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Home My WebLink About1997-09-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - CENTRAL CITY SPECIFIC PLAN (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval Item to be presented b, UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: September 9, 1997 SUBJECT: CENTRAL CITY SPECIFIC PLAN AND EIR. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONTRACT FOR SERVICES DEPARTMENT: Community Development BACKGROUND The Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA), the Valencia Company, and the City have agreed to prepare a specific plan and environmental impact report (EIR) for a 1,325 acre irregularly shaped site fronting on the north side of Soledad Canyon Road and the easterly side of Bouquet Canyon Road. This project; otherwise known as the Central City Specific Plan and EIR, will analyze various development alternatives on-site and ultimately result in a plan consisting of residential, commercial, and significant parkland uses. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been prepared by the City and approved by both the CLWA and the Valencia Company. The MOU outlines the desired outcomes of each agency as well as the funding responsibility. As indicated in the MOU, the three agencies will be sharing the costs of the specific plan and EIR preparation, with the City contributing funds and information from the Santa Clarita Parkway Study and Central City Park Plan. The Planning Center, an environmental consulting firm located in Orange County, has been retained to prepare the Specific Plan and EIR. Itis estimated that the cost will not exceed $950,000. RECOMMENDED ACTION Receive report and authorize the City Manager to execute both the Central City Specific Plan and EIR MOU, subject to approval by the City Attorney's office, and the contract for services with The Planning Center. Attachments 1. Memorandum of Understanding 2. Map of Subject Site S: \ CD \ ADVANCE \ CCM0 U .S. CDM' ,n Item: U �D CENTRAL CITY SPECIFIC PLAN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Preamble This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is designed to summarize the basic elements of understanding of the City of Santa Clarita, Valencia Company, and Castaic Lake Water Agency regarding preparation and approval of a specific plan and environmental impact report for a 1,325 acre irregularly shaped site fronting on the north side of Soledad Canyon Road and the easterly side of Bouquet Canyon Road, otherwise known as the Central City Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report ("Project"). The purpose of this MOU is to ensure that the City, Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water Agency have reached a non-binding understanding with respect to certain points that are fundamental to the three parties and without which, the time and effort that will go into preparing and approving the Project would not be warranted. The three parties also recognize that each of the points outlined below is essential to proceeding with the Project. The City, Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water Agency recognize that there are significant benefits to all the parties to complete the preparation and approval of the Project. Project Outcomes City of Santa Clarita: Cohesive, integrated planning to include land use, open space, circulation, and community participation High level of design standards Recognition of importance of Santa Clara River and design site accordingly Valencia Company: Vested entitlements in place for site development Approval by City of Santa Clarita Economic and market feasibility of development Castaic Lake Water Agency: • Vested entitlements in place for site development • Uses to be compatible with Agency uses, including the existing water treatment plant • Approval by City of Santa Clarita • Economic and market feasibility of development • Comprehensive evaluation and mutual agreement of the alignment of Santa Clarita Parkway • Development of high quality park on an Agency owned parcel identified in a separate park MOU. Project Management and Oversight The Project will be managed by a Steering Committee consisting of the following regular members: City of Santa Clarita: • Ken Pulskamp, Assistant City Manager • Jeffrey Lambert, Planning Manager • Fred Follstad, Associate Planner • Conal McNamara, Assistant Planner II Valencia Company: Randy Wheeler, Executive Vice -President Greg Medeiros, Project Manager Castaic Lake Water Agency: Robert Sagehorn, General Manager Lynn Takaichi, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants The Steering Committee will meet regularly in accordance with a schedule submitted by The Planning Center and approved by the Steering Committee. Additional ad hoc members may attend Steering Committee meetings as determined by Committee members. The Steering Committee shall work to oversee the development of the Project (including the Santa Clarita Parkway study and Central City Park Plan) through a consensus process. The City shall be the lead in chairing the Steering Committee and working with The Planning Center to set the agenda and record the actions/recommendations made by the Committee. Funding Responsibility The City of Santa Clarita will be the contracting agent for the Central City Specific Plan. Funding for the Central City Specific Plan shall be shared in generally equal parts by each of the three agencies. Costs to be shared shall be the total of the following amounts: Proiect Cost Central City Specific Plan and EIR $ 926,024 A enc . Share Newhall Land & Farming $ 300,000 Castaic Lake Water. Agency $ 300,000 City of Santa Clarita' $ 326,000 'Previously committed funds for Santa Clarita Parkway and Park Plan. In addition to the above costs, the City has waived a total of $56,880 in application fees which would have been collected had this project been submitted as a private specific plan application. The City shall designate an account and the Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water Agency shall deposit to this account money sufficient to pay consultant fees associated with this project. The scope of work shall be described in phases (or tasks) and funds necessary to pay for the next phase shall be further authorized by the Steering Committee prior to commencement of this next phase. Conclusion Neither the City, the Valencia Company, nor the Castaic Lake Water Agency intend this MOU to be a contract or to be bound by this MOU. Unless and until a Specific Plan is approved, either the City, Valencia Company or the Castaic Lake Water Company may, at any time and for any reason, refuse to proceed with and withdraw from the negotiations. Although this MOU is for the entire Project, the Project's scope of work for phases beyond Phase lA will be divided into multiple phases and all signatories to this MOU must agree before moving from one phase to the next. Before the commencement of each subsequent phase, moneys shall be deposited into the holding account set up by the City of Santa Clarita. By executing this MOU, the City, Valencia Company, and Castaic Lake Water Agency again wish to confirm that what is set forth in this MOU represents the basic and fundamental elements of understanding of the City, Valencia Company and Castaic Lake Water Agency regarding the basis for their going forward with the preparation and approval of the Central City Specific Plan. The foregoing sets forth our Memorandum of Understanding as of August 24, 1997. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA VALENCIA COMPANY CASTAIC LAKE WATER AGENCY George A. Caravalho City Manager ATTEST: City Clerk d\adva ce\mtrlcty.mou Randy Wheeler Executive Vice President Approved as to form: City Attorney Robert Sagehorn General Manager