The developer planning the 5,800-home Las Lomas mini-city in the Newhall Pass wants to pay the city of Los Angeles to focus city planners on the project and help speed up review reports Kerry Cavanaugh and Judy O’Rourke of the Daily News.
It’s not uncommon for developers of large projects to cover the cost of city staff time, which can add up to hundreds of hours.
But the proposed agreement between the Las Lomas Land Company and the city is unusual because the project has been stalled for several years amid political and environmental opposition.
Councilman Richard Alarcn proposed the fee-for-staff-time agreement in response to Las Lomas’ request.
“It seemed a good idea to reduce the burden on the taxpayers,” said Alarc n, whose district would likely include the project if it is approved and annexed into L.A.
The controversial project is planned on 555 acres north of the junction of Interstate 5 and the Antelope Valley Freeway on the Santa Clarita side of a ridgeline between the two cities. The land is in county territory, but the developer is seeking annexation to Los Angeles.
Read more here: http://www.dailynews.com/santaclarita/ci_6560488