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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-06-25 - RESOLUTIONS - GP FINAL EIR CERTIFICATION (2)RESOLUTION NO. 91-98 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA APPROVING THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, AND CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT WHEREAS, the State of California requires the preparation of a City of Santa Clarita General Plan to be in compliance with Title 7, Division 1, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 65300 et. seq. of the Government Code of the State of California; and WHEREAS, the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") of 1970, as amended, Public Resources Code Sections 21000-21774, require the evaluation of the Environmental Impact Report or Negative Declaration for all projects, including general plans; and WHEREAS, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (State Clearinghouse Number 90010683) was prepared, noticed and circulated for public review in compliance with the provisions of CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines; and WHEREAS, over the last two years public participation was solicited from the City of Santa Clarita for the identification of issues, policy direction, and general comments regarding the General Plan. This was accomplished through a series of study sessions, community meetings, and over 50 meetings of a 23 -member citizen's general plan advisory committee; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a series of duly noticed public hearings on the 3rd day of January 1991, continued to January 8 and 15, February 5 and 13, March 5 and 13, March 5, 14, 19 and 28, April 2, 16 and 25, and May 2, 6, 7, 13, 20 and 21, 1991, receiving, reviewing and filing all written documents and hearing arguments for and against the draft General Plan/EIR (State Clearinghouse Number 90010683) and adopted Resolution Number P91-32 recommending adoption of the General Plan and certification of the EIR to the City Council; and WHEREAS, the City Council has held a series of duly noticed public hearings on the 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 20th and 25th days of June 1991, receiving, reviewing and filing all written documents and hearing arguments for and against the draft General Plan/EIR (State Clearinghouse Number 90010683); NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, DOES HEREBY FIND AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. FINDINGS A. The General Plan/EIR as recommended by the Planning Commission, and reviewed and revised by the City Council meets the requirements of Title 7, Division 1, Chapter 3, Article 5, Sections 65300 et seq. of the Government Code and Public Resources Code Sections 21000-21774 of the State of California. B. The City Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in the final EIR and certifies the EIR prepared for the General Plan as complete and in compliance with the provisions of CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines, and the City Council Resolution No. 91-50, the City of Santa Clarita CEQA Resolution. C. The Housing Element of the Santa Clarita General Plan was submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on July 20, 1990, for review as required by Section 65585 of the Government Code of the State of California. HCDs comments were received on October 17, 1990 and have been duly considered and appropriate changes have been made to the Housing Element in response to said comments. D. The City Council adopts the following findings in regards to the Final Environmental Impact Report, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 21081 of the Public Resources Code: 1. That the following have been determined to be not significant and do not require any mitigation: Earth, Plant Life, Animal Life, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Noise, Light and Glare/Shade and Shadow, Population/Housing, Risk of Upset/Human Health and Safety, Energy, Utilities, Recreation, and Aesthetics. 2. That the EIR identifies the following potential adverse impacts which can be mitigated to a level of insignificance: a. Transportation. The City of Santa Clarita is a receptor of regional traffic in addition to traffic generated within the city, most notably traffic from north and east of the city heading to or from other parts of Los Angeles County. Existing traffic and circulation flow conditions are poor along some roadways, especially during peak commute times. The lack of adequate parallel alternate routes is the primary cause for some of this traffic. Additional growth allowed under the General Plan will increase the number of cars on Santa Clarita roads. Roadway improvements recommended in the plan require funding, the acquisition of right-of-way, and lengthy construction periods. Transportation Demand Management strategies, such as vanpools, carpools, modified employment hours, and emphasizing alternative means of transportation, could make better use of the existing roadway capacity. Additional measures to reduce traffic congestion will be contained in the Circulation Element's implementation plan. Future highway improvements are expected to provide acceptable levels of service throughout the City, although there will be a time lag between the need for facility improvements and their implementation. b. Public Services. A few of the local public services do not adequately serve the existing population. For example, each of the local school districts is over capacity, several roadways are impacted, and parks and libraries are limited. New development authorized under the proposed General Plan will further impact these areas. Full implementation of the policies contained in the General Plan will mitigate the impacts to some degree, but there will be a time lag between the anticipated growth and the completion of facilities to mitigate adverse impacts. c. Air Quality The Santa Clarita planning area is located in a region which does not meet state and federal air quality standards for ozone and .-� other criteria pollutants. The entire South Coast Air Basin is not in attainment for these pollutants. The growth anticipated in the General Plan will contribute more air pollutants to the basin. Several measures contained in the Air Quality Element will reduce the emissions normally expected from building and other activities, but these emissions cannot be mitigated entirely. Air pollutants from the Santa Clarita planning area will incrementally contribute to the existing non -attainment conditions in the South Coast Air Basin. d. Land Use. The residential, commercial, and industrial growth anticipated under the proposed General Plan will convert many undeveloped portions of the planning area to some form of development. Previous commitments between developers and the County of Los Angeles have reduced the city's power to contain development within some areas of the city. The policies of the Land Use Element will reduce potential conflicts between incompatible uses, but they cannot eliminate building in some sensitive areas, such as open space and wildlife habitat areas. 3. That a Mitigation Monitoring Program was prepared and is part of the General Plan. The Program requires specific action which the City of Santa Clarita must undertake to insure mitigation. D. Until the Development Code, which includes the zoning ordinance, subdivision r.. ordinance, grading ordinance, hillside ordinance, and sign ordinance, is brought into conformance with the General Plan, decisions on development shall conform to the General Plan. Where a conflict in direction arises, and the General Plan is the more restrictive direction it shall apply and override any zoning or subdivision regulation, except where state law requirements apply. SECTION 2. RESOLUTION A. The City Council does hereby adopt the General Plan, its accompanying maps and text, and certifies Final EIR prepared for said General Plan. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 25th day of June, 1991. TIAs(; ^24"v Carl Boyer, Mayor ATTEST: CITY CLERK STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss CITY OF SANTA CLARTTA ) I, Donna M. Grindey, 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 25th day of June, 1991, by the following vote of the Council. AYES: Councilmembers: Darcy, Heidt, Klajic, McKeon, Boyer NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSTAINED: Councilmembers: None EXCUSED: Councilmembers: None Clerk