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Federal Court Affirms Environmental Review For Newhall Land

The following is courtesy of Newhall Land.

Newhall Land announced Tuesday that the U.S. Federal District Court granted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ and Newhall Land’s summary judgment motions affirming the Corps’ eight-year permitting effort.


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In the process, the federal court also denied the plaintiff environmental groups’ counter-motion. Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, U.S. District Judge, issued a 39-page decision upholding the Corps’ issuance of the Clean Water Act section 404 permit, allowing construction of infrastructure needed to facilitate development of the Newhall Ranch planned community — a community previously approved by the County of Los Angeles, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and numerous other federal, state, regional, and local agencies.

Plaintiffs, Center for Biological Diversity, Wishtoyo Foundation, Friends of the Santa Clara River, SCOPE, and Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians challenged the Corps’ permit on the grounds that it violated the Clean Water Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.

In its 39-page decision, the Federal Court rejected each argument presented by plaintiffs, finding that the Corps acted appropriately, based its decision on voluminous evidence, and thoroughly explained the basis for its final decision.

“The Federal Court’s decision fully supports the Corps’ permitting effort and validates the Corps’ lengthy permitting and environmental review process for Newhall Ranch,” said Marlee Lauffer, Newhall Land spokeswoman. “We had great confidence in the diligence the Corps used to review and ultimately approve the Newhall Ranch environmental impact statement, EIS, the 404 permit, and its record of decision.”

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“As an owner of a company that is building master planned communities in California, we value our working relationship with the Army Corps,” said Emile Haddad, President and CEO of Five Point Communities, the development manager for Newhall Land. “Today, the exhaustive review by the Corps was affirmed by the Federal Court to have been completed diligently, properly, and in accordance with all applicable federal laws. We are thankful for their efforts and look forward to implementing the plans approved by the Corps. We also appreciate the hard work of the Federal Court in carefully reviewing the voluminous record.”

The Corps’ approval will facilitate infrastructure and development of the Newhall Ranch planned community, as well as Newhall Land’s Entrada South planned community and its Valencia Commerce Center.  It will also facilitate significant public benefits — including funded and managed open space, jobs, public services, and other amenities.

The Corps’ approval is part of the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan, which the County of Los Angeles approved after a 15-year local environmental review process. At build out, Newhall Ranch villages will bring more than 80,000 permanent jobs to the region and over 47,000 development-related jobs.  The Specific Plan also calls for over 10,000 acres of open space, 60 miles of trails, several schools and community infrastructure, including a water reclamation plant, fire stations, library and sheriff station.

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Federal Court Affirms Environmental Review For Newhall Land

4 comments

  1. We are now cutting back on our water use by 24% by watering 2 days a week, resulting, in this heat, in the slow death of our lawn, taking navy showers, recycling our laundry water, washing dishes by hand and only flushing our toilets when necessary. Where, in this devastating drought that may not end, is the water going to come from? If anything a moratorium needs to be imposed on further development of homes and businesses until water access can be assured. Is someone getting paid off here?

  2. So there you have it. Doesn’t matter that there is no water, according to the Court. Or that residents have to breath bad air and let their lawns die. Everything for the developer. But what was really absurd was that the Corp attorney purposely obscured information by stating that all the Courts had approved the project and neglecting to mention that it is now before the California Supreme Court where there is hope that some additional review will be required.

    But it would probably not have matter anyway. This Judge is not known for his concern for the community or the environment and doesn’t rule for plaintiffs so the environmental groups did not exprect to win this round. They hope that the 9th circuit court of appeal will stand up for our valley and our residents.

  3. I haven’t read the pleadings or the ruling but I doubt seriously the boards or courts considered the enormous deleterious effects and consequences of this development on traffic on 126 and I-5. There will never be enough good jobs in the SCV to accommodate the population increase. Working remote on a network can’t be done by everyone. Does this mean Bakersfield is the next boom town for jobs?

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