Faced with one of the biggest issues ever to confront the Northeast San Fernando Valley, three local chambers of commerce are merging in hopes of having a louder voice when it comes to the area’s pending redevelopment. The Greater Northeast San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce would combine the chambers of San Fernando, Pacoima and Mission Hills together into one big group, creating a single lobbying focus for the most important business leaders in the Northeast Valley. “Redevelopment is a major issue and to be a business organization here, we have to step in the middle of it,” said Larry Mouchawar, president of the Mission Hills Chamber of Commerce. “We need to look at the most prudent way to help (redevelopment). There needs to be a level playing field balancing between the community, politicians and business interests.” The new organization will have a combined membership of more than 400, making it one of the Valley’s largest chambers. And the first issue it plans to tackle is Northeast Valley redevelopment. The L.A. Community Redevelopment Agency has been struggling to map out a redevelopment zone in the communities of Pacoima, Panorama City, Sylmar and Sun Valley. The CRA’s proposals have been sharply criticized, and last month the deeply divided project area committee, an advisory board on redevelopment comprised of business and com-munity members, voted to disband because they could not reach a consensus. The CRA’s plan would divert $490 million in property tax revenues generated by the 6,835-acre area over the course of four decades. The money would be spent on redevelopment projects meant to lure business and developers to the area. The business community has so far been divided on the issue, with some small-business owners concerned that the CRA might use its power of eminent domain to displace them. Under state law, owners of existing businesses and homes in a project area can be forced to move to make way for a renewal project. Councilman Alex Padilla, who backs the redevelopment plan, has proposed eliminating the city’s ability to use eminent domain on residential properties. While none of the three area chambers has taken a formal position on redevelopment efforts, the unified group could garner considerable clout in shaping redevelopment if it were to take a specific stance on the issue. Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, head of San Fernando-based Pueblo Contracting Services Inc., will serve as president of the new chamber. She said the group wants to work with government officials in a non-threatening manner, but added that there may be some disagreements on how to progress. “This issue is emotionally charged,” Aszkenazy said. “The community has long gone without development money. Anyone that tries to put a halt to (the CRA’s redevelopment plan) may be seen as anti-community or racist. We’re looking at redevelopment from a business perspective.” Much of the Northeast Valley has been left behind in the current economic boom. The area is home to 40 percent of the Valley’s population but just 25 percent of its jobs, according to a CRA study. Average per-capita income is $9,266 a year, compared with a citywide per-capita income of $16,188. The three Northeast Valley chambers have been working on their merger for the last six months, though it has been under discussion for years. Though the merger has been approved by the boards of all three chambers, their members must still vote in favor of the pact, which they are expected to do by July 1. The unified chamber would then meet in early July to map out its strategic plan and its position on issues facing the area, including redevelopment.