A war has erupted over plans to build 221 luxury homes on a picturesque California hillside.
Opponents to the scheme say the Canyon Hills project will not only harm the Verdugo Mountains’ delicate ecosystem, but will also contribute to the gentrification of the area.
Protest group No Canyon Hills, which is campaigning against the development, claim that a previous environmental study from 2004 is outdated and does not account for wildlife such as mountain lions and bees which they have documented on site.
‘We must say no to a project like ‘Canyon Hills’ that harms far more than it heals; that devalues (destroys) life in favor of profit,’ a statement on the group’s website reads.
However, developers Whitebird, headed by Rick Percell, are now suing the group amid claims its members trespassed onto the land to set up illicit surveillance cameras to obtain this information.
‘The Canyon Hills site is private property, not public open space,’ Christopher Frost, an attorney for Whitebird told the Los Angeles Times.
‘Like all property owners in California, our client has the exclusive right to the use of the land it has owned for over two decades and an expectation of privacy on that land without disruption.
‘The trespassing and unauthorized surveillance we describe in the lawsuit are taking place in violation of those rights.’
A war has erupted over plans to build 221 luxury homes in the largely unspoiled Verdugo Mountains
Developers Whitebird have already reduced the scope of the development from 900 to 300 acres following protests
‘Certain components of the original impact report, which was conducted 20 years ago, don’t reflect the current status of the land,’ No Canyon Hills co-founder Emma Kemp said.
‘Our goal is to encourage city officials and state agencies to conduct an updated environmental review.’
Plans for a development were approved by the Los Angeles City Council in 2005 with a 20 year completion date through to October 2026.
Whitebird has already reduced the scope of the development from 900 to 300 acres following protests despite pledging to leave the remaining land as publicly accessible, protected space.
But campaigners are still not satisfied and a petition against the development has amassed almost 178,000 signatures.
‘We cannot stand by as an antiquated development proposal pushes already threatened wildlife down to the 210 freeway, as this plan proposes,’ the petition states.
It goes on to add that the area has been decimated by wildfires in recent years.
‘Charred remnants of structures burned in this fire are a grim indicator of the absurdity of the Canyon Hills proposal,’ the petition reads.
Opponents to the scheme say the Canyon Hills project will not only harm the Verdugo Mountains’ delicate ecosystem, but will also contribute to the gentrification of the area
The developers are now suing campaign group No Canyon Hills over claims they trespassed on their land to record data about the wildlife living on the site in a bid to prevent the project progressing
Whitebird has accused opponents to the scheme of attempting to stall construction and smear its reputation.
“Every month they don’t have the permit, we’re moving closer to the 2026 deadline, and that’s partly because of the advocacy work we’ve been doing,’ Kemp added.
Frost meanwhile said the company was not adverse to selling off the land and No Canyon Hills has already begun a $12 million fundraising campaign.
However, Frost said this is well short of what would be required to secure a sale.
Pursuing legal action against the activists is considered an unusual step by those in the industry.
Doug Carstens, a previous No Canyon Hills attorney, believes the lawsuit is intended to intimidate the campaign group.
But he warned it could backfire for Whitebird and bring greater attention and support for the cause.
