Valley Voices: Ticking clock on public’s role in Antelope Valley development, rezoning

By Patric Hedlund

Members of the TriCounty Watchdogs (TCW) had an initial meeting last weekend with some residents of the Western Antelope Valley to delegate tasks and share initial findings regarding the Antelope Valley Area Plan Update. That is part of the “Town & Country Plan,” a major revision in the general plan for unincorporated areas of the Antelope Valley.

TriCounty Watchdogs wrote to the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning (DRP) to request an extension beyond the 45 days allowed for review of these complex documents by citizens. The plan proposes substantial changes in the way owners may use their property, and in the priorities emphasized by L.A. County for the region.

Residents say the plan favors wholesale conversion of the area to development by renewable energy companies, with little input from neighboring residents.

Citizens are also trying to understand how this major rezoning may impact the building of Tejon Ranch Company’s proposed 23,000- home Centennial project.

DRP Project Manager Carl Nadela denied the request for a modest 15-day extension, writing: “Unfortunately, we will not be able to extend the comment period for an additional 15 days…since we are also under a very tight deadline to meet a directive from the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to bring the AV Area Plan before them by November 2014.”

Nadela proposed a meeting “where we could walk through the Area Plan together in detail, which can hopefully facilitate your review of the Draft Area Plan. This way, you can quickly get a good idea about the Plan and be able to give us informed comments in the limited time provided.”

But the public hearing for the Antelope Valley Area Plan Update is Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. in the Antelope Valley College Performing Arts Theater (3041 W. Avenue K., Lancaster). The DEIR public comment period closes on October 6. Issues not raised at this stage may be denied consideration if future litigation occurs. See the DEIR at http://planning.lacounty.gov/tnc and call 213.974.6476 for more detail.

The Watchdogs can be reached at 661.242.0432 or Mary Ann Lockhart, jmal@frazmtn.com.

This is part of the September 19, 2014 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.