters to the Board of Supervisors urging the members to approve the development. The letters were paid for by Evans-Collins.

The lobbying effort, however, appeared to do little good.

While the supervisors did not formally reject the Tesoro del Valle development project, they made it clear to the developer there was insufficient justification for the board to rezone the area and amend the General Plan in order to increase the number of homes from 1,100 to 2,502.

Supervisor Mike Antonovich--usually a proponent of developer interests--told Evans-Collins representatives that the company needs to offer concessions to the neighboring community in order for the project to be approved.

“At this time, they have to justify to us why they should be entitled to build 1,400 [additional] units without mitigations,” Antonovich said. “They need to prove what they are going to do is beneficial.”

Evans-Collins representatives agreed the company needs to seek ways to reduce concerns about the project’s density and potential traffic tie-ups in San Francisquito Canyon.

“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem, and there are some significant problems out there that will take a concerted effort [to resolve],” said Richard Wirth, a representative of Evans-Collins.

Antonovich proposed--and the board approved--a plan that calls for Evans-Collins to negotiate an agreement with the county and return before the board on July 22.

Antonovich set several guidelines for an approval, including reduced grading to spare oak trees, consideration of larger lots to reduce density, and developer-financed road improvements to avoid traffic congestion.

“These are significant revisions,” Antonovich said. “But the applicant is seeking a General Plan amendment, which carries a higher standard of performance.”

At Tuesday’s board meeting supporters of the expansion, including those from the Youth Sports Assn., told the board the area would benefit from the 72 acres of parkland that Evans-Collins is setting aside at Tesoro.

“There continues to be a long waiting list for youth sports teams to use facilities,” said Dave Blazey, president of the Youth Sports Assn. “As one of your sheriff’s deputies told me, ‘It’s easier to invest in parks than in the district attorney’s office.’ ”

Others, however, objected to children mailing form letters on behalf of a developer.

“Kids have been led to believe that you can get something for nothing, which is never true,” said Paul Harris Sr., who lives near the proposed development.

Among other opponents of the plan were Santa Clarita Mayor Clyde Smyth and representatives of the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment.