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Home My WebLink About2011-04-12 - RESOLUTIONS - ELSMERE MC 10 150 NEGDECRESOLUTION 11-17 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND APPROVING MASTER CASE 10-150, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 10-003, TO AMEND THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP AFFECTING APPROXIMATELY 807 ACRES GENERALLY LOCATED EAST OF STATE ROUTE 14, SOUTH OF WHITNEY CANYON, WEST OF THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, AND NORTH OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council does hereby make the following findings of fact: a. Master Case 10-150 consists of General Plan Amendment 10-003, Prezone 10-002, Annexation 10-002, and Sphere of Influence Amendment 10-002 affecting approximately 807 acres of land known as the Elsmere Canyon Annexation. ' b. The project area is located in unincorporated territory within the County of Los Angeles, bounded by the centerline of State Route 14 and the existing City of Santa Clarita City limit on the west, the existing City of Santa Clarita City limit in the Whitney Canyon area on the north, the Angeles National Forest boundary to the east, and the City of Los Angeles Sphere of Influence boundary, on the south. c. The project area consists of approximately 807 acres of land contiguous to the corporate limits of the City of Santa Clarita on the western and northern boundary of the project area, as shown in Exhibit A. d. The project area is primarily undeveloped land and open space, containing electrical transmission lines, aqueducts, and one single-family dwelling unit. e. The land use to the west of the project consists of the State Route 14 freeway and undeveloped commercial property within the City of Santa Clarita. The land use to the north of the proposed annexation area consists of permanent open space in the Whitney Canyon area, also located within the City of Santa Clarita. Land use east of the project area consists of open space and undeveloped lands within the Angeles National Forest in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Land use to the south of the project area includes vacant agricultural and hillside land within the County of Los Angeles, and also within the City of Los Angeles Sphere of Influence. f. Currently, the project area is zoned A-2-1 (Heavy Agriculture, 1 Acre Minimum Lot Size) by the County of Los Angeles. Land use designations under the Santa Clarita ' Valley Area Plan include Hillside Management and Transportation Corridor. g. General Plan Amendment (GPA) 10-003 would designate the project area with General Plan designations generally consistent with Los Angeles County land use planning policies and also consistent with the existing land uses within the project area. The proposed GPA would designate approximately 792 acres of the project area to Open Space (OS) while the remaining 15 acres would retain their Residential Estate (RE) designation as shown in Exhibit A. h. On January 28, 2011, an environmental Initial Study was prepared for GPA 10-003, Prezone 10-002, Annexation 10-002, and Sphere of Influence Amendment 10-002, for the Elsmere Canyon Annexation. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the Initial Study concluded that no significant adverse environmental impacts were associated with the project and a Negative Declaration was prepared. i. The environmental document was circulated for review and comment by affected governmental agencies, and also the public, for a 30-day public review period from January 28, 2011, to March 1, 2011, and posted with the County Clerk. j. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on this issue on March 1, 2011. This public hearing was held at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia ' Boulevard, Santa Clarita. At the hearing, the Planning Commission considered the staff presentation, the staff report, the Negative Declaration prepared for the project, and public testimony on the proposal. k. At the public hearing noted above, the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Clarita adopted Resolution P11-07 recommending that the City Council adopt General Plan Amendment 10-003, an amendment to the General Plan Land Use Map, and Prezone 08-002, for the purpose of prezoning approximately 807 acres and adopting the Negative Declaration for the project. 1. The City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on this issue on April 12, 2011. This public hearing was held beginning at 6:00 p.m. or later at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. At the hearing, the City Council considered the staff presentation, the staff report, the Negative Declaration prepared for the project, and public testimony on the proposal. m. At the public hearing noted above, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita adopted a Resolution adopting the Negative Declaration and approving Master Case 10-150, inclusive of General Plan Amendment 10-003, an amendment to the General Plan Land Use Map, and Prezone 10-002, for the purpose annexing 807 acres in the Elsmere Canyon Annexation area. I 2 n. Public participation and notification requirements pursuant to Sections 65090, 65391, ' and 65854 of the Government Code of the State of California were duly followed. SECTION 2. Based upon the testimony and other evidence received at the hearing, and upon the study and investigation made by the Planning Commission and on its behalf, the City Council further finds as follows: a. The purpose of the project is to amend the City of Santa Clarita General Plan Land Use Map to change approximately 792 acres of the project area from Residential Estate (RE) to Open Space (OS). The remaining 15 acres (approximate) would retain the existing General Plan land use designation of Residential Estate (RE). The proposed General Plan Amendment is being pursued for the purposes of annexation. SECTION 3. