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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-10-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - HILLSIDE CONTR APPROVAL (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approva Item to be presented CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: October 9, 1990 SUBJECT: Hillside Consultant Contract Approval DEPARTMENT: Community Development BACKGROUND In response to requests from both the Planning Commission and City Council, the Community Development Department issued a request for qualifications in search of consultants with expertise in the field of hillside development techniques to prepare a hillside ordinance for the City. After review of submittals and interviews, the firm of J.L. Webb Planning, Incorporated ..was selected to begin an initial start-up phase in the. form of workshops and scoping with .the Planning Commission. Three such workshops, including a tour of hillside conditions in the City, have been conducted. The attached contract for a hillside development ordinance has been prepared by J.L. Webb Planning, Incorporated and .the Community Development Department and is now ready for execution by the City. The contract provides for standards on earthwork and grading, drainage, landscaping, road design and other development requirements at a not to exceed price of $30,000.00. The ordinance will make extensive use of graphics and diagrams to clearly depict the intent and details of the ordinance. The need for a hillside ordinance was anticipated in the budget and no additional appropriation of funds is requested for this project. It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the contract between J.L. Webb Planning, Incorporated and the City of Santa Clarita for the development of a hillside ordinance for the City. Attachment: Proposed contract CLT:87 4. :L r,e Item: • 2900 Bristol Street. Suite F102, Costa Mesa CA 92626 (Iia) 557.3707 October 1, 1990 Ms. Lynn Harris Director of Community Development City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 3(H) Santa ClariM California 92355 Dear Ms. Harris, J.L. Webb Planning, Inc. 'VV Land Planning • Landscape Architecture • Urban Design We are pleased to present this proposal to prepare a Hillside Management Ordinance for the City of Santa Clarita. This proposal is based on the work completed during the first phase of this project and our discussion with you and the Planning Commission. We will be dealing with the following two major issues which were identified in our discussion with the Planning Commission. Classification of Hillside Areas Hillside areas will be classified by percentage slopes and types of hillsides. This process will generally identify the types of areas to be considered in the hillside Management Ordinance and will also pinpoint any unique requirements of the Ordinance as it pertains to specific hillside conditions. 2. Creation of Hillside Management Ordinance We will take into consideration the quality and character of hillside development. Based on these issues and the approach discussed by the Planning Commission and City staff, we propose the following Scope of Work. Classification of hillside Areas We will identify specific percentage slope categories and types of hillsides. "rhese classificadons will be used to identify specific requirements within the Hillside Management Ordinance. This will be incorporated into the Ordinance in the form of development standards for the various slope categories. We will also incorporate information available from the General Plan, as well as the City Ordinances and requirements including the identification of significant ridgelines, land uses, geotechnical requirements, oak tree preservation, etc. The products of this phase will include text discussing specific percentage slope categories, the various hillside types and the application of available General Plan information, City Ordinances, etc. . Ms. Lymn Harris HilistI RanagementOrdinance Proposal October 1, 1990 . Page 2 IT. Preparation of Hillside Management Ordinance Based on the City staffs review and refinement of the outline we presented to the Planning Commission on September 20, 1990, we will prepare the following specific sections for the Hillside Management Ordinance, A. General Intent and Applicability 1. This section will present an overview of the purposes and applications of the ordinances in general terms. 2. General Plan items which will affect the Ordinance will be generally discused in this section. B. Definitions This section will contain definitions of terms used throughout the ordinance. C. Earthwork/Grading Standards 1. Pad Requirements This section will deal with pad size, configuration and the extent of use for various types of development, as well as the pad's relationship to other pads such as terracing, a series of pad splits and split pads. 2. Cut Slope Requirements Elements to be discussed include height, requirements for benching and drainage, configuration, blending with the natural topography, slope ratio requirements and variation in slope ratio for cut slopes. Fill Slope Requirements Elements to be discussed include height, requirements for benching and drainage, configuration, blending with the natural topography, slope ratio requirements and variation in slope ratio for fill slopes. 