Proposed plans to convert the former Borax offices on Tourney Road in Valencia into a Kaiser Permanente medical facility have been temporarily postponed pending an official consultation with a Santa Clarita Valley tribal group, city officials said.

During their regular meeting on Tuesday, members of the Santa Clarita Planning Commission continued the agenda item to March 1 following a request by the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, said Santa Clarita Senior Planner James Chow.

The site of the proposed Kaiser facility. Photo courtesy of SCVNews.com.

The group “submitted a letter to the city requesting a consultation be conducted pursuant to Assembly Bill 52, which is a new law requiring notification to any local tribal groups with interest in these types of projects,” Chow said.

The consultation would involve the disclosure of project plans to the tribal group, who would review the information in coordination with Kaiser officials.

“They’ve historically been associated with the Santa Clarita Valley, and they have expressed interest as a part of that bill that was signed last July,” Chow said. “They had requested that any projects within their jurisdiction requiring environmental review, that that information be provided to them so that they can request that consultation if they deem that’s appropriate.”

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Under the current plans, Kaiser would convert the former Borax offices, located at 26877 Tourney Road in Valencia, into what Kaiser officials have named the “Santa Clarita Specialty Medical Offices.”

The site’s existing vacant parking structure. Photo courtesy of SCVNews.com.

In addition, the site’s existing four-story, 299-space parking structure would be demolished and replaced with a seven-story, 567-space parking structure to accommodate the facility’s needs.

The project would also require the removal of two existing oak trees, along with other site improvements, according to city documents.

“Kaiser Permanente is pleased to confirm we are moving forward with expanding health care services for our members who live and work in the Santa Clarita Valley with the future opening of our new Santa Clarita Specialty Medical Offices,” Kaiser Permanente officials said in an official statement provided to KHTS AM-1220 via email.

The statement continued, “Since approving this project in 2013, we’ve been working closely with the appropriate local agencies to obtain the necessary approvals and begin renovations to the building and other existing structures on the site.”

Kaiser officials expect to obtain these approvals and begin renovation on the project in the spring, with an anticipated opening date in 2017.