Tesoro Del Valle Project Reduced by County Supervisors

On the same day that the Supervisors began reviewing Newhall Ranch, this project in San Francisquito Canyon also came before them. Tesoro had been opposed by the City because of its impact on traffic congestion, by local residents because of the hillside grading and lose of their rural lifestyle and by SCOPE because of its impacts to San Francisquito Creek and its Significant Ecological Area. It was reduced to 1781 units from the Planning Commission approval of 2500, but this is still 681 units more than the General Plan currently allows in this rural area.

On a positive note, the project proponent did make an agreement with the Hart and Saugus School Districts to fully fund the cost of new schools to serve the project.

Mike Kotch, President of SCOPE, spoke at the March hearing to request that the Supervisors ensure the Decoro Bridge span would be long enough not to impede surface water flow in San Francisquito Creek and require library impact fees before project approval.

SCOPE is opposed to any Plan Amendment for this project. We believe the General Plan should not be arbitrarily amended without justification or substantial evidence of need.

The project hearing was continued by the Supervisors. There will be further environmental analysis and further consideration of project modifications that may scale it back.