PANEL RAISES CONCERNS OVER PROPOSED DEAL ON METROLINK STATION.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer Fearing that the city is getting a bum 1. bum - To make highly efficient, either in time or space, often at the expense of clarity. "I managed to bum three more instructions out of that code." "I spent half the night bumming the interrupt code. deal, the city Planning city planning, process of planning for the improvement of urban centers in order to provide healthy and safe living conditions, efficient transport and communication, adequate public facilities, and aesthetic surroundings. Commission is raising questions about changes made to a proposed development agreement for the 3,000-home Porta Bella project. Planning Commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle chairwoman Linda Townsley is expected to bring the commission's concerns before the council tonight at its regular meeting, starting at 6 p.m. in council chambers at 23290 Valencia Blvd. The inch-thick document has undergone several changes since the planning commission recommended approval in September. The commission is concerned about arrangements for the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Metrolink Station, which it wants the developer to provide free of charge, effective April 1. Under the revised development agreement, the city can buy the $2.5 million site during a three-year lease term starting April 21. If the developer, Northholme Partners, records a final tract map for the project before the city buys the land, it will deed the site to the city. If the city buys the land, the developer must reimburse re·im·burse tr.v. re·im·bursed, re·im·burs·ing, re·im·burs·es 1. To repay (money spent); refund. 2. To pay back or compensate (another party) for money spent or losses incurred. the city for the full cost whenever the first final tract map is recorded. Under such a deal, the planning commission said the city stands to lose more than $2.5 million because the project may never be developed. "If this were in front of the planning commission now it wouldn't get approved," Townsley said, adding, "We're very disappointed with the development agreement as it stands. We're asking them to reconsider re·con·sid·er v. re·con·sid·ered, re·con·sid·er·ing, re·con·sid·ers v.tr. 1. To consider again, especially with intent to alter or modify a previous decision. 2. approving it." The development agreement would give Northholme Partners guaranteed approvals of its development in return for financing projects that would benefit the city, such as building major roads or donating land. Northholme Partners wants to build homes, a school and office buildings on 996 acres south of Soledad Canyon Soledad Canyon is a long narrow canyon / valley located in Los Angeles County, California between the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Soledad Canyon contains the localities of Vincent, Acton, Ravenna, and Agua Dulce. Road on the former Bermite munitions mu·ni·tion n. War materiel, especially weapons and ammunition. Often used in the plural. tr.v. mu·ni·tioned, mu·ni·tion·ing, mu·ni·tions To supply with munitions. factory property. City officials said the revised agreement gives them a temporary bus storage facility much sooner than called for under the old deal. "We asked for an earlier promise of a bus terminal," said city planning director Rich Henderson. "We really wanted that and when you ask for something additional, negotiations increase." Under the initial agreement, the city would not have received a bus maintenance facility until 10 or 15 years from its start, Henderson said. Now the city receives a temporary site as soon as the area, undergoing hazardous toxic cleanup, is deemed safe for occupancy. But Townsley said the $2.5 million could better be spent on other items, such as roads and parks. |
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