Newhall Ranch Both Heedless, Needless

Re “Newhall Ranch a Regional Test” (Sept. 7):

Your editorial was right on! A regional (multi-county) view of planned development is needed to avoid unplanned sprawl.

We shouldn’t fool ourselves to think that the L.A. Planning Commission will give a hoot about Ventura County and its residents. They never have in the past. And in the environmental impact report for the proposed Newhall Ranch development (which was prepared by the developers of this 9,600-acre parcel of land), the words “Ventura County” are conveniently left out of all maps and descriptions of the development’s adverse impacts. The Planning Commission couldn’t give a hoot even if it wanted to.

And consider Ventura County’s own “Newhall Ranch,” the proposed Ahmanson Ranch development. This development is, like Newhall Ranch, located “conveniently” along the border of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Los Angeles County sued Ventura County to halt this project over environmental concerns. Los Angeles lost in the, you guessed it, Ventura County court system. So again, here, Ventura County and its judges were only thinking of one thing--their own residents. No regional thinking, no collaborative planning, and soon no open spaces left for our future generations.

Newhall Ranch should be judged by a multi-county agency to assess the true macro, regional aspects of environmental damage to our neighborhoods and communities. But don’t hold your breath.

MARY WIESBROCK, Director, Save Open Space, Agoura Hills

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Newhall Ranch is another example of unbridled urban sprawl encroaching in the last of our pristine and wild open space areas. Soon we will be able to jump from rooftop to rooftop from the Mexican border to San Francisco if developments like this one continue to be approved.

Recently the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy came out against this development’s bogus “gift” of some of their land in exchange for the right to build on the rest of it. Not only would Newhall Land & Farming (the current landowner and developer) be in compete control of their “gift,” the land to be given was considered by most as “goat country,” unbuildable by any standard. Hardly a gift, only smoke and mirrors.

This development should be denied outright. It is too big, too intrusive and unneeded. If Newhall Land & Farming wants to make a positive difference in our Southern California area, why not refurbish the older parts of Los Angeles instead sapping what little nature we have left?

VINCE CURTIS, Assistant director, Save Open Space, Oak Park