Kern County planners approve Tejon development

By The Associated Press, San Jose Mercury News | September 11, 2009

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Kern County planners have given their blessing to a proposed development within the sprawling Tejon Ranch north of Los Angeles.

The ranch is the largest single piece of privately held land in the state.

At a meeting Thursday night, the Kern County Planning Commission approved the Tejon Mountain Village. It still needs to be approved by the Board of Supervisors.

A group of California condor experts oppose the gated community, saying it would reduce natural food supplies of the endangered bird. Tejon has maintained that it's proposed development will not adversely affect the condor.

Tejon has made a deal with several environmentalists to preserve a swath of wilderness in the Tehachapi Mountains in exchange for not opposing development on parts of the ranch.