CRITICS TO APPEAL RANCH PLAN APPROVAL.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - A revamped third phase of Stevenson Ranch has been approved by a county hearing officer, action that has rankled residents and environmentalists, who vowed to appeal.

Gone from the new plan are a series of lakes throughout the development that would be used for drainage and recreation, and which had appealed to existing residents.

Stevenson Ranch Town Council President Keith Pritsker said the council has several concerns about the project, including traffic, parks and open space, and the deletion of the lakes.

``There are so many issues with this project,'' Pritsker said.

Several Stevenson Ranch residents have sued the developer, Lennar Corp., saying they were promised lakes and paid $40,000 premiums for lake views. A judge is expected to rule this month on the plaintiffs' request to certify the suit as a class action on behalf of all of the residents of Stevenson Ranch.

Lennar Corp. officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

A Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department hearing officer approved the new plan on Nov. 7. The project calls for 140 single-family homes to be built north of Pico Canyon Road, west of The Old Road, east of Stevenson Ranch Road and south of Steinbeck Avenue, along with 126 condominiums and 567 apartments on 112 acres. About half of the apartments will be set aside for senior citizens.

The new plan would channel all of the drainage from the homes into Pico Creek, which would flow into a debris basin. Regional Planning Assistant Ellen Fitzgerald said this alternative was the environmentally superior plan.

Lynne Plambeck, first vice president of the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment, said the revised plan would destroy Pico Creek, which crosses the southeast corner of the property, and a wildlife corridor.

``The lakes were designed to preserve the creek and the corridor,'' Plambeck said. ``This is appalling.''

Plambeck said she was also discouraged by the developer's plans to cut down 36 oak trees, eight of which are at least 100 years old. Those plans were also approved last week.

The hearing officer's ruling is expected to be appealed to the county Regional Planning Commission within two weeks by SCOPE and residents opposed to the plan. The town council also might appeal the ruling, Pritsker said.

A year ago, the town council endorsed the plan because of the promise of a new elementary school, Pritsker said.

``We're desperate for a new school,'' Pritsker said. ``That was a big carrot they held out there.''

In addition to a school site, the new plan includes land for a park and an open space lot. However, Pritsker said they were not sufficient for the proposed number of houses.