4. Transition Areas Elements to be considered will include the ways in which grading blends or ties into the existing topography in terms of landforms and slope. Earthwork Standards Items such as balance of cut and fill, treatment of landslide areas. use of retaining walls and other related sibjects will be discussed in this section. • Ms..LymHarris Hinside ManagementOrdi im ec Noposal (ktobx 1.1990 • page 1 D. Drainage Structures 1. Terrace Drains We will make recommendations as to the frequency of placement, the materials and the undergrounding of terrace drains. 2. Retention Basins We will discuss the slope height of the basins and appropriate landscape criteria. E. 'Hillside Road Standards (to be coordinated with Community Development and Public Works) 1. Road Sections We will discuss pavements sections, ultimate rights-of-way, shoulder requirements, sidewalk and parkway recommendations and split-level roads. 2. Lot Access This section will deal with the relationship of pad to pavement and driveway areas and whether or not there exists the potential u1 interrupt views or invade privacy. 3. Off-street Parking Recommendations and specific examples of recommended treatments which are the most sensitive to various hillside conditions will be discussed. 4. Percentage Gradelvertical Curves In conjunction with Public Works, we will work to identify criteria for the most sensitive application of grading of roads to avoid major cut and fill, to ensure the safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians and to enhance the roadways aesthetically. 5. Minimum Radius We will promote the sensitive application of grading techniques to roads in diverse hillside areas to avoid major cut and fill, to ensure the safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians and to enhance the roadways aesthetically. F. Development Standards I . Building Envelope/Setback and Height We will establish front, rear and side yard setbacks and height limitations within various slope and pad conditions for various land uses(i.e., fiat pad, split pad.and natural lot). Ms. Lynn Harris Hillside Management (Ordinance Pmposal ()ctober 1, 1990 - Pep 4 2. Building Style, Roof Types, etc. We will make recommendations for visual protection measures such as orientation of roofs and one versus two-story building heights.We will outline standards for roof scale, color and orientation for visual compatibility. 3. Materials We will recommend general guidelines for colors, hues and textures that blend in with, reinforce and accent hillside areas, and we will encourage the use of natural and indigenous materials. 4. Retaining Walls and Crib Walls We will identify recommended types and configurations of walls, as well as the heights of walls in terms of the ways in which they're broken up with landscaping and how they fit with the topography and surrounding structures, especially major roadways. We will develop policies and specific areas in which walls should and should not be used. Patios, Pools and Ancillary Structures Elements to be discussed in this section include locations, heights and setbacks, as well as restrictions for pools and other -structures visible from below the hillside,This will include standards for aesthetic and fire protection purposes involving roof types, overhangs, architectural features and patios over steep slopes. 6. Fencing Perimeter and lot separation fences will be discussed, and guidelines for materials, scale, color and articulation with hillside areas, to blend and work with the character of the topography, will be outlined. 7. Site Planning Guidelines This section will contain a discussion of building coverage, percentage of open space, landscaped areas, methodology for the preservation of ridgelines, various components of site planning and examples of positive hillside techniques. G. Landscape Requirements 1. Plant List Plant lists will be developed for various open space areas and specifically for fuel modification areas. We will also compile a list of plants to be used for screening, buffering, softening and blending edges into the natural topography or with surrounding development. Ms. Lynn Harris Hillside h anag=entOrdinance PropOsal Omber 1.1990 - PIP i Consideration will also be given to the use of indigenous and fire retardant plants. Recommendations will be made as to the timing for the effectiveness of plant material. 2. Fire Protection/Fuel Modification This section will contain specific requirements for fuel modification and firs protection with input from the Fire Marshal and/or the Fire Department. The relationship between slopes, vegetation cover, roof types, overhangs and patios over steep slopes will be discussed. 3. Erosion Control This section will contain measures for erosion control during grading and for establishing slopes and development areas in order to prevent erosion. The plant list mentioned in "G -l" above will also identify recommended plants, irrigation andtypes of drainage for erosion control. Irrigation This section will consist of guidelines for irrigation and aesthetic considerations of such. 5. Special Conditions Conditions discussed here will include entry features and retention basins. 