Verdugo Hills Golf Course Update

A couple of weeks ago, I took the opportunity to attend a Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council meeting. I was interested in the presentations related to 6433 La Tuna Canyon Road, the former Verdugo Hills Golf Course property. Many in attendance expressed sadness at the loss of recreational space and frustration that the large housing project was still moving forward despite serious concerns and a flawed process.

Since 2004, when Snowball West Investments LP, et al “the developer,” acquired the property and outlined its plan to build a substantial housing tract (or retail center), the community loudly voiced its opposition and threw up roadblocks.  One of the original plans called for a private, gated community on 57.45 acres with 229 single-family residences, 1800-2700 square feet in size, four-five bedrooms each. Clearly this type of density would strain the current infrastructure and push more vehicles onto roads never designed for heavy traffic.

Due to the resulting groundswell of public opposition to the project, the STNC, elected officials, historical groups and volunteer organizations got to work to resolve the matter. At that point, the developer was willing to make certain concessions in the plan or sell the property outright for top dollar, if a nonprofit or municipal entity stepped forward to purchase it. However, no money poured in other than some seed money from the county supervisor’s office. Funds from Proposition O, a clean water bond, were sought as a way to keep the valuable open space, establishing a storm water reclamation project, but the nomination was never approved. Then in 2013, the City of Los Angeles awarded the property location Historic Cultural Monument status, recognizing Tuna Canyon Detention Station, a WWII Japanese/German/Italian internment camp as historically significant. The developer reluctantly agreed to give space for a monument in a grove of oaks but sued the City of Los Angeles to force it to remove the designation. This case is still pending.

Now that the golf course is closed and showing signs of neglect, the project has evolved to perhaps its final compromise. The developer is willing to reduce the number of houses further to either 215 or 169, if compensated for some of the natural land that will become dirt trails behind the tract. Nonprofit funds have been identified and an agreement is currently being negotiated that may allow this to happen.

My question is – does this compromise represent a net gain to the community?  At the meeting, the developer showed the attendees an ultra-modern housing plan, now 1900-2200 square feet, three-four bedrooms each. Main access to the private streets was on La Tuna Canyon Road with some houses having direct driveway access to Tujunga Canyon Boulevard. A secondary entrance at Pali Avenue would sport a new lighted signal. The Tuna Canyon Detention Station monument was identified but likely to have limited public access.

Sadly, these parcels of land may never see full recreational use again, but there is a chance that this project can still be stopped. To date, the developer has not been able to change the property zoning to a code that will allow the type of density it needs to build it, RD-5, with a small lot subdivision overlay. Most of the property is currently zoned A1-1 that allows only one house per five acres or RA-1 that allows one house per 17,500 square feet. Keeping the zoning as is would substantially change the scope of the project or kill it for good. We can only hope that the City of Los Angeles will agree that this property is vital recreational and historic space and should be protected.

Watch the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council website at stnc.org for an announcement of an upcoming zoning hearing. I encourage anyone to attend who feels strongly about keeping open space for future generations. This may be the last chance to change the course – of the golf course.

Susan Bolan

susanbolan710@gmail.com

  Susan BOLAN