CHANGES TO NEWHALL RANCH PLEDGED : 15 FEWER LOTS AMONG MODIFICATIONS; COUNTY PLANNERS EXTEND PERIOD FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

Byline: Amy Collins Daily News Staff Writer

The Newhall Land and Farming Company on Tuesday agreed to modify portions of its massive Newhall Ranch project as Los Angeles County commissioners voted to extend the public comment period on the project, which would bring 70,000 people to the Santa Clarita Valley.

Among the concessions, Newhall Land agreed to eliminate 15 estate-size lots in an environmentally sensitive area, add equestrian trails along the Santa Clara River and move up the date it will endow $2 million and deed 6,000 acres of open space to a private organization.

Critics of the 25,000-home project were somewhat pleased with the changes.

``In general, they made some good decisions, they have further to go. . . . But that doesn't mean we're satisfied,'' said Jeffrey Lambert, the planning director for the city of Santa Clarita. ``They're certainly heading in the right direction.''

Lynne Plambeck, a member of the Santa Clara Organization for Planning the Environment, called the changes ``minor, very minor.''

``Fifteen units, compared to 25,000 is nothing. They are important, but when compared to the impacts the entire project will create, it's certainly not enough,'' she said.

The Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission began its meeting Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles hearing more public criticism of the project and ended with commissioners voting to take more time in its review of the plan.

The commission will meet again April 23 to continue the public hearing on Newhall Ranch. The written comment period had closed Feb. 11 - after 182 days of review - but was reopened Tuesday and comments will be accepted through April 1.

Newhall Land executives and consultants were given time at the meeting to refute critics of its project.

Gloria Glenn, the senior vice president of Newhall Ranch Co., refuted accusations that the project will add to traffic congestion in the area. She said that Newhall Land will build 30 miles of highways within the project area, and will construct or improve three interchanges on Highway 126 and the Golden State Freeway.

She said that the company also will pay Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County to pay for its share of impacts on 19 arterial roadways off the project site.

James Harter, an executive vice president at Newhall Land, reported that negotiations with William S. Hart Union High School District have turned up little results in 16 months. ``We have several significant issues that have not been resolved,'' Harter said.

Newhall Land has reached agreement with the Newhall School District on how to help pay for the seven new schools that will have to be built in the project area, but negotiations continue with Hart and Saugus school districts.

Harter declined to specify the sticking points with Hart, but in the past, issues have included the difference between what extracurricular amenities a school wants and which facilities they must have under state law.

The commission did not begin debating the merits of the project Tuesday, but Commissioner Richard Wulliger read a list of questions he said he wanted the county staff and the developers to answer.

At the top of Wulliger's list was proof that 25,000 new homes are necessary. Earlier in the meeting, Michael Kotch, a member of two Santa Clarita water boards and SCOPE, pointed out that 52,000 housing permits already have been issued for the Santa Clarita Valley but those units remain unbuilt.

``Where is the need?'' Wulliger asked.

Also, in questioning from the commission, Harter told commissioners that 313 acres of the 12,000-acre site are located in the 50-year flood plain and that 1,000 to 2,000 homes are scheduled to be built in the area after the area is raised above the flood plain area.

TEXT OF LETTER

The Newhall Land and Farming Company on Tuesday agreed to make the following changes to its Newhall Ranch project:

1. At the request of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the city of Santa Clarita, we agree to remove the 15 estate lots from the high country.

2. To address the concern over the certainty, the timing of the dedication of the high country expressed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, we agree to dedicate the high country at the 4,000th building permit within the immediately adjacent Potrero Valley Village, rather than tying it to the recordation of the visitor serving area.

3. At the request of the city of Santa Clarita, we agree to placing language in the specific plan which specifically recognizes that if the construction of a road within the Salt Creek Canyon wildlife corridor is proposed, detailed environmental analysis addressing the impacts on the wildlife corridor will be performed and a conditional use permit will be required. If the road is ever proposed to be extended into Ventura County, that portion within the County of Ventura requires Ventura County approval.

4. In response to the concern expressed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the city of Santa Clarita that public access to the high country be assured by a public agency, we will grant an easement to Los Angeles County for both the conservation of resources and for public access and recreation within the high country consistent with the Resource Management Plan.

5. In accordance with the request of the city of Santa Clarita, we agree to incorporate an equestrian trail according to Los Angeles County standards within the river trail along the north side of the river.

6. We will grant an easement to Los Angeles County for both the conservation of resources and for public access and recreation within the river corridor consistent with the Resource Management Plan.

7. In accordance with our verbal commitment to the Val Verde community, we commit to seeking Caltrans approval for and to funding construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of State Route 126 and Chiquito Canyon Road along with the first construction at that intersection (Chiquito Canyon Road and State Route 126).

8. In response to the request of the Stevenson Ranch Town Council, we agree to withdraw the proposal to delete Pico Canyon from the County Master Plan of Highways with the understanding that the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan will not be conditioned to construct or fund any off-site portion of that highway.

9. At the request of the Castaic Union School District and the Castaic Town Council, we withdrew our proposal to reorganize and annex the Riverwood Village to the Newhall School District.

CAPTION(S):

2 Drawings, Box

Drawing: (1--Ran in AV, SAC, Simi and Conejo--color in SAC and Conejo only) No Caption (Map of Newhall Ranch)

(2--Ran in AV, SAC, Simi and Conejo--color in SAC and AV only) No Caption (Newhall Ranch Logo)

Box: (Ran in SAC only) TEXT OF LETTER (see text)