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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-02 - AGENDA REPORTS - NV AND ANNEX (2)CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING DATE: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT December 2, 1997 City Manager Apprm Item to be presented SUBJECT: NORTH VALENCIA SPECIFIC PLAN AND ANNEXATION (MASTER CASE NO. 95-242,96-120,97-063), GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 97- 001, SPECIFIC PLAN (PREZONE) 97-01, ANNEXATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 96-001, ANNEXATION NO. 95-006, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 51931, OAK TREE PERMIT 97-009, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.SCH #96071077. DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services RECOMMENDED ACTION Receive the staff report and public testimony regarding the project's recreation features and Santa Clara River treatment, and continue the public hearing to the meeting of December 9, 1997. On November 4, 1997, the City Council received an overview of the North Valencia Specific Plan and Annexation project. During that meeting, the councilmembers directed staff to return to the Council in order to discuss focused topics regarding the project, according to the following schedule: November 25, 1997: Commercial & Industrial Development/Fiscal Impact Analysis December 2, 1997: Santa Clara River treatment/Recreation features December 9, 1997: Residential Development Tonight's topics for discussion include Commercial & Industrial Development / Fiscal Impact Analysis (continued from November 25, 1997) and the project's treatment of the Santa Clara River and the project's recreational features. An overview of the River and Recreation issues is attached for your reference. The November 25, 1997 Agenda Report regarding Commercial and Industrial Development and Fiscal Impact Analysis is also attached. ATTACHMENT Overview of project's recreation features and Santa Clara River treatment. November 25, 1997 Agenda Report JJ:JDR:lep Agenda fteillpq� ._ cd\counci1\nv1r122.jdr Continued T®: /L_C NORTH VALENCIA SPECIFIC PLAN AND ANNEXATION OVERVIEW OF PROJECT'S RECREATION FEATURES AND SANTA CLARA RIVER TREATMENT RECREATION FEATURES The applicant is proposing recreational amenities for the site. The project includes a 12.4 acre community park adjacent to an elementary school, a 15.2 acre lake park, and two small parks with a total acreage of 4.9 acres. In addition, the applicant is proposing to dedicate the 17.2 acre existing Hart Pony League ballfields. Individual private recreation areas are proposed throughout the residential areas in the Lago de Valencia and South River Village planning areas. The project also includes community trails, multi -use corridors and paseos. The City's Parks and Recreation Department has reviewed the project and has determined that the project has a Quimby Act requirement to provide 18 acres of active parkland. This project fully meets its Quimby requirements through the provision of a 12.4 acre park site. adjacent to the elementary school and through approximately 6 acres of credit for private recreation areas including the lake park. Approximately 31.7 acres of recreational areas do not qualify for Quimby Act credit, however, the Planning Commission granted the project an additional six acres of credit over and above the 18.4 acres of credit stated above for other Valencia Company projects located in the general vicinity of the North Valencia Specific Plan area. The 25.7 acres of recreational area not granted towards the project's Quimby requirement were recommended by the Planning Commission as City benefits in terms of later Annexation and Development Agreement discussions. The project also includes 16 foot wide community trails that will be built to accommodate a Class 1 bike trail. These community trails will provide part of the City's backbone River Trail System. This project includes approximately 5.5 miles of trails. Existing 16 foot wide flood control roads would be striped, signed, and fenced for trails where available. The project also includes 8 foot wide paseos that will be privately maintained and will provide linkages between different uses within each planning area and between residential areas, schools, and parks. All capital costs for trail construction will be borne by the developer. The community park would be adjacent to the school site and would incorporate a joint use agreement. The provision of a developed community park is included in the school agreement and would be considered a mitigation measure for school impacts, as well as recreational impacts. Typical requirements for park development include turf and trees. However, the applicant has agreed to improve the community park with turf, mature trees, two baseball diamonds, one basketball backstop, a shade structure, picnic