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
July 19
1915 - Ince, Griffith, Sennett form Triangle Film Corp.; it produces & distributes early William S. Hart films [story]
Triangle Films


| Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021
Sand Canyon resort
Site plan of the Sand Canyon resort project as proposed on the northeast corner of Sand Canyon Road and Robinson Ranch Road. | Photo: Courtesy city of Santa Clarita.

 

Santa Clarita planning commissioners Tuesday sent the Sand Canyon resort proposal back to the drawing board amid continued concerns, focusing largely on emergency evacuations.

Developer Steve Kim, who owns the Sand Canyon Country Club, wants to add a resort and spa across 77 acres of his 300-acre country club on the northeast corner of Sand Canyon Road and Robinson Ranch Road. It would include multilevel hotels, villas, dining options and outdoor recreation. He is also looking to gain a zone change from “open space” to “community commercial” on half of the four site lots.

Kim presented Tuesday a proposed revision of the project, which would eliminate the nine, one-story villas located on the western portion of the site. The move would reduce the immediate area from more than 31 acres to 24 acres and save nine non-heritage oak trees from being removed.

As it stands, the project does not offer a secondary access road for evacuations in case of a wildfire, rather access via a private road that leads back to Sand Canyon Road. Commissioner Lisa Eichman said, “I just don’t think that’s acceptable … if we decide to go forward on this project,” to which commissioners agreed.

Commissioners said they also wanted to see finished plans, including architectural plans, before making a decision.

The project garnered opposition from local environmentalists and Sand Canyon residents who have said that multistory buildings, under commercial zoning, could change the neighborhood’s quiet, rural lifestyle with increased traffic and noise, as well as posing a risk with potential evacuations should a wildfire occur. To date, the city has received at least 187 comments, with more than 100 in opposition, according to Hai Nguyen, a city associate planner.

Those who voiced support said the resort could increase property values, bring a venue for large community events and offer jobs for veterans and the homeless.

Kim’s supporters said the developer has the right to transform his resort, as it is his property, while those in opposition say he is trying to build over dedicated open space — which was set aside “in perpetuity” as a condition of approval for a golf course Kim renamed as the Sand Canyon Country Club after he bought the property in 2016.

The City Council, which has the final say on the project, can impose new conditions of approval or consider prior restrictions imposed on the property, as well as approve or deny the zone change, according to Nguyen.

“We’re willing to donate the land, left of the site, permanently to the city as permanent open space to the Open Space District,” said Hunt Braly, land use and real estate attorney with Poole Shaffery & Koegle LLP, who said the proposed donation could be less than 42 acres in addition to open space located off-site.

Real estate company CBRE told city officials last month they need to update their 2019 market demand study on the project due to the hospitality industry being impacted by the pandemic. Meanwhile, the resort would bring an estimated 500 jobs and an economic impact of $80 million a year, per a Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp. study, cited by Kim, who previously said the study estimated $57 million. SCVEDC President Holly Schroeder did not return a request for comment regarding the report.

“We just would urge you not to use that (CBRE memo) as an excuse to deny the project. Mr. Kim was not going to build a project that does not work, economically, not only for him but for the community,” Braly said.

If approved, the resort could start welcoming guests by 2022, according to Kim.

“I think our project will be open in two years, hopefully, from now …,” he said. “We are ready to break ground as soon as possible with the project.”

Planning commissioners are expected to take another look at the project on May 18.

