KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The City of Santa Clarita Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing concerning the Sand Canyon Country Club expansion project at their regular meeting on Tuesday evening.
The project, also referred to as the “Sand Canyon Resort” project, would see the Sand Canyon Country Club add a three-story hotel, a wedding hall, 23 villas, restaurants, a spa and other amenities to the facility.
The hearing is expected to include a presentation from city staff providing an introduction and overview on the project and testimony from the applicant as well as the public, beginning Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The potential expansion project has drawn criticism from a number of residents of Sand Canyon, who organized themselves as the ‘Stop Sand Canyon Resort Task Force’ in September 2019 to formally oppose the development.
Related: Residents Form ‘Stop Sand Canyon Resort’ Task Force To Oppose Proposed Development
“We are not a commercial area,” said Ruthann Levison, president of the Sand Canyon Homeowners Association for a previous story. “The canyon is a special place, and we want to keep it that way.”
In addition to the desire to preserve Sand Canyon’s rural charm, residents raised a perhaps more major concern in the potential for significant traffic congestion in the event of a major fire.
Two retired firefighters who are members of the task force discussed the “disastrous” situation if, and when, a fire rolls through Sand Canyon.
“During the Sand Fire, traffic was backed up to Placerita Canyon,” said Mark Whaling, a retired captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department who served at Station 123 in Sand Canyon.
In addition to the predicted increase in traffic from visitors to the area drawn to the resort, there are two new housing developments in Sand Canyon expected to bring approximately 1,600 more homes to the community of about 2,500 residents.
Proponents of the project tout the development’s impact to the local economy, which could bring increased tourism revenue.
“This project would be great for the area,” said Bob Kellar, a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and Sand Canyon resident in a previous story. “It would be a tremendous addition to the community.”
Kellar added the economic impact from the project would benefit the entire community of Santa Clarita, and is not just limited to Sand Canyon.
“More tourism in that part of town would benefit the rest of the city,” Kellar said.
The potential upgrades at the Sand Canyon Country Club would create a new destination in the Santa Clarita Valley, make its courses more fun and, overall, improve the “wow factor,” said Owner Steve Kim in a previous story.
Information on how to view, submit comments for or to speak during public participation at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the city Planning Commission is available here.
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This place sounds awesome. Shoving 300+ homes into a side pocket of Bouquet Canyon, not so much.
Obviously it’s awesome for the city council who are being paid by the owner and develooer. Typical 1%
Not awesome for those who had open space promised in perpetuity when the Robinson Ranch Golf Course was approved. This is a rural and equestrian area protected by Special Standards. A commercial zone is not appropriate. The City Council must uphold its previous decision to make this Open Space recreational and a change to commercial zoning is unconscionable.
Perhaps the developers would like to assist in updating some infrastructure prior to the opening of a lovely place where hundreds of people will congregate and travel through. If Comet Way just north of Robinson was widened to accommodate heavier traffic and with its reconstruction include the widening of Oak Springs Canyon Road, some traffic could be detoured away from Sand Canyon Road. Of course, for a desired exit to Soledad Canyon Road, a bridge at Oak Springs crossing the Santa Clara River would ease the above vehicle congestion that would definitely arise if the expected future traffic (potential for significant traffic congestion in the event of a major fire.”) has only the use of Sand Canyon Road to get out that direction.
Of course, this expected traffic congestion would not be an issue for Mr. Kellar (“This project would be great for the area,” said Bob Kellar, a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and Sand Canyon resident in a previous story. “It would be a tremendous addition to the community.”) who lives off Placerita Road and does not truly need to exit the Sand Canyon area using Sand Canyon Raod.
The Hotel would be a failure. The hospitality business has changed forever because Businesses now use ZOOM for business meetings and do not need to bring employees to a hotel. No more room rentals or event space needed. Sand Canyon is a great place to raise kids and horses but it is not a luxury destination. There are no compelling attractions to bring vacationers and the setting and weather as well as the unattractive design are not going to appeal to those who like to go to 4 and 5 star resorts. Vacationers want to go to oceanfront resorts like Terranea in Palos Verdes where they have whale watching and kayaking as well as tennis and golf with views of Catalina. International visitors love the 97 year old Ojai Valley Inn where they can go to Hot Springs, wine and olive oil tastings in a charming small town of 7500 people. There is nothing in Sand Canyon or Santa Clarita that appeals to tourists. This project is destined to fail and should never be approved.
I think it would be better to house the homeless there. The city could pay for all cost. They could burglarize the Sand Cyn. homes as a source of income also. A win win for all.
This resort makes no sense. We are not Disney or Magic Mtn. and who would want to stay here? This is just crazy. When it fails we will have empty buildings to deal with. So sad