THE GAZETTE.
November-December 2005 • Year 11, Number 1.
Redevelopment Committee At Work For Newhall.
By PHILIP ELLIS
Chairman, Newhall Redevelopment Committee.
The Newhall Redevelopment Committee was established as an advisory body to the Santa Clarita Redevelopment Agency. Its main duties are to advise on all land-use applications and to recommend the adoption of development standards within the redevelopment area. In addition, the committee interprets and conveys the needs of the public regarding the redevelopment area to the agency and to the city manager.
The Newhall Redevelopment Committee is a thirteen-member panel appointed by the members of the Redevelopment Agency board (the five Santa Clarita City Council members) for four-year terms. The committee meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Century Room on the first floor of Santa Clarita City Hall.
Prior to the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan, the city of Santa Clarita adopted the Newhall Special Standards District Design Guidelines. The Special Standards District encompassed the core downtown Newhall area that is currently included in the Specific Plan. In conjunction with the Design Guidelines, the Redevelopment Agency set up fa°ade and parking lot improvement programs.
The Fa°ade Improvement Program created an avenue for property owners and businesses to work in partnership with the Redevelopment Agency to improve the physical appearance of buildings with the downtown Newhall commercial core. This program utilized redevelopment funds to promote fa°ade and signage improvements throughout the area. The Parking Lot Improvement Program was created for similar goals — to improve the physical appearance of parking lots and back fencing in the district.
Always interested in attracting more people to visit the Newhall area, the Redevelopment Committee has been instrumental in organizing special events including the Old Town Newhall Street Fair, the Children's Holiday Parade and the Old Town Newhall Farmers Market.
The Old Town Newhall Street Fair has successfully grown into the Santa Clarita Street Art Festival, held the first weekend in October along San Fernando Road. This chalk art festival includes live bands, skateboard demonstrations, outdoor movies, a carnival and arts and crafts — and it's a fun event for the entire family.
The Children's Holiday Parade is returning to Walnut Street on Saturday, December 10. Another fun holiday tradition is the arrival of the Metrolink Toy Train at the Jan Heidt-Newhall Metrolink Station on Friday, November 25.
Currently on winter hiatus is the Old Town Newhall Farmers Market, which will return in the spring to the downtown area on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers, ready-to-eat foods and live music join together to create not just a great place to shop, but also a lively social experience.
The Redevelopment Committee members are looking forward to the implementation of the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan. This plan contains zoning changes that should be incentive to new building in the downtown Newhall area. It also encompasses an environmental impact report that will ease new building in the redevelopment area.
The Redevelopment Committee will watch over the Specific Plan's fulfillment, and will review new development on sites immediately outside the plan's coverage for compatibility.
©2005, Old Town Newhall USA. All rights reserved.
