TAPIA RANCH TO BE REVIEWED CASTAIC COUNCIL TO LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT EAST OF PITCHESS.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

CASTAIC - A 405-home development planned for the canyons east of Pitchess Detention Center will be reviewed by the Castaic Town Council just as the county lockup is being racked by a series of violent inmate clashes.

Planned to provide high-end homes in an equestrian setting, the Tapia Ranch project by Orange-based Toll Brothers Inc. is slated for 1,160 acres between Tapia and Charlie canyons.

The project was approved with 390 homes in 2002 by the Castaic council but the plans needed revision when special community development standards were adopted for Castaic in 2004.

``We've been working for the last two years revising the plan and acquiring more property,'' said Craig Messi, assistant vice president at Toll Brothers. ``We believe we've fully complied with that document.''

The Castaic Town Council, which is an advisory panel to Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, meets 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at 28131 Livingston Avenue.

Among the modifications, homes were moved farther away from ridgelines, which are protected by the local development standards. An entry road also had to be redesigned to protect the ridgeline, said council member Bob Lewis.

Also, the builder will remove or transplant 29 oak trees from the property, and build a bridge over Castaic Creek on Tapia Canyon Road to replace an asphalt crossing often washed out in heavy rains. The homes can't be built without a more reliable bridge - estimated to cost between $10 million to $20 million - as it's the prime entry to the property, Messi said.

``For that project to get built, you need to build a full-blown bridge,'' Lewis said.

The development adjoins the property line of the Pitchess Detention Center, which holds about 7,500 inmates in three jails and was the site of almost daily inmate fighting since last week.

``It's very dense growth and a very steep hill between us,'' Messi said. ``They literally have to go out the front gate to get into our property.''

The development will have a master homeowners association with a telephone call list to alert residents if there are any jail escapes, he said.

Still, there are other security devices under review, including the installation of a security fence and escape sirens, said Lewis, the town council member.

``There will be some mitigations required as far as safety concerns,'' Lewis said.

County Department of Regional Planning planning assistant Susan Tae said the developer still must conduct an environmental impact study to answer outstanding questions. Messi said the report will be completed in the upcoming weeks.

The builder must provide a second access road, or only 75 homes will be allowed if there is only one entry, Tae said.

Messi said the developers are talking with county fire officials on a proposed fire department/residents-only road connecting the development with the Tesoro Del Valle community to the east.

``We don't want to encourage a shortcut to the 5 Freeway,'' Lewis said. ``The question is how you put in a second exit for fire protection without giving 1,800 homes a shortcut.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com