City Council Panel Weighs Plan for Canyon Golf Course

Opponents of a proposed 18-hole golf course in Big Tujunga Canyon, including environmentalists and Native Americans, warned a City Council panel Tuesday that the development would ruin sensitive plant habitat and lead to an “ecological disaster.”

About 30 people urged the council’s Planning and Land Use Committee to reject the 350-acre project proposed by Foothills Golf Development Group.

But the opponents were outnumbered by nearly 70 supporters who argued that the project will beautify the rubbish-strewn wash, provide a much-needed recreation facility and create commerce in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

“The golf course can only do one thing: improve the area,” said Kathy Anthony, president of the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce.

After emotional testimony on both sides, the panel delayed a decision to give Councilman Joel Wachs more time to decide on the project. Wachs will play a key role in the project’s fate because he represents the area and the council is expected to defer to his judgment.

Wachs listened intently as both sides spoke for nearly three hours.

“The quality of the testimony from both sides has been superb,” he said.

But Wachs hinted that he would support the project unless the city can find the money needed to buy the land and retain it as open space.

“‘This is the most environmentally compatible use I have seen for this land,” he said.

The area is owned by Cosmo World Corp., a company incorporated by Japanese golf magnate Minoru Isutani, who has tried to build the project since 1987.

Wachs promised to make a final decision by June 10, the date the panel will meet again on the project.