Southern Sierran
Las Lomas Stopped by LA City Council

By Sandra Cattell

The Sierra Club, along with many others, has opposed the Las Lomas project. The development was proposed to be in a Significant Ecological Area that is the major wildlife corridor between the Santa Susanna and San Gabriel Mountains, and in the path of the Rim of the Valley Corridor. It would have been in a Seismic Hazard Zone, with a landslide overlay and also in a Fire Hazard Zone. It would have severely exacerbated the already near-gridlock conditions of Newhall Pass, and taken valuable resources away from already strapped Los Angeles, for an area not in, nor even contiguous with the City of L A.

Photo courtesy Sandra Cattell Las Lomas

On March 19, 2008, the Los Angeles City Council voted 10-5 to stop work on Las Lomas. Numerous opponents to the project joined the Sierra Club at the highly attended city council meeting. The motion by Council Member Greig Smith directed the L A Planning Dept to stop processing the annexation of Las Lomas, and to return all studies and paperwork to developer Dan Palmer’s Company. Votes for Greig Smith’s motion included Council Members Tony Cardenas, Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel, Janice Hahn, Tom LaBonge, Jan Perry, Bill Rosendahl, Greig Smith, Jack Weiss, and Dennis Zine. Votes against the motion came from Richard Alarcon, Jose Huizar, Bernard Parks, Ed Reyes, and Herb Wesson.

We believe Councilman Smith’s motion indeed reflects the mission of the Sierra Club: to explore, enjoy, protect and preserve the planet, and we are grateful the City Council took the bold move to stop this project. Below are the words of Greig Smith,councilman for District 12 (north San Fernando Valley), who was indeed our champion.

“Our motion to have the City make a policy decision to stop the Las Lomas development, stop the annexation of the land into City of Los Angeles and reject the Supplemental Fee Agreement to allow the developer to expedite the project, was approved by the City Council Wednesday, March 19.

The Las Lomas project was too big, too dense, and couldn’t be planned in a worse place. It would have a devastating effect on traffic, the environment and would unacceptably strain our water, infrastructure and public safety resources. The huge coalition of opponents to Las Lomas who came together to say no to this project have our gratitude and praise for stepping up to the plate to defend our community.

Residents, community groups, elected officials, Neighborhood Councils and environmental groups took official positions of opposition to Las Lomas, wrote letters of opposition, and made public comments against the development at Neighborhood Council meetings, City Council meetings and Planning & Land Use Management Committee meetings.

Today was a big victory for the San Fernando Valley in the fight to protect our quality of life and ensure that we focus on the needs of our communities.”

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