Environmental Report, Ritter Ranch Plan OKd

The Palmdale City Council has approved the environmental impact report and planning blueprint for the giant Ritter Ranch project, taking two more steps toward giving a final OK for the giant residential project.

The 7,200-home development on 10,625 acres west of the city would be the largest project in Palmdale’s history and one of the largest envisioned in Southern California.

After several weeks of public hearings, the council approved the environmental report and Specific Plan on 4-1 votes Thursday night.

Palmdale must still reach an agreement with Los Angeles County to annex the property in the neighboring unincorporated community of Leona Valley.

Councilman Jim Ledford cast the only vote against the report and plan, saying that, as a procedural matter, the council also should have reviewed a proposed development agreement with the builder at the same time.

City Administrator Bob Toone has negotiated since November with Ritter representatives on a development agreement, which typically provides developers with protections against changes in zoning laws and other regulations.

Toone said Friday that the city is trying to speed up negotiations over the annexation, a process which could take two to three months. A draft of the development agreement is expected to be released to the public soon.