COUNTY PLANNERS ENDORSE HOMES, PGA GOLF COURSE; PANEL OKS ACCESS, LAND-USE CHANGES.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

After a few minor last-minute changes, the Westridge Golf Course Community was approved Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission.

The panel's 4-0 vote sends the project to the Board of Supervisors, which likely will review Westridge early next year.

Westridge, a 1,711-home development with a Professional Golfers' Association of America Tournament Players Club course, is proposed for 800 acres west of the Golden State Freeway. It has raised concerns among some area residents because a portion of the project, including an extension of The Old Road, will be built in a significant ecological area known for its centuries-old oak trees.

Commission members approved changes proposed last week by The Newhall Land and Farming Company, such as extending public use of the golf course from 10 to 15 years.

In addition, the commissioners approved wording that would give the 154 acres of open space being offered by Newhall Land as mitigation to a public agency rather than an unnamed entity. They also added wording recommending that the supervisors give the land to the joint-powers authority made up of Santa Clarita, the county and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

The conditions were imposed by the commission after its tentative approval and took Newhall Land by surprise.

``Quite frankly, last week's conditions were somewhat unexpected. We need to take time to look at them,'' said Carol Maglione, spokeswoman for Newhall Land. ``But needless to say, we're pleased it was approved by the Regional Planning Commission.''

The project has been controversial since it was proposed in the early 1990s because the area is considered an important view-shed along the freeway with its rolling hills and trees.

A lawsuit filed by the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment against Newhall Land and the county halted the project in 1992. But the company made some revisions to the plan and resubmitted it for consideration earlier this year.

The new proposal includes fewer homes and a tournament-level golf course, and requires the removal of fewer oaks.

But SCOPE members and others concerned about the oak habitat said the project still does not protect the savannah.

Still, the majority of council members last week declined to appeal the commission's decision on Westridge, arguing that they would rather work with county officials in a friendly manner and testify at public hearings.

SCOPE member Lynne Plambeck said she doubts the city will get changes from the county without a formal protest.

``If they're not even going to appeal the project to the board, there's little hope that there's going to be any more concessions,'' Plambeck said.

Plambeck said she and other SCOPE members will continue to fight for protection of the valley oak savannah. All of the area should be protected from development, she said.

The issues requiring county approval include a general plan amendment, zoning changes and an oak-tree removal permit for 147 trees.