header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
September 18
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital


Tuesday's vote overturns earlier Planning Commission denial; council expected to approve actual lot split at a later date.
| Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012

City officials kicked off their meeting Tuesday with a tribute to two longtime Santa Clarita figures — former Mayor Cameron Smyth and soon-to-be-departing City Manager Ken Pulskamp.

Smyth returns to Santa Clarita so he can spend more time with his family after being termed out of his state Assembly seat. Scott Wilk will be sworn in Monday to fill his seat.

“This is my second one, so I guess now I have a key to the front and back door,” Smyth joked after accepting a key to the city. He received another ceremonial key when he left the council in 2000.

Smyth was on the City Council that hired Ken Pulskamp as the city’s second permanent city manager in 2002, a move Smyth called one of the best decisions he ever made. Pulskamp had been Santa Clarita’s assistant city manager since 1988.

Pulskamp will be taking the job of city manager of Burbank after he leaves Santa Clarita effective at the end of this week The city is throwing a party Dec. 14 to recognize his contributions to Santa Clarita.

Council members also heard a report from the spokeswoman for the Santa Clarita International Program, aka Sister Cities. Santa Clarita has two cities with which it partners and provides aid: Tena, Ecuador and Sariaya, Philippines. The city is looking to add a third sister city, possibly in Brazil.

[Click here] for information on the sister cities program.

 

Action items

The city’s agenda ranged from contracts to purchase natural-gas buses to a pair of lengthy debates over property rights within city limits.

The first debate involved a heated dispute in the Quigley Canyon neighborhood between Ann I. Jones – a resident of the neighborhood who is also the San Fernando Valley judge recently accused of a conflict of interest by The Newhall Land and Farming Co. – and the Hairell family, which was seeking a lot subdivision. Jones was represented by an attorney at the council meeting.

In the end, the council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution that overturning the Planning Commission’s Oct. 17 denial of the lot-split.

The Hairell family owns a 2-acre lot in Quigley Canyon and wants to divide the flag-shaped parcel into two lots – resulting in pair of one-acre lots, as allowed under the city’s One Valley One Vision general plan and the special standards for Placerita Canyon.

Councilman Bob Kellar said it was a question of property rights and cited a similar personal experience when he moved into an oak tree-studded Sand Canyon neighborhood that was subsequently built up.

Even though he might not be thrilled by how much less rustic scenery is visible from his backyard now, compared to 1979, “It’s America, and I have the best neighbors that anyone could ask for,” Kellar said, before moving the resolution for approval.

Most residents who spoke in opposition to the lot split Tuesday said a 1-acre lot was insufficient to preserve the equestrian nature of the community, and said the lot’s odd shape made it apparent it was being gerrymandered to avoid flood plain restrictions.

The resolution council members approved, likely to be finalized at the council’s next meeting, followed a staff recommendation that noted only 5,000 square feet were needed for a lot to support equestrian facilities, according to city ordinance.

Planning Commissioner Diane Trautman was on the majority side of the 3-2 vote that denied the split in October.

“I think that from the comments that were made by (commissioners) Dennis Ostrom and Lisa Eichman, I would say that we were all in agreement that in did not keep with the integrity of the equestrian community,” Trautman said Tuesday.

“The thing is, when you put policies and regulations in place, you need to do so with some flexibility, and I appreciate that, and I think that’s what’s been done,” Trautman said. “It leaves it open to interpretation, and in this case the Planning Commission put the emphasis on the value of maintaining the integrity of the equestrian community in that area, protecting the values of surrounding properties and the safety of residents,” she said, referring to concerns brought up Tuesday night regarding the lot’s position in respect to the area’s flood plain.

“The council obviously felt that it was adequately addressed,” she said. “And the Planning Commission did not.”

The council’s action Tuesday overturns the Planning Commission’s earlier denial. Approval of the lot split is expected, but it would require council action at a later date.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


LATEST CITY HEADLINES
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
As part of the Third Annual Business for Artists Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19, Judith Modrak will lead the Imaginary Fossils Sculpture Making Workshop.

Keep Up With Our Facebook
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Sept. 20: Last Chance to Register for the River Rally
The California Highway Patrol is dedicating Sept. 15-21 to promoting child passenger safety across California, focusing on the protection of the state’s youngest road users.
CHP Emphasizes Child Safety for National Child Passenger Safety Week
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, Sept. 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 17: SUSD Regular Board Meeting
West Ranch High School’s Studio A Jazz Band will be the opening act for the Huntertones, a Brooklyn-based sextet, who are coming to the Santa Clarita Valley for a one-night performance.
Sept 30: West Ranch Jazz Band to Open for Huntertones
An exclusive Ransomeware webinar "Ransomeware, Don't Be the Next Victim!" will be hosted Wednesday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m.- noon by Shield IT Networks, in partnership with Lucas Insurance Services. It will be free for VIA members.
Sept. 25: Free Ransomeware Webinar for VIA Members
As part of the Third Annual Business for Artists Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19, Judith Modrak will lead the Imaginary Fossils Sculpture Making Workshop.
Oct.19: Business for Artists Fossils Sculpture Making Workshop
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of six productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Sept. 16 to Friday, Sept. 20.
Six Productions Filming in Santa Clarita
1872 - Mitchell adobe home in Soledad Canyon area first used as schoolhouse; genesis of 1879 Sulphur Springs School District [story]
Mitchell adobe
SCVNews.com