tables, two soccer fields, and a play structure (up to a cost of $20,000.00). The park is located adjacent to the 6 acre Metropolitan Water District (MWD) property which may be available for park expansion. The project also includes a 15.2 acre lakelpark with a lake surface area of 11 acres and approximately four acres of privately maintained recreation area. The lake would include a private 1 -acre boat house and a swimming lagoon (separate chlorinated swimming pool) directly adjacent to the lake. Approximately 50% of the lake shoreline would be bordered by an 8 -foot wide paseo which would be open to the public and maintained by a homeowner's association. SANTA CLARA RIVER TREATMENT Santa Clara River Purchase: The Santa Clara River, San Francisquito Creek, Bouquet Creek and the South Fork watercourses comprise the dominant physical feature in the North Valencia Specific Plan and Annexation area, linking the various planning areas in the Specific Plan. The Santa Clara River Conservation planning area in the Specific Plan is comprised of two components: 1) a 295.6 acre Santa Clara River Conservation Area that includes the river, community trails/open space, and roadways; and 2) an upland preserve zone that includes portions of the Lago de Valencia, Pony League, South River Village, and Valencia Industrial Center planning areas. The 295.6 acre Santa Clara River Conservation Area includes the following uses: 264.3 acres of river area; 24.2 acres of community trails/open space and 7.1 acres of roadways. The Upland Preserve Zone includes a total of 84 acres divided among the planning areas as follows: 37.1 acres on Lago de Valencia; 18.0 acres on the Pony League; 20.4 acres on South River Village; and 8.5 acres in the Valencia Industrial Center. The applicant will convey 295.6 acres of the Santa Clara River, for $1.5 million, to the City of Santa Clarita, with a requirement that the applicant expend $1.5 million on River Conservation Area landscaping and improvements for habitat enhancement and recreational use. The funds used by the City for such purchase include $800,000 of Habitat Conservation Fund grant monies, and matching funds from the 1992 Open Space Bond Act. Bank Stabilization: The project proposes two methods of bank stabilization along the Santa Clara River --at the river's edge, or set back and buried. The project description throughout the Draft EIR assumes that bank stabilization will be constructed at the river's edge, with the project option being construction of bank stabilization set approximately 125 feet back from the river's edge and then buried. Currently, there is existing rip -rap located at the confluence of Bouquet Creek and the Santa Clara River, grouted rip - rap at the City's existing River Trail at the southern edge of the planning area adjacent to the South Fork, and concrete liner along the west side of San Francisquito Creek by the existing industrial center and a portion of the east side south of the Newhall Ranch Road bridge. As proposed for this project, bank stabilization may utilize Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW) approved rip -rap, ungrouted rip -rap, reinforced concrete, and soil cement along the entire project boundary adjacent to the Santa Clara River. Under the proposed bank stabilization, there would be 14,400 linear feet (2.7 miles) of bank stabilization that would impact 33.7 acres. Under the buried bank stabilization option, the linear feet of stabilization would be the same, however, on 27.96 acres would be impacted. The buried bank stabilization option is the visually superior method for flood protection, and is the method of stabilization preferred by the Planning Commission. However, the loss of riparian vegetation and placement of bank stabilization would be a significant and unavoidable impact under either of the stabilization methods. While the visual impacts would be less from the buried bank stabilization option, the buried bank stabilization may be exposed in the event that future flooding erodes the existing banks and upland preserve zone. This would result in the exposure of bank stabilization and would be considered significant. A Preliminary Drainage Concept has been prepared for this project and has been reviewed and accepted by the City's Engineering Division: it is used as a basis for analysis in the Draft EIR. Although the proposed project involves annexation into the City of Santa Clarita, the LACDPW, Flood Control Division would maintain authority of flood control improvements and storm drainage systems proposed as part of the project if the bank stabilization is located at the river's edge and is of a material approved by the LACDPW. If the buried bank stabilization option is approved by the Council, or if a material is chosen for the river's edge stabilization that is not acceptable to the LACDPW, then the City would accept maintenance