COMMISSIONERS EXPECTED TO SIGN OFF ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

After making sure they've dotted every i and crossed every t, the Planning Commission is expected Tuesday to recommend approval of a 1,900-home development and annexation proposed in North Valencia.

The Newhall Land & Farming Co.'s North Valencia II project is a proposed mixed-use development that would accommodate 5,700 residents, create more than 560 retail jobs and contain a new junior high school site. During numerous meetings, planners have worked to preserve the San Francisquito Creek, groundwater supply and open space.

``They've gone through this plan with a fine-tooth comb,'' said city planner Jeff Lambert. ``It's reached the point where we're expecting them to take action.''

The special meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Century Room at City Hall for commissioners to review preliminary agreements before signing off on the project, Lambert said.

Most recently the Planning Commission and city staff hammered out a proposed development agreement with Newhall Land.

The city would receive from Newhall Land 56.4 acres of San Francisquito Creek upland preserve, plus constructed walking and multi-use trails to the east and west of the creek; the construction of Decoro Drive Bridge; four pedestrian bridges; water features and public art at the proposed commercial center; intersection improvements; and all tree-lined streets.

Another high point of negotiations was Newhall Land agreeing to build and donate to the city a 15.9-acre park that will include a playground, softball field and lighted tennis courts, along with connectors to city trail systems and lighted concrete walkways.

The nearly 600-acre site in the unincorporated territory between Copper Hill Drive, San Francisquito Creek and Newhall Ranch Road would be developed into 1,900 residential homes, 210,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and a 20-acre school site. More than 200 acres of open space would be preserved.

Many of the agreements that Newhall Land and city planners reached address issues that residents raised throughout the public hearing process.

Planners ordered mitigations to preserve San Francisquito Creek, which snakes along a 2-mile path from Newhall Ranch Road to Copper Hill Drive.

The City Council is expected to begin its public review of the Planning Commission's recommendation at its Oct. 26 meeting.

Newhall Land's development proposal requires the city's approval, while the Local Agency Formation Commission would have final say over its annexation.

The 1,054-acre annexation application includes the 596-acre North Valencia II and the new 457-acre North Park residential development, which is adjacent to the city's northern border and east of North Valencia II.

The state Board of Education would have to approve the final site selection for Rio Norte Junior High.