COUNTY TO ALLOW PROJECT PLAN WILL PUT 840 HOMES OUTSIDE CITY.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - After postponing a decision for two weeks, county supervisors on Tuesday tentatively approved 840 new homes in Stevenson Ranch.

The unanimous vote came after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors sided with Stevenson Ranch residents who were concerned about the environmental impact of the project, and postponed a decision to approve the project while it considered input by the community and developer.

This third phase of Stevenson Ranch - which is north of Pico Canyon Road, west of The Old Road, east of Stevenson Ranch Parkway and south of Steinbeck Avenue - includes a school, a 5-acre park, 140 homes and almost 700 apartment units, some set aside for senior housing.

The Stevenson Ranch Town Council raised issues about the development, saying it could endanger oak trees and would pave river banks. Instead, it wanted a natural-looking drainage channel, and asked the developer to design a drainage facility with multiple uses.

``We've made some significant progress toward providing open space and community park space that will benefit all the residents of our community,'' said Keith Pritsker, town council president.

The discussions between residents and Lennar Communities resulted in a list of additional requirements to be met by the developer, including softening the channel and debris basin to give it a natural look. The revision will also incorporate bike paths and walking trails into the design at the cost of the developer.

In a statement, Lennar Communities said it was pleased by the board's approval while acknowledging that the changes have been costly.

The board's final approval will be followed by a 30-day waiting period. Lennar Communities can then begin construction on the project after the permits have been finalized. County officials couldn't say when the approval will be made.

``Supervisor Antonovich is pleased because this project provides a vitally needed school, as well as a 5-acre park,'' said Conal McNamara, planning deputy for 5th District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Lynn Plambeck, first vice president for the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment, disagreed with the ruling. She said she's looking forward to working with the county on the conditions of approval to protect the creek.

``I think that they began the effort to work with the community but didn't go far enough yet,'' Plambeck said. ``I think that we're not finished with the project yet. Children need natural creeks and areas nearby.''

SCOPE was one opponent of the project that had appealed the county Regional Planning Commission's approval of the planned community's latest phase, saying the impact on the surrounding community had not been adequately analyzed.