New EIR released for first phase of Newhall Ranch

Now that Newhall Land has emerged from bankruptcy and found new investors, they are back to promoting their 21,000 unit Newhall Ranch project on the Santa Clara River.

The Santa Clara River is Los Angeles County's last mostly wild river. It is still home to many endangered species including amphibians, fish, birds and reptiles. It supports a dwindling run of Southern Steelhead in its western reaches that several environmental groups have worked hard to save.

The Santa Clara River is a last treasure trove of the flora and fauna that existed in the Los Angeles region for many centuries. Now many of these species no longer exist anywhere else.

For instance, the San Fernando Valley Spine flower was re-discovered on the Newhall Ranch project after being thought extinct.

The River also acts as an essential wildlife corridor for bears, mountain lions and other largemammals as they move between the San Gabriel, Santa Susana and Los Padres mountain ranges.

Protection of these natural resources were at the forefront of everyone's concerns when the Army Corps of Engineers and Fish and Game Dept. released its EIR/EIS last year for a river alteration permit required for the Newhall Ranch project. The US EPA stated that the EIS was not properly noticed, because it did not review the Santa Clara River as a National Aquatic Resource as required.

Since the first phase of Newhall Ranch cannot be built without this river alteration permit, many were startled that the County would release an EIR on this first phase of the project prior to the completion of the review process for the river permit. If these Federal and State agencies require changes to the project footprint, the EIR for Landmark Village will have to be recirculated again. All of this inspires a resounding question throughout the conservation community: What the heck is going on here?

This EIR was first circulated in 2007, but the process was not completed because of the bankruptcy. We all want to do our part to participate in the public CEQA process, but why are we being asked once again to write comments on a project that may be required to make substantial changes by the Army Corps and Fish and Game Departmentt? Is the County just trying to wear us down?

These two review processes cannot run concurrently because the superior alternative in the river alteration permit is very different from the proposed project.

Landmark Village also does not appear to be consistent with SB375, (strongly supported by the Sierra Club) in its current configuration.

We urge the County of Los Angeles to hold off on its review of the Landmark Village, 1st phase of the Newhall Ranch project until the completion of the review process for the river alteration permit. This is not a new request. We have consistently made this request for many years, as it is the most logical path for all parties to the planning process. Why should the County and the public be subjected to a long and time-consuming process that may only have to be repeated?