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The Santa Clarita City Council approved the proposed 375-home Bouquet Canyon Project in Saugus during their regular meeting Tuesday.
During their regular meeting Tuesday, the Santa Clarita City Council voted unanimously to approve the Bouquet Canyon Project in Saugus.
City Councilman Bob Kellar had recused himself from the subject due to his conflict of interest with his real estate company.
“I’m not opposed to the project, I just have a few concerns,” said Councilmemeber Marsha McLean regarding the Bouquet Creek and excess runoff water in the floodplain. “Why is it necessary to divide Bouquet Creek?”
The applicant who was able to call in to the meeting, and explained that the Bouquet Plan design “may not be preferred,” but is the most efficient, safest design for flood water in the event of an emergency.
After deliberation, several changes were made to the proposal to make it agreeable to the city council, including striking the “if feasible” wording when referring to disturbing trees during birds’ nesting seasons.
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 City Council, it was not without setbacks. Several residents have voiced their opposition to the project over the past several months
“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, during an Oct. 7 Planning Commission meeting. “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 Santa Clarita Planning 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.
Then, during their regular meeting on Oct. 7, the Santa Clarita Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the Bouquet Canyon Project under three conditions related to handicap access to electric vehicle charging stations, a playground for children and pet waste facilities.
Commissioner Renee Berlin expressed concern at the time 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 impacted and rerouted, especially in relation to man-made channels and how choosing the proper type could impact the recharging of 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,” Masnada said at the time. “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.”
For all of the changes made to the proposal, the full city council meeting can be viewed here.
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I wonder what kinda kickbacks they get???
I’m with you !! When is the out of control building going to stop. They are ruining thus nice community. We are now looking at getting out of here in the next few years. The uncontrolled building a disgusting!!!
Stop the building!! You are ruining my his nice community!!!!
Obliviously those that approved this horrible project aren’t on the road around 5-5:30am and 4-6pm because Bouquet is flooded with morning and evening commuters. Lets put water and a creek aside for the moment. What hours will you be moving a mountain? This town has been flooded with traffic year after year and this will just add to it. Several residents? Try 90% don’t want this in Saugus.
I wonder what kind of kick-backs these city officials get. There’s no good reason for this.
Obviously the council did not pay attention to those concerned about the project’s impact on multiple fronts, not the least of which is the traffic and the watershed. I routinely travel Vasquez Cyn. to Bouquet Cyn. and when Vasquez was closed the I spent an hour traveling to work -each way- instead of the usual 30 minutes. Closing Bouquet Cyn; already inadequate for the present traffic, will push people onto Copper Hill or send them down Sierra Hwy. and across Soledad Cyn. or Golden Valley. all roads already heavily impacted by traffic at all times of the day. Regarding Bouquet Creek it is a blue line active water shed and creek connecting with the Santa Clara river bed; when the dam up that canyon is full the water is released down that creek, I remember a time when the creek overflowed onto the road effectively closing Bouquet Cyn. for several days. Realigning and splitting the water shed will not help if a condition arises requiring water to be released from the dam. And not to be a Debbie-downer but we should not forget the St Francis Dam disaster; even if it happen 100 years ago. . .
I’m seeing so many negative comments from across the board on social media about this project…from serious concerns about traffic to jokes about kickbacks…and yet we voted to return Mayor Smyth and add a mini Bob Kellar to the board, instead of real change. You reap what you sow…
I voted against the incumbents as we need new people in our city council instead of the same people every year!
I agree..
Well my last reply wasn’t posted as I said something about our city council which wasn’t taken too well about this project that shouldn’t have been approved.
As EVERYONE whom has posted prior to me has the same response, this project is going to screw up traffic like its never been before on Bouquet. Where’s the water coming from?
My work partner lives within 100 feet of Bouquet and David Way and he and ALL of his neighbors appose this project but our great city council whom I voted against in this election decided to approve to the benefit of their own.
Any of us that live in the area of this unwanted project are going to be affected by the noise, mess and traffic.
Thank you Santa Clarita City Council for not thinking of us, the people that put you in office!
PS to KHTS, what happened to our freedom of speech? Since my last post regarding this project was removed because I said something someone didn’t like…
I hear you negative posts are not allowed. Money hungry people are all for more expansion. Where is the Sierr club when you need them. Our wildlife is continuing to be pushed out. Creeks getting concreted in, and that is a natural waterway that is not supposed to be touched or diverted. Oak trees will be cut down and there is a protective law that you can not cut the tree down. If you have an oak tree on your property you can’t as the city won’t allow you. Double edged sword.
I can’t believe they voted to concrete the Creek. There was an alternative that would save the oaks, the ridge line and the creek, but they didn’t even ask about it. Probably never read the EIR. No concrete has been put in our river and streams since Newhall Land illegally concreted the lower part of the creek in the ’90s. We need to get rid of these people!
Never seen a ridge line they didn’t cut down or a tract on open land they didn’t approve. Sad that more open land falls to development in Santa Clarita leading to more traffic less natural area and another betrayal of our founding fathers and mothers vision and reason for city-hood. It’s a shame.
This just is NOT right to be approved. Water is an issue again, water flooding is a big issue and changing natural water ways, the oak trees ? and our precious wildlife is environmentally disaster for all concerned. Let me guess again no trees will be cut down and the talk of open space, where? Any little piece of open space is being built upon. The population of SCV at 215,000 is already false it’s well above 325,000 including all of the west side of the 5 freeway. There is so much traffic now that it takes a good 25 min if not more to get across town. This was approved yet no special dedication in remembrance of the victims in the Saugus high school shooting. That is sad. Our city is over populated.
When the city of Santa Clarita was proposed and approved by voters. it was in response to the uncontrolled building that the LA County board was approving in the area. The battle cry then was “Stop Ruining Our Valley”, “Stop housing developments”, and “Save the Santa Clara River”. How far the town council has drifted from that ideal. I live outside of the city limits and I’m unable to vote in the council elections and yet I also feel the effects of their decisions . . .