Growth, Development and Politics

* Re “A Growth Plan Run Amok,” Dec. 27.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the essence of the article pointing out the facts that our supervisors of Los Angeles County are allowing developers to overbuild and destroy our ecological system to the benefits of their own personal agendas? Here’s a tidbit of information that should point The Times to the obvious fact that Mike Antonovich isn’t the only offender. Point in fact is [Zev] Yaroslavsky’s backing of an unaccredited private school trying to be built off of Mureau Road in Calabasas that would house over 100 students, include a gymnasium [and] only one access road, while destroying the ecological system that flows into Malibu Creek. What’s interesting is Zev appears so forthright in your article, like he is above reproach. But what makes your article so alluring is the fact that everyone has a hidden agenda. Well so does Zev; guess who the builder of the project is, Larry Dinovitz. Go look at the public testimony so far. This relationship is another example of a supervisor running amok.

ANDREW BASCH

Calabasas

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* If poor county development approvals in the Santa Monica Mountains are a stinkpot, then county development approvals in the Santa Clarita Valley are a cesspool.

We have had to bring litigation over and over again to enforce the Development Monitoring System that Carlyle Hall and others fought for in the late 1980s. Adequate schools, fire stations, police and library services should have been routine requirements but were ignored. Only litigation changed this toward some partial restitution.

Look at the recent Tesoro del Valle project: 1,700 units in a mountainous area, affecting sensitive native habitat and a watershed. This project does not have sufficient fire or sheriff’s services, yet is approved by the county in a wildfire area.

Or how about Newhall Ranch? This project is 10 times over plan, or 18,000 units greater than currently allowed! This makes the problems in the Santa Monicas seem small in comparison.

The words “general plan amendment” are too common in the Santa Clarita Valley for a general plan to have any substance.

MICHAEL A. KOTCH

President,

Santa Clarita

Organization for

Planning the Environment