Panel Reactivated to Monitor Development

After a 10-year hiatus, a city-appointed citizens advisory committee will resume monitoring the Porter Ranch Specific Plan after receiving the City Council’s endorsement Tuesday.

The committee’s 15 members--all residents of the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch area--have already been appointed by Councilman Hal Bernson, who represents the northwest San Fernando Valley.

In reviewing the specific plan and reporting to city officials, the committee will focus mainly on a recently scaled-down residential-commercial development once billed as one of the city’s largest. Its first manifestation in the 1980s prompted formation of the previous citizens’ committee.

Because of a slumping housing market and a dwindling aerospace industry, the developer has cut the commercial area to about 3 million square feet. After vigorous objections by residents, streets that had been scheduled to pass through the development area will now dead-end, reducing traffic.