The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1996-09-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - UDC GATING ROADWAY DRIVEWAYS (2)UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 1996 City Manager Approi Item to be presented Jeff Lambert SUBJECT: AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE REGULATING THE GATING OF ROADWAYS AND DRIVEWAYS (MASTER CASE NO. 96-005, UDC AMENDMENT 96-001)- ORDINANCE NO. 96-14 VERSION B. DEPARTMENT: Community Development On September 10, 1996, the City Council held a public hearing on the two proposed versions of the gate ordinance, version A (Planning Commission direction) and version B (City Council direction). After receiving a presentation from staff and Planning Commissioner Jerry Cherrington, the Council discussed the item and then opened the public hearing. Several people spoke in favor of version B of the ordinance citing concerns that existing gates and gate locations be exempt from the new gate standards. Following the public testimony, the Council closed the public hearing and adopted the negative declaration prepared for this project. The Council then determined that they favored version B of Ordinance No. 96-14, introduced that version, waived further reading and passed to a second reading. Version B exempts all legal, existing gates from the new development standards. City Council waive further reading and adopt Ordinance No. 96-14 Version B for the purpose of amending the Santa Clarita Unified Development Code to regulate the gating of roadways and driveways. Version B of Ordinance No. 96-14 sAcd\advance\gatecarUhs Adopted: 2 - 24- q6�, Agenda Item:- ORDINANCE NO. 96-14 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE SANTA CLARITA UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO REGULATE GATING OF ROADWAYS AND DRIVEWAYS WHEREAS, the Planning Commission discussed establishment of a policy on gated communities at their regularly scheduled meeting of October 17, 1995, and made a recommendation for City Council consideration; WHEREAS, the City Council considered the Planning Commission recommendation at their regular meeting of November 14, 1995, and directed staff to prepare amendments to the General Plan Land Use Element and Circulation Element to include specific policies regulating the establishment of gated communities and directed staff to prepare an amendment to the Unified Development Code to establish speck development criteria for establishment of gated communities; WHEREAS, the City's General Plan Circulation Element encourages improvement of circulation facilities to provide improved levels of service and standards of safety over current traffic operations with a priority to improve local traffic patterns (Circulation Element policy 1,1) and seeks to maximize and improve the operating efficiency and safety of the existing roadway system wherever possible (Circulation Element policy 1.9); WHEREAS, the City's General Plan Land Use Element Goal Four ensures that development in the City is consistent with the overall community character and that it contributes in a positive way toward the City's image; WHEREAS, this ordinance amending the City's zoning and general procedures codes is consistent with the General Plan including the Land Use and Circulation Elements; WHEREAS, the City desires to meet its regional housing need as determined by the Southern California Association of Governments (SLAG) and has considered the effect of this ordinance upon regional housing opportunities as required by Government Code Section 65863.6; 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 Negative Declaration for projects such as amendments to the Unified Development Code; WHEREAS, a Negative Declaration for these Unified Development Code amendments was prepared, noticed, and circulated for public review in compliance with the provisions of CEQA and the City's Environmental Guidelines; WHEREAS, following the City Council direction and in accordance with Government Code Section 65854, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on March 5, 1996. This public hearing was noticed in accordance with Government Code Section 65091. The Commission recommended the following UDC amendment to the City Council to establish development criteria for gated communities; WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on April 23, 1996 and directed staff to hold a public meeting to receive more public input on the ordinance and return to the Planning Commission for further consideration; WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held duly noticed public hearings on June 4, 1996 and on July 16, 1996. The Commission considered two versions of the ordinance to establish development criteria for gated communities and recommended the City Council adopt Version A. WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on September 10, 1996. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That Section 17.07.117 of the Santa Clarita Unified Development Code shall be amended to add Section 17.07.117.5 to read as follows: "117.5 GATE shall mean any barrier across a roadway that restricts the access of vehicles. For purposes of gating, a roadway shall also mean driveways." SECTION 2. That Section 17.17.040 of the Santa Clarita Unified Development Code shall be amended to add new Section 17.17.040(M) as follows: "M. Gating of Roadways. All proposed permanent gates in residential areas shall be subject to the following requirements. Temporary barriers erected for emergency response, repair or special event purposes are not subject to these requirements. Driveways are considered roadways for the purpose of these gating requirements. 1. Public roadways. Gating of public roadways is prohibited. 2. Private roadways serving one single family residence. Gating for this use is permitted subject to the criteria set forth in paragraph 6 of this section. 3. Private roadways serving two to five single family residential units. Gating for these uses is subject to a Minor Use Permit and the criteria set forth in paragraph 6 of this section. 4. Private roadwaysserving fifteen multi -family units or less. Gating for these uses is subject to a Minor Use Permit and the criteria set forth in paragraph 5 of this section. -2- 5. Private roadways serving more than five single family Units or more than fifteen multi -family unit . Gating for these uses is subject to a Conditional Use Permit and the following criteria: a. The gate shall not block area -wide through routes or block access for roadways to serve future development.. b. All property owners within the area to be gated shall agree to be part of the application unless all property owners within the area to be gated are members of an operative homeowners association (HOA), in which case the application shall be made by the HOA. C. Adequate stacking distance, turnaround areas, public safety elements and signing shall be included in the gate design. All gates shall meet fire department requirements and provide passage with unobstructed vertical clearance. d. Access shall be provided at all times for police, fire, city inspection, dial -a -ride, utility, and other health and safety-related vehicles. e. A homeowners association and/or other appropriate entity shall provide for on-going, private maintenance of internal streets, gate equipment, walls and landscaping. No public, resources shall be allocated for maintaining private property. f. The gate design and implementation shall be such that it does not pose a threat to public health, safety or welfare, g. Where the gate is to serve only single family residences, the criteria of paragraph 6 of this section shall apply. 6. Cates serving single-family residence(s). In no instance shall a gate be less than 20 feet from the public right-of-way for major and secondary highways and residential collectors-" SECTION 3. That any gate as defined by this Ordinance existing at the time of adoption of this Ordinance which has received an approval from either the City or the County is deemed exempt from the requirements of this ordinance SECTION 4. Where commercial property maybe affected by a proposed gate subject to a Minor Use Permit or a Conditional Use Permit, the applicant(s) shall submit an economic analysis as part of the application submittal to address the economic impacts of the gate upon affected commercial properties. SF,C�TION 5. That the Initial Study and Negative Declaration for this project have been prepared, reviewed, considered, and found complete in accordance with the provisions of CEQA -3- and the City's Environmental Guidelines and the City Council has adopted the Negative Declaration for this project. SECTION & That if any portion of this Ordinance is held to be invalid that portion shall be stricken and severed, and the remaining portions shall be unaffected and remain in full force and effect. SE_�CT_ION 7. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause it to be published in the, manner prescribed by law. Ordinance No. 96-14 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of September, 1996. Mayor ATTEST) r City aerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) § CITY OF SANTA CLARITA) I, George Caravalho, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing Ordinance was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 10th day of September, 1996. That thereafter, said Ordinance was duly adopted and passed at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 24th day of September, 1996, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Darcy, Heidt, Smyth, Boyer NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: 104iic