Above the Santa Clarita Valley
Best known as the location of the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park, the Santa Clarita Valley is an attractive suburban enclave set among rolling hills and oak trees. As recently as the 1960's, it was a sparsely populated rural area. Having experienced rapid growth for the last few decades, the Valley is now home to over 200,000 residents, with thousands more expected in the coming years.
In 1987, residents of several Valley communities (Canyon Country, Newhall, Sand Canyon, Saugus, and Valencia) came together to support the incorporation of the City of Santa Clarita. While the City continues to govern much of the Valley, several other communities (Agua Dulce, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, and Val Verde) remain in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, where most of the recent growth has occurred.
The City of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County have joined forces to create a joint General Plan for the Santa Clarita Valley called "One Valley, One Vision." While the Valley is divided among two jurisdictions, City and County leaders have recognized that all Valley residents are confronted with similar planning issues. This ambitious effort seeks to create a General Plan containing a common vision for the Valley's future that will shape future development in territories governed by the City and the County.
As a County planner, I've been involved in "One Valley, One Vision" over the last several months. I was invited to join other City and County staff on Thursday's helicopter ride to gain a better understanding of the Santa Clarita Valley and its planning issues.
I've never been in a helicopter before, and I must admit the experience was exciting. As a planner, it was extremely useful to see the Santa Clarita Valley from the air. Not even the 3-D aerial images of Google Earth can compare! I have a new appreciation for the area's urban form and topography that has provided me with an entirely new perspective.
I'd like to share 12 of the 25 photographs I took from the helicopter (click here for the rest):
Photo 1: Above the Angeles National Forest, looking south down Bouquet Canyon. This is a rural area north of the City's boundary.
Photo 2: Above the Angeles National Forest, looking south down Seco Canyon. This is a recently developed area. Note the graded hillsides.
Photo 3: Tesoro del Valle in the foreground (a recently developed area). Beyond Tesoro del Valle is the Valencia Westcreek development, currently being graded.
Photo 4: Above Castaic, looking southeast. Castaic began as a truck stop along Interstate 5 (note businesses at left) but has experienced more residential development in recent years (note subdivisions at right).
Photo 5: Above Val Verde, looking southeast. Val Verde is a rural enclave that began as a community of "vacation homes."
Photo 6: Valencia Commerce Center (an office and light-industrial employment center) in the center, beyond the mountain ridge. Although the Valley is a suburban, residential area, it continues to attract new jobs.
Photos 7 and 8: Above Newhall Ranch, looking east. Located west of Magic Mountain, Newhall Ranch is a master-planned development that will be built over the next 20 years.
Photo 9: Stevenson Ranch in the center, beyond the mountain ridge. Stevenson Ranch is a master-planned community built during the 1990's.
Photo 10: Above Newhall, looking northwest. This photo shows several generations of development in the Valley: Newhall, a community dating to the 1880's, at lower right; Valencia, a master-planned community dating to the 1960's, at center right; Stevenson Ranch, a master-planned community dating to the 1990's, at upper left.
Photo 11: Fair Oaks Ranch in the foreground (under development). Note the grading of hillsides.
Photo 12: Last but not least, a Wal-Mart Supercenter (in the foreground). You know I couldn't resist! The Angeles National Forest is in the background.
posted by Mitch Glaser @ 7:22 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Wow, thank God all that ugly green rurality will be covered with cookie cutter McMansion vomit in the coming years. Lord knows the world has enough Oak Trees.
And just maybe, if we're truly lucky, the God of Irrational Consumerism will plop down a few more of those Wal Mart Super Centers like so much Suburban Sprawl Feces.
We can only hope!
Wow, that is depressing. All those pretty natural areas, gone forever.
Scott
I've been a valley resident long before it was called SCV. I use to mountain bike, hike and hunt in most of those areas that are now flattened and ruined. Well, there is always the mall. Maybe I can spend my way out of my depression. Oh yah, I use to picnic where the mall is now. I think I need a stiff drink or two after seeing this web site!
The County and City aren't nearly as "synced" as you portray them to be. The City has opposed the Newhall Ranch for at least a decade, as has Ventura County.
Stevenson Ranch is home to the county's highest tax generating strip mall- WalMart, Toys R Us, Circuit City, lots of restaurants etc...
No surprise then that Antonovich and the County won't let anything west of the 5 Freeway to join the city. All these developments impact the City's infrastructure.
It's a constant source of debate in the community.
View westranchbeacon.blogspot.com for more info on anti-west side annexation and www.scvtalk.com for some general santa clarita news and debate.
Wow. The vandalization of California continues unabated. All those red tile roof subdivisions for transplanted commuters look like a pile dogshit. Farewell beautiful California. I'll remember you even when the developers are done raping you.
Yeah... building places for people to live, eat and shop really sucks.
Post a Comment
<< Home