Non Santa Clarita residents get fee hike

At the Santa Clarita city council meeting held Tuesday March 28th, the council in a 4-1 vote approved a fee hike for those who live beyond city limits in areas such as Castaic and Stevenson Ranch for Park programs and facilities. Councilman Cameron Smyth was the lone dissenter.
The fee will increase the cost of particular programs such as Basketball, and other popular children's programs that the city facilitates through its Park Dept.

During the public comment period of the hearing, Vice President of the West Ranch Town Council Dave Bossert said that the fee hike is a "slap in the face" to those who live beyond city limits but spend their money at local businesses within city limits, and added that the City Council should have suspended a vote and first attempt to meet with town councils of the areas affected by a vote. Frank Ferry was less than pleased with Mr. Bossert's comments. In an emotional outcry, that couldn't even be toned down by an attempt from Mayor Laurene Weste, Frank Ferry lashed out, and asked when - if ever, the City of Santa Clarita was given the same consideration prior to a vote that had specific ramifications for the residents of Santa Clarita. Ferry also pointed out that this subsidy of non-residents is just one more reason for those who live beyond city limits to annex into Santa Clarita. He made it very clear that if the residents beyond city limits want to annex, then they should vote on it. But until then, Ferry made it clear, that the residents in those areas should not be receiving all the benefits of being in a city, with out being a part of the city.

It is unfair for the residents of Santa Clarita to pay the same amount in fees for park programs, which their tax dollars help support, as those who pay nothing into the cities general fund, aside from their sales tax at retail stores and such. This fee hike will make it more fair, and lessen the subsidy of non residents by way of the general fund. While an argument can be maid that those who live in Stevenson Ranch for instance, spend a lot of dollars inside Santa Clarita which benefits the city, the same can be said for newer retail developments outside city limits such as the Valencia Marketplace off of the Old Road. Not a dollar in tax revenue goes to Santa Clarita from that shopping center, even if a majority of shoppers their are likely from within city limits.

This fee hike will take place for the 2006-2007 winter program season and will not apply to county developed sites within the city. Visit the city of Santa Clarita for more information at www.Santa-Clarita.com.


Visit Robert at his Santa Clarita Real Estate website & find homes @ www.TheScvAgent.com

Keystone Housing Development To Be Considered

On Tuesday March 28, 2006, the Santa Clarita city Council will further consider various issues concerning the proposed Keystone project which will be located adjacent to Ermine St in Canyon Country.

The public hearings will be continued Tuesday and on through the April 26th 2006 City Council meeting. The developers Synergy, A Land + Development Company and Brookfield Homes, LLC have made substantial revisions to the project as a result of comments from planning staff, public agencies, members of the public, and the Planning Commissioners. For instance, The project proposes a total of 499 residential units (reduced from the original proposal of 979 single family and multi-family residential units). The total number of residential units is broken down into the following:
-96 single family lots [west of Department of Water and Power (DWP) right-of-way]
-223 detached single family units (east of the DWP right-of-way)
-180 townhome units (east of the DWP right-of-way)

The reduction in the number of residential units also includes the elimination of the rental product in the original proposal. All residential units proposed for this project are “for-sale” units.

The applicant is proposing to dedicate two graded and finished lots totaling 24 acres for a Junior High School and YMCA facility. The sites will be dedicated to the Hart Union School District and YMCA, respectively. In addition, the applicant is offering a contribution of two million dollars to the Hart Union School District for the Performing Arts program.
As part of the proposed project, the applicant is dedicating the following to the City of Santa Clarita:
-17.4 acres of the Santa Clara River;
-6-acres of public park that will be dedicated to the City;
-1/2 mile extension of the 35’-multi-use tail, a City Regional Trail; and
-0.5 acre Industrial Commercial lot south of the River

Approximately 137 acres of the project site will remain as open space, with natural open space lots and graded slope lots, to be owned and maintained by the HOA, with the exception of the items listed above.

On Tuesday, the Council will consider a General Plan Amendment, zone change, tract map, conditional use permit, Oak Tree permit, and an Hillside review permit for the Keystone project.



Visit Robert at his Santa Clarita Real Estate website & find homes @ www.TheScvAgent.com