Water for Newhall Project
Re “Ventura County and L.A. County May Reach Water Settlement on Proposed Newhall Ranch Development,” July 30.
It seems the 21,000-home development may proceed if the state approves the diversion of water from Castaic Creek, yet one of the more onerous items I worry about is what plans have tentative approval for ingress and egress for these thousands of people. If the developer is planning to use Interstate 5 as the main way for them to get to work, God help the buyers of these homes.
Oh yes, they could use California 126 and go to Ventura, or take a drive from Fillmore through the mountains to Thousand Oaks, but that would not give quick access to the San Fernando Valley.
It should be mandatory for the developer and Los Angeles County that a new route through the mountain separating the Santa Clarita Valley from Chatsworth and coming out at Topanga Canyon at the 118 Freeway be built before the first phase of this mammoth development goes in.
Right now, trying to traverse Interstate 5 to the San Fernando Valley and beyond is a morning and evening nightmare. I hope this approach is one of the requirements of Los Angeles County Planning Commission. Otherwise the public will be spending even more time in gridlock than it does now.
Yes, water is imperative. However, if you have to start for work at 5 a.m. to get to work by 7 a.m. if you work in Los Angeles, then what’s the draw to purchase in Newhall Ranch? Granted, Newhall Land & Farming Co. is also concentrating on having more businesses move to its industrial parks in Valencia, but how many large companies are going to move there to satisfy workers’ needs?
BARBARA WAYCOTT
Canyon Country
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