How much open space will be provided and how will we be assured that it will always stay open space?

One goal has remained constant throughout the planning process for Runkle Canyon - to provide public access to the existing and future hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails and to preserve the dramatic ridgelines that make Runkle Canyon a wonderful part of Simi Valley. We anticipate approximately 91 percent of the Runkle Canyon land will remain permanent open space for everyone to enjoy.

What types of housing are being proposed for Runkle Canyon?

All of the housing will be single-family detached homes with the exception of the senior housing. The senior housing will be attached and age restricted. Because Runkle Canyon is a planned development, there will be a broad range of housing types and lot sizes ranging up to estates of more than one acre.

Will seniors living on a fixed income be able to afford to live there?

Runkle Canyon will have a senior community centrally located within the neighborhood. It will be age restricted and 62 homes will be offered as "affordable" pursuant to the city's affordable housing guidelines.

How will residents access the neighborhood, and are you doing anything to help ease traffic in the area?

The main entrance to the Runkle Canyon community will be Sequoia Avenue, which was designed and built to handle much more traffic than the community will produce. We have also designed the entrance with a roundabout and a landscaped median beyond the canyon to help slow traffic down. There will be a secondary access through an extension ofTalbert Avenue. However, more than 90 percent of the homes will be located on Sequoia Avenue or other points of access.

In addition, we are working with our neighbors living on other nearby streets to address their traffic concerns. This includes the possible use of signs and other traffic calming ideas to encourage safer driving throughout the entire area.

Why was the end of Sequoia fenced off and a security guard posted?

Runkle Canyon, LLC implemented these measures in accordance with local law, specifically the Simi Valley Municipal Code, and in compliance with insurance requirements. Additionally, the fencing with the green screen is considered a “Best Management Practice” for dust control under the project’s dust control management program.

Why are you taking away our access to the property?

In actuality, Runkle Canyon will improve access by the general public to the property. With the development of Runkle Canyon comes legal public access to a vast part of the property that was not open to the public previously. The fencing at the end of Sequoia is temporary; eventual legal public access to the open space will be permanent.

I hear from neighbors that dust from the site is unhealthy. How can you construct homes without generating dust?

Runkle Canyon will have a dust control plan in full compliance with the Air Pollution Control District that will require, in part, using a water truck to wet down the dirt on the construction site, wash down the street, namely Sequoia Avenue, which is where all construction traffic will enter the site, and truck tires will be washed as they leave the construction site. As for the concern raised by some individuals that the dust is unhealthy, all independent testing has concluded that the levels of dust that can be generated are within acceptable health and safety guidelines.

Can Runkle Canyon, LLC say its property is as safe as any property it would build on?

Every property has different characteristics, such as soils conditions, slopes and environmental. Whenever we build homes, we ensure that the condition of the property satisfies the standards for safe residential habitation as outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state of California. The decision to build Runkle Canyon was made after extensive independent scientific testing and analysis of the land.

If you’ve done so much testing, why not one more test?

We believe that the extensive number of independent tests previously conducted on the property (including testing performed by the California Department of Health Services) is more than sufficient to determine the levels of any hazardous substances in the soil and the health risks posed for humans who inhabit the property.

We already have independent tests that indicate that the property is suitable for residential development and no new information has been presented that would call into question those conclusions.

The City of Simi Valley has posted a link on its home page for Runkle Canyon updates. The City in fall 2006 requested the EPA, and both the state Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Department of Health Services to review the test findings for Runkle Canyon.  Runkle Canyon, LLC supports the City’s requests for additional independent review of the data, tests and reports, and is fully cooperating with the City and the agencies in this review. The City’s correspondence with federal and state health and environmental agencies is available for review by visiting the site at www.simivalley.org.

Has grading commenced?

No. Although the Runkle Canyon development was approved by the City Council in April 2004, and Runkle Canyon, LLC has a right to apply for grading permits, it has not submitted an application. At this time, we do not intend to begin grading until the City has received responses to its requests for additional reviews by Federal and State agencies.

The hills around town are susceptible to wildfires, including a large one to the north in 2003, and even a brush fire near Runkle Canyon in December 2006. How will you help protect nearby neighborhoods?

The Runkle Canyon community will include a helipad and water tanks to improve the Fire Department’s ability to fight brush fires in the hills around Simi Valley. Additionally, Runkle Canyon’s new streets will improve access for firefighters and fire apparatus further into the hills to the south.

How many students will the development generate and what are you doing about the issue of school overcrowding?

Concerned residents should be aware that almost 30% of the residential units will be restricted to seniors and should therefore have no impact on schools. The remaining homes will generate about 190 future K-12 students. Runkle Canyon, LLC will contribute approximately $2 million in fees to the School District to meet the needs of new as well as existing students.

In addition to paying approximately $2 million in fees, Runkle Canyon, LLC will continue to work with our neighboring schools on programs that directly benefit the Runkle Canyon neighbors, the schools and the students.

Is a park or any other public recreation opportunities included in the plans?

Included in the 91% open space will be a 5-acre passive park for public recreation. The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District conceptually approved the park plan. The park will include a tot lot, half-court basketball court and picnic areas. It will also serve as a trailhead for an extensive system of public hiking, bicycling, and equestrian paths and trails. The proposed trails will become part of the regional trails system and bikeways, as well as the established equestrian trail system through Simi Valley.

In addition, three interpretative centers are planned that will feature information about the history of Runkle Canyon, its flora and fauna, geological and other information about the area. These will be located inside the park, at the top of Dry Lake, and at another location within the open space.

Why are we only hearing about these matters now? Why weren’t there public hearings about this plan?

The review and approval process for this new community has been ongoing and very public since 2001. During that period, there have been 72 community meetings, in small and large groups, and even one-on-one, held at various locations around Simi Valley. In addition, there was a Scoping Hearing defining what would be studied under the City’s Environmental Impact Report, at least five meetings with the Planning Commission and the City Council to review and approve the EIR and a 45-day public comment period. The EIR was made available to multiple public agencies at the state, regional and local levels for review and to the public via a CD or hardcopy through the City Manager’s office. The entire process was conducted in strict compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.

Has Runkle Canyon, LLC really been involved with the community?

Yes. Please read our News pages to get a summary of activity by Runkle Canyon, LLC representatives and community supporters.

Runkle Canyon, LLC believes strongly in supporting the community that its buyers will call home. In that vein, we are proud of our support for community organizations such as the Simi Valley Police Foundation, the Simi Valley Education Foundation, the Free Clinic of Simi Valley, the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Baseballers Against Drugs, and various service clubs, schools, and PTAs.