News from the Western Antelope Valley
L.A. County rezoning plan due out in spring 2013
Landowners advised to become informed now
By Patric Hedlund
Spring of 2013 is the target date for the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning to release a draft environmental impact report (DEIR) that will affect residents and landowners of the Western Antelope Valley.
The Oso Town Council said at its August meeting that a map of proposed zoning change in the Neenach-Fairmont area will be placed on the wall at the Fairmont Market meeting room so property owners can come in to examine the county’s most current proposals.
“The goal is to let people discuss and decide what impact the proposed changes will have on their own property and how they want to use their property,” said Oso Town Council President Richard Skaggs.
Four thousand property owners are involved in the area, said Vice President Gerard Conroy. That includes the entire Oso area, including Fairmont and part of Antelope Acres.
“We are going to do it for three days in early October, and we will announce it as soon as we know which three days,” Conroy said, adding that L.A. County “has committed to have one of their employees here to explain and address concerns.”
The Oso Council’s next meeting is Thursday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Fairmont Market.
This is the first time in 30 years that the county’s regional planning department is embarking on revising the Los Angeles County General Plan. The update is intended to “guide growth and development in the unincorporated areas of L.A. County through the year 2035,” their press release states.
An update to the Antelope Valley Area Plan (known as ‘Town & Country’) includes zone changes, revisions to existing zones and creation of new zones.
At the August 20 Oso Council meeting, members said this is of concern to residents and landowners in the region. Changes to “SEAs” (Significant Ecological Areas) and hillside management areas are also of major interest to the residents of the area.
Release of the DEIR will be followed by a period of public review, typically about 45 days, unless there are extensions. This is a window for written comments. A series of public hearings will be also be held, during which the public’s concerns and suggestions for improvements to the plan are gathered.
Oso Council members indicated that the Three Points Rural Town Council has already asked for improvements to the county’s early proposals to suit their area more appropriately.
This is part of the September 14, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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