AGENCY TO VOTE ON REPORT WATER EVALUATION FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK PLAN DIFFERS FROM CLAIM IN LAWSUIT.

Byline: Judy O'Rourke Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The water agency that would serve a planned industrial park in Newhall will vote Thursday on a new report that shows there is enough water to supply the project, despite a lawsuit that claims the contrary.

The new recommendation to the Newhall County Water District board is based on the region's 2005 Urban Water Management Plan, which supersedes the 2000 report cited in the original environmental report for the Needham Ranch business park. Data in the original study prompted environmental groups to sue.

``We are very pleased the Urban Water Management Plan of 2005 included our project and are hopeful the Newhall County Water District will find there's sufficient water to serve our project,'' said Mark Gates, who owns the development. ``We're just working diligently to make sure the material in the environmental impact report is adequate and will stand up to judicial scrutiny.''

The 160-acre Needham Ranch industrial park is planned on Sierra Highway, south of San Fernando Road, and would include light-industrial and commercial buildings nestled on 580 acres. The undeveloped areas would consist of parkland, trails and open space dedicated to the city.

An appeals court ruled in November in favor of environmental groups that sued the city of Santa Clarita and Gates over environmental studies for the project. Appellate court justices said a lower court had erred in approving the project's environmental impact report, calling a section describing water supply for the park inadequate.

Steve Cole, general manager for the water agency, said the 2005 plan projects growth to help the agency meet the demand.

``(Approval of the document) would allow for the city to process their environmental document,'' Cole said. ``The city will go through the normal requirements for the California Environmental Quality Act needed to approve the project.''

On Thursday, district board members will decide if the recommendation of its ad hoc committee members - finding the supply for the Gate King industrial park is adequate - is valid. If a majority of board members concur, the assessment would become part of the project's amended environmental report.

Water board President Maria Gutzeit and Director Barbara Dore prepared the recommendation. It needs a 3-2 vote from the five-member board to pass. Director Lynne Plambeck also is president of Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit.

Plambeck continues to oppose the recommendation even though it is based in part on an independent review urged by the water board, called the Stetson Report. The 2005 management report, she said, is not complete.

``I'm wondering why many of the reports that were included in prior water assessments were excluded from this water assessment, and that includes the district's own Stetson Report,'' Plambeck said. ``And I'm wondering if that's because some of those reports indicated that supplies weren't at levels as reported by this water assessment.''

If the water board approves the recommendation, the report would be circulated for 45 days, then go before the Santa Clarita Planning Commission and City Council. Then, pending council approval, the matter would return to the lower court for review and a new ruling. If approved, Gates would be free to develop the property.

In July, the Newhall water district had agreed to provide water for the proposed project, in spite of the ongoing lawsuit and the lack of support from several board members.

Gates is considering a nonpotable irrigation system using water from wells on the property.

Judy O'Rourke, [phone]

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com