Board OKs Annexation Plan

Ventura County Star
Teresa Rochester
trochester@VenturaCountyStar.com

September 16, 2004

Runkle Canyon development could bring 1,300 people to the city

Simi Valley's border expanded southward Wednesday to encompass the site of a proposed major housing project in Runkle Canyon.

The city's annexation of about 1,500 acres in the canyon was approved by the Local Agency Formation Commission in a 6-1 vote. The commission also voted to allow the city to extend its sphere of influence to about 1,200 acres in the canyon that was once ranch land.

The annexation means Simi Valley's population could grow by 1,200 to 1,300 once the planned 298 single-family homes, 25 estates and 138 senior condominiums are built in Runkle Ranch. A portion of the senior apartments is designated as affordable housing. The project could break ground in about nine months.

At the same time, 91 percent of the land owned by project developer GreenPark Companies will remain open space, available for horseback riding, hiking and film shoots.

Commissioner and county Supervisor Linda Parks voted against the project because she worried about the effects of moving more than a million cubic feet of dirt for a proposed golf course.

Last year, the contaminant perchlorate was discovered in Runkle Canyon's groundwater. On Wednesday, GreenPark President Peter Kiesecker said groundwater would not be used in the development. Instead, a 2 million-gallon water tank will serve the community.

"We've taken over 100 samples on this property. As you can see, none were above EPA standards," Kiesecker said. "We've done reports and sample studies over the years to make sure there were no health risks."

The commission's decision came before a Sept. 30 deadline for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign or veto AB2306, a law that would suspend a policy requiring a city to annex unincorporated county "islands" within its city limits before adding land outside its borders.

The law, sponsored by Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Northridge, applies only to Simi Valley.

There are seven islands in Simi Valley. City officials agreed to launch an education campaign about the benefits of joining the city and said their goal is to bring those areas into the city.

LAFCO previously said it would enforce the policy, which prompted city officials to turn to the Legislature.

Simi Valley Councilman Paul Miller told commissioners the city had sent letters to property owners in the islands requesting they reconsider annexation into the city.

"While we continue to disagree on the policy question of forced annexations, we firmly believe that annexation of these island areas is in everyone's best interest," Miller said.

Runkle Ranch won't impact local schools or require more police officers to serve the area, City Manager Mike Sedell said. Property taxes generated from the new homes and revenues from vehicle license fees and other funds will help the area pay for itself in terms of services.

Nearly a dozen people spoke in favor of the project, and some of them were brought in by the developer on a bus called the "Runkle Express."

"This is the kind of project we should be looking for," said local resident Judy Pepiot, who rode the bus. "We didn't need to go to taxpayers to get open space. It was donated."