Forum to Examine Simi’s Future

SIMI VALLEY — A youth-related theme park, a cap on the city’s population, and a large shopping center are among the key proposals of a report by city planners and citizens who spent the past two years drawing up a long-term “Vision 2020” plan for the city.

Those and other recommendations will be unveiled and discussed at a “focus forum” open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at City Hall.

More than 3,000 residents responded to a survey mailed in late 1995, giving six citizen committees a starting point for their reports.

Matters to be addressed include development, economics, environment, regional issues, safety and social concerns, according to a 366-page draft report.

“They’re developing a blueprint for the evolution of the city from now through the year 2020,” said Alexandra Walker, project coordinator.

The development and construction committee, for instance, will examine ways to change the municipal code to improve architectural standards.

“We want to make Simi Valley a more beautiful place to live in,” said committee chairwoman Paulamarie Young. “I think beauty is a bunch of little details.”

She hopes the city will eliminate concrete bumper stops in parking lots and add roadside benches, public telephone areas and upscale newspaper stands in new housing developments, along with more landscaping throughout the city.

In what Young expects to be a somewhat controversial proposal, the committee is considering a limit of two materials on the exterior of new commercial buildings.

She stressed the committee does not want all buildings to look identical, however.

“We want high-quality designer creativity,” Young said.

Michael McCaffrey, chairman of the economic issues committee, said his committee might recommend a unique mall--something that would be identified with the city.

Possible locations are a parcel known as the “regional mall site” north of the 118 Freeway between Erringer Road and 1st Street, or Tapo Street between Los Angeles Avenue and Cochran Street.

“Shopping venues similar to what are found in other communities have received solid support from most all residents in Simi Valley,” McCaffrey said. “Retail sales leakage has been a problem. Residents want local shopping so they won’t have to drive to Thousand Oaks or the Valley.”

Details are sketchy as to what the committees believe the city should do to curb population growth.

Kurt Christiansen, a planner with the environmental services department, said the city’s current population of just under 105,000 is projected to increase to more than 140,000 by 2020.

*

The 25-acre youth-related theme park would feature a video arcade, an 18-hole miniature golf course, water-related rides and a roller coaster.

Carl Knoll, chairman of the social concerns committee, which is considering the theme park, could not be reached for comment.

The committees will use the feedback from the forum to revise their draft recommendations before presenting a final draft of proposals to the City Council at a workshop in September.

“We will take the City Council’s direction,” Walker said.

The six committees have been meeting for the past two years, including a joint session attended by some 200 residents and officials at an October 1995 workshop at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Subsequent to that meeting, committee members mailed needs surveys to 10,000 random addresses.

“We got a 30% response, which is quite outstanding for a survey,” Walker said.