Tensions ran high at Santa Clarita City Hall Tuesday evening after city council members unanimously denied the construction of the Sand Canyon Resort with prejudice during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Preceded by much controversy among Santa Clarita residents and a recent rejection from the Santa Clarita Planning Commission, the Sand Canyon Resort was denied by the city council on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the Santa Clarita City Council denied the proposed Sand Canyon Resort with prejudice, meaning the organizer can propose a similar project after a 12-month period, according to Santa Clarita City Attorney Joseph Montes.

On Tuesday evening, over 50 speakers addressed the Santa Clarita City Council face-to-face to voice their opinions, with almost equal sides in both support and opposition.

“We had a speaker that came and stood up here tonight and said ‘maybe you can do something, but should you?’” said Santa Clarita Council Member Jason Gibbs during the meeting. “I ask that question because I do think it’s important down the road about what the council has authority to do. Do I think (the project) is a good idea? No.”

Gibbs as well as Marsha McLean, Cameron Smyth and Mayor Pro Temp West, all members of the council, opposed the project due to violations of open-space and limited evacuation routes during natural disasters.

Santa Clarita Mayor Bill Miranda supported the initial push for the project, but ultimately decided to deny the proposal.

“I’m going to be the guy that nobody’s going to like,” Miranda said. “I honor the fact that you live in a special district, but you are not being realistic. The way I see it, that’s a project within your community that you will be proud of in the long haul.”

Almost four hours of public input proceeded the final decision. Residents expressed key concerns including safety and the impact of rezoning — which would have to occur for the resort to be built — would have on the semi-rural community.

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“During the Sand Fire, only one lane was left and I was one of the last to leave the canyon,” said 33-year Sand Canyon resident Dave Hauser.

Not only is the project predicted to cause major traffic impact and environmental impact, but the potential implementation of the Sand Canyon Resort would also be in violation of the Grant of Open Space “in perpetuity” or “forever,” which promised homeowners open space around their homes in the area where the Sand Canyon Resort was expected to be built.

“We are now on the precipice of being betrayed,” President of the Sand Canyon Community Association Ruthann Levison said in a previous KHTS article. “If the City were to allow a new owner to ignore the zoning in our area and change any of the open space golf courses to community commercial, that would be a complete betrayal to our community. Not only to our community but to any community or resident in our City of Santa Clarita.”

In an effort to appeal to the residents of the Sand Canyon community, organizers with the Sand Canyon Resort proposed additional project enhancements including:

• Allocation of at least $1.5 million towards the completion of the Sand Canyon Trail
• 72-acres of open space dedicated to the City
• Limited resort activities beyond recreational golfing
• The design and construction of emergency access through Oak Springs Canyon Road

The decision to limit resort activities came after concern during a Santa Clarita Planning Commission Meeting in February that the proposed hotel rooms and villas looked similar to apartments and town homes, and that the property could be turned into residences that could further affect traffic and evacuation issues down the line.

The proposal of designating Oak Springs Canyon Road as a potential evacuation route further prompted concern from the community as the road was created as private property for residential use.

With these changes, the Santa Clarita Planning Commission received over 244 letters in opposition and 33 letters in support of the build before officially denying the project in July, according to the Santa Clarita Planning Commission.

Those in support of the Sand Canyon Resort argued that an up-scale venue to host weddings and gatherings as well as house relatives would not only put Santa Clarita on the map as a well-known destination, but also bring jobs and a stimulated economy to the community.

“I’m in support of the Sand Canyon Resort because it will bring jobs to this valley as well as tax revenue,” resident Robert Koons said during the meeting. “I believe that this resort will be able to sustain itself  not only from  outside customers, but locals as well.”

Officials with Bridge to Home as well as the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce also spoke in support of the project with backing from an environmental zoning report, but the public continued to speculate the logistics of the project.

The original Sand Canyon Resort plans would expand the existing Sand Canyon Country Club to add a three-story hotel with 241 rooms, a wedding hall, 23 villas, restaurants, a spa, a minigolf course and other amenities to the facility.

Due to heavy public opposition, the designs have since changed to remove the planned Oak Villas and detention basin in an effort to dedicate more open space to the City of Santa Clarita and save various oak trees on the property.

As a Special Standards District, current zoning requirements state that further developments in the area must “maintain, preserve and enhance the rural and equestrian character of Sand Canyon,” according to the City municipal code.

The project has been denied by the Santa Clarita City Council, but organizers with the project are eligible to return to city hall after a 12-month period to support a similar project, according to Montes.

To watch the full meeting, click here.

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