The Santa Clarita Planning Commission unanimously approved Tuesday the “fifth alternative” for the Wiley Canyon Mixed-Use Project, with commissioners noting state laws gave them little other option.
The new plans now call for 232 condos in detached, two-story units and 120 assisted living units on about 31 acres between Hawkbryn Avenue and Calgrove Boulevard, just east of Interstate 5.
For decades, the lot was famously the Smiser Mule Farm, which was famous locally in part for its role in pulling Rose Parade floats.
The land has been eyed for a number of different plans since the property was first purchased by a different development company more than two decades ago.
Tom Clark of Royal Clark Development said he worked with the city’s planners, and he appreciated their efforts in addressing all the feedback, which have reduced the project’s construction footprint.
“We have reduced the overall project by about 40% and that’s basically the dwelling units, both the assisted living and in residential,” Clark said, adding that all of the road and other off-site improvements, including trail connectivity, are still a part of the plan. “We agree and support all of staff’s recommendations.”
More specifically, there are expected to be 179 townhomes, 45 detached condos, and eight accessory dwelling units that would attach to the condos in the final plan. The plan presented last year would have brought a 379-unit mixed-use development and a senior living facility with another 217 units.
Some Wiley Canyon residents, particularly north of the project, complained about the potential traffic, while a resident from a neighboring development off Calgrove Boulevard said he heavily supported the development of their nearby roads in his neighborhood, because the current conditions aren’t safe.
Despite the reduction, a handful of residents spoke out against traffic congestion they felt would spring up from the new development.
Planning Commissioner Nathan Keith, who cited experience on such projects as a Tejon Land executive, praised Clark for his willingness to work with the city and the public.
“I do want to commend the applicant on the alternative, because I’ve been a part of a lot of projects … and it’s very rare that an applicant will reduce their project size and go with an alternative that is less than what they propose.”
The residential area of the project was slated for approximately half the property, about 16.5 acres, and the assisted living-commercial area 3.5 acres.
The open space proposed on the site would total approximately 3 acres: 15,000 square feet for recreational amenities, like a community pool; a nearly 2-acre park; 16,850 square feet for the small lot, single-family development private yards; and 8,435 square feet for townhome private yards.
The current plans are a far cry from past proposals for the former Smiser property, a 37-acre plan from then-owner Monteverde Development Co., which called for a 12-story hotel, 750,000 square feet of office space and 800 condos along Calgrove Boulevard, according to a 2007 front-page Signal article.
Under the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, the city is only allowed to have five discussions on a topic before it has to approve a project, which several mentioned Tuesday.
The plan is now considered approved unless an appeal is filed.
