Citizens Group Supports Scaled-Back Valley Project

A proposal to significantly scale back a massive redevelopment project area in the northeast San Fernando Valley won widespread support Monday from members of a citizens advisory committee, although a few said the reduction doesn’t go far enough.

A majority of the 20-member Project Area Committee endorsed the idea of a 40% to 50% reduction of the 6,835-acre project area. The panel was set up by the city and elected at-large to advise the Community Redevelopment Agency about the northeast Valley proposal.

Redevelopment agency planner Bob Fazio presented a proposal to the citizens panel on Monday night that eliminates areas deemed no longer developable.

Those include nearly 2,000 acres of the Hansen Dam recreation area, about 300 acres of county land used for water-spreading grounds, 189 acres of Whiteman Airport and the 63-acre former General Motors plant in Panorama City, which has already undergone major redevelopment.

Even reduced to 3,400 acres, it would remain the largest redevelopment project area in the city.

Panel member Dick Symonds said the reduction does not go far enough. He said the project area should be limited to the acreage identified by city officials as likely to see actual new construction--currently between 71 and 217 acres.