A local senior community has taken their complaints against a utilities project to Superior Court, where they have filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison.

The lawsuit originated from 43 residents of Belcaro, a 55 & up senior community in Santa Clarita, who say that Edison is not complying with mitigation requirements from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Attorneys for the plaintiffs claim that the Commission required Edison to reduce the height and size of the transmission towers through the western portion of Santa Clarita as a condition of approval for the new Antelope-Pardee Transmission Line Project. The plaintiffs also claim that Edison was required to use tubular steel poles (TSP) instead of the existing lattice steel towers (LST).

“Instead of following this mitigation requirement, Edison fraudulently and negligently concealed from these residents, and the entire Belcaro community, that it was secretly convincing the CPUC staff to allow it to construct the skyscraper transmission towers through the senior community of Belcaro.” stated Hunt Braly, attorney for the residents.

“Those of us that attended Edison’s public meetings and followed the CPUC approval process understood that the CPUC had ordered Edison to use poles instead of the massive black towers that Edison erected. Edison concealed from us what they were doing until it was too late to have them removed. Now we have these monstrosities towering over our homes and our lives every day.” said Maynard Davis, a Belcaro resident and one of the Plaintiffs.

The lawsuit claims that the large transmission towers now sitting near homes in the Belcaro community have lowered property values and the plaintiffs are seeking damages.

Southern California Edison has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

Several residents journeyed to City Hall Tuesday night to speak with Santa Clarita City Council members. They thanked the City for previous deeds as they pertain to this matter since 2007, and they requested that the City continue to be supportive as the lawsuit moves forward.

City Attorney Carl Newton told the Council that City legal staff will monitor the litigation and act in accordance with any future Council guidance.

The Belcaro community is located near McBean Parkway and Copper Hill Dr.