Motion by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

July 6, 1999

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ZEV YAROSLAVSKY

It has come to my attention that the site of the proposed Ahmanson Ranch project in Ventura County (Tentative Tract Map No. 5260) may contain two sensitive species, chorizanthe parryi fernandina, commonly known as the San Fernando spine flower, and the red-legged frog, a federally listed endangered species, whose possible presence was not previously known and therefore not addressed in the environmental documentation for the project prepared by Ventura County.

As we all recall, in 1993, this County joined with numerous other parties, including the cities of Los Angeles, Calabasas and Malibu in legally challenging the Ahmanson Ranch project planned in the southwest corner of Ventura County. We were all concerned about the project at that time because virtually all of its negative impacts were going to be experienced in Los Angeles County and not Ventura County. The parties challenging the project raised a number of environmental and other planning issues in the legal proceedings. At that time, the courts upheld the approvals issued by Ventura County relating to the specific plan (long-range planning document) for the project.

Although the courts upheld Ventura County's issuance of long-range planning entitlements for the project at that time, the project still requires additional land use approvals, including subdivision maps, as part of the entitlement process. Ventura County has a continuing obligation to analyze the project's environmental and other impacts. Furthermore, our own County is being asked to issue certain authorizations to allow the project to proceed.

I, THEREFORE MOVE THAT:

1. Our Board send a five signature letter to the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission and the Planning Resource Management Agency of the County of Ventura urging a redesign of the project to avoid potential effects on these endangered species and that a subsequent environmental impact report be prepared and circulated to address potential impacts on these species.

2. Our Departments of Regional Planning and Public Works, with the assistance of County Counsel, be directed to monitor the continuing land use approval process in Ventura County for the Ahmanson Ranch project and provide comments/testimony where appropriate on these and other issues of concern to our County.

3. The Department of Regional Planning be directed to fully analyze these endangered species issues in connection with any authorizations required to be issued by our County in connection with the Ahmanson Ranch project.