CITY COUNCIL OKS NEEDHAM RANCH PROJECT.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The Santa Clarita City Council has given the go-ahead to the planned Needham Ranch industrial park in Newhall and lawsuits or no -- barring an injunction -- the developer plans to start grading next month.

Planning commissioners will re-examine plans in September for the park's first occupant, a recycling center, and if the plans are re-approved the company could start building soon thereafter. If environmental groups lodge an appeal, the matter would be considered by the City Council, probably by November.

``If they appeal the decision by the City Council to the Los Angeles Superior Court, which I expect them to do, that does not mean we would be prevented from developing our property unless there is an injunction preventing us from doing so,'' said developer Mark Gates, who has been working on the project for about 15 years. ``We could go ahead and build, but of course assume the risk should the environmental impact report be sent back for further water revisions.''

The project would be halted if opponents obtain an injunction or a restraining order.

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

In the first phase, the site would have pads on 50 acres. Gates has talked with various users and developers, whom he declined to name until contracts are signed.

The first occupant is expected to be Burrtec Waste Industries, whose recycling facility is expected to help the city meet a state mandate of delivering 50 percent of its trash from landfills.

In May, the California Water Impact Network, a statewide water conservation group based in Santa Barbara, filed a lawsuit against the Newhall County Water District for its approval of a water report -- revised by court order -- for Needham Ranch.

The group is contemplating its next step, and it might seek a restraining order or injunction against the project, said Carolee Krieger, the group's president.

``I think it's abominable (the council) continues to go ahead with approval of this project,'' she said. ``It seems the City Council is asking for more lawsuits. Why don't they just wait for the courts to rule on the existing cases?''

Several local projects have been litigated by environmental groups who say water supplies are insufficient.

The tangle of cases includes a challenge to water agencies' 2005 Urban Water Management Plan, the Castaic Lake Water Agency's 1999 transfer of 41,000 acre-feet of state water from Kern County, and lawsuits against The Newhall Land and Farming Company's West Creek, River Village and Soledad Village projects, in Valencia.

``They say it's about water, but it's about stopping growth,'' said Marlee Lauffer, a spokeswoman for Newhall Land.

Krieger contends the State Water Project, which is the basis of the supply for many of these developments, contains half of what is shown in the allocations.

A water agency official disagrees.

``They say we understate water supplies, (but) these are the same entities that sue to prevent us from expanding our water supplies,'' said Dan Masnada, general manager of the Castaic Lake Water Agency. ``It's very difficult to achieve a settlement with these groups because their goal has less to do with protecting the (Santa Clara) River or enhancing environmental protection than it has to do with preventing the agency from fulfilling its mission, and by doing that they're attempting to dictate land use planning in the valley.''

CLWA has spent almost $6 million since 1999 defending itself against lawsuits from environmental groups and individuals.

Masnada said the local water supply's adequacy is unquestioned by water industry professionals, and its reliability is enhanced by a diverse water portfolio that includes groundwater, water from the state and recycled water sources.

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com

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