Council approves 3-year extension for Runkel Canyon development; homeowners push for shorter timeline

The Simi Valley City Council on Monday voted to introduce Ordinance No. 1364, approving the fifth amendment to the Runkel Canyon development agreement (DA-2025-0001 / DA-04-01 AMD 5) and granting a three-year time extension with a potential two-year option if the developer meets agreed milestones.

The amendment lays out milestones — plan submittals, permit issuance, inspections and construction-completion dates — and includes financial penalties that become due if the developer misses hard deadlines. Staff also secured a commitment from the developer for quarterly public updates to the council, monthly coordination meetings with city staff, and an in-person initial review of submittals to reduce resubmittal delays.

Assistant City Manager Luis Garabay summarized staff work with the development team: "These milestones include a combination of both hard and soft deadlines ... [to] help ensure that all three major components of the project move forward concurrently and ultimately get built," he said.

Several homeowners from the Woodlands neighborhood urged the council to shorten the initial extension. "I'm asking you to amend the extension from a 3 year term with a 2 year option to a 2 year term with a 3 year option," said Ivana Christman, a planning commissioner and homeowner, calling a shorter initial term a stronger protection for residents who have endured repeated delays.

Developer representative Jordan Ferguson told the council his team has worked with staff and pledged to provide regular public updates. In rebuttal, the applicant said the quarterly updates will keep the council informed and maintain public accountability: "The city council is gonna be seeing us every three months in a public hearing with staff to come forward and say, here's the progress that's being made," the applicant said.

Council members debated the timeline and accountability language. Councilmember Rhodes and others said the milestone payments and public updates should provide teeth to the agreement. Councilmember Ayala asked staff to include an "owner" column on the tracking chart to clarify who is responsible for each milestone.

The motion to introduce the ordinance was made during the meeting by Councilmember Rhodes and seconded by Councilmember Letzler. The council voted to introduce Ordinance 1364; the motion passed with Mayor Pro Tem Judge voting no.

What the amendment requires - A three-year initial extension with a possible additional two-year option tied to milestone achievement. - Quarterly public updates to city council and monthly coordination meetings between the city's project team and the developer. - Liquidated damages (balloon payments) triggered if hard milestones are missed.

Public comment included repeated calls from residents for tighter deadlines and for the city to consider alternative developers if this developer cannot perform. Several homeowners asked for a two-year initial extension instead of three; the council did not adopt that change.

The council's introduction of the ordinance starts the formal process; staff and the developer must complete the technical finalization steps and the ordinance will be scheduled for subsequent readings and final adoption.

Notes: The development agreement amendment covers remaining work on Runkel Canyon’s estate lots, planned development lots, senior units and a recreation center; the amendment also obligates the developer to reimburse the city for staff and attorney costs tied to project management.