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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-14 - RESOLUTIONS - NEWHALL RANCH SPECIFIC PLAN (2)RESOLUTION NO. 97-8 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, REQUESTING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMSSION WITHHOLD APPROVAL OF THE NEWHALL RANCH SPECIFIC PLAN UNTIL SUCH TIME AS ISSUES RAISED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA HAVE BEEN RESOLVED 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. The Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission is currently considering action to approve the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan (Project). b. This Project is a large planned community with approximately 25,000 residential units located within the Santa Clarita Valley, outside the current City of Santa Clarita boundary. C. This Project is located within the geographic area included in the City of Santa Clarita General Plan and is designated RE (Residential Estate), RVL (Residential Very Low), and BP (Business Park). d. The City has reviewed this Project and the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and has submitted written comments to the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning in a letter dated October 28, 1996. e. Councilmember Jan Heidt testified on behalf of the City of Santa Clarita City Council at the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission November 6, 1996 public hearing f. The City Council has discussed the City's position regarding this project at the City Council Study Sessions on November 5, 1996 and January 7, 1997. g. The Santa Clarita Valley has a shortage of infrastructure such as sewers, roads, mass transit, schools, fire, Sheriff facilities, libraries, parks, recreational programs, and youth and adult services. This Project, without appropriate mitigations, would worsen the current infrastructure shortages. h. It is generally understood that urban sprawl has had, and will continue to have, a detrimental effect on urban and rural communities in California. This Project, not adequately mitigated, may have a detrimental effect on the Santa Clarita Valley and the City of Santa Clarita. i. The City has discussed its areas of concern with the Project applicant on several occasions and has made little progress toward resolving the issues raised by the City. The Project applicant has not yet resolved many of the issues and concerns raised by the City Council. SECTION 2. Based upon the foregoing findings, the City Council hereby requests the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission continue deliberations on this Project until such time as the following issues have been addressed with the City of Santa Clarita by the Project applicant: Building Newhall Ranch according to the City's Development standards, including the integration of our standard street widths throughout the project, grading activities consistent with our Hillside Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance, protection of the native oak trees in accordance with our Oak Tree Ordinance, and the incorporation of residential, commercial, and industrial developments which would meet the City's Unified Development Code standards. Developing the project according to goals listed in the Joint City -County Planning Program Background report, which was prepared jointly by the County Planning Department and the City's Community Development Department. This was accepted as a policy document in December of 1992. The policy states that, "...as the City has grown, so has its awareness of the need to work together with the County. Ultimately, the quality of life in the Santa Clarita Valley will depend heavily on how this happens." The promotion of compatible and sound planning and the enhancement of the quality of life in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the Santa Clarita Valley, along with the promotion of compatible land use policies and development standards in the Santa Clarita Valley, are just two of the goals listed that should be attained. • The Environmental Impact Report should address the impacts of Proposition 218 on the Project's financing mechanisms. • Provide justification for the dramatic increase in residential density in this Project over the current Los Angeles County General Plan and Santa Clarita General Plan. Additional justifications should be included before any increase in the current General Plan densities are approved. • Relocate the proposed library from the mixed use village of Potrero Valley to Riverwood for greater accessibility to the general public. • Remove all residential housing units in the High Country Special Management area, in order to better protect the Santa Susana Mountains Significant Ecological Area. • Ensure that any development of the designated right-of-way areas near the Salt Creek Corridor be subject to detailed environmental review and public comment to ensure impacts to this major wildlife corridor are eliminated. • Discussion of the different alternatives for bank stabilization of the Santa Clara River, and justification as to why the use of ungrouted rip -rap is the preferable option. If alternatives to this type of bank stabilization have not been discussed with the State Department of Fish and Game, then such discussions should be initiated. The City feels that the best alternative to using ungrouted rip -rap for channelization of the river is to not build anything in the floodplain at all. • Dedicate, immediately upon approval of the Specific Plan, the Santa Clara River corridor -- and Santa Susan Mountains to the the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy or other similar public agency based in the Southern California region. Incorporate landform grading techniques in all hillside areas, as opposed to designing the project with typical grading practices. In addition to using this grading technique, the hillsides should be planted with native slope materials. Address and incorporate the standards of the revised municipal stormwater NPDES permit into the evaluation of potential water quality impacts for the project. This Permit was adopted on July 15, 1996, a date which coincides with the release of the Newhall Ranch DEIR for public review. We acknowledge that the requirements of the revised Permit were not available to be