Newhall Ranch Approval

The Times’ recent editorial regarding the board’s approval of Newhall Ranch (“Stand Firm on Newhall Ranch,” March 28) fails to acknowledge the many concessions made by the Board of Supervisors to address the legitimate concerns of Ventura County. Besides adding environmental safeguards to protect the Santa Clara River, the “high country” and neighboring land in Ventura County, the board added several conditions in response to Ventura County’s concerns regarding protection of the ground water basin.

It must be emphasized that the board’s unanimous approval of the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan does not authorize the release of a single building permit or permit any extensive grading of the site. Rather, approval of the specific plan only provides a framework for consideration of subsequent development applications through a future public hearing process. Any construction will depend upon approval of future subdivision map applications that, before they are filed, must clearly identify a specific source of supply for its water needs. A “will-serve” letter from the local water company will not suffice.

The board [also], in a direct response to Ventura County’s concerns, required that an annual water report be prepared to address all of the water-related issues facing both the Santa Clarita Valley and the downstream Santa Clara River Valley.

We also required, at the request of Ventura County’s United Water Conservation District, that an additional ground water metering station be provided at Blue Cut in the Ventura County portion of the river. These three additional requirements were in direct response to Ventura County’s complaints.

Unlike the problems created by Ventura County’s approval of the Ahmanson project, the record is clear that all legitimate concerns expressed by Ventura County were fully addressed by the Board of Supervisors.

MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH

Supervisor, 5th District