461-Home
Proposal is Set For Review
Los Angeles Daily News
By Angie Valencia
Staff Writer
Saturday, March 06, 2004 -
SIMI VALLEY -- Plans to build 461 homes on land
where cattle now graze in Runkle Canyon will
go before
Simi Valley's Planning Commission next month,
en route to a City Council vote on the development.
The project,
in the hands of developer GreenPark since 1999,
calls for 323 single-family homes
and 138 senior homes -- 62 of which will
be offered
as affordable.
Runkle Canyon
is in southeast Simi Valley at the end of Sequoia
Avenue. Edging up to
the canyon
are neighborhoods of single-family homes.
More than 90
percent of Runkle Canyon's 1,595 acres will be
preserved as permanent
open
space, offering
hiking, bicycling and horse trails to
the public, said Leisa Brug, project representative.
To ensure the
protection of open space and prevent further development,
a conservation
easement
will be placed on it, Brug said.
"
Legal access to the land has benefits to the public," Brug
said, adding that now there is occasional trespassing
on the land for recreational use. "The
goal is to incorporate this neighborhood to
the existing
one."
GreenPark also
is proposing a five-acre neighborhood passive park,
and has
set aside land for
an 18-hole public golf course.
If the project,
which is set for review by the Planning Commission
on April
7, gets
the green
light from
the panel and from the City Council,
grading could begin by summer
2005;
completion is scheduled for
late 2007.
On Thursday,
Neighborhood Council No. 3 will discuss project
plans.
Steve Sojka,
City Council liaison to the Neighborhood Council,
said the
majority of nearby residents
are receptive to the project
because of
the developer's commitment
to meeting with the
community -- meetings
that in many ways shaped
the
final project.
"
As property owner, GreenPark has rights and they're
exercising those rights, but are responsive to their
neighbors' concerns," he said. "There
are always concerns about new developments
and how they'll
affect existing neighbors."
Peggy Webster,
a resident of the neighborhood for
three years, said
her main concern
is traffic. That's because
a secondary access
to the development
is
being proposed through
an extension
of Talbert Avenue, where
she lives. The
main entrance
to the
community
would be along Sequoia
Avenue.
"
I can speak for everyone when I say we can't handle
more traffic," she said. "It's too
small of a street. It's just not that safe."
Concerns still
exist among neighbors, but
Webster
said the cooperation
from the developers
has
turned general feelings
of anger to resignation.
However, Robert
Martel, a neighbor for 22
years on
Appleton Road,
is opposed to the
project.
The city's general
plan outlined
a golf course,
not a housing
development,
he said.
"
I'm not totally against development in Simi Valley," Martel
said. "I just don't think it's the best
location for more homes."
Martel said
his concerns
are
spurred by
traffic and
overcrowding
at
schools.
He also worries
about loss
of water
pressure and floods
and
fires.
The project
has evolved
through
the participation
of neighbors,
resource
agencies
and city
officials,
Brug
said.
At one
point,
the project's
density
was set
at
550 homes
but was
downsized
to
461,
at neighbors'
request.
The largest
lots
will
be
closest to existing
neighbors
to
enhance neighboring
properties.
A new
water
tank
and
water
lines
will
tie
into
existing
water
lines;
GreenPark
is
also
proposing
a
site adjacent
to
the
water
tank
for
an
emergency
helispot
to
increase
fire
protection.
Angie
Valencia, (805)
583-7604 angie.valencia@dailynews.com
