Centennial, California facts for kids

Centennial, California is a huge planned community that might be built in northwestern Los Angeles County. It's located on Tejon Ranch, a large piece of land between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. This new community would be in the western part of the Antelope Valley, near the Sierra Pelona and Tehachapi Mountains. It would be built along California State Route 138, not far from Interstate 5 and Quail Lake.

What is the Centennial Project?

This new community is planned to be built over 25 to 30 years. About half of its 11,700 acres (about 4,700 hectares) would be kept as open space, meaning no buildings. The project includes plans for 19,333 homes, which would be a mix of single-family houses and apartment buildings. The Tejon Ranch Company has agreed that 18% of these homes will be "affordable housing," meaning they are priced to be within reach for people with lower incomes.

The developers hope to create local jobs so that many of the 57,000 people expected to live there can work close to home. The project area stretches from about a mile east of where Interstate 5 meets Highway 138, eastward past Quail Lake into the western Antelope Valley. It's located southeast of Gorman and west of Neenach.

Four companies are planning this large project: Tejon Ranch Company, Lewis Operating Company, Pardee Homes, and Standard Pacific Homes. They are building it on land owned by Tejon Ranch.

Fire Safety Plans

The area where Centennial would be built is known for having a high risk of wildfires. Records show that many large fires have happened near or within the project's boundaries in the past. However, the developers say they are designing the community to reduce fire risks. Their plans include building four fire stations within the community to help keep everyone safe.

Why are people concerned about Centennial?

Many groups are worried about the Centennial project, mainly because of its possible effects on the environment and traffic.

Protecting Nature and Wildlife

Environmental groups are against the project because it would be built on special natural areas. These include the largest native grassland left in California. The land is also home to four animals that are listed as endangered or threatened by the U.S. government, including the very rare California condor. There are also 23 other animals and plants in the area that are protected by California's endangered species laws.

The Tejon Pass area, where Centennial would be, is also a very important "wildlife corridor." This means it's a natural path that animals use to move between different areas like the Tehachapi Mountains, the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada, and the Central Valley. Building a large community here could block these important paths for animals.

Other Concerns

Another big worry is that the new community would cause a lot more traffic on Interstate 5 and Highway 138. This is because the development would be far from many job centers, meaning more people would have to drive long distances.

People also raised concerns about health issues from dust during construction. There were also worries about whether there would be enough water for such a large community and if the plans for wildlife corridors were good enough.

What legal steps have been taken?

Over the years, there have been several agreements and lawsuits about the Centennial project.

Agreements to Protect Nature

In 2008, the developers made an agreement with several large environmental groups. These groups included the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Audubon Society of California, the Sierra Club, the Endangered Habitats League, and the Planning and Conservation League. The agreement stated that 90% of Tejon Ranch would be protected from development. In return, the environmental groups agreed not to oppose building on the remaining 10%. This protected land could still be used for farming, mining, grazing animals, and hunting, but no new buildings would be allowed.

Court Challenges and New Plans

In April 2019, two environmental groups, the Center for Biological Diversity and the California Native Plant Society, filed a lawsuit against the County Board of Supervisors. They argued that the Board's approval of the Centennial project broke California's environmental laws. They asked for the development to be stopped until a new environmental review could be done.

In April 2021, a judge agreed with some of these concerns. The judge rejected the developer's environmental report, especially regarding wildfire risks and the extra greenhouse gases that vehicles from the new community would create. The judge said that the developer's claims about reducing wildfire risk were not supported by enough facts.

After this, Tejon Ranch and a nonprofit group called Climate Resolve made a new agreement. This agreement focuses on designing the community to help fight global warming. The plan includes installing nearly 30,000 chargers for electric vehicles at homes and businesses. It also offers ways to encourage people to buy 10,500 electric cars, school buses, and trucks.

The agreement also requires money for fire protection and prevention. This includes planning for buildings that can resist fire and managing plants to reduce fire risks, which would also help nearby communities. An organization will also be created to check on the progress each year.

The parties also agreed that the development would aim for:

• Zero greenhouse gas emissions.
• Preventing wildfires by funding fire protection and prevention.
• Being open about records, including forming an organization to watch how well the project meets its goals.