Supervisors Prepared to Sue L.A. Over Project

With Los Angeles County authorities set to approve Newhall Ranch, the largest housing project in that county’s history, a majority of Ventura County supervisors said Friday they are ready to go to court to block the development.

Local officials may vote as early as next week on whether to file suit against neighboring Los Angeles County.

“This is a classic case of irresponsible development in an agricultural valley,” said Supervisor John Flynn, one of three supervisors who declared themselves ready to go to court.

Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday are scheduled to accept the environmental documents for the 21,000-home project, planned just east of the Ventura County line along the Santa Clara River. Declaring the project would have no serious environmental consequences would clear the way for construction.

Ventura County would have no more than 30 days to file suit after final adoption of the environmental impact report, officials said.

The Ventura County board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, at which time it also is expected to vote to request state and federal authorities to aggressively enforce environmental laws against the project, which would have a population as large as the city of Camarillo.

Local leaders are outraged that Los Angeles County supervisors have gone forward with the project without identifying a water source for the thousands of new homes. The project also calls for construction of seven schools, a 200-acre business park and a golf course.

Opponents also are concerned the massive project would cause air pollution, increase traffic and harm animal species such as the mountain lion, which roams Southern California’s last wild river.

Additionally, Flynn wants to enlist the help of Gov. Gray Davis in fighting the project. Flynn hopes he and Supervisor Kathy Long will be appointed to a subcommittee to approach the governor.

“The water impact alone is enough to draw the attention of federal and state officials,” he said.

Although both sides agree that there is currently not enough water to supply the entire project, the project builder, Newhall Land and Farming Co., argues that it will buy more water as it is needed.

Opponents believe the project will be forced to dip into ground water supplies that currently provide water to the vast citrus groves across the line. That could damage the quality and affect the quantity of the 400,000 tons of fruit produced in the region annually, they say.

Long said while she supports Flynn’s plan, there is no way around litigation if Ventura County officials want to stop the immense project.

“If [Los Angeles County officials] haven’t responded by now, we might get their attention with litigation,” Long said.

She added that she has appealed to ranking federal and state officials and will continue to do so.

Supervisor Frank Schillo agreed that filing a suit against Los Angeles County might be necessary.

“I would want to make sure that it was our last option,” Schillo said. “It may be that we’re down to that.”