Activists Branching Out in Tree Protest

In an effort to turn support for tree-sitter John Quigley into a broader campaign against sprawl, Santa Clarita environmentalists plan a protest today targeting Newhall Land & Farming Co., which plans to build a 21,600-home subdivision a few miles north of the 400-year-old oak known as “Old Glory.”

Los Angeles County officials say the tree must be moved to widen Pico Canyon Road, which would provide access to Newhall Ranch and its 70,000 expected residents.

Activists say the developer is pressuring county officials to widen the road to four lanes, but Newhall officials say they do not believe road-widening is necessary for their project.

“They’re trying to haul us into this battle,” said Newhall spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer. “That’s both frustrating and inappropriate.”

The activists should take their complaints to developer John Laing Homes, which must complete the road-widening project as part of a county building permit for its subdivision across the street from the tree, she said.

The protest -- sponsored by local groups Friends of the Santa Clara River, the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment and others -- is planned for 5 p.m. in front of Newhall’s offices at 23823 Valencia Blvd. in Santa Clarita.

Quigley of Pacific Palisades has pledged since Nov. 1 to stay in the tree until he receives a guarantee that it will not be moved or cut down. Yet many of the conveniences of modern life continue to make their way to his perch. On Monday, a dentist climbed the tree and gave Quigley a temporary filling after he broke a molar.

Quigley said he was told Monday by surveyors that Laing homes was trying to find a way to build the road around the tree. Laing spokeswoman Annette McCluskey said the company was considering all options.

“The door is not closed on anything,” she said.

Activist Teresa Savaike said the protest will also focus on what she believes will be Newhall Ranch’s detrimental effects on traffic, air quality, endangered species and oak trees -- 1,600 of which would be lost as part of the proposed development.

Lauffer said Newhall plans to preserve more than half of the 12,000-acre project as open space, saving about 90% of the 16,000 trees on the property.

After the rally, the groups plan to walk across the street to Santa Clarita City Hall to protest the removal of oak trees as part of the proposed Needham Ranch development on the south side of Santa Clarita.

The industrial center calls for the removal of 800 oaks, but the City Council has asked the developer to rework its plan so that fewer trees are destroyed, city officials said.

“John Quigley and Old Glory are symbols of all that will be lost with Newhall Ranch and the Needham Ranch project,” Savaike said.