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
December 7
1921 - William S. Hart (57) marries actress Winifred Westover (23) [story]
Bill and Winifred Hart


| Friday, Apr 12, 2019
A hike in Val Verde. | Photo courtesy Erica Larsen.
A hike in Val Verde. | Photo courtesy Erica Larsen.

 

A plan to build more than 200 homes in the heart of Val Verde was scrutinized Thursday by a regional planning committee, whose members wanted assurance there’s enough water to fight fires, a comprehensive sewer study and a commitment to build public parks before a shovel goes in the ground.

On Thursday, members of the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning Subdivision Committee handed a lengthy “to do” list to developer Hunt Williams, of Sterling Gateway LP, before his Val Verde project is approved.

Williams wants to build the homes on nearly 114 acres of land on both sides of Del Valle Road at Hunstock Street in Val Verde.

The Subdivision Committee represents a handful of key land development concerns affecting public works, parks and recreation and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Notes on the second revised map of the housing project by representatives of each of these three key agencies recommended planners do not approve the project until their respective demands are met.

Topping the list of concerns for public works officials was water supply, and second on the same list was getting an approved sewer area study.

Water was also the prime concern for committee members representing the Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division, whose “conditions of approval” pointed out that the property is located inside a “very high fire hazard severity zone.”

The committee wants the developer to submit a “preliminary water design report from Los Angeles County Waterworks District 36,” which supplies the area with water.

With its focus still on the ability to fight wildfires, the committee also set standards for water supply and water pressure.

Water flow next to a commercial lot was to be no less than 2,000 gallons of water per minute delivered under pressure at 20 pounds per square inch for at least two hours.

The flow of water next to homes was to be no less than 1,250 gallons of water per minute under the same amount of pressure.

And, because the 222 proposed homes are in “very high fire hazard safety zone,” the committee requested a “preliminary fuel modification plan” be obtained before approval is given.

On the issue of public parks, the committee representative for county parks said: “The department recommends that the subdivider develop, maintain and operate the private park, which will be accessible to the public.”

It was pointed out that since the housing project falls inside the Castaic Community Standards District, its parks must meet a specific standard.

In the Park Obligation Report cited by the committee, the basic Quimby Park Land Obligation calls for the park to be no less than 2.223 acres and having a maximum slope of 3 percent.

The Quimby Act, passed in 1975, was designed to ensure housing projects come with adequate open space acreage. The basic Quimbly obligation calls for 3.5 acres of open space for every 1,000 residents.

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.

2 Comments

  1. waterwatcher says:

    And he will have to comply with new building codes that require every roof to be solor.

  2. jim says:

    Solar roofs are the least important concern of building in high fire zones. Fire-resistant housing designs (flame-proof roofs, flame/spark-resistant exterior surfaces, spark and ember-resistant vents and exhausts, and flame-resistant exterior surfaces) are much more important.

    Solar roofs are a good idea, especially if they are built to a 50%+ of average load. But they won’t do anything to prevent damage from our ubiquitous wind-driven fires.

    But solar roofs may not be so important if they make housing too expensive.

    I’d worry more about how SCE serves the community currently and for the new development. Are overhead conductors on wooden poles the current and future designs for this area? UG is expensive, but not as much as replacing the entire primary voltage (usually 6600v in SCE) services as well as the 120/240v residential services when a wildfire takes them all out.

Leave a Comment


LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEADLINES
Friday, Dec 5, 2025
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has credited the combined efforts of law enforcement, public health leaders, educators and community advocates, along with his office’s sustained campaign to expose the dangers of fentanyl, for driving a historic 22 percent decline in overdose and poisoning deaths across Los Angeles County.
Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025
Caltrans has announced extended weekend lane reductions along Interstate 405 (I-405) through the Sepulveda Pass. The freeway will be reduced to three lanes in each direction.
Monday, Dec 1, 2025
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a residential No Burn Day Alert for Tuesday, Dec. 2, for all those living in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Friday, Nov 28, 2025
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a residential No Burn Day Alert for Saturday, Nov. 29, for all those living in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Friday, Nov 28, 2025
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau is seeking to raise awareness of an increasing trend in telecom fraud and financial scams.

