August 8, 1996 a draft environmental impact report was released for the 24,000 unit, 70,000 resident, Newhall Ranch"new town" project - the largest ever proposed in LA County. The EIR was the height of a small child and weighs 46 pounds.Environmental organizations immediately asked for an extension of the review period to 180 days due to the magnitude of this project. They were joined in that request by the City of Santa Clarita, Newhall County Water District, the County of Ventura and many concerned individuals. In spite of this universal conern, the County of Los Angeles has only extended the original comment period by 30 days to December 5th.
The Newhall Ranch project consumes 11,963 acres and is transected by the Santa Clara River (the last unchannelized river in Los Angeles County and the major drinking water supply for the communities along its course). The project will convert 1490 acres of cultivated farmland and 595 acres of prime farm land to urban use, a significant impact for which there is no mitigation. It will have significant adverse impacts on traffic congestion and air pollution.
This project will single-handedly change the character of the Santa Clarita Valley.
Most environmental organizations have already had this project on their work lists for many months due to its severe environmental impacts to air and water quality, the ecosystem of the Santa Clara River, and the fight against urban sprawl.