addressed during the preparation of the DEIR, but feel that the revised Permit should be addressed prior to certification of the final EIR. • Specification of criteria for the "Santa Clara River Corridor Concept" that good surface runoff water quality be maintained through prevention or minimization of non -point source pollutants. The proposed land uses will establish a new source of potential surface runoff pollutants which may adversely impact the biological resources of the Santa Clara River. • The description of the functions of water quality basins throughout the Specific Plan area. The DEER stated that sixteen water quality basins are located throughout the project site. The DEIR should also describe how they will maintain good surface water quality, and if they will be used to provide data for program monitoring. • The update and expansion of Best Management Practices in the DEIR. Pollution prevention/reduction activities should also be incorporated in the Specific Plan as an ongoing community program. • The preparation and approval of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program for the project. • Furthering the description of the project's use of reclaimed water, expanding upon the possibility of integrating the Newhall Ranch reclaimed water system with other existing and future Santa Clarita Valley reclaimed water systems. • Describe the proposed changes to the Santa Clara River Significant Ecological Area. If it is the case that the area being removed from this SEA is being eliminated because it does not contain the sensitive habitat that a true Significant Ecological Area contains, then that should be clearly stated in the Biota Section of the DEIR. • Expand the project's traffic report to include: An expansion of the Specific Plan Trip Components to show the percent of Specific Plan trip -ends into the existing boundary of the City of Santa Clarita, including fluctuations of these trip -ends over the years; The analysis of traffic impacts at different phases of project construction; Further analysis of the traffic impacts caused by the potential deletion of Pico Canyon Road from the Master Plan of Highways. The DEIR shows no impact on Lyons Avenue, McBean Parkway, Valencia Boulevard, Magic Mountain Parkway, or Newhall Ranch Road eat of the I-5 within the City area. This needs to be -- revisited for accuracy, and also should include a.m./p.m. peaks. The City always recommends that projects contain various access points, and discourages the deletion of such; Include all proposed roadways on-site, along with the connection links, of an adequate right-of-way width to accommodate on -street bike lanes;"and Alternative analyses to the Conceptual Alternative Highway Plan. This Plan could vary as the City is in the process of amending the General Plan/Circulation Element. There are significant deletions/changes which we do not anticipate will take place. Some alternatives might be controversial, such as the deletion of the extension of Avenue Tibbits to Tourney Road at Magic Mountain Parkway. This is a major link to the industrial area, and its deletion has a significant impact on McBean Parkway .... it causes McBean to carry over 70,000 cars per day. The traffic analysis should included a study of the impacts of this Project on the circulation in the Santa Clarita Valley without the construction of State Highway 126 between the I-5 and I-14 freeways. The City is not prepared at this time to request specific mitigation regarding the project's traffic impacts. Once the above mentioned issues have been addressed, the City will be suggesting mitigation measures to lessen the impacts of Newhall Ranch on City Circulation. The adequate expansion of roadways which connect our two communities to carry the passenger cars, service vehicles, and public transit buses generated by the project, especially due to the interim period of time in which residents will need City services. Commercial/industrial construction always occurs after the commencement of residential construction, thus the City will be providing for the Newhall Ranch residents services during the beginning phases of the project's construction. • Describe the project phasing in the DEIR in order to more accurately anticipate the geographic distribution of transit trips. The City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Metrolink will benefit from this analysis. • Address the lack of a future estimate of transit need in the DEIR. The projects major infrastructure needs to be able to accommodate transit service, and should not be designed at subdivision stages. This is too late. • Provide for Mass Transit. The applicant should be responsible for the restoration of the Metrolink line, as opposed to solely reserving the right-of-way for such. Grant funds have been identified by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and the Regional Planning Commission should require the applicant of Newhall Ranch to work with VCTC to secure the necessary funding for the restoration of the rail line. • Address the financing of the future transit need for the project at full build -out. As of --. now, the Santa Clarita Transit fleet would need to be expanded by 48 buses in order to serve the project site. Additionally, the hourly cost to provide such service would be approximately $42 per hour in 1996 dollars. These costs don't even include the cost of roadway improvements needed to ensure that Santa Clarita Transit's currently operating routes are not impacted by the Newhall Ranch Project. • Ensure that future developers will provide for non -motorized modes of transportation -- at future subdivision stages. This should, at present, include the incorporation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. • Resolve and specifically describe the financing and/or reimbursement plan for the Water Reclamation Plant. • Establish specific measures that the project will take to reduce/dispose of solid waste, assuming that no new construction or expansion of existing landfills will occur. • Provide assurance that the developer will require future subdividers to incorporate residential design standards to accommodate solid waste/recycling efforts. It is not enough to just reiterate the fact that Newhall Ranch will meet the minimum County requirements with regard to handling solid waste. • Incorporate standards for