PANEL GIVES BACKING FOR NEW HOMES VAL VERDE PLANNING SKETCHY, SO FAR.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

CASTAIC - The Castaic Town Council is supporting in concept the Green Valley Ranch project, clearing another hurdle for the 252-home development that could bring a touch of the suburbs to semirural Val Verde.

The advisory panel voted 7-2 Wednesday, granting developer Sterling Gateway the backing to pursue the project with the county Department of Regional Planning and conduct further environmental studies.

``We have a lot of work to do,'' Hunt Williams, principal of the Park City, Utah-based developer said Thursday. ``This allows us to roll up our sleeves and get to the hard work of taking the project to the next level.''

The plan calls for 252 homes, a commercial center and a six-acre park on about 217 acres in Val Verde, a town of 1,500 west of Castaic. About 90 acres will be left as open space.

But the panel also asked that Williams submit the development as two separate projects - 21 of the homes are proposed for east of Cromwell Road and Hunstock Avenue, outside the main tract at Del Valle Road, north of Hunstock. These ``estate lots'' are being planned on ridges, which drew concerns from some council members whether they meet local ridgeline-protection guidelines.

``There are a lot of ridgeline issues we had with the 21-home project,'' said Lloyd Carder, president of the volunteer panel charged with advising 5th District county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich on local issues. ``They're talking about taking a secondary ridgeline and flattening it out. I don't think that project was laid out quite ready, not even as a concept.''

Carder and council member Patti Gustafsson dissented. Bart Davidson, who is recovering from surgery, was absent.

``It's going to change their neighborhood,'' Carder said. ``Everybody likes the open fields, and now they're gone if the project goes through.''

Williams, whose grandfather acquired the Val Verde property in 1949, said he is aware of the ridgeline issue, and will perform separate studies for the two parcels.

``A primary ridgeline separates the community with the (Valencia Commerce Center) industrial park, and we feel it's important to preserve that area,'' he said.

``We have two separate maps. We just want both maps to be considered concurrently. We feel it's important because they both impact the community.''

Bruce Van Wetter, who represents Val Verde on the Town Council, said he was ``cautiously optimistic.''

``There are those who support and those who oppose the project,'' he wrote in an e-mail. ``The process and requirements provided by Regional Planning and the county encourage these parties to work together for the greatest public benefit. ... I trust the EIR process, including public input, will help to shape the final development.''

The Town Council also voted 7-2 to support in concept the Tapia Ranch project - a 405-home development proposed on 1,160 acres between Tapia and Charlie canyons, just east of the Pitchess Detention Center. Council members Robert Kelly and Joanne Carras dissented.

The council approved the project by Orange-based developer Toll Brothers in 2002, but required revisions when the panel formed a Community Standards District in 2004. The homes - some allowing equestrian use - are tucked within a canyon in accordance with district guidelines, council member Bob Lewis said.

``They get it,'' he said. ``Their project is contained within a canyon. It's a blueprint of the correct way of meeting community standards.''

Still, the panel requested the community be fully gated, and security fencing and warning sirens be installed in case of inmate escapes. They also asked the developer to advance bridge and road improvement fees to pay for additional infrastructure.

Toll Brothers officials have said an environmental impact report will be completed in the coming weeks.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com