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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - PLANNING CITY CENTER (2)City Manager Approval Item to be presented by: Jeffrey Lambert NEW BUSINESS DATE: November 26,1996 SUBJECT: PLANNING FOR THE CITY CENTER DEPARTMENT: Community Development For the purposes of this discussion, the "City Center" is that portion of the City generally bordered by Bouquet Canyon on the west and north, Soledad Canyon on the south, and the transmission power line easement on the east. The property is owned by Newhall Land and Farming (NL&F), approximately 750 acres, and the. Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA), approximately 700 acres, and is undeveloped other than the CLWA Water Treatment Plant. This property is the largest undeveloped and unentitled property within the current boundaries of the City and has the potential to physically connect the communities of Saugus, Newhall, Canyon Country and Valencia. Two planning efforts are currently underway for portions of this property: (1) Santa Clarita Parkway alignment study and (2) Central City Park planning and first phase design. City staff, in discussions with both property owners, agree that planning for these two components of this City Center area would be better served by a comprehensive planning effort which would integrate these specific projects with future land uses and additional roadway alignments. City staff has reviewed the potential for this property and has determined that the best approach to plan for the future of this important part of the City is to prepare a Specific Plan. The following are the expected outcomes from the proposed Specific Plan:. • Santa Clarita Parkway alignment and design • Center City Park design • Specific entitlements for land uses within the NL&F property (Pan Handle) • Specific entitlements for land uses within the CLWA property • Santa Clarita River edge plan tJ�Agenda Iter:. • Newhall Ranch Road east to Golden Valley alignment and design • Relationship of this property to surrounding properties • Relationship of the development of this property to the City's vision and the Valley Center General Plan designation • Extensive community participation The proposed Specific Plan would be accomplished through an extensive public participation program and would be funded by CLWA, NL&F and existing City funding sources. Upon authorization to proceed from the City Council, staff will prepare a Request for Qualifications to select a firm to prepare the Specific Plan and will return to the City Council with a request to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with this firm. At this time staff will prepare a detailed budget for this work effort which will include specific fair share financial responsibility for funding this project. Staff expects this Specific Plan to take approximately twelve (12) months to complete. Receive report and direct City staff to circulate a Request for Qualifications and prepare a recommendation to the City Council to select a firm to prepare a Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report. Copy of Development of the Central City Area Key Issues dated August 21, 1996 Vicinity map of the subject area JJL:Iep cd\council\cntrlcty.rpt , DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTRAL CITY AREA AUGUST 21,199 Key Issues I. Santa Clarita Parkway Identifying an alignment for Santa Clarita Parkway is an essential first step in developing an integrated plan for the Central City area. Issues related to this step include: A. Timing • Central City Park is a high priority for the City, and is ready for implementation, but for identification of the SC Parkway alignment. • The Porta Bella project has been approved, and includes a connection to Santa Clarity Parkway, Implementation of the project requires identification of the alignment, especially at the point where the road will enter the development. Valencia Company has done preliminary planning in the area, and has identified various alignments of Santa Clarita Parkway in the process. Their time frame is less urgent than others, but the alignment needs to be identified in order for them to proceed beyond the conceptual planning level. Castarc Lake Water Agency is in the process of developing an integrated water resources plan, and is considering development of parts of its property. Like the other developments, an alignment needs to be identified in order to consider appropriate development plans for their property. B. Existing Alignment Constraints • The Central Citv Park plan includes a preferred alignment, and changes to this proposed alignment will require going back to the drawing board (and the community participants) to re-evaluate the plan. • While there is some flexibility in the location of the road at the south end, entering the Porta Bella project, the location is generally constrained by the alignment identified in the approved plan. Two distinctly different alignment preferences (east and west of the water tank) have been voiced, related to the existing water tank. Each of these preferences raises a separate set of benefits and liabilities that must be thoroughly analyzed as a foundation for a sound alignment decision. Existing physical and environmental constraints must be identified as soon as possible, prior to discussion of any alignment preferences. These constraints include cottonwood trees, existing rights of way (water pipelines), proximity to existing homes, Santa Clara River, railroad tracks, and ridge line construction restrictions. C. Aesthetics • Each alignment will raise different aesthetic concerns, including grading (road footprint), relationship to pedestrian paths; view of the park from the road, and a possible bridge with an architectural statement. Analysis of the aesthetic value of each alignment is necessary. II. Process Participants in the 8/21196 planning meeting expressed a desire to continue a collaborative planning process, and identified the Specific Plan process as a way to continue working together. An additional process for participation should be established to include stakeholders whose plans do not require the specific plan process. This process should also include community involvement. • Participants in the Specific Plan process (landowners, City of Santa Clarita) must continue collaborative process to ensure implementation of the shared vision. • Separate process should be established to include Porta Bella, local residents and other interested groups. Central City Area Planning --Page 2 Ir Ile CASTAIC LAKE WATER AGENCY 4�,� I Ili- -. -j4 QU 40 2-11 11 m / 717 )9 ZT) tI lee pl, -ow tj ANA - ka. q ANEWHALL LAND AND FARMING `Ill —T-- 9 9— 5, th""ONN' M Ile CRY PROPEM Ail AWO XM Ilk Jill I