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Home My WebLink About1990-02-27 - AGENDA REPORTS - OAK SPRINGS CYN ISSUES (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval Item to be presented b`y: UNFINISHED BUSINESS John E. Medina DATE: February 27, 1990 SUBJECT: OAK SPRINGS CANTON ROAD AREA DEPARTMENT: Public Works 4401 BACKGROUND At your meeting of February 13, 1990, Councilman McKeon presented a letter signed by several residents in the Oak Springs Canyon area expressing concerns regarding flooding, secondary access to Sand Canyon Road, and availability of domestic water service (see attached letter). Although these residents reside in the unincorporated area of the Santa Clarita Valley, part of their main access, Oak Springs Canyon Road, lies on the border between the City and the County. The fact that there are jurisdictional separations between the City and the County over access and drainage in the area presents some difficulty for the residents in their efforts to solve these community -wide problems. The intent of the letter was to point this out to the City and County and ask for our assistance in resolving these area -wide concerns. Staff reviewed the contents of the letter and was called out during the recent rains to observe the flooding condition first hand. What we found was that the letter accurately depicted the situation regarding the new development within the City adjacent to Comet Way which drains toward Oak Springs Canyon Road which is currently unimproved. The situation is not unlike many areas in the Santa Clarita Valley which have private, unimproved streets which during even minor rains erode, may become impassable, or at the very least, are a nuisance. As the area develops, particularly during the construction stage, the existing vegitation must be removed in order to provide the necessary building sites. This usually increases runoff. Even though the project within the City has the necessary temporary drainage devices, i.e. sandbags, to keep back the debris and to retard the flow of water, it still can increase the amount of runoff and debris which is normally less under natural conditions. As the area continues to develop, the installation of paved surfaces and either concrete or asphalt swales along the road to carry the drainage will improve this situation, however, in the meantime, our rainy season causes a nuisance water problem in the area. Access through Sand Canyon Road and drainage within this entire Sand Canyon, Iron Canyon, Oak Springs Canyon drainage areas has had considerable discussion at the Planning Commission level. Drainage and floodwaters do not respect jurisdictional boundaries. Thus, the solution to these problem needs to span the jurisdictional boundaries between the City and the County and is best handled by the agency empowered to provide the necessary resources and solution to these problems. This agency is the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. Since we have not had significant rains since 1983, this period of minimal rain gives us. an opportunity to focus in on these problems and hopefully provide the solutions before the next heavy rainfall cycle. I177o7ni�fc3nA[�� n:+nnnmum��u �� February 27, 1990 Oak Springs Canyon Road Area Page 2 The concern regarding a single access to Oak Springs Canyon Road was originally reviewed by the City Council. Since that time, we have received information that the owners of property that lies along the extension of Comet Way would be willing to dedicate that right-of-way in order to provide this second means of access. We believe that needs to be investigated and a report prepared for the Planning Commission so that they can provide their input based on the many hearings and discussions with property owners over development within the Sand Canyon area. We believe the concerns expressed in the letter are appropriate for the City's investigation. In addition, we feel that the City needs to take a leadership role in determining a .plan of action and an implementation program to resolve these problems. RECOMMENDATION 1. The City Council direct staff to contact the Flood Control District with the express purpose of determining the flood control needs within the area of Oak Springs Canyon and develop a program for implementation. 2. Report to the Planning Commission the proposal to extend Comet Way to Oak Springs Canyon and report back to the Council the results of their input and discussion. 3. Contact local water purveyor to determine the feasibility of extending water lines to serve the Oak Springs Canyon area. ATTACHMENT Map February 9, 1990 To: The City of Santa Clarita The County of Los Angeles From: The Oak Spring Canyon Homeowners The homeowners in the Oak Spring Canyon area request the assistance of both the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles. During the past several years our canyon has continued to grow at the same rapid pace of the Santa Clarita Valley. We now enjoy a community of approximately 44 residents and 176 people. We are located on both sides of Oak Spring Canyon Road, starting at Lost Canyon Road and continue approximately four miles south; south/east to the end of the canyon. Oak Spring Canyon Road is the border line between the county and city, dividing our community and representation in half. We have several concerns that can easily be corrected with sensible planning and communication between the county and city. Our primary concerns are flooding from Hope Ranch, access through Comet Way, safety for our families crossing Sand Canyon at Lost Canyon Road and water. Recently, a new development, Hope Ranch, was approved and construction started on the west portion of our community. It runs from Sand Canyon Road east to Oak Spring Canyon Road. This development is located on Comet Way which is located entirely within the City of Santa Clarita and cul-de-sacs on Oak Spring Canyon Road. Comet Way is approximately three-quarters of a mile south of Lost Canyon Road in an area relatively free from the effects of the flood control wash that causes problems for emergency vehicles and Oak Spring Canyon homeowners. A simple and logical solution to the access problem would be for the county and city to work together in the spirit of positive planning and provide access for emergency vehicles and homeowners in the Oak Spring Canyon community. It is our under- standing that the original tract map for Hope Ranch did plan for Comet Way to continue onto Oak Spring Canyon Road, but was not approved based on the inability to obtain easements from adjoining property owners, Mr. Reyes and Mr. Greer. Recent conversations with both Mr. Greer and Mr. Reyes indicated they were never contacted and would be willing to provide reasonable access easements. In addition to providing an access, the Comet Way continuation to Oak Spring Canyon Road would resolve two additional problems. The first is directly related to highway safety. Currently, all traffic leaving our community enters Sand Canyon at Lost Canyon. The intersection of Sand Canyon and Lost Canyon is extremely dangerous due to visibility problems created by the inside curve. This is a -n extremely busy intersection because it is the only access to Sulphur Springs and Pinecrest schools. Access from Oak Spring Canyon onto Comet Way, then to Sand Canyon would eliminate the traffic crossing at Lost Canyon and would definitely make the Sand Canyon and Lost Canyon intersection safer. Exiting onto Sand Canyon from Comet Way is by far safer due to clear visibility created by the straight section of roadway and the additional turnout.lane. In addition to a safer crossing for parents and children traveling to and from school, Comet Way would provide an additional access for emergency vehicles and homeowners during rainy periods. Fire Department response time to our community would be cut down by approximately four minutes. This is an area we request co- operation between the city and,.county planning commissions. Future roads and accesses are critical to our community. Recently, the Santa Clarita Valley received much needed rainfall. Although we received a minimal rain, the run off from -2- the Hope Ranch project caused enough increase in the water flow down Oak Spring Canyon Road to flood adjoining properties and wash out Oak Spring Canyon Road. (Video of damage available). Officials from both the City of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County were advised of this problem. After numerous phone calls and conversations relative to the flooding, no solutions seem available. All adjoining property owners have been contacted and agree to provide cooperation for reasonable easements for both flood and access. We assume Hope Ranch owners will complete the flood control requirements mandated by the City, but feel our interests were not considered during the planning of this project. We request the city and/or county take proper steps to correct the problem that negatively impacts our only access out of the canyon. Comet Way appears to be a solution to many problems for this community, including access for the equestrian community of Sand Canyon. Although Comet.Way traffic would increase, it would be minimal and in the spirit of sensible planning, allowing for smooth traffic control in a growing area. Hope Ranch is not complete or sold out and expedient change would eliminate surprises for new owners. Another critical issue facing the community is water. Our community currently obtains water from private wells that seem to provide less water each year. We request the assistance from the City of Santa Clarita in obtaining an easement from Hope,Ranch. They maintain a water line only a short distance from Oak Spring Canyon Road. The below listed members of the Oak Spring Canyon Homeowners request support from our representatives from both the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles. 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