Schillo a Pawn for Ahmanson Ranch

Re: Supervisor Frank Schillo’s idea to downsize the Ahmanson Ranch project:

Any idea to downsize the proposed 3,050-home Ahmanson Ranch development is simply H.F. Ahmanson (a.k.a. Home Savings, the owners of the ranch) working through its political pawn and developer-deal-maker-turned-environmentalist Supervisor Frank Schillo in weaseling its way out of its commitments to purchase the two Hope properties (Runkle Ranch and Corral Canyon) which had to come into public hands before the development on Ahmanson Ranch may begin.

The whole reason the development was approved, and the Ahmanson Ranch sacrificed, was to acquire these two Hope properties. This tells us either the developer had no intention from the start to buy these lands, or Hope doesn’t want to sell his lands, thus killing this development deal.

What Schillo knows, and doesn’t tell you, is that Save Open Space has attorneys stacked up waiting to sue to stop this project at a downsized scale once any major change in the development occurs.

So we at SOS gladly look forward to the day we again can sue to stop this project, albeit downsized. And we will win in court this time because the ruling against SOS and the other eight plaintiffs in the original lawsuit concluded that the one overriding factor (or mitigating factor) which “OKd” this development in the eyes of the court was the public’s acquisition of the two Hope properties. Take out the Hope properties and we will win in court.

So, bring your changes, Frank, and we will see you in court (again).

MARY WIESBROCK

Director, Save Open Space

Agoura Hills

and VINCE CURTIS

Candidate,

2nd Supervisorial

District

Ventura County