County supervisors heard testimony for a zone change on the first phase of Newhall Land Development Inc.’s proposed Newhall Ranch on Tuesday and indicated they would likely approve it.
The proposed zoning changes would usher in the creation of 422 lots on about 295 acres. The lots would mean 270 single-family homes, 744 condominiums and 430 apartments, along with 16 commercial lots.
The plan for Landmark Village, Phase 1 of Newhall Ranch, also calls for 119 lots for open space and at least one fire station, park and school.
Newhall Ranch is a master-planned community from the same firm that planned and developed Valencia.
After its projected 25- to 30-year construction period, it would be home to more than 20,000 residences west of Interstate 5 and south of Highway 126.
The public hearing on the Landmark Village zone change drew criticism from some environmental groups, while others supported it as a well-planned development that can create jobs and has a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that exceeds county standards.
“We really have to step back and look at what kind of development this is,” said Jack Eidt, an urban planner with the Los Angeles-based Wild Heritage Planners.
“You can have a couple of bus stops and a future light rail, but people will be getting into their cars … heading for downtown L.A. to work and to live,” he said. “They’ll be on the (Highway) 126 and on the (Interstate) 5.”
Newhall Land’s low-impact development standards went beyond anything required by the county, said Dennis Hunter of the county Public Works Department.”
The project will not significantly impact water quality,” he told supervisors.
Other county officials said Landmark Village would create 3,700 permanent jobs and 6,300 temporary construction jobs.
County Regional Planning staff were set to prepare Tuesday’s hearing findings and present them to supervisors by the end of the year.
Supervisors also asked County Counsel to prepare documents and return them to the board for approval.
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