Developers say they will delay grading of Runkle Canyon

Steve Sojka Home builders KB Homes and Lennar Homes have agreed to delay the grading of their Runkle Canyon property until the City Council can have its scientific data on the site reviewed by state and federal agencies.

The city manager's office sent out letters last week to three agencies-two state, one federal-asking that they reevaluate the Environmental Impact Review provided to the City Council before it voted to approve the project in 2004, as well as the data provided by various Runkle Canyon opponents.

KB and Lennar plan to build 461 homes on 10 percent of the 1,500acre property, leaving the remainder as open space. The community is to be called Runkle Ranch.

That property-which was scheduled for grading this winter- has come under scrutiny in recent weeks because of its close proximity to the now-defunct Santa Susana Field Laboratory. A study released Oct. 5 provided scientific evidence of a link between contamination at the former Rocketdyne testing site and a high rate of cancer in communities in the nearby San Fernando Valley.

Councilmember Steve Sojka announced the home builders' decision to delay grading during Monday's council meeting and took the opportunity to defend the city's response to concerns over the Runkle Canyon development.

"I just want to tell the public that we're looking at everything, especially when it comes to Runkle Ranch," Sojka said.

"We're actually asking (these agencies) to come and look at all the issues these residents brought up, because certainly we don't want to be grading and putting up homes there if there is a problem. But again, backing up, logic tells us and science tells us from the EIR that everything is safe up there."

The three agencies the city has contacted are the Environmental Protection Agency, the state Department of Health Services and the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Sojka was one of three City Council members who went on a tour of the old Rocketdyne testing site last week at the behest of the Boeing Co., which now owns the property.

"I got to hear their side of the story . . . they gave me two and a half hours of information that basically refuted all the allegations from the Runkle Ranch group," he said.

Councilmember Barbra Williamson said the most vivid memory of her Rocketdyne tour was the former field laboratory's current state of inactivity.

"It was real interesting . . . how desolate it looks up there," she said. "I'm sure it was an active beehive in the '50s and '60s, but it looks like it's getting to the point where they're trying to close it down."

During the discussion, Councilmember Glen Becerra suggested that the city set up on its website a link to all the latest news dealing with Runkle Canyon, so that interested residents can stay current with what's going on.

"They could click on and see what letters we've sent out and see what responses we've gotten back," Becerra said. "And put them in chronological order so (they) can see what was sent out when."

The council agreed, and after the meeting Assistant City Manager Laura Behjan said the link would be up on the website within the week.

When the three contacted agencies will respond to the city's request remains uncertain. But what is certain is that no bulldozers will be active in Runkle Canyon until the answers come back, said Mayor Paul Miller.

"(The home builders) understand the importance of not moving ahead until everything has been looked at and it's been determined that there is nothing up there that is going to be toxic if and when the grading starts-so that's a good thing," Miller said.

Holly Huff, a Simi Valley resident who's been an outspoken opponent of Boeing and the Runkle Canyon project, said she was pleased to hear the latest news from the council, but remains skeptical as to what the request for information will reveal.

"It is very gratifying to see that the Simi Valley City Council is serious about looking deeper into the pollution concerns regarding Runkle Canyon. I'd advise the council to look very deeply at what these agencies say," Huff said.

"Regardless, this is a good sign that the hard work we've done is paying off. The people of Simi are finally becoming aware of this horrible problem," she added.