SIMI VALLEY : Council to Consider Cemetery Proposal

A plan to build 700 dwellings, a cemetery and a public park on the Douglas Ranch in Simi Valley is set for debate before the City Council this evening, but most council members said they already support it.

The proposed Mt. Sinai Memorial Park would fill one of the last two vacancies reserved for cemeteries in Simi Valley. The cemetery would cover 162 acres of the 381-acre site north of the Simi Valley Freeway between Yosemite Avenue and Kuehner Drive.

Other areas of the parcel would be divided between park and open space areas, houses and moderate- to high-density apartments.

Several council members said they would like to tinker with the number of units being proposed near Kuehner, but said they would otherwise support the project. Councilwoman Sandi Webb said she would like to see a cluster of apartments there.

“I think by clustering buildings in that area, we would save more space for oak trees in other areas,” Webb said.

Another issue that needs to be discussed is whether the city has set aside enough cemetery space for the future, Councilwoman Barbara Williamson said. A parcel of land near Madera Road is the only other undeveloped area in the city set aside for a cemetery, city officials said.