The SFVAS Board of Directors has gone on record opposing two housing development projects in our territory. Here is a recent update on the progress of these projects:

1. Late last month the LA City Council voted 15-0 to take a position opposing the Newhall Ranch / Landmark Village project. Yesterday they voted unanimously to have the City Planning Department continue to monitor the proposal as it progresses through the County bureaucracy. The EIR/EIS is being amended and will be re-circulated for additional comments, probably early next year.

2. Today the LA City Council voted 10-5 to stop processing any/all application materials for the Las Lomas project. As of today, this project has been stopped! There is an expectation that the developer will sue the City to continue processing the project. However, even if that happens, and the developer wins, 13 of the 15 Council members have stated that they oppose the project and would vote against it.

As far as I can remember (30 years) these are the only 2 development projects that our Board has ever voted to oppose. It now looks like we may actually have a chance to win in both cases.

—Kris Ohlenkamp, SFVAS Conservation Co-Chair