Sierra Canyon Offers Athletic Field Briefing

 Headmaster Jim Skrumbis told a group of community decision makers Thursday that construction of the school's gymnasium on Rinaldi Street is six-months behind schedule, development of a $15-million performing arts center is still just a dream, and an issue between school officials and equestrians is being ironed out.

The school is building a multimillion-dollar athletic field on De Soto Avenue, just below the 118 Freeway. An equestrian trail runs along the southern edge of the property. The Equestrian Committee of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council  has been seeking a way to keep pedestrians, hikers and cyclists off the horse trail. So, the school will install a sidewalk next to an adjoining parking lot planned for 90 cars.

Skrumbis said the city is in the process of interpreting the school's Conditional Use Permit, which dictates how the property can be developed, and the school will meet any demands from government officials.

“And if the community wants something … and it doesn’t cost money, we will do it,” Skrumbis told the members of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council’s Land Use Committee at its monthly meeting at the Chatsworth Train Depot.

In October, the school , according to Sierra Canyon’s website.

The 12-acre property located between De Soto and Independence avenues includes football, soccer and lacrosse fields. These athletics fields will unite Sierra Canyon’s lower and upper campuses—and, with a total of more than 35 acres, Sierra Canyon School says it will have the largest independent school footprint in Southern California.

In other action, the Land Use Committee sent a cellular telephone company back to the drawing board in its request to replace an existing 40-foot monopole with a 45-foot monopalm.

Committee members weren’t thrilled with AT&T's artificial palm-tree proposal. They said it doesn’t take long for a faux tree to become raggedly and it’s difficult to get cellular telephone companies to make aesthetic repairs. They want the company representative to return with other design options. The tower is located adjacent to the Chevron station at Devonshire Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

The Committee also gave its stamp of approval to the owner of Fusion Motorsports to expand his business at 20835 Nordhoff St. The company sells high-end exotic, classic and European cars by appointment only. The owner also wants to start an auto repair shop specializing in these types of vehicles.

The issue now goes to the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, and then onto the city’s planning department for final approval.