CITY COUNCIL LOOKS AT SIGNS, CONSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC MEASURES.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

The city's sign ordinance, traffic controls, development and other items were reviewed Tuesday night by the Santa Clarita City Council and the city Planning Commission.

Here are some highlights:

A proposed subsidy program to offset city sign variance fees was continued to the next council meeting on Oct. 12 for further discussion.

The program would provide $415 toward the application fee for a city variance to keep existing, nonconforming signs after the ordinance takes effect Nov. 13. A second subsidy of $1,040 would help offset a business owner's cost to appeal administrative decisions on variance requests.

The council clarified some changes in the sign ordinance to make it easier to understand.

The council at its Sept. 14 meeting approved the amendment's general parameters that allow businesses to apply for variances and place lighted business signs along the Golden State Freeway with council approval.

Plans were approved to proceed with a funding and construction agreement reached Aug. 4 with the William S. Hart Union High School District and Santa Clarita Valley Facilities Foundation. The City Council declared its intent to establish a business park district within the proposed Golden Valley development for the purposes of taxation. Members also resolved to declare their intention to incur up to $33 million in bonded indebtedness for the business park project.

Members approved a new left-turn prohibition in the northbound lane on Bouquet Canyon Road at the median opening in front of the Best Buy driveway in Bouquet Canyon Plaza. Motorists are prohibited from making the left-hand turn between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

The council directed staff members to investigate traffic safety along Pamplico Drive near Foster Elementary School and any need for traffic calming measures.

Members approved the proposal to build a Millennium Time Capsule for less than $5,000 to be placed at the base of the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station Bell Tower in Newhall in January 2000 during the station's opening ceremony.

Tim Burkhart was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission.

At Tuesday night's Planning Commission meeting:

Members recommended approval of a 1,900-home development and annexation proposed in North Valencia and forwarded the project to the City Council for final approval. The commissioners approved the measure in a 4-1 vote, with Darla Hoback dissenting.