It’s a rare moment when 8 neighborhoods, many built generations ago, get thrust
into a situation where they are faced with a life changing proposition such as the Avenue. Not so rare is the spirit of those
who live in those areas who have that patriotic instinct to protect where they live and expel those ideas that threaten their
quality of life. That’s in part, what lead those to set out and colonize the new world and we’ve been doing it
ever since.
The Avenue, as colorful as it is, would have been like a moth in
beautiful wool suit, eventually eating away at the quaint uniqueness and quiet family atmosphere in our little town of Newhall.
With nerves quaking for some and sweaty palms for others (but with confidence) dozens of Claritans came to city hall and participated
in democracy and petitioned for the protection of the neighborhoods they own. This is what we do as responsible home owners,
parents, neighbors, and friends. This is called taking ownership and that is how we’ll insure the integrity of the most
important place we have in the world, a place called home.
We all understand
development is vital to our growth and viability, however, projects like these are a direct assault on all that we know as
good and proper land use in areas that are abundantly populated by bedroom neighborhoods. We have a vital need to include
residents in the way land will be used in the future by implementing City/Citizen work shops where we can all come together
over a map and gather the acceptable desires of local residents, developers, city planners, with staff, and have true collaborative
communication about how we can build a better future for our last remaining buildable areas in Santa Clarita. This will:
1. Insure that good plans remain intact over time.
2. Reduce the likelihood of contentious battles before councils and planning commissions.
3. speed the development process and reduce the cost of good projects.
4.
Increase the quality of planning.
5. It will then enhance the general sense
of community and trust in government.
That said, Jay Rogers and Jeff Lambert
are not off the hook yet. We are glad to hear the word suspension but it could mean any number of things, however, we know
the residents had much to do with this decision. In this case a suspension is only
a brief retraction. Never the less, Mr. Rogers could be looking for a way out, looking
for a new Lobbyist, restructuring a perfectly appropriate project that will be respectful to the nature of our area, or he’s
pulling a trick to gain millionaire sympathy. Any of those options will be suitable except the last one of course. I'm
sure in a 60-90 day period we will see a resubmitted project unless the Roger's decide it's not worth it and abandon
their holdings in the project. We will stay perched on our lookouts for what happens next and we will remain respectful players
in the second inning in the game of growth in Newhall.
We have wonderful private
contributers to public service like the Calgrove Corridor Coalition, Pauline & Duane Harte, Dave Gauni of Smart growth
SCV, TimBen Boydston, Alan Ferdman founder of the Canyon Country Advisory Committee, and yes - even Jeff from scvTalk.
These are a few among a crowd of great people working to build a better place to live. Pauline and her husband have spent
a long time tirelessly serving our valley for years who we all should take lessons from.
When it comes to public participation and political inclusion, As the old proverb says, “Tell me I forget.
Show me, I remember. Involve me, I understand.”
One giant step we can
take as a city is to involve the people in decisions that will change our landscape. Not battle them because they didn't
know what was going to happen.
Dave Bosset form the West Ranch Beacon has a good article about this issue
Until next time, take care.
