The Simi Valley City Council on Aug. 10 voted unanimously to approve revisions to the housing plan for the former Lost Canyons golf club, paving the way for developer Newport Pacific Land Co. and homebuilder Toll Brothers to move forward with construction of 364 single-family homes.
Project footprint reduced, open space expanded
The council’s action removes the golf course from the development plan and reconfigures the layout so all homes will be located north of Lost Canyons Drive, where one of the property's two courses once sat. The property totals about 1,800 acres; under the newly approved plan roughly 300 acres will be developed, down from 500 acres in the previously approved version.
City officials and the developer said the changes result in more contiguous open space. The southern portion of the property — including the second former golf course — will remain open space. A golf cart path will be converted into a hiking trail and donated to the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.
"I appreciate the thought that has gone into this. This is a better footprint and a better use of the land," Councilmember Elaine Litster said before the council vote.
Housing type, pricing and construction timeline
All homes approved under the plan will be market-rate, single-family residences, with floor plans starting at about 3,000 square feet. A Newport Pacific executive previously told The Star that prices will likely range between $1 million and $2 million.
Toll Brothers, which will build and sell the homes, plans to begin construction next year. The developer estimates the first phase will be completed in about three years, with a second phase to follow over another two to three years.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total property | ~1,800 acres |
| Land to be developed | ~300 acres |
| Homes approved | 364 |
| Home size | Starting at ~3,000 sq ft |
| Estimated price range | $1M–$2M |
Local impacts and unanswered questions
By relocating all residential lots north of Lost Canyons Drive and preserving the southern expanse as open space, the revised plan alters where new residents will live and where open land will be protected. City leaders framed the change as a trade-off that concentrates development and increases contiguous habitat and recreational space.
Key issues that will affect Simi Valley residents as the project moves forward include:
- Traffic and circulation: Concentrating 364 homes in a smaller developed area could shift traffic patterns onto local streets and intersections near Lost Canyons Drive.
- Public services and utilities: Building large, market-rate homes will require extensions and capacity for water, sewer, storm drainage and emergency services.
- Open-space management: The transfer of trail access to the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District raises questions about maintenance responsibilities and long-term stewardship.
The developer, Newport Pacific Land Co., and homebuilder Toll Brothers remain the principal private parties involved. Toll Brothers’ timetable calls for starting construction next year, with completion of the initial phase in roughly three years and a second phase two to three years thereafter.
City officials did not alter the number of homes approved, which remains at 364, but the new footprint and assurances about open space were central to the council’s unanimous approval.
As the project advances from plan approval to construction, residents and city departments will be watching for environmental reviews, grading permits and details of infrastructure financing. Those filings and permits will provide a clearer picture of timing for roads, utilities and public amenities tied to the development.
The action marks a major step in transforming a long-vacant portion of Simi Valley that once operated as a two-course golf facility into a combination of new housing and preserved open land.
Reporting for this article relied on the Ventura County Star coverage of the council meeting and statements from city council members and the property owner.
