Charrette – Day 4
September 28, 2006
The noon session was a presentation on Municipal Codes and the components of placemaking into streets, blocks and individual lots. The problem is that Municipal Codes place an emphasis on regulation by use with a limited usage allowed or single-use zoning rather than encouraging creative solutions. The usual discussion on zoning centers on how many units per acre rather than how the uses can be mingled per acre.
When the evening presentation was displayed, it was denser than many of us had been prepared for. There were green belts, a small equestrian area, a soccer field and a baseball diamond. But the combination of homes and businesses were more plentiful that the individual discussions had indicated. The traffic solution has not yet been worked out.
During the discussion period, Dr. Winger, Newhall School District Superintendent, indicated he was disappointed that no school site had been set aside. While the District has its maintenance yards in the project area, the site cannot be expanded to the 10-acre site desirable for school sites.
A Placerita resident
indicated concern about the Special Standards District. We have been told by
city officials that the Specific Plan overlays the Special Standards District
and would not change it. Many residents are concerned the project, both in the
type of usage and the density of construction, would lead to other incursions
on our “rural equestrian lifestyle.” Stafanos Polyzoides, a principal of the
urban planning team, indicated that, while
This is not the end of the
process. There will be another workshop in October to give the final results of
the Charrette and to present results of the traffic study. In the meantime, we
can make suggestions via the City’s website. There will be another Discovery
Workshop; it will probably be in October, but the date was not yet posted on
the Santa Clarita website. Then an EIR will be performed.
Valerie Thomas
Board Member
PCPOA