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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-14 - AGENDA REPORTS - ROBINSONRANCH GOLF/RESID DEV (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Appr al Item to be presented by: Jeffrey Lamb UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: September 14, 1999 SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE ROBINSON RANCH PROJECT - A GOLF COURSE AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SAND CANYON DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council to accept report for information purposes only. BACKGROUND On September 10, 1996 the City Council approved Master Case 95-049 for the project now known as Robinson Ranch. The proposal consisted of two public 18 -hole golf courses (Mountain course and Valley course), one clubhouse, and 73 residential lots. Members of the public voiced concerns with the progress of this project to the Council on 8/31/99 at a study session and the Council subsequently requested that this item be placed on this evening's agenda. Public Trail The ultimate design and location of the multi -use trail occupies two properties --the applicant's and the Angeles National Forest's. Subsequent environmental documentation was needed for portions of the trail that are in the forest. This environmental review is expected to be completed by 12/1/99. Portions of the required trail have been completed. The applicant will construct the remaining trail segments on the golf course by 10/15/99. The off-site trail links should be completed by the applicant in mid-to-late January, 45 days after receiving approval from the forest. Upon completion, the entire trail will be part of the City's trail network. LAPPfloyEl Agenda ltem:A Robinson Ranch Update September 1999 Page 2 of 5 Mitigation Monitoring/Conditions of Approval The project is obligated to meet in excess of 150 conditions of approval and mitigation measures. In November 1998, the City of Santa Clarita hired a third party consultant (Rincon Consultants, Inc.) to monitor development of the project from one to three days a week depending on the intensity of the current tasks. The City has been extremely pleased with this arrangement as use of the consultant has given the City the support and the staffing to respond to the project as needed. Rincon also recognizes any conditions or mitigations that are in potential omission or violation and then notifies staff (and the applicant) immediately. City staff, Rincon, and the applicant routinely discuss the status of the development's obligations and its completion timelines. Additional mechanisms are in place ensuring that the development meets all of its conditions of approval, including, but not limited to, a requirement that the applicant bond for any unfinished improvements prior to map recordation. Project Completion/Opening Date The applicant has suggested that both of the golf courses and the clubhouse will be completed in May 2000. In phasing completion of the project, potentially, one of the golf courses will be finished and ready for public play in November of this year as a "soft opening." The applicant has the option of requesting that the City issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) for use of this course. Phasing completion of the development may result in phasing completion of some of the project's conditions of approval. A soft opening entails the reduced -use of one course. It would allow the applicant limited commercial use of the property for a nominal economic benefit while completing the remainder of the project and the associated requirements prior to obtaining a final certificate of occupancy and approval for the second course and the clubhouse. To date, the applicant has had discussions with staff and the Council about the Parameters for a soft opening, but has not applied for such an approval. In issuing a TCO the City has leverage to ensure that the project's conditions and requirements are met by withholding permits, inspections, and/or certificates of occupancy for the other golf course, the clubhouse, and/or the residential component of the development. An issuance of a TCO would not reduce or relax the improvements and obligations that are required of the applicant, but rather, only delay the implementation of them. The City retains the authority to stipulate which conditions must be satisfied prior to issuing a TCO. Typically, granting of said TCO is subject to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Building Services and other appropriate City staff. Robinson Ranch Update September 1999 Page 3 of 5 Nuisance Water Heavy watering of the course in August 1999, necessary to get the first planting grass roots "to catch," resulted in nuisance water on Oak Springs Canyon Road. At the request of residents on Oak Springs Canyon Road, staff from the Engineering Division and the applicant conducted approximately eight field inspections for this issue. Modifications and suggestions were made and implemented to reduce road damage, ease drainage, and respond to residents' concerns. The need for this heavy watering and the amount of runoff onto Oak Springs Canyon Road should be reduced to a minimal amount on or about 9/15/99. Grading/Drainage Rough grading of the project site has been completed. The applicant expects to complete fine grading of the project site by 10/1/99. City engineers have made approximately two dozen inspections verifying that the project's