6. Maintenance (Procedures and Responsibility) We will discuss appropriate maintenance procedures, responsibilities, time commitments and the level of maintenance desired. 7. Transition Areas Transition elements to be considered include the ways in which the landscape ties into existing and surrounding vegetation and development, as well as the transition to the National Forest Boundary. H. Application Requirements This step will identify suggested submittal requirements for projects affected by the Hillside Management Ordinance. We will itemize specific requirements and the basis for each submittal item. This section will also suggest general review requirements by the City. • Ms. Lynn }tams Hillside Management Ordinance Propncal October 1, 1990 -Page 6 Meetings This scope of work will include 11 separate meetings or hearings, including up to five (5) public hearings with the Planning Commission or City Council, four (4) staff meetings at major milestones within the process and two (2) training meetings with the City staff to review hillside development and those elements significant for consideration in review of hillside projects These training meetings may include consultant review of actual hillside cases filed and their evaluation to assist Staff in interim processing. Each training session is budgeted not to exceed four (4) hours in duration. We envision a Hillside Management Ordinance which contains detailed discussions of the above elements and which makes extensive use of graphics, diagrams, photographs and examples of treatments outlined in the ordinance. The ordinance which we prepare will he extensive in terms of its clarity, its detail and its graphic quality. III. Compensation Services identified above will be billed on a monthly basis with a complete description of work performed. Payments will be due within sixty (60) days of billing. IV. Standard Conditions A. Invoices and Payment Services denoted above shall be billed monthly, based on hours spent and expenses incurred during the previous billing period (i.e., calendar month). The City of Santa CWta reserves the right to withhold 1017o of the total cost of the project until the project is completed and approved by the City. B. Severability Should any part of this agreement be found to be illegal or unenforceable, only that part of the agreement shall be invalid, and the remainder of the agreement shall be in full force and effect. C. Jurisdiction and Venue This agreement is deemed executed, effective and to be performed at the City of Santa Clarim. Jurisdiction for any action commended to interpret or enforce this agreement shall be in the state courts of the State of California, and proper venue for any such action shall be in the County of Los Angeles for the Superior Court and in the County of Los Angeles, Newhall Judicial District for the Municipal Court. D. Attorney's Fee Should any action or arbitration be instituted to enforce or interpret this agreement or any of the provisions thereof or to determine any rights as to the relationship of the parties created by this agreement, the prevailing party in such action or arbitration shall receive its attorney's fees actually incurred therein, as any item of cost and not of damage. !vis. Lynn Harris Hills' agement Ordinance Pmposal Ona ar 1. 1990 • Page 7 E, heirs and Assigns Except as otherwise provided herein, this agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors in interest of the parties. V. Independent Contractor/Insurance Provisions J.L. Webb }Manning, Inc. is an independent contractor to the City and not an employee and is responsible to carry all legally -required insurance, including worker's compensation insurance pursuant to the Labor Code of the State of California. V L Indemnification J.L. Webb Planning, Inc. indemnifies, defends, promises to protect and hold harmless the City, its officers, agents and employees from any and all claims arising out of the performance of this agreement VII. Conflict of Interest During the time we are under contract to the City to prepare the Flipside Management Ordinance, we will not contract to do work within the City for other private development or land owner interests without prior written approval of the City of Santa Clarita. We will begin this phase of work upon your authorization of this proposal, and we will complete our work in a timely manner. We propose to complete this Second Phase Scope of Work for a not -to -exceed cost of $30,000 including direct expenses, which include mileage, reproduction, meals, reports and supplies specifically for this project. It should be recognized, however, that if direct expenses exceed the amount normally necessary, direct expense costs may need to be renegotiated. We propose to complete this Scope of Work in December of 1990. If this proposal reflects the work you desire, please return a signed copy of this proposal for our records. If you have any questions, please feel fax to contact me. We are looking forward to continuing our work with you on this exciting project in the City of Santa Clarita. JLW:kjh 9006-8 Approved by Date