L.A. Won’t Clear Way for Ahmanson Ranch

Creating a new roadblock for the Ahmanson Ranch development, the Los Angeles City Council rejected a plan Tuesday to open a stretch of Victory Boulevard that is vital to the construction and operation of the 3,050-home project.

The road, which dead-ends at the city limits, is seen as a major access point for construction vehicles, and will be needed as an alternative to the crowded Ventura Freeway when residents move in.

Washington Mutual, which is developing the project, believes it has legal rights to the street and can force Victory Boulevard to be opened when construction begins in 2003.

City Councilman Dennis Zine, who represents the West Valley, acknowledged the firm appears to have some legal rights to the thoroughfare, but he said the council action shows that Los Angeles will oppose the project at every turn because of fear it will overwhelm city streets and the Ventura Freeway with traffic.

“They want Victory Boulevard for their main corridor east to west, but I made a commitment to the community that we would fight this tooth and nail,” Zine said. “The west San Fernando Valley does not have the infrastructure to support that type of development and the traffic it would generate.”

The development is located in Ventura County, and has won preliminary approval from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. As a result, Los Angeles officials have little say over the project, even though it will have a significant effect on a part of the city. It is expected to generate about 20,000 vehicles a day on Victory Boulevard.

By voting to keep the road closed, Zine said, the council is signaling its willingness to fight the project.

A half-block section of Victory Boulevard, just west of Gilmore Street, was closed in 1995 at the request of neighbors and police, who were concerned that young people were driving into the undeveloped area to congregate and drink.

To keep the street closed, the City Council must adopt a new authorization every 18 months. The last authorization included a provision that the fence across Victory Boulevard would be taken down at the time the Ahmanson Ranch developers gave notice that they needed the street to begin construction in Ventura County to the west.

On Tuesday, the council authorized the street to remain closed for another 18 months and removed the provision that allows for the fence to be removed at Washington Mutual’s request.

The firm, which hopes to break ground in 2003, has rights to an easement along Victory Boulevard to Gilmore Street, a spokesman said, so it is confident the council action will not stand.

“It is our position that we do have a legal right of access, notwithstanding the council action today,” said Tim McGarry, a spokesman for Washington Mutual. “When it becomes time to be able to exercise our right of access, we believe we will be able to do so.”

Zine acknowledged Washington Mutual has an easement, but he also suggested the city has legal authority to keep the fence up for public safety reasons. The dispute could end up in court.

In arguing for the council action, Zine complained that Washington Mutual has refused to put together a new environmental impact report despite the demands of federal, state and local officials concerned about the project.

A letter demanding a new environmental study was signed last week by eight elected officials, including Zine, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and the mayors of Calabasas and Agoura Hills.

The current environmental report was compiled in 1992, and although a supplemental report is about to be released, the elected officials want a whole new study with more up-to-date information.

“We think a new EIR would show the project is not feasible because the infrastructure can’t support it,” Zine said.

McGarry said the supplemental report will address any new issues, and added that Caltrans has certified that the initial report remains valid with regard to traffic impacts.