responsibility for the facility. Mitigation measures have been developed for flood protection and are identified in the Draft EIR beginning on page 4.22-36, and are based on LACDPW flood control requirements, the drainiage Concept and Drainage Water Quality Management Plan, and water quality requirements of the Regional Water Quality Control Board. With the implementation of the mitigation measures identified, no unavoidable significant flooding, erosion, sediment -related, or water quality impacts from the proposed project or buried bank stabilization option are anticipated to occur. Significant Ecological Area: A portion of the site is located within a Significant Ecological Area (SEA) as identified by the City of Santa Clarita. The County of Los Angeles SCV Areawide Plan identified portions of the project area as being within SEA 19 (San Francisquito Creek) and SEA 23 (Santa Clara River). In 1976, the County of Los Angeles established 62 SEAS to delineate and preserve areas with sensitive environmental conditions and/or resources within the County. These SEAs were originally delineated on a USGS topographic map using aerial photographs, topographic features, field studies, and historic records. The resultant SEA boundary maps were general in nature and broadly outlined the biotic resources to be included in each area. The County allows development within SEAs as long as the development is "highly compatible" with the natural resource being protected. The City General Plan and Unified Development Code (UDC) also allow for development within an SEA provided a biology study has been completed and the development is compatible with the resource. Since the SEAS were identified on a broad scale, the purpose of providing a site specific biology study is to determine accurate existing resource boundaries on individual properties. A biology study has been completed for the North Valencia project and provides a basis for planning a buffer area for the project which would include protection for the SEA resources. This buffer study has been reviewed by an independent team of biologists known as the Scientific Advisory Team (SAT) and their findings are included in Appendix 4.6 of the Draft EIR. A total of 20.2 acres of habitat within the SEA boundaries (representing approximately 7% of the total SEA habitat area) will be disturbed or converted to urban development as a result of this project. Approximately 13.8 acres (4.610 of the total SEA total) will be temporarily disturbed as a result of river edge bank stabilization construction. Within the SEA boundaries, 6.4 acres of SEA habitat would be permanently lost. The locations of these impacts are generally along the northern and southern bank of the Santa Clara River just west of McBean Parkway, and along the east bank of San Francisquito Creek at the proposed Avenue Scott bridge. Draft EIR. Figure 4.6-4 on page 4.6-68 shows the general locations of permanent impacts within SEAs. Additional impacts would occur to the SEA as a result of equestrian trails (which presently exist), project construction and grading activities, and bank stabilization/bridge maintenance activities. The buried bank stabilization would result in the temporary removal of 2.6 acres of SEA habitat and the permanent removal of 1.8 acres, representing a total of 4.4 acres of SEA habitat impacts (which is substantially less than the 20.2 acres of SEA habitat impacts should stabilization be constructed at the river's edge). The temporary loss will occur until bank stabilization construction is completed and the area is revegetated. The permanent loss of 2.6 acres under this bank stabilization option is 3.8 acres less than the permanent loss of 6.4 acres under the proposed project. The loss of any Significant Ecological Area is considered a significant, unmitigable project and cumulative impact for both bank stabilization options. Site Vegetation: A majority of the 858 acre project site is vacant and is comprised of a number of both naturally occurring as well as humanly -altered vegetation communities, including agricultural fields, costal sage scrub, cottonwood -willow riparian woodland; alluvial scrub, mule fat scrub, and disturbed/ruderal fields. Of these habitat communities, costal sage scrub, cottonwood -willow riparian woodland; riparian scrub and alluvial scrub are special status vegetation communities because they support rare, threatened, or endangered plant or wildlife species; are diminishing on a regional basis and are of special concern to resource agencies; are of particular value to wildlife. or native plant species; or come under the jurisdiction of Fish and Game or the Army Corps. Agricultural fields and cottonwood -willow riparian woodland represent the two dominant plant communities on site. The project contains habitat for a variety of special -status animal species. The riparian habitats of the