Keep Up With Our Facebook
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1921 - William S. Hart (57) marries actress Winifred Westover (23) [story]
Bill and Winifred Hart
1864 - Actor William S. Hart born in Newburgh, New York [Hart Index]
Wm. S. Hart
The West Coast Health Alliance strongly supports that hepatitis B vaccination continue to be routinely offered to all newborns, with the first dose of the vaccine given within 24 hours of birth for newborns weighing at least 4 pounds, 7 ounces, followed by completion of the vaccine series.
West Coast Health Alliance Recommends Hepatitis B Vaccination for Newborns
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has credited the combined efforts of law enforcement, public health leaders, educators and community advocates, along with his office’s sustained campaign to expose the dangers of fentanyl, for driving a historic 22 percent decline in overdose and poisoning deaths across Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County Sees Sharp Decline in Overdose Deaths
Poets, dreamers and storytellers, the deadline for the 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Project is on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Dec. 14: Sidewalk Poetry 2026 Deadline to Submit
Rock Bottom Media and JMV Productions will host free photos with Santa for the whole family including pets, 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Locale Studios.
Dec. 7: Bring Pets for Free Photos with Santa at Locale Studios
Weird Gallery presents Artmas: After Dark, After Hours, a student‑led art show featuring College of the Canyons and California Institute of the Arts students.
Dec. 11: ‘Artmas: After Dark, After Hours’ Popup Art Show in Old Town Newhall
The city of Santa Clarita invites residents to enjoy a new holiday light show now illuminating the River of Lights at Central Park.
Holiday Magic Lights Up Central Park
Lucky Luke Brewing and Good Vibes Events L.A. presents its Ugly Sweater Holiday Market, 3-8 p.m. Saturday Dec.13 at Lucky Luke Brewing, 25108 Rye Canyon Loop, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Dec. 13: Lucky Luke Brewing, Good Vibes Ugly Sweater Holiday Market
The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a Special Meeting in open session on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. at Santa Clarita City Hall to conduct the annual Council Reorganization event, when the gavel will be passed to a new mayor.
Dec. 9: City Council to Install New Mayor in Annual Reorganization
Sky Zone Trampoline Park will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting 4:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at 26573 Carl Boyer Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Dec. 18: Sky Zone Trampoline Park Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit are asking for the public’s help locating At-Risk Missing Person John L Brown.
LASD Asks for the Public’s Help in Locating Missing Santa Clarita Man
Last week we kicked off the boys and girls Foothill League soccer seasons, noting that there were a number of league games coming up on Dec. 2 and 4. Now that those have been contested, here is where things stand:
Foothill League Soccer: Hart, Saugus Rolling
1938 - County Supervisors award construction contract for jail at Wayside Farms in Castaic, later called Pitchess Detention Center [story]
Wayside
The city of Santa Clarita will present its latest art exhibition, “Let Go,” by Dani Samson, on view now through Feb. 4, at the Canyon Country Community Center.
Explore ‘Let Go’ Art Exhibit at Canyon Country Community Center
College of the Canyons celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement program on Tuesday, Nov. 25, with an event held in the Aliso Hall courtyard.
MESA Celebrates 25 Years of Student Success at COC
Kaiser Permanente joined the Saugus Union School District recently to honor its outstanding achievement in health education; all 15 SUSD district schools earned America’s Healthiest Schools All-Star Recognition from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Kaiser Presents $10,000 Community Health Grant to SUSD
JCI Santa Clarita is seeking volunteers to support its annual Santa’s Helpers program, a beloved community tradition that brings holiday joy to children and families in need throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
JCI Santa Clarita Seeks Volunteers for Annual Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive
"Fatherless No More" is a new faith-based documentary that has been officially accepted for an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run at the Laemmle Theater in Old Town Newhall.
Dec. 5-11: ‘Fatherless No More’ Begins Oscar Campaign at Laemmle
The Master's University will present "Alleluia! TMU Come Christmas Sing" on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in The Master’s University Music Recital Hall on the college campus is Placerita Canyon.
Dec. 6: ‘Alleluia! TMU Come Christmas Sing!’
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Water Resources and Watershed Committee will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.
Dec. 10: Water Resources and Watershed Committee Meeting
College of the Canyons cross country had a combined 10 student-athletes earn All-Western State Conference honors for the 2025 season, with all seven members of the women's team earning recognition.
Canyons Cross Country Teams Combine for 10 All-WSC Selections
College of the Canyons had eight players earn Southern California Football Association (SCFA) All-League awards, with three players recognized as First-Team selections.
Canyons Football Sees Eight Earn SCFA All-League Recognition
College of the Canyons women's volleyball was recognized with six players named to the all-conference team, with freshman Katelyn Nelson and sophomore Morgan Dumlao both taking home All-Western State Conference, South Division First-Team awards.
Canyons Features Six Players on All-Conference Squad
SCVNews.com