Foothill/Peck roads hillside development to be focus of study session
January 29, 2016
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A development in the works for more than a decade that has raised questions and concerns from nearby residents will be the subject of a City Council study session February 16.
At the January 19 meeting the council was updated on efforts of Del Financial—Anderson—Hagaman to garner approval to build 79 single-family homes at the northwest corner of Peck and Foothill roads, a proposal that has increasingly brought objections to area residents.
Following the public hearing of November 16 the council, which noted concerns of area residents, asked that the item be continued to the January 19 meeting.
Planning Director Janna Minsk told the council that staff has met several times with the applicant to discuss concerns raised by the council and the public.
According to Minsk’s written report, “Staff provided several suggestions to the applicant, which the applicant team is analyzing, including downsizing the project size by eliminating lots along the northern property line, preparing visual simulations of the site and the proposed road improvements to Foothill Road, and conducting a study session with the council to further discuss possible project revisions prior to continuing the public hearing.”
The applicants “Requested to have a study session,” then schedule a hearing when the possibly abridged project would be ready to be considered by the council.
Several council members asked if the study session would be separate from the latter consideration of the project.
City Attorney John Cotti said the study session would provide an opportunity outside council meeting parameters to “see public concern and the applicant’s responses…”
Then any changes would be incorporated into the project and re-noticed for a future hearing.
A Planning Commission majority approved the 32-acre project in April.
The steep hillside parcel, now unincorporated county land, must be annexed into the city; aside from the 79 homes in the original plan is a three-acre public park, walking trails and five acres of open space.
Development of the parcel was approved by voters in 2003 but never built due to the death of developer Scott Anderson, the real estate crash and numerous studies required before construction.
At numerous hearings members of the public have voiced a variety of questions and concerns ranging from traffic impacts to air quality issues resulting from grading and the thousands of truck trips required to move 750,000 cubic yards of dirt; water availability and geotechnical issues have also been questioned.
Among the responses of the developer is that construction will stabilize the hillside as well as eliminate flooding that comes with each rainstorm.
The study session will be held Tuesday, February 16 at 5 p.m. at City Hall. The council meeting that follows the study session — moved one day due to the President’s Day holiday — will start at 6:30 p.m.