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. The City Council has reviewed and considered the Initial Study prepared for the project and finds and determines as follows: a. The City Council hereby finds that the proposed Negative Declaration prepared in connection with General Plan Amendment 10-003, Prezone 10-002, Annexation 10-002, and Sphere of Influence Amendment 10-002, pertaining to the Elsmere Canyon Annexation has been prepared in compliance with the California ' Environmental Quality Act, has been reviewed and considered by the City Council, reflects the independent judgment of the City Council, and that based on the Initial Study and the entire record of proceedings, there is substantial evidence that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, the City Council approved Master Case 10-150 and adopted the Negative Declaration for the project as included in the agenda packet for the April 12, 2011, City Council meeting. The Director of Community Development is hereby designated as the custodian of the documents and other materials which constitute the record of proceedings in this matter. The documents and materials are on file in the Department of Community Development, City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302, Santa Clarita, CA, 91355. SECTION 4. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FINDINGS. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings, the City Council find as follows: a. The proposed General Plan Amendment (GPA) 10-003 is consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the General Plan in that the proposed land use change is consistent with the City's long-term plans for preservation of open space around the City's periphery; b. The proposed GPA is consistent with the following policies and goals of the Santa ' Clarita General Plan Land Use Element and the Open Space and Conservation Element: 3 From the Land Use Element: ' Policy 1.12: Promote the retention of open space to preserve significant ridgelines, to provide land use buffers, and to provide for both public safety and oak tree preservation. Policy 2.13: Encourage the preservation of the Angeles National Forest and Los Padres National Forest as an open space reserve close to the urban interface, and an important wildlife habitat and corridor. Policy 5.9: Promote the public acquisition of significant ecological areas with the intent ofpreserving them as natural open space. Policy 5.11: Preserve and protect endangered fauna and fora species, and their habitats. From the Open Space and Conservation Element: Goal1: To preserve the special natural features which define the Santa Clarita planning area and give it its distinct form and identity. Goal2: To preserve designated natural ridgelines in the planning area to ' maintain the aesthetic character of the Santa Clarita Valley. Goal3: To protect significant ecological resources and ecosystems, including but not limited to, sensitive fora and fauna habitat areas. Goal 4: To preserve open space areas for recreational use as a natural buffer to more intensive land uses. Goal 5: To use the open space designation to ensure the public health and safety and welfare in areas subject to natural hazards. Goal 10: Protect the historical and culturally significant resources which contribute to community identity and a sense of history. This proposed land use designation change complies with these policies because it will preserve 792 acres of natural open space in an area that contains ridgelines and significant biological resources; c. The proposed General Plan Amendment 10-003 is in compliance with Section 65358(b) of the Government Code in that the Land Use Element has been amended I no more than four times in the current calendar year; and 4 ' d. Based upon the testimony and other evidence, if any, received at the public hearing, and upon studies and investigations made by the City Council and on its behalf, the City Council further finds and determines that this proposal is consistent with the City's General Plan. SECTION 5. This resolution will take effect upon the adjournment of the April 12, 2011, City Council meeting. The change to the City's General Plan contemplated herein will take effect upon adjournment of the April 12, 2011, City Council meeting simultaneously with any other changes to the General Plan approved by the City Council at that same meeting so that for purposes of Government Code section 65358, all such changes shall constitute one amendment to the General Plan SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 12th day of April, 2011. ATTEST: DATE: / f a 11 c MAYOR 5 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) I COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA) I, Kevin Tonoian, Acting City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 12th day of April, 2011, by the following vote: AYES NOES ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Ferry, Weste, Kellar, Ender, McLean COUNCILMEMBERS: None COUNCILMEMBERS: None ACTr t17 CLERK 1 M STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ' COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) CERTIFICATION OF CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1, , Acting City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original Resolution 11-17 adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, California on April 12, 2011, which is now on file in my office. Witness my hand and seal of the City of Santa Clarita, California, this _ day of 2011. I City Clerk By Deputy City Clerk 7 •—••— �� ""'"rSANTA CLARITA DGeneral Plan Amendment r RE(Unchanged) I �I RE to OS , E- 6 { O r RE (Unchanged) " REto OS ' 4 L�? Current City Boundary Zj� u.•a....u�" mi". c...o niwam.e. c crvas"A.waenw�yi..:+. 40 EXHIBIT A TO THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT _ RESOLUTIO= _