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 Additions to SCVNews.com
1915 - Ince, Griffith, Sennett form Triangle Film Corp.; it produces & distributes early William S. Hart films [story]
Triangle Films
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Wednesday, July 23, beginning with a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
July 23: Regular Meeting of the Hart School District Board of Trustees
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry is in need of food donations to keep the shelves stocked. In 2024, the SCV Food Pantry had more than 95,000 client visits, averaging over 10,000 client engagements each month.
SCV Food Pantry in Need of Donations
With profound sadness and heavy hearts, the Los Angelees County Sheriff's Department have announced the passing of three detectives in the explosion on the morning of Friday, July 18 at the Biscailuz Center Training Academy in East Los Angeles: Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus and Detective William Osborn
Three LASD Detectives Killed in Explosion Have Been Identified
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger announced on Friday, July 18 that all Los Angeles County facilities will lower their flags to half‑staff immediately in honor of the three Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies who lost their lives in the explosion at the Biscailuz Training Center in East Los Angeles.
County Flags to Fly at Half‑Staff After LASD Training Center Tragedy
On Friday, July 18, shortly after 7:30 a.m., an explosion occurred at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Biscailuz Training Facility located in the 1000 block of North Eastern Avenue in East Los Angeles. Three LASD deputies died in the blast.
Three LASD Deputies Killed in Explosion at Facility in East Los Angeles
This episode of SCVTV's Legacy series was taped in 2002. Leon Worden of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society speaks with Carl Boyer III, the first chairman of the city of Santa Clarita Formation Committee in 1986. Boyer discusses the effort to form a city and the challenges of setting it up.
Legacy | Birth of a City with Councilman Carl Boyer III
The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley awarded $16,000 in scholarships and awards at its annual Awards Celebration, held at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at College of the Canyons.
Zonta Club of SCV Holds Annual Scholarship Awards Celebration
Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) has announced that she has joined a coalition of lawmakers and concerned parents to urge the rejection of AB 84, which would require increased oversight of charter schools.
Valladares Joins Coalition Opposed to Charter School Bill
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees took the next steps to move forward with developing the College of the Canyons Advanced Technology Center at its regular board meeting held on Wednesday, July 16.
COC Board Commits to Build Advanced Technology Center on Valencia Campus
Golden Oak Adult School announced that its fall 2025 semester will begin on Monday, Aug. 18, and online registration is now open for a wide array of courses designed to support career advancement, personal enrichment and academic achievement.
Golden Oak Adult School Fall Semester Registration Now Open
Green Santa Clarita wants to remind you that, if you have bulky trash items, such as furniture, appliances, tree branches, scrap wood, sod and tires, you can dispose of them for free either by pickup or drop-off, whether your residence is single-family of multi-family.
Get Rid of Bulky Items for Free
The Santa Clarita Volunteer Hub is a one-stop shop for promoting volunteerism in the community. It connects local non-profits and volunteers who want to offer their time, skills and talents to a good cause.
Volunteer Hub: Summer Volunteer Opportunities
Caltrans has announced that daytime lane reductions are scheduled on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 (I-5) between Lake Hughes Road and two miles north of Templin Highway, starting Monday, July 21, for pavement rehabilitation.
July 21-25: Castaic Area I-5 Lane Reductions
1928 - L.A. City makes first payment on death & disability claim arising from St. Francis Dam disaster [report]
morgue
Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates in collaboration with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation will host "Books & Hikes," to discuss Amy Tan's "The Backyard Bird Chronicles," 8 a.m. Sunday, July 27 at the Acorn Amphitheater.
July 27: ‘Books & Hikes’ at Placerita Canyon Nature Center
The Paseo Club will host its Summer Nights Party, 7-11 p.m. Saturday, July 19.
July 19: Summer Nights Party at the Paseo Club
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, (D-Chatsworth) has announced that more than a dozen bills from her 2025 legislative package are advancing through the State Senate.
Schiavo’s Legislation Moves Forward in the State Senate
Valencia Town Center will host its Back to School Bash, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the lower level of the mall near H&M.
Aug. 9: Back to School Bash at Valencia Town Center
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce, is now recruiting for fall interns to serve in his Washington, D.C. and California offices. Whitesides represents the CA-27th Congressional District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley.
Fall Interns Sought for Whitesides’ California, Washington D.C. Offices
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has announced that California's "No Touch" Phone Law is officially in effect.
L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Begins to Enforce ‘No Touch’ Phone Law
There is nothing quite like a Thursday evening in Old Town Newhall. As the sun sets, Main Street comes alive with twinkling lights stretching overhead, lively music filling the air, along with laughter and conversations flowing amongst families and friends.
Marsha McLean | Old Town Newhall SENSES Block Party
Join the Santa Clarita Public Library for the Summer Reading Finale on Friday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Old Town Newhall Branch. Celebrate a summer of reading and adventure with live performers, music, crafts, story time and more.
July 26: Summer Reading Finale
The Friends of Castaic Animal Shelter invite the Santa Clarita Valley to an Ice Cream Social and Pet Adoption event 1-3 p.m. Sunday, July 20 at Pet Supplies Plus.
July 20: Castaic Animal Shelter Ice Cream Social, Pet Adoption Event
SCVNews.com