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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-09-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - DEVAGMT 87 172 5 (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approva Ayfln to.be presenteCONSENT CALENDAR M. Harris DATE: September 8, 1992 SUBJECT: County Project Review: Northlake Specific Plan (Cook Ranch Associates) Sub -plan Amendment, Zone Change, and Development Agreement No. 87-172-(5). Resolution No. 92-169 expressing conditional support for the Northlake proposal in the County of Los Angeles. DEPARTMENT: Community Development I I;T "CWT$Iolk I f This project is a proposal to the County. of Los Angeles by Cook Ranch Associates to develop a 1330 -acre (approx.) property, east of Interstate 5, west of Castaic Lake, extending along Grasshopper Canyon generally north of the community of Castaic (See attached map.) The project includes a Specific Plan to allow the development of the site as follows: 3623 dwelling units on 600.3 acres (2,337 single family units and 1,286 multi -family units); 169,884 square feet of highway/ community commercial on 13.2 acres; 545,589 square feet of light industrial on 50.1 acres; golf/tennis/swimming facilities on.166.9 acres; 476.4 acres of open space; an 11.9 -acre elementary school with 5 -acre park site, and an 11.2 -acre elementary school with 5 -acre park site. To implement this Specific Plan, the applicant is requesting that the County approve a General Plan Sub -plan Amendment, Zone Change, and a Development Agreement. This project includes proposed uses which appear to be consistent with the designations shown for the project site on the City's Valley -wide General Plan land use map. Staff has reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and proposed Development Agreement prepared for the project and has prepared the attached draft letter to Mr. James Hartl, Director of Los Angeles County Regional Planning for inclusion and response into the Final EIR. The primary areas of concern are: 1. Developer Contributions (as contained in the Development Agreement); 2. Hillside Densities; 3. Traffic and Circulation; 4. :Project Alternatives Analysis In addition, staff has prepared a draft resolution for presentation to the County of Los Angeles, requesting that the County. address these concerns. With minor project modifications, staff feels that the.City of Santa Clarita can support this proposed project. This project presents an opportunity.for the applicant to develop this site.while providing the County with much needed infrastructure improvements. RECOMMENDATION: Review attachments, adopt Resolution No. 92-169 and direct staff to transmit the attached letter and Resolution No. 92-169 indicating conditional support of the Northlake project to Los Angeles County. MJC:685 Adopted: 9 -w —2 Agenda Item, RESOLUTION NO. 92-169 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, TO THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES EXPRESSING CONDITIONAL SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED NORTHLAKE SPECIFIC PLAN AND DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, PROJECT NO. 87-172-(5) (REQUESTING SUB -PLAN AMENDMENT; ZONE CHANGE; DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT) IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY. WHEREAS, the County of Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will be considering the proposed Northlake Specific Plan, including the development of 1330 acres with 3623 dwelling units; 169,884 square feet of highway/community commercial; 545,589 square feet of light industrial; golf/tennis/swimming facility; 476 acres of open space. WHEREAS, the project site is an approximately 1,330 -acre property located east of Interstate 5, west of Castaic Lake, extending along Grasshopper Canyon' generally northeast of the community of Castaic, and approximately nine miles north-northwest of the City of Santa Clarita; and WHEREAS, the project proponent has proposed a specific plan to allow multiple -use development of residential, commercial, industrial, open space, recreation, and public service uses (including roadway and traffic signal improvements, drainage facilities, water reclamation plan with optional. on-site wastewater treatment facility); and WHEREAS, the project proponent has requested to enter into a development agreement to provide additional improvements and contributions beyond those. normally required as a condition of development approval. The additional improvements and contributions to be provided by the developer include: Two school and park sites within -the project; a school administration site within or adjacent to the project; a library site within or adjacent to the project a fire station site within or adjacent to the project; a freeway landscaping agreement between the developer and Caltrans, the Castaic ChamberofCommerce, and/or the Castaic Town Council, with a contribution of $234,461.00 over four. years (by 1996); and an 18 -hole golf course open to the general public; and WHEREAS, the project applicant has requested the following entitlements: 1) Sub -plan amendment request to amend the. Land Use Policy Map of the Los Angeles County General Plan from residential categories 11", "2", and 031, C (Commercial), R (Non Urban), I (Industrial), 0 (Open space), and P (Public and Semi -Public Facilities) to Specific Plan; and To amend the Land Use Policy Map of the Santa Clarita Valley Areawide Plan from Ul (1.1 to 3.3 dwelling units per acre), U2 (3.4 to 6.6 dwelling units -per acre), U3 (6.7 to 15 dwelling units per acre), N1 (Maximum 5 dwelling units per. acre), N2 (0.5 dwelling unitsper acre), HM (Hillside Management), M (Manufacturing), C (Commercial), and P (Public Facilities) to Specific Plan. 2) Zone change request from A-2-2 (Heavy Agricultural, 2 acre minimum), M-1 (Light Manufacturing), C-3 (Unlimited Commercial), 0-S (Open Space) and W (Watershed) to Specific Plan. 3) Development agreement, in