KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The over 19,000-home Centennial Project in the Grapevine was approved Tuesday by Los Angeles County, but still faces another hurdle.
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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the Centennial development by Tejon Ranch, but it is subject to a local jobs contract and review of fire mitigation strategies before starting construction.
The Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the project 4-1, with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl voting against the project.
“I can’t support it. I think it is not a good idea to build a brand new city so far away from everything else — because of the fire concern, because I don’t quite understand and believe the affordable housing promises,” Kuehl said.
The Centennial Project site would sit within “high” and “very high” fire hazard severity zones, according to state fire officials.
Before the Board of Supervisor’s approval, the project was previously approved by the LA County Regional Planning Commission in August, according to County documents.
See Related: 19,000-Home Centennial Project Near 5 Freeway In Grapevine To Be Discussed By Board Of Supervisors
“Today’s vote will move the Centennial project forward with key amendments that address fire safety by requiring peer review, by or in coordination with CAL FIRE, at all points of the implementation and the creation of 20,000 new long-term jobs along with a partnership for a job training program, all to ensure that we have a comprehensive and resilient development,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Santa Clarita as part of the 5th district.
This project is historic, as it includes the first project labor agreement (PLA) on a private residential development in Los Angeles County, which applies to all infrastructure facilities. This would not have been possible without the partnership between the County, Centennial and labor partners, Barger added.
The proposed housing project is approximately 35 miles north of Santa Clarita and one mile east of Interstate 5, along Highway 138.
Developers plan to build the project in Tejon Ranch, which is comprised of 270,000 acres near Interstate 5, about halfway between Los Angeles and Bakersfield.
The Centennial Project will include not only homes, but parks, schools and a Sheriff’s department – a small city unto itself, according to developers.
The development is expected to bring about 19,333 homes on about 4,987 acres set aside for residential use, according to county officials.
The project also includes 2,900 affordable housing units, more affordable housing that has been built in LA County in 20 years, according to Barry Zoeller, vice president of corporate communications and investor relations for Tejon Ranch.
See Related: 19,000 Home Centennial Project Off 5 Freeway Approved By L.A. County Planners
Opponents to the plan are concerned with the potential impact on the environment and traffic on the 5 Freeway, which has seen strain during the holiday season.
“Centennial will pave over thousands of acres of irreplaceable wildlands, put residents at extreme wildfire risk and clog our already congested freeways. Our county needs housing near existing job centers, not isolated developments in remote wildlands,” said J.P. Rose, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.
The project is designed to be a sustainable community, according to the developer, with open space and greenbelts incorporated into the plans.
In 1999, the ranch began planning three new developments on the land, including Centennial. Ten years ago, the company reached an agreement with environmental groups to conserve 90 percent of the property, or 240,000 acres.
The Centennial Project is subject to a 30-day period to introduce litigation regarding the County’s environmental review of the project.
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Our 5th. District member of the LA County Board of Supervisors, Kathryn Barger-Leibrich, who last week made an issue of the horrible traffic that crawls, at times, thru the SCV on the I-5, pledged to work to remedy the situation. Instead, today voted to OK the Centennial project. Being the good Republican, as she is, who is surprised at this middle finger being directed at us all? Why the betrayal? $$$$!
People, start paying attention to what our elected officials do once in office. Many did and that is why Steve Knight got the boot.
So Denny, if Kathryn (or any Board member) voted Yes AND was a Democrat, would you call them out? I think not. You only call out the Reps. I get it though, it’s your narrative.
Also, Cristobal has a point below. Why are all you people not up in arms about the extra people/traffic caused by illegal immigrants in SCV? Again, because of your narrative.
We see right through you.
SCV Guy- Your statements exceed your knowledge. Hypocrisy will be called out w/o regard to party. And Cristobal’s unfounded point regarding undocumented drivers clogging the SCV roads was as sharp as a marble. I do agree with the last line though as it sums up the idiocy of that post.
Feel free to post links to comments where you call out a Dem. I’ve just never seen it.
Denny, you are completely blind, yet you don’t know it. Undocumented (Illegal, I know you can’t say it) drivers certainly do add to traffic. I know this all to well as one of them hit my family member’s car causing it to flip on it’s side and injure him.
Your credibility on this site, as others, is diminished because you won’t even admit a simple truth. Who can actually take your comments seriously if you can’t see reasonable truth? If you had an opinion differing from mine, I accept to agree-to-disagree, but you can’t even concede to simple facts. SMH
“Hypocrisy will be called out w/o regard to party.” Did you pick up on that? I know you can read, maybe it’s your comprehension skills that could use some work. I will never call anyone illegal because such a person is non-existent. Thank you but no need to concern yourself with my credibility.
Denny, of course I read AND comprehended it. Just like Obama saying “You can keep your health plan”, I read, heard, and comprehended that, but ACTION is the key. So, time will tell if Denny actually calls out hypocrisy on a fellow Dem. And no, I’m not concerned with your credibility, and I don’t usually like to feed the trolls, but sometimes I must.
Thank you supervisor Kuehl for you No vote on this project. The LA County Board of Supervisors usually votes for anything that brings in tax dollars!!! Does anyone think about WATER, TRAFFIC, FIRE, et al? Come on people? CA is out of control! The people are over taxed, and now you do what WA state does since there is no state income tax, you are charging people fees. Fees are a TAX!!!! My family has been in this valley since the early 1900s. The whole damn state is out of control, and each time an elected official votes for new housing, taxes, or fees they need to be voted out. What has happened to your voices?
Denny & Ms. Griffith, with all due respect, it seems the both of you are living in the stone ages(aka early 1900’s). Imho, you should support “our” President and focus on securing the “southern” border if you’re worried about traffic & congestion. At least those to the north of you would carry proper papers incl. car insurance. Just not too sure what all the fuss is about.
What! Another 19000+ homes minutes away from Santa Carita!! Newhall Ranch has barely started their buildout of 21500+ homes near Magic Mountain. So imagine close to 41000 New Homes that will use the 5 Freeway with probably 2 adults with 2 cars to drive to work(82000 new cars for the commute). The 5 couldn’t even handle the Thanksgiving traffic going through SCV, CHP had to divert the traffic through the Old Road. SCV is not going to be able to handle it.
This will be the last term for Ms Barger. Just another Developer Stooge.
She speaks out about the problems on the 5 freeway, then adds to them. What a hypocrite!
I am pretty sure Barger is a Democrat posing as a Republican. Why would anybody in their right mind welcome even more traffic here. It is hell out there on the roads not to mention the stupid drivers. Can’t tell you how many times people have started going into the lane I am in. I lay on the horn so they won’t hit me and they just keep coming over to where my car is. I almost have to stop to avoid getting side swiped.
A union-only Project Labor Agreement to pay off the unions? Oh Kathryn.