grading and future drainage patterns are being designed per code and per the approved plan. Road Improvements Oak Springs Canyon Road (west of the Angeles National Forest): The applicant's obligation to realign this portion of the road and add road base as required has been completed. The applicant still needs to submit plans to the City for the realignment, review the plans with the local residents, and construct a low -flow crossing. The applicant expects to complete these items by 11/1/99. Signalizing the intersection of Lost Canyon Road and Sand Canyon Road: Above and beyond the applicant's obligation to install a signal at this intersection, the Sand Canyon Homeowners' Association (SCHA) has requested that this intersection be made equestrian friendly and include high control buttons, rough surface paths, and modification of a traffic island. Additionally, a Los Angeles County Flood Control project to install storm drains in this area has impacted the timing of this required road improvement. Consideration of the SCHA's requests and the potential storm drain project have lengthened the City's plan check and review of the . item. A timeline for the completion of this improvement has yet to be established. Left turn lane on Sand Canyon Road east to project entrance and left turn lane on Sand Canyon Road east to Live Oak Springs Canyon Road: Plans for both improvements have been submitted as one and are in with City Engineering staff for a second plan check. The applicant has stated that the improvement can be completed 45 days after receiving approval from the City. This item is anticipated to be completed by mid-November 1999. Robinson Ranch Update September 1999 Page 4 of 5 Use of Well Water On or about Tuesday, 8/24/99, the applicant began irrigating the golf course with ground water from a well in the Santa Clara River on a separate parcel the applicant owns north of the golf course. Prior to August 24, the applicant had been using retail water from the Santa Clarita Water Company (SCWC) for construction and irrigation. This procedure was initiated in response to a request from the SCWC that Robinson Ranch use its own well for irrigation purposes in order to preserve the availability of domestic water to SCWC's residential users. As approved by the Council, the project has a condition of approval prohibiting it from locating wells on- site for project irrigation. This prohibition excludes monitoring wells and temporary groundwater pump test wells. To the best of the city's knowledge, this action does not change the source or volume of water for the project as the applicant would otherwise pay retail for his water from the SCWC which obtains its water for this area in the City from the same source as the applicant—the Santa Clara River. According to the SCWC, if the applicant had not activated his private well to irrigate the project, the SCWC would have had to locate an additional well in the vicinity. Some area residents have inquired about the City's authority to stop the applicant from using his well. To date, the City Attorney has suggested that the City does not have the legal standing to do this. As a result of citizen inquiries, on or about 9/7/99 the State Water Board was scheduled to inspect the well for impacts to adjacent residences, to verify the applicant's right to access the well as a riparian user, and to assess whether or not the Santa Clara River is a candidate for appropriation. The applicant will pay for retail water from the Santa Clarita Water Company for domestic water needs in the clubhouse and for the residential portion of the project. Provision of Domestic Water The applicant is required to install a water mainline along portions of Oak Springs Canyon Road. Although not required to do so, the applicant has committed to providing domestic water to the local homeowners (provided that the applicant's perceived right to operate his private well to the north is uninterrupted) by installing lateral water lines and meters to each house, and paying for any required connection fees. Plans to accomplish this have been submitted to the Santa Clarita Water Company and that company will, in turn, secure necessary easements and submit plans to the City for plan check approval. This part of the project is expected to be completed by May 2000. Robinson Ranch Update September 1999 Page 5 of 5 Planting/Landscaping The applicant expects both courses to be fully planted with grass by 10/1/99 and the final landscaping amounting to in excess of 45,000 plants to be completed on the Mountain course by 11/15/99 and on the Valley course by 1/15/00. Community Meeting Jeff Lambert, Director of Planning and Building Services, conducted a community meeting on 7/20/99 at the Boydston residence. At this meeting, the 20 people in attendance discussed topics and had questions pertaining, but not limited to, drainage, trails, and the status of Oak Springs Canyon Road. The area residents have requested to stay more informed of the project's progress and staff anticipates that a subsequent community meeting will be necessary in the near future. Residential Development The project includes approval for 73 single-family residential lots. These pads have been graded and construction on some of the homes is scheduled to begin next month. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Other actions as determined by Council. FISCAL IMPACT There is no known fiscal impact related to the contents of this report.