State Moves to Back County in Newhall Fight

State Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer requested permission from a judge Thursday to submit a legal brief supporting Ventura County’s fight against Los Angeles County over the massive Newhall Ranch development.

The 22,000-home project, which would create the single largest development in Southern California history, is planned just east of the Ventura County line along the Santa Clara River.

The attorney general’s request to present a friend of the court brief will be ruled on during a hearing early next month.

According to Lockyer’s request, the project by Newhall Land & Farming Co. did not undergo a full environmental review, which is required by the state’s Environmental Quality Act.

“The potential environmental impacts of the Newhall Ranch Project are massive,” according to the request. “The EIR did not adequately analyze the impacts of the Newhall Ranch Project on sensitive plant and animal species, nor did [Los Angeles County and Newhall Land & Farming Co.] adopt all feasible mitigation measures to avoid or reduce impacts on these species.”

The court filing further maintains the proposed suburb and “the precedents set by this project could have enormous impacts on water availability for other projects and water users statewide.”

Environmental groups supporting the lawsuit have accused the land company of failing to identify a water source for the giant development, which would be built over the next 25 years.

But company officials have said the water sources include overflow from Castaic Creek and a planned reclaimed-water treatment facility on the project site.

Those same company officials have also acknowledged not having enough water to supply the entire project, but say the developer is prepared to buy more water as needed.

Lockyer’s request further states the project would affect more than 5,100 acres of open space that is a natural habitat for numerous species of sensitive plants and animals, as well as divert or alter numerous streams and the flood plain of the Santa Clara River.

Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, who contacted Lockyer in March and asked for his support in fighting what she has described as a “David-and-Goliath” battle, said Thursday she appreciated the help.

“I am elated that our hard work to prevent significant damage to threatened biological resources and to the water resources of the Santa Clara River basin has attracted the attention of the state’s chief attorney,” Long said.

Ventura County filed a lawsuit in April, seeking to have Los Angeles County reverse its approval of the housing project. The suit, which was filed in Ventura County but later moved to Kern County to avoid any conflict, is expected to at least delay for several years the planned suburb.

In the lawsuit, Ventura County maintains Los Angeles County illegally subdivided land that straddles the two counties, provided a flawed environmental impact report and failed to plan for enough water to serve an estimated population of 68,000 residents.

The county has been joined in its suit by several entities, including the county’s flood control and pollution control districts and the cities of Ventura, Oxnard and Santa Paula.

Also, three other lawsuits against Newhall Land over the same housing project have also been filed.

Los Angeles County officials have said they are confident their decision to approve the project will be upheld in court.