100 units still too many for proposed Susana Knolls development

Well, here we go again with the county bending over backwards to accommodate overdevelopment in the Susana Knolls.

The first sellout was the Ventura County Fire Department going along with allowing Katherine Road as a secondary access if the developer widens the road through to Santa Susana Pass.

No problem there, right? Look again.

It will only devastate the rural atmosphere and character of an entire neighborhood, along with the existing canopy of oak trees.

Does an additional 2 to 5 feet of road warrant such devastation? Does it really buy much in the way of safety?

The emergency vehicles did not have issues with access during the 2005 Topanga fire.

Is the uniqueness and character of the Knolls considered expendable?

The latest sellout is a "fantasy density study."

The original density study gave a count of 72 dwellings, which apparently was not profitable enough to developer Gary Gorian of Colton Lee Communities.

So, in order to accommodate the greed of this developer a new and improved study was created.

This new study takes into consideration all of the parcels that "could" be subdivided and developed and uses that as the basis to come up with a dwelling count of 121.

It is ridiculous to even consider that every larger parcel in this area will be developed.

As an owner of such property I know that this scenario will never play out and it is a desperate attempt driven by the greed of the developer to gain a higher density.

Even at 72 dwellings this development is inappropriate for the Susana Knolls area.

This development could stand unopposed in another location.

There are just too many issues with this development for it to be considered appropriate for the Susana Knolls area.

A profitable development can be achieved on this property.

Will the developer work in good faith with the neighborhood and the county to make it happen?

So far the answer is a resounding no.

The only thing that Colton Lee is interested in is the highest density possible no matter the expense to the existing neighborhood and residents. Sandy Capaldi, president Santa Susana Knolls Homeowners Association Simi Valley