HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - EIR MAGIC MTN PKWY (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager E
Item to be
NEW BUSINESS
DATE: January 26, 1999
Vince Berton
SUBJECT: CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT AND ADOPTION OF A STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE EXTENSION OF MAGIC
MOUNTAIN PARKWAY FROM SAN FERNANDO ROAD AND THE
EXTENSION OF VIA PRINCESSA FROM RAINBOW GLEN DRIVE
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt Resolution Number 99-22 certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (SCH#
97021026) and adopting a statement of overriding considerations that weighs the project
benefits against the project's significant unavoidable impacts.
BACKGROUND
The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was circulated on August 18, 1998, and the
public comment period ended on December 1, 1998. The Planning Commission held public
hearings to receive testimony on the DEIR on September 15, and December 1, 1998 and
held a special meeting on December 8, 1998, to review the western terminus of the project
at San Fernando Road and the eastern terminus at Rainbow Glen Drive. In addition, Mr.
Thomas Cota from the State Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) provided an
update to the Planning Commission and City Council at a joint study session on November
3, 1998, and a panel of experts from the DTSC provided a presentation to the community on
November 19, 1998. On December 15, 1998, the Planning Commission reviewed the DEIR,
the responses to written and oral comments, and suggested modifications to the DEIR and
recommended that the City Council certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final
EIR) and adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed project consists of the construction of Magic Mountain Parkway from San
Fernando Road to Via Princessa, and of the extension of Via Princessa from Magic
Mountain Parkway to 1,148 feet west of Rainbow Glen Drive. The roadway extension will
be approximately 4.5 miles long and will ultimately include six lanes with a 14 -foot wide
center median. The project will require an interchange at San Fernando Road and Magic
Mountain Parkway and a bridge over San Fernando Road and the Metrolink railroad tracks
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east of and adjacent to San Fernando Road. The bridge will also include pedestrian and
bicycle trails. The proposed interchange will replace the existing at -grade tee -intersection
of Magic Mountain Parkway with San Fernando Roadand will require widening of the
existing bridge over the South Fork of the Santa Clara River. The roadway will be built in
phases with the first phase including four traffic lanes and the bicycle lane.
ANALYSIS
The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) included an analysis of potential impacts
to earth resources, land use and planning, transportation/circulation, noise, air quality,
human health/hazards, biological resources, hydrology/water _ quality, cultural resources,
visual resources/light and glare, and energy. The DEIR concluded that there would be
significant unavoidable impacts related to hillside grading, long term noise impacts for
existing residents in the Circle J Ranch area and residents of Via Princessa, short term air
quality impacts due to exhaust emissions during construction, visual impacts due to
grading on one secondary and three primary ridgelines, and the introduction of roadway
light and glare. Therefore, a statement of overriding considerations is included in the
attached resolution, weighing the project's benefits against the project's significant
unavoidable impacts.
The DEIR had a public comment period of 105 days, more than double the comment period
required by State law, which ended on December 1, 1998. The majority of comments
received address issues of the Department of Toxic. Substances Control clean-up of the
Porta Bella site, impacts to the existing RASA and Saugus Cafe businesses, impacts on
ARCO's operations, and light/glare and noise impacts to ,existing: residents. Responses to
these comments are included in Appendix N of the Final EIR..
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
City Council decline to certify the Final EIR and not adopt ,the Statement of Overriding
Considerations thereby not approving construction of the roadway.
FISCAL IMPACTS
Funding of the roadway project has been identified; therefore, certification of the Final EIR
results in no fiscal impacts to the City.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution No. 99-22
Responses to Comments Report
Final Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 97021026)
The following documents are available in the City Clerk's Reading File:
Final EIR Appendices Volumes I & II
Resolution No. P98-36
Planning Commission Staff Reports of September 15,:December 1, & December 15, 1998
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