During the past few decades, several single-family neighborhoods have grown to abut the edge of Runkle Canyon.
One of the challenges for the project planners and designers
has been to preserve the character of the existing neighborhoods
while smoothly transitioning into the proposed neighborhood.
While the transition needs to "connect" the neighborhoods,
it will also be important for the new Runkle Canyon neighborhood
to provide a flow through the new community so residents
can access the dedicated open space.
The Runkle Canyon project began with a
basic plan and the input from the closest neighbors. The
planning and design work that followed required much work
to blend the established with the new - some obvious and
many not so obvious. Some of the more obvious methods take
advantage of the heritage of the open space that exists
in Simi Valley. That heritage will continue in Runkle Canyon.
After all of the plan is finished and the homes
are occupied, more than 91 percent of the property will
remain permanent open space. The open space will be available
for visual enjoyment and provide unique recreational opportunities.
Hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails will wind through
Runkle Canyon and will be accessible to all Simi Valley
residents. In some cases, the trails will begin at the
edge, or extend into the existing neighborhoods.
Further efforts to blend the plan include having all the
lots that are adjacent to established development be about
the same size as the existing homes, or larger, so that
the single-family feeling of Runkle Canyon will remain.
Some of the subtler neighborhood integration plans are
a new water tank and water lines that will tie into existing
water lines. This will correct a problem of low water pressure
in the established neighborhoods. We are also providing
a site adjacent to the water tank for an emergency helispot
which will help in local firefighting capabilities. Roads,
storm water facilities, and sidewalks are being planned
to blend in a safe, attractive and environmentally sensitive
manner. Many of the storm water facilities will actually
be part of the landscaping. The overall plan is to have
the project work with the land, rather than trying to make
the land conform to the project.
See Also:
- Runkle
Canyon Interactive Aerial Photography
- Runkle
Canyon Area Interactive Street Map
- Runkle
Canyon Historical Development Timeline
