WHAT'S HOT?

This page contains bulletins and links to help concerned citizens impact the planning process for projects and issues vital to the Santa Clarita Valley. It is updated often so you should check in to stay abreast of hearings, meetings, rallys, problems, opportunities.

Why should you participate? Will it matter? See link for SCOPE's view.

If you know of an event not listed here, please email SCOPE with pertinent info and we'll add it ASAP!

Join the Planning and Conservation League Foundation and SCOPE for a workshop on the newly revised COMMUNITY GUIDE TO CEQA Saturday, May 17, 2008

PCLF invites interested individuals, non-profits and agency staff to learn about CEQA with an experienced environmental attorney at its workshop in Santa Clarita:

WHERE: College of the Canyons, Aliso Hall Room #101

26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita

WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 2008

9 AM - 4 PM

FEES: Registration required and is first come, first served and there is a fee* for participants:

$60 Agencies or Businesses

$45 Non-Profit Staff

$35 Community Member

The fee covers the Community Guide and morning coffee. We can provide a box lunch at $12 per person, but it must be purchased when you register. Participants are allowed 30 minutes for lunch.

To purchase a Water Guide add $10 to your registration fee.

Download the flyer (Adobe PDF format, 188K)

Santa Clara River declared endangered by national river organization.In April, 2005 the Santa Clara River was named as one of the most endangered rivers in the United States. A Press Conference was held and Press Kits were made available. As a result, our river received national television, radio and print media coverage. To take action on the Santa Clara River Endangermant issues click here.

RIVERPARK - Approved by the City Council on May 24th, 2005: Lennar/Newhall's 1000-home "Panhandle" project is also known by the misnomer, "Riverpark." This project is along a proposed extension of Newhall Ranch Road east of Bouquet Canyon Road, and will push development into the historical flow of the Santa Clara River. Several groups filed suit on May 24, 2005.

PANHANDLE PROJECT MAY BRING TOXIC "HITCHHIKER"


	In a letter to The Signal, reader Alan Shah points out a hidden danger in the seemingly innocuous Cross Valley Connector, a proposed highway that would bisect the valley from the 5/126 interchange to the 14 freeway in Canyon Country, crossing the Santa ClaraRiver. This roadway is a "carrot" being held out to the City in exchange for positive consideration of the proposed "Riverpark" development, which would destry a significant portion of the last remaining unchanneled portion of the river through the City. Watch this website for more information about Riverpark, also called the Panhandle project. In the meantime, consider that despite the convenience of a cross-valley roadway, there is a hidden danger in the proposed transportation of nuclear waste right through the center of our city, adjacent to homes and our river. Click on the page at left to read this thought-provoking letter which connects the dots from Riverpark to Cross-Valley to nuclear waste. (Adobe PDF format)

NEWHALL RANCH: The Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with the California Fish and Game department, is reviewing Lennar/Newhall's "404 Permit" and preparing environmental review documents, which are required for grading in the riverbed. You heard right, "grading in the riverbed." This is the first and most destructive step in the process of permanently altering the Santa Clara River in order to let the Newhall Ranch development get even closer to the water's edge.Click here for more background info on the permit.


A view up the river approximately where a 4-lane road (an extension of Wolcott Way south) and bridge would serve later phases of Newhall Ranch.


	Another view from the Newhall Ranch site, looking east from the future extension of Chiquito Canyon Road southward from Route 126, which would then connect to Pico Canyon Road/Lyons Ave extension in Stevenson Ranch.

Regular Meetings:

City of Santa Clarita -- The City is responsible for planning decisions within it's boundaries only. Most new development is occurring in the canyons beyond city limits, and to the west. Both of these regions are under County jurisdiction. The City can lobby the County on these issues, however, even if they are not part of the formal decision-making process.
City Council --meets second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30pm at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Bl, Council Chambers. Televised live on local cable channel 20 (SCVTV)

City Planning Commission --meets first and third Tuesdays at 7pm at City Hall 23920 Valencia Bl, Council Chambers.

County of Los Angeles The County is responsible for planning in all areas of thee Santa Clarita Valley that are not within the City boundary. This encompasses the Westridge and Newhall Ranch project areas, and also many of the developments that reach up our outlying canyons such as Elsemere, Bouquet, and San Francisquito.
Board of Supervisors --meets Tuesdays at 9:30am at Hall of Admin (500 W. Temple St., downtown LA)

Regional Planning Commission --meets Wednesdays at 9:30am at Hall of Record (320 W. Temple St., downtown LA)

SCOPE --meets third Thursday of month at 7pm. Call (661) 255-6899 or email SCOPE for location.
Water Issues

Castaic Lake Water Agency --meets every second Wednesday of the month at the Rio Vista Plant (27234 Bouquet Canyon Road)
Newhall County Water District
Santa Clarita Water Company
Valencia Water Company
LA County Water Works District # 36

How to Participate:

Attend the meeting -- County meetings are held during the day, while City meetings are in the evenings. Often members carpool downtown for County meetings. Typically there is a limited portion of the meeting where the public is allowed to speak, and you are limited to 2 minutes at City meetings, and sometimes a little more at County meetings. They will accept handouts at the start of your time. Large posters or banners are prohibited inside at most meetings, but cannot be prohibited outside. The press is often present before and after major meetings downtown, so leave time to speak to them if you wish that additional forum.
Call, fax, or email your representative -- This can wither be to inform, or in the case of the City Council, the members will often read your (short) letter during the public participation portion if you ask specifically that it be done.
Contact the press -- The Daily News, the Signal, the Sun, and the LA Times and it's offshoot Our Times all provide local coverage with varying degrees of interest, accuracy and prejudice.