School presents 10-year plan for future construction.

[view:node_ad=5]Tuesday night, the Santa Clarita City Council heard public
comment regarding the 10-year master plan for the Master's College, which is a
private Christian school located in the area surrounding Placerita
Canyon Rd. in Newhall.

 

Just weeks after approving the highly controversial Henry Mayo
campus expansion plan, the Council relished a much easier decision this time
around, as most of the affected community members and city staff supported the
Master's College plan.  

 

Since the school is located in an established residential
neighborhood, the school has been working with the residents and the city since
2001 to establish an amicable plan that will allow for a sizable expansion, but
with limits.

 

The resulting master plan won acclaim before the City Council,
who unanimously passed it to a second reading.

 

"Clearly there's been extensive work and cooperation, clearly
there's been tremendous input by our city staff," said Council member Bob
Kellar. "I think you have got an absolutely incredible plan here."

 

Here are some highlights from the Master's College plan.

 

• A new 55,000 square foot chapel for the college's worship services
  would be added to the campus as well as two new 60,000 square foot classrooms,
  one new 27,000 square foot dormitory and a new computer science building.

 

• Several other expansions will take place for existing dorms,
  classrooms, a communications center and the gymnasium.

 

• Dockweiler Drive
  will be extended from (roughly) Valle Del Oro into The Master's College campus.
  Deputy Jake Drive will also
  be extended into the campus, although it will not connect directly to the
  existing due to resident concerns regarding traffic volume.

 

• The extension of Dockweiler will become the main entrance for
  most students, thereby taking traffic off of Placerita
  Canyon Rd, which is narrow and dedicated to the
  residents of Placerita Canyon.
  This road extension will also serve as an additional evacuation route for the
  community in the event of an emergency.

 

• 114 varying species of oak trees will need to be removed to build
  the roads and to construct the new facilities, however over 600 new oak trees
  will be planted in their place. None of the oak trees being removed are
  heritage oaks.

 

• The plan allows for enrollment and staff growth at the college,
  although it is limited. 600 more students, 55 more faculty members and 108 new
  staff positions would be allowed under the plan.

 

• New trails will added through and around the College campus to
  allow for greater pedestrian safety. In addition, the Master's College will
  also provide for a crosswalk at Dockweiler Drive
  and Valle Del Oro.

 

• Pending full approval of the plan, the Master's College will contribute
  $150,000 towards the construction of a future pedestrian bridge from Placerita
  Canyon Rd. to downtown Newhall.

 

• Master's College will dedicate 20.5 acres of open space to the
  City of Santa Clarita, including
  the five-acre Creekview Park,
  which the city currently leases from them for a nominal amount.

The plan is the result of eight years of discussion and planning.
During that time, the plan adapted to include 42 new single family residences,
which was a marked decrease from their originally planned 54 multi-family units. The Master's College
also conceded in bringing the height of the residential dwellings down from
three stories to two.

 

The Master's College saw the fruits of that planning labor after
they presented the plan, as property owners and Council members alike supported
and praised the College for their cooperation.

 

One of the most surprising supporters of the plan was the
Placerita Canyon Property Owners Association, who is usually a vocal opponent
of any new development in the vicinity of their established equestrian-accomidating
neighborhood.

 

"I think that many of you who have been on the Council for any
length of time will acknowledge that you have just witnessed a miracle," said
Valerie Thomas, who sits on the Placerita Canyon Property Owners Association
board.

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In other Council news, the formation of a dedicated Arts Advisory Committee was put on the “to do list.” Find out why that may not be so easy by reading the full article.