HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-04 - AGENDA REPORTS - CIRCULATION ELEMENT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Smyth and City Councilmembers
FROM: George A. Caravalho, City Manager
DATE: March 4, 1997
SUBJECT: CIRCULATION ELEMENT
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In September the City Council approved contracts to proceed with the traffic analysis and
environmental impact report (EIR) to address alternate networks for the Circulation Element
Amendment. A Steering Committee of two members each from the Council and the Planning
Commission was established, represented by Councilmembers Darcy and Heidt and
Commissioners Brathwaite and Kilmeyer. The Steering Committee met in October,
November, and December for the purposes of considering alternatives, discussing strategies
to improve citizen participation in the process and planning for the EIR scoping meeting. On
December 4, 1996 a Community Scoping meeting was held to solicit public input on
alternatives and environmental issues to be studied in the EIR. This Community Scoping
meeting was attended by approximately 150 people and a tape of the meeting was broadcast
several times on local cable TV.
Following this Scoping meeting, City staff, the traffic consultants and the EIR consultants
have been working to define the alternatives based on information provided by the public.
All of these alternatives assume implementation of the recently adopted City Transportation
Development Plan. Five EIR alternatives are being developed as follows:
1. Existing Planned Roadway Network- The "No Project" alternative analysis required by
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
2. Newhall Ranch Road Reduction- Includes the same roadway alignments as the Existing
Planned Roadway Network except that the extension of Newhall Ranch Road, east of
Golden Valley Road, would be eliminated.
3. Golden Valley Network- Similar to the Newhall Ranch Road Reduction alternative
except for the formation of a continuous corridor east of Bouquet Canyon Road via
Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita Parkway, and Golden Valley Road.
4. Newhall Ranch Road Reduction with aggressive travel demand management (TDM)
measures.
5 Golden Valley Network with aggressive TDM measures.
Agenda Item:
At this time, the aggressive TDM measures are still under discussion and have not been
finalized. Additionally, two other EIR alternatives may be considered, depending on the
traffic model results for Alternatives 2 and 3:
6. Newhall Ranch Road Reduction and additional roadway links necessary to meet desired
levels of service.
Golden Valley Network and additional roadway links necessary to meet desired levels
of service.
A Strike -out Draft Circulation Element text has been prepared and is presently being
circulated to County traffic engineers and Caltrans for their review. This draft will become
the basis of the Circulation Element amendment text once a preferred circulation network
has been adopted. In addition to the proposed master plan of arterial highway map changes,
the Strike -out Draft Circulation Element includes policies to encourage transit, pedestrian
and bicycle uses, multi -modal and rail facilities, and multi -use trails.
The Steering Committee will reconvene in mid-March to discuss the proposed EIR
alternatives, the Strike -out Draft Circulation Element, the Draft EIR and planned public
workshops. It is anticipated that the Circulation Element Draft EIR will be released for
public review in late May or early June. Three public workshops will be held in late June,
during the Draft EIR public review period. The first Planning Commission public hearings
on the Circulation Element will begin in July. Council is anticipated to consider the Planning
Commission's recommendation and hold its first public hearing on the Circulation Element
amendment this fall.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Receive staff presentation.
ATTACHMENT
Circulation Element Advertisement and Maps
GAC:LHS:Iep
SJcd/advance/ciressr.lhs