The Santa Clarita Planning Commission received a virtual site tour last week of the proposed Belcaro at Sand Canyon project, offering commissioners and the public an early look at the largely undeveloped property ahead of a future public hearing.

Due to the site being difficult to access and is bisected by an active railroad line, city staff presented aerial video, photos and a narrated overview instead of conducting an in-person tour. Officials emphasized the meeting was a study session, not a public hearing, and that no decisions were being made.

Belcaro Site Plan

Project overview

The Belcaro at Sand Canyon project proposes a senior-focused, single-family residential community on vacant land near Sand Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road.

The proposal includes:

• 341 single-family homes, age-restricted to residents 55 and older
• A recreation facility and outdoor amenities
• On- and off-site trails and pedestrian connections
• Open space north of the railroad tracks, including a public trailhead and emergency equestrian staging area
• A new roundabout at Sand Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road
• Improvements and extension of Lost Canyon Road, including a bridge over Oak Springs Canyon Creek and an undercrossing beneath the railroad tracks
• A secondary access via a proposed J Street, connecting Robinson Ranch Road to the project site

City staff said the applicant is using the state’s density bonus law to reach 341 homes by providing 100% senior housing.

What the virtual tour showed

The virtual tour displayed aerial views from Oak Springs Canyon Road, ridge-top areas, the interior of the proposed development, and locations near the railroad corridor. Staff said development would extend to the toe of slopes, not into ridgelines.

Extension of Lost Canyon Road, including a bridge over Oak Springs Canyon Creek (Sophia Lesseos | KHTS)

Officials also noted that the site contains significant vegetation, including approximately 355 protected oak trees, and that the current plan proposes removing about 16 trees, pending further review.

Public comments

Several residents used the public comment period to raise concerns about traffic, evacuation and the overall scale of the project.

One resident said they wanted to better understand the scope of the Environmental Impact Report and whether it would examine broader traffic impacts in the area.

“To us in the community, the scope is bigger than that corner,” the resident said, noting nearby schools, existing congestion and cut-through traffic from the 14 Freeway.

Another resident questioned how the project grew from earlier figures for fewer than 100 single residential homes to 341 homes and expressed concern about wildfire evacuations.

“My biggest concern is evacuation during fire,” the resident said. “Sand Canyon is the only way that’s really in and out… and I’m very worried about the number of people coming from Belcaro.”

The Planning Commission did not make any formal decision and still needs to review this project at a future meeting. 

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