HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-02-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - LEONA VALLEY/RITTER RANCH (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
BACKGROUND
® AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
Mark Scott
February 13,.1990
Leona Valley Improvement Association Letter
Community Development Af s
At the last City Council meeting, staff was directed to review a letter from
Mary Ann Floyd of the Leona Valley Improvement Association and to place the
matter on the February 13 City Council agenda for discussion. Ms. Floyd
expressed her group's concern over the proposed Ritter Ranch development and
possible impacts on Leona Valley, Agua Dulce, Acton and Santa Clarita. The City
has also been approached by the Agua Dulce Civic Association which asked for the
City's involvement in the project review process.
The Ritter Ranch project is being proposed as a Specific Plan and annexation by
the City of Palmdale. It is 11,500 acres in size (more than 17 square miles) .
and would include 8,500 housing units, a golf course, lake, amphitheater and 98
acres of commercial use. They also propose 9 school sites.. Staff will obtain a
copy of the Specific Plan document.
Staff does intend to provide formal input concerning this project. In fact,
staff received a City of Palmdale "Notice of Preparation of EIR" for this
project on January 30. A Notice of Preparation is the.first step in an
environmental impact report process, giving interested parties an opportunity to,
comment on the scoping and content of the environmental documents that will be
prepared. Staff plans to make substantial comments, especially regarding the
traffic circulation, other infrastructural and growth inducing aspects of the
proposal. Because the project would move the Palmdale city limits to
approximately 8 miles from Santa Clarita, there is'ample reason for the City of
Santa Clarita to become actively involved in the project review, especially from
anticipated direct impacts'on the Antelope Valley Freeway and Sierra Highway.
Staff is also concerned how this project would blend with the existing
communities of Leona Valley, Agua Dulce and Acton.
As indicated, the City's response to a Notice of Preparation is simply a first
step in a project's review process. Additional input will be possible
throughout,the EIR process and through public hearings that would be held by the
City of Palmdale and by LAFCO..
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City participate actively in the formal environmental
review process for this.project. If the City -Council desires, other direct
communication can be pursued with the developer and/or City of Palmdale;
however, the formal review process will provide numerous opportunities. for this
interraction. Staff will be happy to discuss this issue in more detail on
February 13.
ATTACHMENT
Letter from Mary Floyd Ann 1 3/ �D A9 enda:ltem:
y 42/ /
LEONALLEY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION *D USE Ste,
Standards District Formation Committee C+,°y No .cznv. Gar
P.O. Box 783 d5
Leona Valley, California 93551
Ls�t�
City of Santa Clarita
Mayor and Council Members �� 1990
Santa Clarita City Hall
21021. Soledad Canyon Road c,Tr coUNC L
Canyon Country, CA 91355 cin of SANTA CLARITA
Subject: Proposed Ritter Ranch Development in Leona Valley
Ladies and Gentlemen:
By way of introduction, I am Mary Ann Floyd, Chairman of the Land Use & Community Standards
Formation Committee for the Leona Valley Improvement Association (LVIA). LVIA has been serving the
community for 40 years and currently is developing, with Supervisor Antonovich's "go-ahead", a Community
Standards District for our valley assuring that growth and development occur in a manner which is
compatible with our rural lifestyle, environmentally sensitive, and appropriate for this unique area.
No doubt you are aware of the subject development which is proposed for the Leona Valley, Acton,
and Agua Dulce areas. We are writing to you to ask for your support in defeating this project. The
negative impact of the Ritter Ranch development will be felt not only in the above areas, but also in Santa
Clarita - on your roads and in your pocketbooks.
The 11,500 -acre project calls for an initial 23,000 residents, 8500 homes, condos, apartments, golf
course, lake, outdoor amphitheater, commercial areas, etc. It also calls for expansion of Elizabeth Lake
Road from our current two-lane curvy road to a six -lane major thoroughfare ending at Bouquet Canyon.
It also calls for a new four -lane roadway which bisects the project from Highway 14 to Bouquet Canyon.
Not only will these roads service the Ritter Ranch Development, they will also serve the needs of the
surrounding communities in the Antelope Valley. All roads lead to Bouquet Canyon - which in turn lead
to Santa Clarita. Is the City prepared for the resultant demand on its own roadways? Are the Santa
Clarita residents prepared to provide the funding to upgrade their roadways so that commuters to the north
can use them just to access the freeways? Are your residents going to accept the added pollution? noise?
massive traffic jams?'and expense? Does your new General Plan mitigate this impact?
We hope you will agree with us: The proposed Ritter Ranch Planned Community is not good for
Leona Valley, Bouquet Canyon, .Acton, Agua Dulce or the Santa Clarita Valley! Won't you please join
these neighboring communities in fighting this project?
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
Very truly yours,
. . � )) /6-L,/ d11L4\ A
Leona Valley Improvement Association
Mary Ann Floyd, Chairman Land Use
(805) 295-2793-(805) 270-1568