LA County supervisors OK Tejon Ranch mega-development
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Tejon Ranch mega-development in the Antelope Valley now has the tentative approval of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
The Centennial Project is a proposed community of 19,000 homes on more than 12,000 acres near the 5 and 138 freeways.
Supporters say it will bring housing and jobs.
Tuesday's vote was 4 to 1, with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl dissenting. She said she was skeptical about the number of jobs and affordable housing it would create.
The Tejon Ranch Company admits where it wants to build is in a high fire-prone area. That's been one of the major criticisms against the massive project.
It said it's worked with the L.A. County Fire Department and Cal Fire to make the community as safe as possible.
"We will prescribe a 200-foot buffer around the community, and we're buffered by Highway 138 (and) the California Aqueduct, which goes right through the community. We'll make sure that all the plant materials that are used are fire resistant, all the buildings themselves will be of the latest fire codes. We'll be up to speed with that," said Barry Zoeller of Tejon Ranch.
The Tejon Ranch Company expects there will be legal challenges to the Centennial Project, therefore groundbreaking may still be about five years from now.
