Following a month-long delay, members of the Santa Clarita Planning Commission approved the proposed 375-home Bouquet Canyon Project Tuesday, sending it forward to the City Council for a final vote.

During their regular meeting on Tuesday, the Santa Clarita Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the Bouquet Canyon Project under three conditions.

The Commission elected to make a final vote of approval based on three conditions related to handicap access to electric vehicle charging stations, a playground for children and pet waste facilities.

Commissioner Renee Berlin expressed concern about several issues related to the project, but focused specifically on issues relating to traffic impact.

The Commission and commentators also explored several concerns based on water management and the alternation of Bouquet Creek and the floodplain in the area. Specifically, the issue related to how Bouquet Creek would be inpacted and rerouted, especailly in relation to manmade channels and how choosing the proper type could impact the rehcarging the groundwater sources.

“I think (SCV Water) recognizes that from a percolation standpoint, the project is a bit better than the no project alternative. You know, I understand the point that hard-bottom channels are very undesirable as far as the agency is concerned because with the soft bottom channel it allows for percolation,” said Commissioner Dan Masnada. “Again, the project does provide a slight benefit over the no project alternative. I think… my interpretation of what the agency submitted is that they don’t want to see this as a precedent, and as long as I’m on this commission, I will make sure that it won’t be a precedent.”

The Bouquet Canyon Project is described as “a residential community consisting of up to 375 attached and detached, two-story, for-sale housing units with related infrastructure, dedicated open space areas, trails, recreation areas, and landscape elements located in the community of Saugus.

The project would also include the closure of a portion of Bouquet Canyon Road, between Pam Court and Hob Court, and the construction of a new alignment of Bouquet Canyon Road, in accordance with the City of Santa Clarita’s Circulation Element objectives.

Additionally, the project would require approximately 2 million cubic yards of earthwork to be balanced across the site, channelization of part of the floodplain through the site, removal or encroachment of 27 non-heritage-sized oak trees, and alteration of a significant ridgeline, according to the planning commission agenda.

While the Bouquet Canyon Project was ultimately approved by the commission, it was not without setbacks. Several residents voiced their opposition to the project during the meeting.

“First of all, they used an out-of-town firm for their geologist, and we felt they didn’t understand the area. So we consulted with a well-known, respected local geologist, who is top in his field, who’s actually done fieldwork in this particular area. The geologic conclusions are that the liquefaction dangers are severely underestimated, mostly due to faulty hydrology knowledge,” said Sandra Cattell, chair of the Santa Clarita Sierra Club. “Bouquet Creek is actually a permanent blue line stream. Not an ephemeral or part-time drainage ditch.”

Approval of the project had been delayed several times by the commission itself. When planning commission members were presented the Bouquet Canyon Project on June 2, commissioners requested clarification on several items, including wildfire evacuations, ridgeline alteration and traffic impacts.

See Related: 375-Home Bouquet Canyon Project Back For Planning Commission Discussion After Delay

In addition, planning commissioners requested more information regarding the visual and noise impacts near the proposed extension of Copper Hill Drive, as well as electric vehicle and bicycle parking, according to the agenda item.

During the meetings on July 7 and Aug. 18, the planning commission pushed back the ruling on the Bouquet Canyon Project homes, consisting of an architectural design review, hillside development review and an oak tree permit, to allow more time for the applicant to make changes.

“There are still a couple of items we are finalizing with the applicant, and we need a little bit more time to do that,” said Senior Planner Patrick Leclair during the August meeting.

Commissioner Dr. Dennis Ostrom and Vice-Chair Dan Masnada wanted the local water agency’s technical staff to review the planned running water to be “hard or soft-bottomed river,” or a combination of the two.

The planning committee had recommended that the item be revisited on Aug. 18, to allot more time to address comments of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who were asked to aid in adequately identifying and mitigating the Project’s potentially significant impacts on fish and wildlife resources, according to the City of Santa Clarita Planning Commission.

With the approval from the commission, the project now goes to the Santa Clarita City Council, who are set to give the final vote on the project at an upcoming meeting.

Ed. Note: Jade Aubuchon contributed to this story.

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