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Canyons' changes tied to fate of hillside ordinance
| Wednesday, Jan 23 2008 8:05 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Jan 23 2008 8:13 PM
The Canyons, perhaps the single most controversial development in Bakersfield today, is back in public view.
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The report on its impact is out. A hearing has been scheduled. The city is accepting public comment.
But, as always with this development, it's not that simple.
The hillside ordinance, adopted amid controversy in 2006, is on the ropes. And what happens to The Canyons depends on what happens to the ordinance.
The project would put about 1,300 homes on 890 acres atop the bluffs overlooking the Kern River in northeast Bakersfield.
The environmental impact report issued by the city says the developer, General Holding, needs to drop six houses and use berms and vegetation to keep the structures from disturbing the scenic vistas from the bottom of the bluffs.
But that is what's required under the hillside ordinance, which tightened limits on development in hilly areas, especially along the bluffs in northeast Bakersfield -- the very area where General Holding wants to build. Last month, a local judge sided with General Holding and ruled the city adopted the hillside ordinance without adequate research. General Holding has asked for the ordinance to be thrown out; the city plans to ask that the ordinance stay on the books while it conducts its research.
The judge isn't expected to rule until next month.
Otherwise, the report calls for the same kind of caution during construction as any other new development in the city.
But that doesn't mean the development is in for an easy ride.
"This is just one piece of information out of many pieces we'll use to build our staff report," said Jim Movius, the city's planning director.
The Planning Commission and City Council have a lot of discretion, he said. They can consider the tract design and whether to allow the developer to put 1,000 of the homes in gated communities.
And public input will be key as well, such as the comments received last year suggesting a Panorama Drive-style greenbelt along the bluff edge.
The Bakersfield Bluffs and Open Space Committee -- a group of recreationalists who use the bluffs area -- is taking a close look at the report but hasn't come to any conclusions, said member Michelle Beck.
"There's just a lot of things we want to look at," she said. "It's a very large project. They're proposing to move a lot of dirt."
In particular, they'll look at the effects the development would have on the endangered cactus preserve downhill from the proposed development.
Right now, the Bakersfield cactus thrives because it gets rainwater from the whole area, but changes to the drainage patterns there could put them in jeopardy, she said.
General Holding did not return calls for comment Wednesday.
The company is listed in default for its $3.3 million loan taken out in November 2006, according to Kern County records.
SEE THE REPORT
To view the environmental report for The Canyons, go here and click on "Draft Environmental Impact Reports," then on "The Canyons."
A hearing on the adequacy of the report will be held in front of the Bakersfield Planning Commission 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Bakersfield City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Ave. The city will also accept written comments through Feb. 29.