header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
January 20
1993 - Hart High grad Dee Dee Myers (1979) becomes first female White House press secretary [story]
Dee Dee Myers


[KHTS] – The California Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday on the California Fish and Wildlife Department River permits for Newhall Land’s Newhall Ranch project.

Newhall Ranch is a 19-square-mile development project being pursued by Newhall Land that would add approximately 21,000 homes west of Interstate 5.

The court session lasted for more than an hour and the justices asked many questions, said John Buse, the senior counsel and legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the plaintiffs.

“The court had some excellent questions about all sides,” said Buse. “It’s tough to say where (this case) might be going, but we’re pretty happy they’re taking a closer look.”

The decision will be made in 90 days, or three months, according to Buse.

“We do not quote on pending litigation,” Newhall Land spokeswoman Marlee Laffer told KHTS AM-1220.

The Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment’s concerns about validating this project is water use, loss of floodplains and groundwater recharge areas and greenhouse gases.

Newhall Land and Farming Co. claims that there will be no significant increase in greenhouse gases for the 21,000 unit project, according to SCOPE officials.

“The greenhouse gas issue is especially important as it may set a precedent for other cases in California,” said SCOPE officials.

Another concern of the SCOPE is that the habitat for many endangered species in the area would be destroyed, like the Unarmored Threespine Stickleback fish.

In March 2014, a California Appellate Court ruled in favor of the Newhall Land and Farming and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in a lawsuit regarding environmental reports for a 20,000 unit development project in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The ruling unanimously reversed Judge Ann Jones’ 2012 judgment in favor of the plaintiffs – including the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity and Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment – and allowed the Santa Clara River Alteration Permit for the project to proceed.

 

 

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

8 Comments

  1. James Parker says:

    Don’t we already have a water shortage and too many people here

  2. Carleen King says:

    It’s all about money more more MORE

  3. We are rationing water and they want to build 21,000 more homes. Makes total and complete sense to me, said no one ever.

  4. Jeanne says:

    I have always hated the idea of losing the beautiful rolling hills on 126. Such a pretty drive to the beach.

    Also the disruption to wildlife in the area would be heartbreaking.

    Do we really need all those cars! What a nightmare.

  5. We need to be building desalination plants, not more houses! SoCal is already overcrowded and drying up.

  6. Shane Weeks says:

    Why would anyone want to live across the street from one the nation’s soon to be busiest dumps?

  7. Dan OConnell says:

    Adding 21,000 homes will add around 60,000 people (at a conservative estimate of 3 people per household), which is about 1/3 of Santa Clarita’s current population. This is going to be a very hi-density project and, according to the map, traffic will be spilling out on only the north side. While the map’s detail doesn’t allow an accurate count, I see five exits from the entire area, all to or near the 126. Imagine giving 1/3 of Santa Clarita’s current population these few alternatives. There is one of just a huge number of negative situations that come with this project. Hopefully, for the sake of their inhabitants, they won’t allow housing units adjacent to the 126 and any other hi-traffic road like they’ve done along the 14 Fwy between Via Princessa and Sand Canyon. Nobody should have to live with that. Having had a 27-year career as a real estate appraiser, I’m very saddened by the future that this project will deal us.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration Time 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
Stream TypeLIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
L.A. Public Health Windblown Dust, Ash Advisory
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
County Warns: Dangerous Santa Ana Winds, Extreme Fire Weather
Ahead of another forecasted Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag warning and extreme fire weather, Los Angeles County is asking the public to prepare.
Friday, Jan 17, 2025
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, Jan. 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 21: SUSD Governing Board Regular Meeting
A Better World Running will host the Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at West Creek Park 24247 Village Circle Drive, Valencia, CA 91354.
Feb. 16: Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon
The Los Angeles County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs will resume normal operations at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall (1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90015) on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Jan. 21: Normal Operations Resume at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
L.A. Public Health Windblown Dust, Ash Advisory
The Master's University men's basketball defense stepped up in the final moments of the game to get an 80-72 conference road win over Benedictine Mesa Thursday night, Jan. 16.
Defense Stepped Up in Mustangs Win over BenU
Three different players each scored 17 points and the team shot nearly 50 percent from the field as The Master's University women's basketball team defeated Benedictine Mesa 83-71 Thursday night, Jan. 16 in Mesa, Ariz.
TMU Women’s Hoops Gets Road Win over Redhawks
College of the Canyons men's basketball had four players reach double-digits but it wasn't enough to keep pace with No. 5 state-ranked Citrus College in a 111-77 road affair Wednesday night, Jan. 15.
Canyons Can’t Get Past No. 5 Citrus College
College of the Canyons women's basketball is still looking for its first conference victory after its 75-54 road loss at Citrus College on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Ceja, Saridin Shine, Cougars Fall at Citrus
Ahead of another forecasted Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag warning and extreme fire weather, Los Angeles County is asking the public to prepare.
County Warns: Dangerous Santa Ana Winds, Extreme Fire Weather
1993 - Hart High grad Dee Dee Myers (1979) becomes first female White House press secretary [story]
Dee Dee Myers
1967 - Original airing of Star Trek "Arena" Episode: Kirk battles the Gorn commander (Saugus resident Bobby Clark) at Vasquez Rocks [watch]
Kirk vs. Gorn commander
1899 - Martin & Richard Wood buy J.H. Tolfree's Saugus Eating House (still inside Saugus Depot), rename it Saugus Cafe [story]
Saugus Cafe
Fritz Coleman’s show "Unassisted Living," in Residency at the El Oortal Monroe Forum in North Hollywood, will be performed on Sunday, Jan. 26 t0 benefit the California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund with 100% of all profits raised donated to the fund.
Jan. 26: Fritz Coleman’s ‘Unassisted Living’ to Benefit Wildfire Recovery Fund
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Jan. 22, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
Jan. 22: COC Board Business Meeting
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau continues its dedicated efforts to locate individuals reported missing following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires.
LASD Reports 17 Still Missing in L.A. Area Wildfires
The Canyon Theatre Guild opens the Broadway musical, "West Side Story" on Saturday, Jan. 18 on stage at the community theater in Old Town Newhall.
‘West Side Story’ Opens at the Canyon Theatre Guild
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Jordan Meraz as the new Director of Technology Services.
Jordan Meraz Named Hart Director of Technology Services
The American Red Cross is offering financial assistance for families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Los Angeles County wildfires. Assistance available to those affected by Eaton, Palisades, Hurst and Kenneth fires.
Red Cross Offers Financial Assistance to Fire Victims
Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department have reported that containment efforts continue for all three activie fires still burning in Southern California.
Repopulation Efforts in Eaton, Palisades Fire Areas, 27 Fire Deaths Reported
Newhall Escrow, founded in 1963, has announced its acquisition by Santa Clarita Valley real estate professional Christian Lazore.
Newhall Escrow Changes Hands
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has announced that charges have been filed against eight additional individuals in connection with eight alleged crimes committed during Los Angeles County’s devastating wildfires.
County DA Charges Nine with Crimes During Wildfires
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board approved the appointment of Vince Ferry as the new Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Vince Ferry Named Hart Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
California State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman have announced a rapid response effort to prevent and prosecute insurance fraud targeting wildfire survivors.
Officials Announce Efforts to Protect Wildfire Victims from Insurance Fraud
SCVNews.com