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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-25 - RESOLUTIONS - MC 95-138 RYE CYN (2)RESOLUTION NO. 96-74 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA APPROVING MASTER CASE 95-138, VESTING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 51828, OAK TREE. PERMIT 95-023, AND CERTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT SC 9451043 TO SUBDIVIDE A 377 ACRE SITE INTO 62 INDUSTRIAL LOTS TO ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO 4,000,000 SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING AREA FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 25100 RYE CANYON ROAD THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council does hereby make the following findings of fact: a. An application for Master Case 95-138 was filed by the Lockheed Martin Corporation (the applicant) with the City of Santa Clarita on July 20, 1995. The application proposes: a prezone to allow for City zoning on the 377.1 acre project site from existing Los Angeles County A-2-5 (Heavy Agriculture - five acre minimum lot size) and M-1.5 (Restricted Heavy Manufacturing) to City of Santa Clarita BP (Business Park) zoning; a vesting tentative tract map to subdivide the project site into 62 industrial lots and 14 landscape maintenance and utility lots; an annexation agreement to allow for increased time lines, fee concessions, and the development of the site with up to 4,000,000 square feet of building area; an oak tree permit to allow for the removal of up to six oak trees (one of which is of heritage size); and review and certification of the environmental impact report prepared for the project. The assessor parcel numbers for the project site are 2866-006-006 and 007. b. The project site has been utilized by Lockheed Martin Corporation for research and development purposes since the late 1950's. Prior to this, the site was used for agricultural purposes. The project would include re -utilization of the site, which contains undeveloped and developed land. The site presently contains approximately 502,000 square feet of building area. C. The project site is located directly adjacent to the existing Valencia Industrial Center. d. The project site is transected by a Development restrictions in this area, Act, will be required. segment of the San Gabriel Fault. in accordance with the Alquist-Priolo e. Site habitat has been significantly disturbed due to previous use of the property. The General Plan designates the project site as BP (Business Park). g. The City of Santa Clarita prepared an Initial Study for the project on July 25, 1995, which determined that the project may have a significant effect on the environment and that an environmental impact report must be prepared. h. An Environmental Impact Report has been prepared for the proposed project pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. The EIR identifies unavoidable adverse impacts to air quality, circulation, and biology. The Environmental Impact Report has been circulated for review and comment by the affected governmental agencies and all comments received have been considered. The review period was from February 2, 1996 to March 17, 1996. j. The project includes the utilization of more level areas of the site for development. Ridges and steep slopes that define Rye Canyon would generally not be disturbed by the project. Spur ridges, within the project site, would be removed. k. The project includes an extension of water and sewer service to the individual industrial lots. Other utilities would also be extended to each of the industrial lots. .� 1. The project proposes the development of the 377 acre site with up to 4,000,000 square feet of light industrial building area. The General Plan encourages the development of business park/light industrial uses as follows: 1) Goal 2, Policy 2.18 of the Land Use Element states: Promote the retention and provide opportunities for the expansion of existing manufacturing and industrial land uses in industrial/commercial and business park locations. 2) Goal 3, Policy 3.1 states: Promote the development of City centers where more intensive land uses will be encouraged, including the development of a regional commercial center, office/business park centers, an entertainment complex, and a civic town center. in. Existing access to the site is from Rye Canyon Road. Future access would be from the extensions of Copperhill Drive and Newhall Ranch Road. Internal access would be from interconnected public streets. n. The City of Santa Clarita Development Review Committee met and supplied the applicant with draft conditions of approval. o. The project includes the preservation of approximately 79 acres of the project site as open space. Oak trees would be planted within this open space area. A duly noticed pubic hearing was held by the Planning Commission on February 20, 1996, at 7:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. At this meeting, staff summarized the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and presented a staff report on the project. At the conclusion of this meeting, the Commission directed staff and the applicant to provide additional information related to certain issues associated with the project. These issues included analysis related to oak tree removals (including a heritage tree), wildlife habitat, visual impacts, project alternatives, project amenities, fault zones, the annexation agreement and the draft environmental impact report. q. A duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on March 8, 1996, at the project site. At this meeting, staff and the Planning Commission toured the project site. r. A duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on March 19, 1996, at 7:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. At this meeting, staff returned with the requested information for the Commission's review. The Commission also took public testimony on the project and continued the item to the April 16, 1996, meeting. S. A duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on April 16, 1996, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. At this meeting, staff recommended that the Commission continue the item to the Planning Commission meeting of May 7, 1996. t. A duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on May 7, 1996, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. At this meeting, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution P96-14, recommending approval of Master Case 95-138, including certification of the EIR, to the City Council. U. A duly noticed public hearing was held by the City Council on June 11, 1996, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. The item was continued to June 25, 1996. SECTION 2. Based upon the above findings of fact, oral and written testimony and other evidence received at the public hearing held for the project, and upon studies and investigations made by the City Council and on its behalf, the City Council further finds as follows: a. At the hearing the City Council considered the Planning Commission recommendation, the staff presentation, agenda report, the Draft EIR prepared for the project, applicant presentations and public testimony on the project. b. The design of the subdivision/project and the type of improvements will not cause serious public health problems, since water, sewage disposal, and fire protection are addressed in the conditions of approval and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. C. Conditions of approval include requirements for the on-site planting of oak trees, the on-site locating of water guzzlers, the preparation of a Transit Demand Management Plan, and the implementation of contour grading for