Santa Clara River and San Francisquito Creek support four state -and/or -federally -listed threatened or endangered species [the unarmored threespine stickleback (fish), arroyo southwestern toad, least Bell's vireo (bird); and southwestern willow flycatcher (bird)]. Due to historic and existing disturbances in the central, eastern, and northern upland portions of the site, upland areas support a limited flora with little structural variety. The low quality of vegetation has substantially reduced wildlife species abundance and diversity in upland areas; therefore, these areas are considered to be of relatively low biological value. Riparian areas are of relatively good quality, even though much of the upland habitat immediately adjacent to the riparian areas has been eliminated, and are considered of high biological value. Project implementation will result in the loss of 172.2 acres (96%) of agricultural fields, 101.2 acres (85%) of disturbed/ruderal fields, 4.0 acres (100%) of coastal sage scrub, 11.6 acres (4%) of cottonwood - willow riparian woodland, 2 acres (10%) of alluvial scrub, 3.4 acres (100%) of mule fat scrub, and 6.6 acres (100%) of riparian scrub. A portion of the cottonwood -willow riparian woodland and alluvial scrub habitat will be temporarily lost as a result of bank stabilization construction and will be replanted upon completion of the stabilization. The project does contain five oak trees which have been determined to be regionally significant by the City and are protected by the City's Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance and Guidelines. None of the oak trees are proposed for removal; With the implementation of the mitigation measures recommended for this project (which require compliance with the Oak Tree Ordinance), no significant impacts to oak trees are anticipated. Primary Buffer - Upland Habitat Through a literature review and limited, focused field studies, Impact Sciences identified a general minimum of at least 100 feet of high quality upland habitat (as measured from the outer edge of the riparian habitat associated with the Santa Clara River and San Francisquito Creek) as an acceptable amount of adjacent habitat necessary to preserve wildlife diversity within the project area. An exception to this 100 foot minimum setback exists in the Lago de Valencia planning area, whereas a 75 foot setback has been found to be acceptable to both SAT and Impact Sciences, located in, and limited to, the general vicinity of the elementary school site and adjacent community park. On average, the site maintains a 125 foot setback from the riparian habitat, with this setback in some instances increasing to 150 feet. Because most of the upland habitat currently adjacent to the riparian edge is comprised of agricultural and disturbed/ruderal fields, and as stated previously is considered to be of low biological value, the applicant would need to revegetate these areas with appropriate native upland habitat that either historically occurred in the area or that would be of higher biological value to riparian and upland wildlife species. No development would be allowed within the upland habitat buffer. Areas on the project site that are to be graded and revegetated after construction may take years to be fully restored, depending on the nature of the area to be restored. Furthermore, revegetation would also be occurring next to the proposed River Trails. In order to restrict access to the habitat buffer, an appropriate barrier, such as a fence, will be erected between the upland habitat and the trail corridor. A number of mitigation measures are proposed to minimize impacts on biological resources, most of which will mitigate impacts to less than significant levels. However, impacts upon the riparian ecosystem as a result of vegetation removal, increased human and domestic animal uses, and overall cumulative impacts remain significant. Wildlife Corridors: The riparian and upland habitats of the Santa Clara River and San Francisquito Creek serve as important north -south and east -west wildlife movement corridors that effectively link remaining open space areas. These linkages are particularly important for larger mammals with large home range sizes such as mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, fox, and coyote. Upland areas, such as sage scrub and grassland habitats, in combination with the riparian zone, would provide thepropermixture of food items and cover that various species need for survival. As proposed, the project would preserve and enhance various amounts of upland habitat of varying widths up to 150 feet, adjacent to both river systems that will allow some species, especially larger mammals, to use these areas as movement corridors. Implementation of the project will not substantially interfere with the movement of any terrestrial wildlife species; therefore, no significant