VOTE DUE ON NEWHALL RANCH DEVELOPMENT STALLED FOR 4 YEARS.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Four years after a judge found the county Board of Supervisors' review - and subsequent approval - of the massive Newhall Ranch incomplete, revisions to the environmental study of the development is set for a vote this week.

The supervisors are due to vote Tuesday on the court-ordered revisions to The Newhall Land and Farming Company's environmental documents for its 21,600-home Newhall Ranch, one of the largest single developments ever proposed in California.

The Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission has recommended approving changes to the project planned northwest of Santa Clarita on acreage that stretches to the Ventura County line. Only the new information, which includes the impact of water runoff and traffic on the now rural state Highway 126, is subject to review by the board; approval of the remainder of the project stands.

Working with county planners, Newhall Land responded to the court order to further address six issues, including Newhall Ranch's potential impact on the local water supply, traffic and the environment, said Lee Stark, a county regional planning official.

``We found ways to improve on what had been done and to help assure the judge that there were adequate controls and regulations to address those environmental issues,'' Stark said. ``We bolstered the plan wherever we could.''

The court-ordered reviews and Newhall Land's findings are:

--There would be no significant impact from water runoff on sensitive habitats or the species that rely on them.

--Water management, new purchase agreements, recycling and groundwater banking would provide an adequate water supply.

--A water reclamation program was planned that reduces the environmental impact while preserving water for nonpotable uses, according to Newhall Land.

--Traffic's impact on arterial highways intersecting State Routes 126 and 23 in Ventura County would be insignificant, according to the revised studies.

--Bridges over the Santa Clara River and bank modifications would be done in a way to cause no significant impact to plants and animals in the river channel.

--More than 20 new field studies in the Salt Creek watershed show Newhall Ranch would have no impact on the Ventura County portions of the Salt Creek Wildlife Corridor.

The revisions and additions were open to public review for 70 days ending on Feb. 4, and public agencies and interested parties were able to submit comments on the document, to which the county prepared responses.

The report and public comments filled two 6-inch volumes. Ventura County and local environmental groups have not dropped their opposition.

But in a report issued Thursday, the county planning staff recommended adoption of the revisions, and Newhall Land is ready to move forward.

``We're pleased with the staff report. We've worked diligently on these six issues and have had numerous public hearings on them,'' said Marlee Lauffer, a spokeswoman for the developer.

The four-year delay came after Ventura County, environmental groups and others challenged the supervisors' approval in four separate lawsuits, culminating in the judge voiding the county's approval of the final environmental report with respect to six specific issues.

In response, Newhall Land has revised mitigation measures involving water quality and water resources. It also has added measures to protect the recently discovered San Fernando Valley spineflower on its property, a plant once thought extinct.

Newhall Land has purchased additional water for Newhall Ranch and after an investigation by the county District Attorney's Office has implemented programs to preserve the spineflower. That new information will be presented at Tuesday's hearing.

In the revised environmental document, Newhall Land commits to a program requiring the company and its biologists to monitor and protect the plant.

Also, its additional studies on water supply reveal that there are adequate water supplies available to serve the planned project without resulting in environmental impacts to the Santa Clara River, Castaic Creek or groundwater basins.

If the board accepts the changes Tuesday, the county would then take the revisions back to the same judge to show compliance with the order.

The judge must then determine whether the county and Newhall Land have adequately addressed deficiencies in the original environmental impact report.