Simi Valley Officials Approve Plan for 250-House Marr Ranch Project

Despite objections from neighboring landowners who fear their hillside views will be ruined, the City Council has approved plans for construction of the 250-house Marr Ranch subdivision in Simi Valley’s eastern hills.

The council voted 5 to 0 to approve an environmental impact report that was 12 years in the making, and passed conditions on road access, landscaping and tree preservation that developer Robert Friedman must meet before he can finish building.

Friedman must return to the council with completed building plans for final approval before construction can begin.

The vote on the environmental report came Monday night after a long discussion of three alternative plans drafted by Friedman.

Last month, the council reviewed one plan, under which Friedman would have built the development around the base of a 100-foot-high knoll and across the bottom of a ravine that he proposed to fill in.

But when neighboring homeowners complained the plan would violate Simi Valley’s hillside protection ordinance, the council asked Friedman to redraw his plan to avoid filling in the ravine or grading any hilltops.

Friedman returned Monday with two plans that essentially preserved the ravine--each would comply with the ordinance--but they also would put nine new houses atop the knoll in plain view of existing homes.

City engineers recommended the city reject the alternatives and stick with the original design.

When council members seemed to lean toward the original plan, neighboring homeowner Harry VanDyck accused them of favoring “the least of three evils.”

“But I don’t believe that is your intention,” he said. “I believe the applicant can make this project work without stepping on our collective toes. It may result in less profits for him, but a somewhat better project for all concerned.”

Other neighbors worried aloud that the project could set a precedent allowing other developers to violate the hillside ordinance by finding ways to build on slopes steeper than 20%.

There are “hundreds of homes that might be built in a 20% hillside area, if we twist and turn the hillside performance standards to get this project done,” said neighbor Tim Hodge.

However, Assistant City Atty. Stephen Millich said approving the project would not set a precedent because the council considers all such projects on a case-by-case basis.

And several council members said they would rather see Friedman fill in and flatten out the 30-foot-deep, 200-by-500-foot ravine than building nine houses at the top of the ridgeline above it.

“The intent of the ordinance is not to build on the hillside,” said Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Williamson.

The council approved Friedman’s plan under the conditions that:

* Friedman find ways to save several old Valley oak trees before the city will issue a permit to begin grading. The council agreed to hold a public hearing on any plans to replace trees that he must remove to make way for roads.

* Crazy Horse Drive be closed with an electronic gate to prevent it from becoming a major artery until Flanagan Drive is extended 1,000 feet to join the new development.

* Friedman pay a $150,000 deposit into a city trust fund to cover an estimated 30% of the building costs for the Flanagan Drive extension. The rest would be paid for by the city if the neighboring Bob Hope Ranch is not developed or by the new developers if it is.