Disney / ABC Studios at the Ranch project approved by County Board of Supervisors; Department of Regional Planning staff facilitate multi-agency review behind the scenes

The County Board of Supervisors' initial approval in August of the 58-acre Disney | ABC Studios at the Ranch project followed the review and sign-off of no less than five LA County departments along with several state and federal agencies.

Behind the scenes, among those coordinating the reviews and facilitating the approvals were three County professional employees represented by the California Association of Professional Employees - CAPE.

The complicated land-use issues, entitlements, special use permits and public access concerns made the 4-year approval process one of the more challenging projects for CAPE-represented Department of Regional Planning (DRP) employees Kim Szalay - Principal Regional Planning Asst., Christina D Tran - Senior Regional Planning Asst., and Samuel Dea - Supervising Regional Planner.

The Disney Company owns the land. The property has been used in motion picture and television production since 1959. Disney's construction plans include several large-scale sound stages for film and TV production. DRP staff Kim Szalay coordinated the entitlement process, including conditional use permits, land use permits, coordination of the local hearing process and review by Los Angeles County Counsel.

DRP staff Christina Tran was responsible for reviewing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and working with the consultants hired by Disney to secure County approval.

Szalay explained that DRP staff work behind the scenes to ensure that all of the necessary inputs from all participating agencies and departments are in place. "The County has detailed requirements in place to make certain the project is constructed properly," Szalay said. "And it's not just for the current owner. The County's permitting and entitlement processes protect any future owners and make sure there are adequate resources like water and sewer utilities."

Economic Boom:

The Disney project, facilitated by DRP staff and County professional employees from several other departments, will eventually provide employment for more than 2,800 full and part-time studio workers.

CAPE represented professional employees working at the Department of Regional Planning played similar roles in several other large-scale land development projects. Those projects include the NBC Universal development of new hotels, studios and Harry Potter Land, the Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One project and Newhall Ranch commercial and housing projects.

Pictured Left- CAPE-represented employees at the LA Co. Department of Regional Planning, Kim Szalay - Principal Regional Planning Asst., Christina D Tran - Senior Regional Planning Asst., and Samuel Dea - Supervising Regional Planner, led a multi-agency effort to expedite approval of the Disney/ABC Studios at the Ranch project in the Santa Clarita Valley.	Pictured Right- Sketch rendering of the 58-acre Disney | ABC Studios at the Ranch project