the form of a bilateral contract by and between the County of Los Angeles and Cook Ranch Associates relative to the development of the subject property, would obligate, the developer to reserve certain portions of the site for public use and construct infrastructure improvements to serve the project and adjacent area; and WHEREAS, the Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared for this project identifies areas of substantial environmental impact, including impacts to geology, hydrology and drainage, traffic and circulation, air quality, water service, sewage disposal, fire and police protection, educational facilities,, biota, scenic qualities, library services, and solid waste disposal; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita (the City) has identified areas of concern which should be expanded within the Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared for this project, and include: 1) Analysis of impacts to hillsides and ridgelines, including the specific limitations which would result if the .County Hillside. Management guidelines were applied to the proposed development. 2) Consideration and expansion of the traffic analysis to include study of the Rye Canyon Road/The Old Road intersection, The Old Road/Magic Mountain Parkway intersection,. Rye Canyon Road/Avenue Scott intersection, and Magic Mountain Parkway/McBean Parkway' intersection. 3) Consideration of public transit opportunities with ,facilities to accommodate shuttle service and bus turn -outs at the project site, in addition to the development of a rideshare program for area residents. WHEREAS, the proposed development may provide positive benefits to the community of Castaic and the Santa Clarita Valley by providing needed infrastructure improvements, employment opportunities, educational sites, fire protection, recreational opportunities, and improved levels of service; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita desires to provide formal comment and testimony to the County of Los Angeles on the proposed project and the related Environmental Impact Report, all to be a part of the official record. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND FIND AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City finds that although some of the impacts of this project may be adequately mitigated by measures identified in the Draft' Environmental Impact Report and proposed Development Agreement, project impacts to hillsides and ridgelines, public transit, roadways and intersections in and adjacent to the City of Santa Clarita, have, not been adequately addressed nor appropriate mitigation measures proposed, as addressed in the City's comment letter on the Draft EIR, dated September 9, 1992, incorporated herein by reference as Attachment 1. The City requests that the County accept the responsibility for the identification and mitigation of the impacts of this project, and the cumulative project impacts on the City circulation network, infrastructure, and levels of service. SECTION 2. The proposed Development Agreement would require the developer to provide additional infrastructure improvements and monetary contributions which would provide utilities and services benefiting the community of Castaic and the Santa Clarita Valley. SECTION 3. The City of Santa Clarita requests that the proposed Development Agreement be revised to address the following: 1) Delete the option to remove the golf course from public availability. Considering the lack of recreational opportunities for . the existing number of residents in the Castaic (and Santa Clarita Valley) area, the perpetual availability of this golf course to the general public would provide optimum benefit to the community. 2) To assure availability to the general public, the proposed 5 -acre parks (adjacent to the two proposed school sites) should be dedicated to, operated, and maintained by the County. 3) The proposed swimming and tennis facility should also be made available for use by the general public. SECTION 4. The City supports and encourages the use of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation purposes. SECTION 5. The City supports and encourages additional recreational opportunities to the Santa Clarita Valley SECTION 6. The City encourages and supports the establishment of the. improved and additional public service infrastructure associated with this project including the proposed roadway and intersection improvements, the two school/park sites, the school district administration site, the fire station site, the library site, freeway landscaping, golf course/tennis/swimming; facility, and possible on-site water reclamation plant. SECTION 7. The City requests that the environmental assessment prepared for this project be expanded to address the potential impacts on hillsides and ridgelines at the project site, traffic impacts to roadways and intersections within and adjacent to the City of Santa Clarita, public transit opportunities, and additional alternatives feasible for the project site which., can accomplish the same objectives as the original proposal; and, that this evaluation, together with a response and full assessment of the environmental impacts identified in the City's comments be included in the Final EIR prior to certification and carefully considered. prior to any approvals being granted for this project. SECTION S. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this . Resolution and certify this record to be a full true correct copy of the action taken. PASSED; APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of 1992. Jill Klajic, Mayor ATTEST: DONNA GRINDEY, CITY CLERK I 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 day of 1992, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILME11BERS NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS DONNA GRINDEY, CITY CLERK PROJECT SITE REGIONAL iLOCATION MAP ew 464, Tortilake CASTAIC LAKE CASTAIC BOUQUET CANYON VAL VERDE N VICINITY MAP SCALE V-5000,