impacts upon terrestrial wildlife movement corridors is anticipated. NOV, 25, 1997 4.42PM BARG 17141851 0208 NO, 1414 P. 2/3 BOWIE, ARNESON, KADI, WILES & GIANNONE A PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS ATTORNEYS AT LAW ALEXANDER BOWIE' W, IAMIjCADI 4920 CAMPUS DRIVE 421605a X(14) H NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA 92660 FAX 851.2014 WENDY WILES- (714) 651-1300 E-mail: 6akvS6b2kn=M PATRICIA B. GIANNONE ROBERT E. ANSLOW 3803 TENTH STREET, SUITE 715 PMPONDTO NEWTORTBBACH ARTO7.NUUTINEN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA 92501 �OUR � DANIEL G.STEVENSON DANIE.LIPA]NE (909) 2223750 ISABE[UALASTI DEBORAH R G CESARIO 2507 PINE AVENUE, SUITE 101 .8028 B 119 LYSA X SALTZMAN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93727 (209) 452.4101 'A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION November 25, 1997 City Council City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Boulevard Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Re: School Facilities Funding Agreement between the William S. Hart Union High District and the Newhall Land and Fanning Company Dear Council Members: We are pleased to inform you that the William S. Hart Union High School District ("Hart") and the Newhall Land & Farming Company ("Newhall') are continuing to work together to formulate a final agreement mitigating the school facilities impacts of the North Valencia Annexation Project ("Mitigation Agreement'). We are also working with Mr. Carl Newton, City Attorney, to finalize the structure of the conveyance by the City to Hart of the five (5) acre parcel to be jointly used for park and school purposes. Currently, Hart and Newhall are reviewing the most recent revisions to the Mitigation Agreement resulting from a meeting on November 21, 1997. We have every confidence the Board of Trustees ("Board") of Hartwill consider the Mitigation Agreement at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting on December 3, 1997 and anticipate that a summary of the Mitigation Agreement will be available for your review at the December 2, 1997, continued public hearing for the North Valencia Annexation. BAKW&G/LMS/Pks/427sa 2'OV, 25. 1997 4:42PM BAKWG (714)851 3208 N0,1414 P. 3/3 BOWIE; ARNESON, KADI, WILES & GIANNONE City Council Members City of Santa Clarita November 25, 1997 Page 2 If you have any questions or require additional information please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Robert Lee, Superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District, at (805) 259-0033 or the undersigned. LMS:pks cc: Jeff Lambert, Director of Planning George Caravaiho, City Manager Carl Newton; City Attorney Robert Me Murry, Esq. SAKW&GILW4W4273e L Very truly yours, BOWIE, ARNESON, KADI, WILES & GIANNONE By: Lysa M. Saltzman AGENDA REPORT PUBLIC HEARING City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: Jeffrey Lambert DATE: November 25, 1997 SUBJECT: NORTH VALENCIA SPECIFIC PLAN AND ANNEXATION (MASTER CASE NOS. 95-242,96-120,97-063), GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 97- 001, SPECIFIC PLAN (PREZONE) 97-001, ANNEXATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 96-001, ANNEXATION NO. 95-006, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 51931, OAK TREE PEP.MIT 97-009, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT SCH # 96071077 DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services Receive staff presentation, receive public testimony, provide direction to staff on commercial; industrial, and fiscal impact analysis components of North Valencia Annexation and Specific Plan, and continue this item to the December 2, 1997 City Council meeting. The City Council opened the public hearing on this item at its November 4, 1997 meeting. At this meeting, the City Council heard a presentation from staff and a presentation from the City's environmental consultant summarizing the major findings of the Environmental Impact Report. The Council also heard public testimony. In an effort to ensure an orderly review of this project, the City Council scheduled three meetings to discuss this project by subject: (1) commercial, industrial, and fiscal impacts at the November 25, 1997 meeting. (2) river issues at the December 2, 1997 meeting, and (3) residential at the December 9, 1997 meeting. The following is a summary of commercial and industrial uses proposed within the North Valencia Annexation and Specific Plan: The Santa Clarita Valley is housing rich and jobs poor. The North Valencia project will generate 1,950 jobs. Jobs generated would account for 1.7 percent of the employment opportunities projected for the Valley. The proposed project is consistent with the City's General Plan land Agenda atlam;--M Commercial Industrial Lago de Valencia 110,000 sq.R 0 Bouquet South 184,000 sq.fL. 0 Pony League 180,000 sq.fL 0 South River 184,000 