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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-04-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - WHITNEY CANYON (2)City Manager Approval 4 Item to be presented by: Rick Putnam CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: April 23, 1996 SUBJECT: WHITNEY CANYON DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Whitney Canyon is a parcel of property approximately 330 acres in size just outside the City limits to the south of the City of Santa Clarita and Highway 14, adjacent to Placerita Canyon. The Canyon is regarded by many as a gateway to the City of Santa Clarita with spectacular waterfalls and streams, wild flowers and large stands of oak trees. Acquisition of this property has been of interest to many individuals and organizations, both inside and outside the Santa Clarita valley, and is currently listed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy as a priority acquisition for them, should money become available. Ms. Karen Pearson has formally communicated with Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Michael Antonovich, as well as the Joint Powers Authority between the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the City of Santa Clarita and the City Council (communications attached), regarding potential acquisition of this property. Ms. Pearson made a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its April 4, 1996, meeting regarding this issue.. The Parks and Recreation Commission supported Ms. Pearson's recommendation and voted to forward the request to the City Council for consideration. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council communicate its support to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy regarding the inclusion of the Whitney Canyon purchase as one of that agency's submittals for the proposed Open Space Bond Act, which is currently being formulated for the November, 1996 ballot. Communications regarding potential property acquisition (2). REP:mdn council\whitny42.396 appG�O��D Benda Item 1 26617 Gan rnm Dir-. Santa Ckdka, Chi 91350. Plow 805-2% 4438 March 14.19% Mr. Rick Putnam Chair, J.P.A.. between the City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy City of Santa Clarita Parks and Recreation Department 23920 West Valencia Blvd. Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Dear Rick. a 'ec S Our conversation yesterday was most enjoyable. This letter is to follow up on our discussion of Whitney Canyon and what it could mean to the City of Santa Clarita if it were to become a park. Whitney Canyon as you know lies at the gateway to our fair city. It is replete with magnificent vaterfalls and spectacular wildflowers. There is a canopy of oaks that grace the stream that runs through it which would lend itself to a delightful campground. It is credited with having one of the fast Tatavium Indian settlements and was also a ranch for some of our earliest cowboys. Even so, our county once thought it should be an off highway vehicle park which would have completely ruined the serenity of the adjacent Placerita Canyon Park. It was even thought of as a potential dump sitel That kind of a gateway is that? Being proactive and coming up with a positive plan for Whitney Canyon is the best defense this city can have against such abysmal plans. Consequently, I look to you and the Joint Powers Agreement for help on this. We' presented this canyon to- the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy over a year ago. After they viewed the pictures of the lovely waterfalls, oaks, and flowers in there they gave it a number one ranking. I look forward to sharing these pictures with our city's parks commission on April fourth. I also hope that you can be influential with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to include Whitney Canyon as one of their submissions for the parks, recreation, and open space bond that is proposed for the November, 1996 ballot. According to my conversation yesterday with Kurt Robertson, Head of the Los Angeles t " County Regional Parks and Open Space District the one million dollars which Prop A has authorized for buffering Placerita Canyon Part has not been spent yet. Consequently, I believe that it would be possible to add that million to a purchase price on Whitney Canyon. I co- authored that measure with Dorothy Riley and though Dorothy is dead I know she would be happy to see it spent in that manner._ Mr. Donal MacAdam, General Partner of Watt Industries, will be happy to provide you with any information you may desire regarding the actual purchase of the land or portions thereof His Phone number is M 268 8814. Thank you again for all your efforts on behalf of turning Whitney Canyon into a gateway to our city that we can be proud of. Sincerely. Kardp Pearson Vice President, S.C.V. Sierra Club Vice President, S.C.V. Canyon's Preservation Committee LI — 1-vr- March 13,19% Mr. Michael Antonovich Supervisor, 5th District Hall of Administration,. Room 869 500 West Temple Los Angeles, CA 90012 Attention: Mr. Dave Vaaetta, Planning Deputy Dear Supervisor Antonovich, _S �ga3ck 1.w*f� L 91350. PinW 805-296 4438. )'ire�vic This is to urge you to champion the inclusion of Whitney Canyon into the proposed Los k Angeles County Part, Beach and Recreation Act of 19%. Whitney Canyon is rich in history. It is the historical home of the Tatavium Indians, the early Mexican ranchers, as well as the early cowboy settlers of the vest. Further, it is rich in beauty and embraces some of the most " spectacular waterfalls and wild flowers south of Yosemite. Whitney Canyon is at the gateway to the City of Santa Clarita. As such, it could be an impressive plus for the city. Because it is ideally suited for camping, charges for a campground could help sustain its maintenance. I would appreciate a visit with you regarding this. It would be my pleasure to show you some of the spectacular pictures that speak volumes for why this lovely piece of land should be - preserved. -_ -Sincerely, I n M. Pearson Vice eat, S.C.V. Sierra Club Vice President, S.C.V. Canyon's Preservation Committee cc. Don MacAdam, General Partner. Watt Industries - Z