SIMI VALLEY : Meeting to Focus on School Site Proposal

Simi Valley Unified School District officials plan a community meeting next week to discuss a district proposal to build a shopping center and housing on property once reserved for a new high school.

The meeting on Tuesday will allow district officials to respond to residents’ questions and concerns on the proposal before the City Council addresses the issue on the following Monday.

The Simi Valley Unified School District now leases the property on 36 acres at Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street to a fruit and vegetable farmer.

School officials propose to join with two private developers to build a shopping center on 26 acres. The developers would build 10 to 15 single-family residences, and an affordable multifamily housing complex of up to 132 units on the remaining 10 acres.

All of the affordable housing units would be reserved for senior citizens and school teachers, officials said.

Over the first 10 years, school officials said, the development would generate revenues of up to $39 million that would be used for building and upgrading school facilities.

The proposed development site, however, is designated on the city’s General Plan for single-family units only. The district is seeking a General Plan amendment, which the City Council will consider April 27.