Signal Staff Writer
tmarashlian@the-signal.com
Posted: Nov. 17, 2009 9:46 p.m.
On the eve of a meeting that could decide the site for a high school in Castaic, a new property owner has stepped forward to convince the Hart district that his land would be the best location.
"I believe that the upper Romero (Canyon) property is going to be, and is, located in a community that serves the district best," Eugene Lombardi, who owns the upper Romero Canyon property in Castaic, said Tuesday.
The site borders another parcel in Romero Canyon that is owned by Larry Rasmussen.
While the Rasmussen property will be considered during the William S. Hart Union High School District board meeting tonight, Lombardi's property will not.
Board members are scheduled to hear presentations about three sites - Romero Canyon, Hasley/Sloan and Green Valley Ranch - and determine which of the properties to designate as "preferred" sites for a high school in Castaic.
The board could name one, two or all three sites for further study.
Castaic Area Town Council members told the Hart district that the three sites were worth consideration, according to school Superintendent Jaime Castellanos, but Town Council members have not endorsed any of them.
"These are the three we're going to focus on," Castellanos said.
Whichever property or properties are named by the Hart board members tonight will be the subject of in-depth environmental impact reports - the next step in the process of naming a school site.
Those EIRs are expected to be underway by the start of the new year and will likely take 12 to 18 months to complete, Castellanos said.
"I think things will definitely shake out in the next semester," he said.
Castellanos plans to give quarterly updates on the preferred sites.
If things go sour with any of the preferred properties, Hart board members could be asked to reconsider a site or sites, leaving an opportunity for properties like Lombardi's to be looked at, Castellanos said.
"He could be back in the picture, depending on the sites," Castellanos said.
Lombardi hopes the Hart district considers his property as a way to give the Castaic community more options.
"I'm hoping that they hold off so the community can see what's available for them," Lombardi said. "I'm fine with any decision they make as long as they see what they have to choose from."
Castellanos said the Hart district has looked at nearly 10 properties in Castaic to build a high school.
"I think we have looked at all the properties," he said.
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