Newhall Ranch Threatens Fillmore And All of Ventura County

Many call the Newhall Ranch project "the suburban sprawl nightmare," a statement that would almost be laughable if the consequences weren’t so severe.

Newhall Ranch is the largest approved development in Los Angeles County history, and quite possibly the country.

The plan calls for over 21,000 houses on 12,000 acres that is projected to house over 60,000 people, all this in the Santa Clara River watershed right at the edge of Ventura County and Highway 126. It will choke Ventura County roads with traffic congestion.

This massive project will stimulate tremendous demand for urban services and increase development in Ventura County, particularly on the 126 corridor. While this corridor is covered by the countywide SOAR, it is vulnerable to the development plans of the City of Fillmore.

The countywide SOAR only prohibits the Board of Supervisors from approving projects. It does not affect the City of Fillmore. That is why the Fillmore SOAR campaign, (see page 1), is critical to all of us in Ventura County. Their city council’s expansion plans fit perfectly with Newhall’s massive project. The double whammy of these two projects will decimate the 126 corridor in eastern Ventura County. Please help us help the citizens of Fillmore with their critical SOAR campaign.

New SOAR board members have joined the team while two past members have taken a break from regular SOAR board meetings. Mike Miller, a coordinator of the successful Santa paula SOAR effort, joined the board as did paul magie, a long-time SOAR activist. they repalce Lisa Burton who donated countless hours to the early SOAR efforts and Mark Burley who coordinated efforts around the Santa rosa Valley. A big thank you to lisa and Mark for all your hard work to stop urban sprawl.

Current Board members: left to right, Richard Francis, Mike Miller, Linda Parks, Paul Magie, Diane Bentz (with new daughter Marigail), Chuck Thomas, Kevin Conville, Steve Bennett and Brian Brennan (not pictured).
SOAR Board Activities
  • Meeting regularly with Fillmore citizens to help them launch their new SOAR campaign including raising funds, legal work on their petition, printing and mailing campaign brochures.
  • Responding to requests from around the state for speakers and information about SOAR and for information.
  • Raising funds and coordinating a campaign to win the right to vote on any Ventura hillside projects. These include printing and mailing campaign brochures.
  • Fighting legal battles to defend the SOAR initiatives and other related SOAR actions.
  • Maintaining a Web site: www.soarusa.org

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