The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce has expressed its support for the proposed Jobs Creation Overlay Zone to be considered by the Santa Clarita Planning Commission at City Hall on Tuesday, May 21.

The Jobs Creation Overlay Zone, or JCOZ, is designed to increase high-quality employment opportunities and improve the city’s jobs/housing balance, according to the meeting’s agenda.

The proposal would raise the allowable height for office buildings and establish an equivalent height for industrial buildings as well, supporting the city’s goal of attracting more Class-A office building developments with high-quality, high-paying jobs.

“As our business community continues to grow with new business moving here and local company expansions,” said Nancy Starczyk, chair of the board for the SCV Chamber of Commerce, “it is vital for the city of Santa Clarita to provide appropriate development opportunities that meet current and future needs of business which bring high-paying jobs to our city.”

Santa Clarita continues to be ranked as one of the most business-friendly cities in California and the Chamber believes the Job Creation Overlay Zone would further that reputation by opening the doors for more businesses to locate to Santa Clarita with those high-quality, high-paying jobs.

In a letter sent to the Santa Clarita City Council and the City Planning Commission on behalf of the SCV Chamber Board of Directors, John Musella with Evolve Business Strategies wrote that the SCV Chamber Board supports “the need for the city to seriously consider increasing the allowable number of stories for office buildings to six stories and establish an equivalent height for industrial buildings as well. Now is the time to ensure our planning efforts help create more high-quality jobs in the city of Santa Clarita.”

As noted at the 2019 SCV Economic Outlook event in March, economic and real estate experts expressed the need for increased building height as a noteworthy change in regional market demand. The JCOZ will help make Santa Clarita more competitive by creating a higher level of confidence for business owners when looking to locate and build in Santa Clarita.