graded hillsides. d. The project complies with the findings, requirements and performance standards of the Unified Development Code. The project will comply with the requirements of the BP (Business Park) zone. e. The project is consistent with the City's General Plan. The City's General Plan designation for the site is BP (Business Park). The project applicant will be required to complete or participate in the completion of several substantial circulation improvements. g. Benefits of the project include: the expansion of business park/industrial land uses within the City, the preservation of approximately 79 acres of the project „�. site as open space, the creation of approximately 10,500 jobs at project buildout and the completion of several significant traffic improvements. h. The Final Environmental Impact Report identifies certain significant environmental effects. The Final Environmental Impact Report identifies feasible mitigation measures for each of these impacts with the exclusion of air quality, biology, and circulation which are detailed below: 1. Significance thresholds within the South Coast Air Quality Management Districts (SCAQMD) Air Quality Handbook are expressed as absolute numbers and do not distinguish between the size of the site and the size of the project. The purpose of structuring the threshold in this way is to allow for local jurisdictions to incorporate design features and mitigation measures to reduce pollutant emissions of large projects which may exceed pollution standards for concentration standards, but would be regionally significant because of sheer volume. During the construction activities, PM10 emissions would exceed the thresholds by 597 pounds per day. Once construction activities are concluded, the project, with mitigation measures would not create significant impacts to local air quality. The post -construction occupancy has the potential to exceed SCAQMD's thresholds for emissions for regional air quality based on its traffic to employment ratio. However, the project's location within a housing rich area is a mitigating factor by creating up to .. _ 10,500 jobs locally. 2. The proposed project would remove six Valley Oak trees within the project site. One of the trees is a Heritage tree as defined by the Cities Oak Tree Ordinance. The applicant is proposing a 1 to 100 replacement ratio. While the replacement program exceeds the monetary value of the trees there is an aesthetic and biologic loss. The loss of 139 acres of semi -natural habitat is considered a non-significant adverse impact since 79 acres of enhanced habitat area will be created on site. 3. The traffic study, incorporated within the EIR, assumes that certain levels of roadway improvements will be constructed over time until project buildout occurs. If these improvements are constructed and project related mitigation is in place, circulation impacts associated with this project would be reduced to a less than significant level. If these improvements are not constructed within this time frame and development of the project site proceeds, adverse unavoidable impacts to area circulation could occur. During the development stage, the applicant shall submit traffic studies that address any of the impacts associated with circulation network shortfalls and any appropriate mitigation measures and correct the deficiencies. SECTION 3. The City of Santa Clarita City Council has reviewed and considered the environmental information contained in the Final Environmental Impact Report, and determines that it is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. Based upon the findings stated, the City Council hereby certifies the Final Environmental Impact Report for Master Case 95-138. The City Council finds that the unavoidable environmental impacts of the project are acceptable when balanced against the benefits of the project. This determination is made based upon the following factors and public benefits. The factors are as follows: a. The project provides a significant expansion of the City's primary business park/light industrial area. b. The project will result in the creation of approximately 10,500 jobs, substantially improving the City's existing jobs/housing balance. The City is presently housing -rich. C. The project results in the preservation, in perpetuity, of approximately 89 acres of open space. Substantial oak tree plantings will be required in this open space area. d. The annexation of a portion of the site will benefit the City of Santa Clarita by extending local government and control. Eventual buildout of the property will increase local property tax revenues obtained by the City. e. The project will complete, or participate in the completion of, several significant traffic improvements that will benefit area circulation. f. The project will result in the re -utilization of a previously used industrial property. SECTION 4. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings, the City Council hereby finds as follows: a. A Final Environmental Impact Report which includes the Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Plan and Response to Comments have been prepared and circulated in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. A Statement of Overriding Considerations has been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act included in Resolution 96-74. b. The project will not adversely affect the health, peace, comfort or welfare of persons residing in the area; nor be materially detrimental to the use, enjoyment or valuation of property in the vicinity of the project site; nor jeopardize, endanger, or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health, safety, or general welfare since the project conforms to the UDC and is compatible with surrounding land uses. C. The project is compatible with existing development in the area and consistent with the General Plan and complies with zoning requirements. d. The applicant has substantiated the findings for approving a vesting tentative tract map and oak tree permit. e. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65907 and Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6, any action or proceeding to attach, review, set aside, void or annul this decision, or concerning any proceedings, acts, or determinations taken, done or made prior to such decision or to determine the reasonableness, legality, or validity of any condition attached to this decision shall not be maintained by any person unless the action or proceeding is commenced within 90 days of the date of this resolution and the City Council is served within 120 days of the date of this resolution. The City Clerk shall send a certified copy of this resolution to the applicant, and if any, the appellant at the address of said person set forth in the record of the proceedings and such mailing shall constitute the notice required by Civil Code Procedure 1094.6. SECTION 5. The City Council hereby approves Master Case 95-138 (Vesting Tentative Tract Map 51828 and Oak Tree Permit 95-023) subject to the conditions of approval, and certifies the FEIR (SC 95041049) prepared for the project, including the adoption of a statement of overriding considerations. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 25 day of June 19 96. MAYOR ATTEST: ITY CLERK STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) § CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Donna M. Grindey, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do 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 25 day of June 19 96 by the following vote of Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Darcy, Klajic, Smyth, Heidt, Boyer NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None Counci1\res9674.gea 7 CLERK