Q&A

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Q) How do master-planned communities differ from traditional housing developments?

Master-planned communities incorporate a mix of housing, employment, open space and other necessary services and community amenities. In Centennial, development will be clustered to provide walkable villages and convenient places to shop and play, while preserving the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Q) With other projects going on in the area along with Centennial, will your studies consider the cumulative impacts of all these projects?

A comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared to address all potential impacts of the development on the surrounding community, including the impact on water supply, drainage, traffic and local schools. The California Environmental Quality Act requires that all cumulative impacts, including all past, present and probable future projects as well as those generated by other projects around Centennial, be evaluated in the draft EIR.

For more details about the Centennial planning process, we invite you to refer to the site’s Planning Process page.

Q) How will this project impact the tax base of the surrounding community and Los Angeles County as a whole?

All costs associated with the development of Centennial will be paid by developer fees and through assessments and property taxes on new businesses and residents, not on existing residents. As a matter of fact, preliminary numbers indicate the County of Los Angeles will actually benefit from the positive fiscal impact through increased property tax revenues from Centennial residents, sales tax revenues from new commercial and business establishments and other revenue sources.

Q) How would area residents benefit from increased services at Centennial?

Centennial Founders will plan, secure funding and build the infrastructure for such services as schools, fire, sheriff, libraries and parks. This is in addition to the convenient shopping centers, grocery stores, movie theatres and other businesses that will be drawn to the community. All residents in the communities in and around Centennial will be able to enjoy these community assets and services, not just those who live within Centennial.

Q) Exactly how will these infrastructure improvements be paid for?

Infrastructure costs will be borne by the development itself. A Community Facility District to leverage bonds with property tax assessments will be established within Centennial. This process will guarantee that long-range improvements can be made when needed.

Q) What schools will be added to take in children living in Centennial?

The plan for Centennial at completion calls for eight K-8 elementary schools and two high schools. Construction of these schools is planned to keep pace with the growth of the community, the first being built along with the first phase of development. As with other infrastructure costs, funding for schools will be generated through Centennial’s Community Facility District and will not strap the resources of existing school districts.

Q) How will Centennial affect traffic on Interstate 5?

While we expect many of Centennial’s residents to be able to work within the community, there will be some who will need to commute on Interstate 5. A detailed discussion of traffic on I-5 will be part of the Environmental Impact Report process.While traffic studies indicate no impacts to I-5 in the vicinity of Centennial, impacts do occur in the Santa Clarita Valley south of Valencia Boulevard. Although its contribution to these impacts are relatively small, Centennial, through its participation in the Golden State Gateway Coalition is advancing plans for truck climbing lanes and HOV lanes to mitigate those impacts. Also mitigating the impact of Centennial are two conveniently located transit centers proposed within Centennial to encourage carpooling, vanpooling and commuter bus service for those who must travel outside of Centennial.

Q) Will you make improvements to State Route 138 to accommodate the increased traffic flow through Centennial?

Several improvements will be made to SR 138 to accommodate increased traffic flow, including the expansion of SR 138 to a four-lane expressway through the project. During the early phases of development, passing lanes and access improvements will be made between 300th Street West and SR 14, and Centennial has already begun the preparation of a project study report with Caltrans for improvements to SR 138. Finally, we will set aside right-of-ways adjacent to SR 138 for the possibility of a light rail system.

Q) What alternative forms of transportation are being proposed to reduce traffic in and around the community?

There are many. Pedestrian and bicycle pathways along streets and greenways is an important part of Centennial’s transportation plan, connecting the village centers with their surrounding neighborhoods. There will be a community-wide bus system connecting two major transit centers on each end of the community. In the senior communities, golf cart access to all parts of the village will be provided along with transportation to neighboring villages.

Q) What kinds of jobs/range of pay do you expect to be available in the new community?

It is the goal of Centennial to provide a broad spectrum of employment opportunities, from retail jobs within the community villages to research and development opportunities in campus-like business parks. As such, the range of pay will vary – as would be the case in any urban village environment – from minimum wage for students and others with limited skills to the highly compensated executives based in Centennial.

Q) Why would companies choose to locate in Centennial?

Centennial will be attractive to many types of employers for several reasons, including convenient access to Interstate 5 and Highway 138, the relatively lower cost of doing business, large amounts of land on which to build and expand, new state-of-the-art schools, well-connected technology, as well as the natural beauty of the region.

Q) Why has this location been chosen for Centennial?

The size and relatively flat terrain of the location provides ample room for a self-contained master-planned community where jobs, medical facilities, emergency services (police, fire and ambulance), shopping/entertainment centers and broad mix of reasonably priced housing meet the needs of residents in the Kern County/Los Angeles County area.

Q) Are there any endangered species on the property?

No. The land upon which homes will be built has been grazed for more than 100 years. After four years of biological studies, we have not found any endangered plants or wildlife on the site.

Q) How will Centennial be developed to preserve open space, old oak trees and native plants in the region?

Approximately half of the project site is being preserved as open space. Eighty percent of that open space - approximately 4,200 acres - will remain natural open space, protecting the major oak tree stands and native plants. Additionally, the project does not touch the nearby large open spaces of the Angeles or Los Padres National Forests, the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve or build into the San Gabriel or Tehachapi mountains.

Q) Are there adequate water resources to support this project without jeopardizing local water supplies?

Yes. Centennial will provide diverse and secure water sources. The water plan includes an aggressive recycled water program, a water conservation program, and the combined use of water from the groundwater basin and the State Water Program. In addition, the Centennial Water Plan includes storage of water into a groundwater bank, which will substantially increase reliability during droughts.

Q) This site is known to be underneath a military flight-training route. Will this eventually stop planning for Centennial?

Centennial Founders strongly supports our military and have worked with representatives from nearby military bases to address this topic. At this time, Centennial and the military will be able to proceed without impacting each other.