sq.fL 0 Industrial Center 0 167,000 The Santa Clarita Valley is housing rich and jobs poor. The North Valencia project will generate 1,950 jobs. Jobs generated would account for 1.7 percent of the employment opportunities projected for the Valley. The proposed project is consistent with the City's General Plan land Agenda atlam;--M use designations for the project site, and growth projections for the City of Santa Clarita and the Santa.Clarita Valley. The Citys General Plan allows the uses proposed in. the North Valencia Specific Plan. However, the specific land use designations for this site are Commercial Town Center (CTC), Community Commercial (CC), Residential Moderate (RM), and Business Park (BP). Under a strict implementation of the General Plan, approximately 361 acres of land would be allocated to commercial uses; at a mid -point Floor Area Ratio, this would equate to 5,896,935 square feet of commercial uses. City staff believes any amount of commercial approaching this number would significantly impact existing commercial districts in the City and could not be sustained by existing or proposed populations projections for the Santa Clarita Valley. Therefore, we support the significant reduction in commercial land uses to be replaced with higher density residential uses. However, some additional commercial (a total of 636,000 square feet) is significantly less than the General Plan envisioned and can be sustained by additional residents generated by this and neighboring residential projects. 1W 611911 Is wr. The North Valencia Specific Plan and Annexation has been analyzed by an outside economic consultant to determine the fiscal impact of this project to the City s General Fund. The project is assumed to be build out within five years and will have the following impact, organized by year of build out (in 000s): Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Post Project ($190) ($140) ($50) $120 $160 $160 These figures are largely due to the emphasis on residential construction in the early phases of the Project The commercial components will generate significant retail sales taxes to the City in later years of the project and in post project build out years. The full Fiscal Impact Analysis prepared for this annexation is included in the reading file. ATTACHMENTS (These attachments have been previously distributed to the City Council and made available to the public. Councilmembers should bring their copies of these items to the meeting. If additional copies of these attachments are needed, please contact staff.) 1. Specific Plan 2. Memorandum of Understanding S. Overview of project and entitlements requested 4.' City Benefits from the North Valencia Annexation Memorandum 5. Final EIR (forwarded earlier under separate cover) 6. Ordinance No. 97-19 (Specific Plan Zone Change) 7. Ordinance No. 97-20 (Annexation and Development Agreement) 8. Draft Annexation and Development. Agreement (to be delivered under separate cover) 9. Draft Resolution No. 97-126 (Certifying the Environmental Impact Report and Adopting a Statement of Overiding Considerations) 10. Draft Resolution No. 97-127 (Approving General Plan Amendment No. 97-001, Tentative • Tract Map 51931, Annexation No. 95-006, and Oak Tree Permit 97-009) READ - 1. Fiscal Impact Analysis Report JJL1ep cdm=ci1\nv1s jj1 NOTICE OF CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF SANTA CLARITA CITY COUNCIL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, at its regular meeting held November 4, 1997, continued a public hearing on ITEM 6. NORTH VALENCIA SPECIFIC PLAN AND ANNEXATION - (MASTER CASE NOS..95. 242, 96-120, 97-063), GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 97-001, SPECIFIC PLAN (PREZONE) 97-001, ANNEXATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 96-o01, ANNEXATION NO.95.006, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 51931, OAK TREE PERMIT 97. 009, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT SCH #96071077 to November 25, 1997, to consider commercial, industrial, and fiscal impacts; to December 2, 1997 to consider river and parks, and to December 9, 1997 to consider housing areas. The continued public hearing will be held at or after 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 23920 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, California. • Dated this 5th day of November, 1997. `V 0%� SHARON L. DAWSON, CITY CLERK STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) SHARON L. DAWSON, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that she is the duly appointed and qualified City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita and that on November 5, 1997, she caused the above notice to be posted at the door of the Council Chamber located at 23920 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, California. 4AMAO.-" SHARON L. DAWSON, CITY CLERK Santa Clarita, California