Simi Valley · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Simi Valley public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
City Council Election
Ten people are running for Simi Valley City Council, and the winners will make calls on housing and traffic that affect daily life. If you live, drive, or rent or buy here, this election is worth a look.
Mayoral Election Candidates
Simi Valley is electing a mayor, and the candidates are now introduced. Your vote will shape city decisions for years, so it's worth a quick look at who's running.
East Cochrane Street cluster development concerns
Colton Lee Communities won approval for 58 single-family homes on a vacant 19.53-acre hillside at the east end of Cochran Street, with dog parks, pocket parks, and a private trail system but no sidewalks. Adjacent homeowners raised privacy, trail liability, traffic, sewer, and tree-removal concerns.
New Transit Center at Civic Center site
Simi Valley is replacing its interim transit stop on Tapo Canyon Road with a permanent transit center at Tapo Canyon and Avenida Simi, featuring eight bus bays, a solar canopy and electric bus chargers. It moves buses out of the bike lane and should improve safety, but neighbors worry about traffic near the library and tree losses.
Mandatory annexation of seven county islands
State law and LAFCo policy mean annexing the 40-plus-acre North Canyon site forces the city to also annex seven of nine county islands — over 400 lots and roughly 300 acres. Island residents strongly object, saying they want to stay unincorporated; the commission asked the Council to delay annexation as long as legally possible.
North Canyon Ranch 207-unit development and annexation
A 160-acre vacant hillside site north of First Street would become 207 homes — 157 single-family and 50 townhomes (possibly senior housing) — with about 68% open space, two parks, and the First Street-to-Falcon Road connection. The Planning Commission recommended approval, but the City Council makes the final call.
Local Election Candidates
Simi Valley’s election lineup is taking shape, and it’s not just inside baseball—who runs will help decide the council’s priorities on housing, budgets, and local rules. If you care about how the city spends money or what gets built, this is the shortlist to watch.
Billiard Plaza relocation and 2 a.m. operating hours
The city's only billiard hall, displaced from Tapo Street, sought a CUP to reopen at 3200 East Los Angeles Avenue with 15 tables, a beer-only bar, and a 2 a.m. closing time. Supporters called it a community institution; a nearby resident raised concerns about parking-lot noise waking neighbors at closing time.
58-home hillside development on East Cochran Street
Colton Lee Communities won approval for 58 single-family homes on a vacant 19.53-acre hillside at the east end of Cochran Street, with dog parks, pocket parks, and a private trail system but no sidewalks. Adjacent homeowners raised privacy, trail liability, traffic, sewer, and tree-removal concerns.
Lost Canyons Development Modification & Open Space Expansion
The developer of the 1,770-acre Lost Canyons project wants to remove the closed golf course and shift 178 approved homes from the south side of Lost Canyons Drive to the north side. While this increases open space from 43% to 89% and spares sensitive canyons from grading, neighbors raised heavy concerns about building more luxury homes in a high fire-risk area.
Wildfire Evacuation Safety & Roadway Capacity
Runkle Canyon homes face strict fire requirements — non-combustible siding, screened vents, ventless attics, and layered defensible-space landscaping. One resident noted his fire insurance runs $12,000 a year, and commissioners flagged fire access as a constraint on the Oak Road site too.
Oak tree removal for Oak Road development
The 60-unit Oak Road project requires removing 52 of 53 mature trees, including five valley oaks — one possibly 300 years old. Commissioners and residents clashed over whether the city's tree ordinance has any teeth. The commission forwarded the project with a request that staff try to preserve the trees.
Attainable homeownership and housing affordability
The Oak Road project includes three very low-income units priced around $130,000, aimed at buyers shut out of the market. Supporters called it a rare affordable ownership product; the city is far behind its state housing goals in this category.
Independence of the Planning Commission
A resident argued the City Council ignored the commission's unanimous short-term rental recommendation and warned about political pressure tied to councilmember reappointments. He urged commissioners to vote their conscience.