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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - RTE 126 ENVIRON IMPACT STUDY (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Item to be presented UNFINISHED BUSINESS John E. Medina DATE: February 12, 1991 SUBJECT: ROUTE 126 DEPARTMENT: Public Works BACKGROUND IMPACT STUDY SCOPING HEARINGS Caltrans, the City of Santa Clarita, the County of Los Angeles, and other interested agencies and organizations have been studying alternate routes for the construction of a new State Route 126. On Wednesday, January 30, 1991, Caltrans sponsored a series of environmental impact study scoping meetings for three proposed routes for State Route 126. The scoping meetings included an agency meeting, an open house, and a public scoping meeting. The public scoping meeting was well attended and many individuals provided testimony concerning these alignments. The meeting was not structured to obtain a consensus of opinion nor to determine the magnitude of support for the various routes. The speakers were specifically asked not to repeat comments of previous speakers, and to limit their comments to the identification of the environmental aspects of the project that needed to be addressed in the study. The staff presented comments on behalf of the City at the agency scoping meeting, and the attached written comments will be submitted for the official record. It is recommended that the City Council approve .the attached written comments - and direct staff to transmit them to Caltrans. ATTACHMENT Written Comments /gmm 1110 APPROVED Agenda Item: February 12, 1991 Mr. Ron Kosinski CALTRANS Environmental Planning Branch 120 S. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 SUBJECT: ROUTE LOCATION STUDY FOR STATE ROUTE 126 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Dear Mr. Kosinski: The following comments are presented for the official record on behalf of the City of Santa Clarita concerning the scope of the Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/EIS) that will be prepared for the Route Location Study for State Route 126. EQUAL ANALYSIS All alternatives must be studied fully and equally. IMPACTS ON THE SANTA CLARA RIVER The City is now completing a, Master Plan for the preservation and development of the Santa Clara River and its tributaries. The alternatives must be studied to determine their impact on and conformity with this Plan. SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS Portions of—the alignments are located within SEA #23. The impact on the flora and fauna of the region including the riparian habitat must be.addressed. RIDGELINES AND HILLSIDES One of the alternatives crosses significant ridge lines and would result in substantial grading of hillsides. The alternatives must be analyzed for their effects on the hillsides.and ridgelines, and must conform to the Ridgeline and Hillside Preservation Ordinance and Guidelines that are now being developed by the City of Santa Clarita. Mr. Ron Kosinski Route Location Study for State Route.126 February 12, 1991 Page 2 GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS The alternatives must be studied for their impact on existing and anticipated hazardous geological conditions including landslides, soil liquefaction, and fault lines. The San Gabriel Fault is in the vicinity of the alternatives and the area is in an Alquist-Priolo Special Study Zone. In addition, there are hazards associated with soil contamination from hazardous wastes and remnants of explosives and other munitions byproducts on the Bermite site. WATER SUPPLY AND FLOOD CONTROL The study must analyze the impacts on the floodplain and vulnerability to flooding and flood damage. It must also address the impact of the alternatives on the recharge capabilities of the existing groundwater aquifers. DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS The study must address the growth inducing impacts of the construction of State Route 126, including the impact on existing and approved commercial development along Magic Mountain Parkway and other major corridors. The impact on existing residential, commercial and industrial uses adjacent to the proposed alignments including factors such as displacement of existing uses as well as .noise, vibration, air quality and visual impacts must also be addressed. The alternatives must be studied for their possible effect on creating or furthering the separation of communities in the City. TRAFFIC IMPACTS All alternatives must be fully analyzed for their impact on traffic volumes and circulation patterns of other existing and proposed roadways. Ron Kosinski Route Location Study for State Route 126 February 12, 1991 Page 3 0 A full traffic analysis must be performed which accounts for regional as well as local traffic volumes and circulation patterns. The study should also address the impacts on and changes to the geometrics of existing and proposed roadways. This analysis must conform to the City's General Plan and its circulation element. The trip generation factors used in the traffic analysis must be based on the City's General Plan, not on the County's General Plan for the area covered by the City. OTHER-COMMNTS The City feels that all of the alternatives being considered will require landscaped medians and side panels as well as sound walls at appropriate locations. uicy manager GAC:jvw:gmm CMVIllll