composting and material recovery facilities throughout the project site. • Provide for the addition of active parkland to the project site. Using City standards, the developer would receive 30 percent credit towards Quimby requirements for private facilities. At a total requirement of 230 acres of parkland, 30 percent credit would be about 70 acres for a remaining balance of 160 acres. Neighborhood and community parks with active uses total about 113 acres, leaving approximately 47 acres yet to be credited towards Quimby requirements. A major sports center should be added to the project which would accommodate community tournaments or league play. Currently, there are no plans for such a facility. Describe the financing and staffing of public parks. Who will maintain the parks? Who will pay for the maintenance? What recreation programs/staff will be provided by the applicant? As of right now, The City provides extensive parks and recreation programs which are open to all residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. Additionally, the City is bound by agreements with the County which preclude the City from charging non- resident fees. Many of the residents we serve live in Stevenson Ranch, Val Verde, North Valencia, Saugus, and Agua Dulce. The County does not currently fund any recreation programs in the Santa Clarita Valley, and the City's Parks & Recreation services cannot adequately address the needs of an additional population such as that of Newhall Ranch. Publicly funded programs must be identified an funded for this project. Describe the funding and staffing of additional programs. Programs such as teen Anti - Gang programs, should be incorporated into the Newhall Ranch project. • Include equestrian trails along the Santa Clara River corridor. The Regional Santa Clara River Trail spans from the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, west to the pacific Ocean in Oxnard. The City has developed a portion of this trail which would also traverse through the Newhall Ranch project. The DEIR addresses the Santa Clara River Trail as it relates to bicycles and pedestrians, but does not address the equestrian -� element. Tie the project's trail system into the Santa Susana Mountains to Pico Canyon Trail. The applicant has stated that topography dictates this as an impossible task, but the City is not convinced that this is so. The massive size of this project should be able to somehow provide a route across the site to Pico Canyon Trail. • Directly connect the project's trail system and the City's trails system. Currently, gaps exist between the project's proposed trail system and the City's trail system. It does not make sense to provide such an extensive trail system only for their residents of Newhall Ranch to use, but not be able to provide a regional link for the enjoyment of the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. If Newhall Ranch has negative affects on the Valley, then the applicants should go the extra mile to provide amenities for the Valley. Reach agreement between the William S. Hart High School District and the Castaic Union School District for school services. This should be accomplished prior to any project approval. The youth are our future, the school districts know what they need to provide a good education, and the applicant should be more than willing to provide it. Full mitigation for the project's impacts on schools should be based on the School District's Methodology. Describe the phasing for the development of schools. The DEER does not address timing for school development, thus it is anticipated that the City will be negatively impacted by the buildout of the project in the short-term, or until the facilities are developed and operational, however long that may be. Specific mitigation for school impacts should be addressed in relation to the phasing of the project, as well as the mechanism being proposed for the implementation of school facility development. • Provide for appropriate mitigation (per the Sheriff Department) which may include a fully -staffed Sheriff station at the project site. This would ensure an adequate response time for all emergencies within and around the Specific Plan site, without a decrease in service to the City. The outstanding service that our officers provide is one of the major draws for both residents and businesses to the Santa Clarita Valley. • Provide for the appropriate mitigation (per the Los Angeles County Fire Department) which may include an operational fire station prior to the approval of any development projects related to the Specific Plan. • Provide discussion of the potential impacts to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. The DEIR should address potential impacts to this and other hospital and emergency care facilities existing in the Santa Clarita Valley, with respect to the anticipated buildout of the 1990 Santa Clarita Valley Areawide Plan as amended. Various transportation routes and travel time to the hospital should also be identified. • The Environmental Impact Report does not adequately address the availability of water for this Project. The EIR should identify the water source for each development phase and for the build out of the Specific Plan. • The EIR identifies several alternative to the proposed Specific Plan and compares the environmental impacts of each of these to the Specific Plan. However, it does not adequately describe the fiscal impacts of each of these alternatives on the County of Los Angeles, Santa Clarita Valley, and the City of Santa Clarita. This fiscal would allow the City and others to to compare the financial impacts of the alternatives. • The EIR does not include adequate mitigations for the air quality impacts associated with this Project. Specifically, the Project applicant should ensure that future subdividers provide electric vehicle charging stations and pay the project's pro -rata share for transit service to and from the Project site. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 14 1991 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) day of January I, ronrna rarava 1 hn , 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 14 day of January 1997 by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Heidt, Kla-ic, Darcy, Boyer, Smyth NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: coun61\ree97-8.1ep