Wide Open Space Plan
I recently received a newsletter in the mail titled “Official City Information about the Proposed Open Space Preservation District”. I’ve had this sitting in my ‘things to do’ pile and just got around to reading it. I figure everybody got this, but incase you lost it, here’s a synopsis.
The city wants to create a ‘greenbelt’ around the city. They want to be able to purchase new parkland (open space) before developers get there claws hands on it. In order to achieve this, they need money. Don’t we all? Anyway, they are hoping to get about 1.5 million a year from property owners to fund this OSPD (Open Space Preservation District). This fund will be monitored by the City Council and audited annually to insure that the money is indeed being used for its intended purpose.
Here are some ‘Fast Facts’ that were in the newsletter.
-
The approximate cost per property owner is $25. This amount can increase no more than $1 per year and only with City Council’s approval, following a public hearing.
Purpose is to have an open space, Natural Park around the city.
The OSPD would sunset in 30 years.
Open space and parkland would make up 90% of the land purchased. The other 10% would be recreational.
Over 50% of the ballots cast need to be in favor of the OSPD in order for it to be approved.
Ballots were mailed 5/25 and must be returned to the City Clerk by 7/10/07 to be counted.
This sounds great I guess, but there are people who oppose it. I drove by the corner of McBean and Valencia the other day and there were people standing there with signs that said ‘We voted NO last year, vote NO again this year’.
For more information you can go here:
Community Information Meeting
20850 Centre Pointe Parkway
Santa Clarita Activities Center
Rooms A&B
7pm-8:30pm
Thursday, June 21
Or
