HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-03 - AGENDA REPORTS - PORTA BELLA CLEAN UP PROJECT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
DMROF7ICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Darcy and City
FROM: George Caravalho, Cit]
DATE: October 3, 2000
SUBJECT:
Porta Bella Clean-up, Restoration & Development Project
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive presentation and discuss.
The purpose of the study session is to provide an overview of the clean-up, restoration and
development process for the 988 -acre Porta Bella site. Specifically, representatives from
the City, DTSC and the Ports. Bella team will discuss the project history and prior
entitlement process, identify current environmental, transportation and land use issues,
discuss the goals, opportunities and challenges posed by site clean-up and reuse, address
technical clean-up issues, and discuss options for how best to keep the City Council
informed and further the public dialogue. This presentation will be the first in a series of
project updates to the City Council throughout the duration of the Porta Bella clean-up and
development process.
The Porta Bella property was previously used for 80 years as a military explosives and flare
manufacturing site. The Whittaker-Bermite Company owned the property from 1967-1998
and manufactured ordnance (military ammunition and equipment) on-site from 1967 to
1987. In January 1999, ownership of the Porta Bella site transferred to Santa Clarita,
LLC, led by Remediation Financial Inc. Since that time, the City has been coordinating
with the new owners of the Porta Bella site and the Los Angeles office of the DTSC to
develop a comprehensive remediation and development program, based on the Operable
Unit concept. Per the developer's request, City staff is considering the phased remediation
and development of the project site, which is expected to expedite the clean-up process and
subsequent infrastructure installation. City coordination with the DTSC and the Porta
Bella team has already resulted in the planned construction of Golden Valley Road along
the far eastern edge of the Porta Bella site.
Ag--*e-nda Item: /
As the Council remembers, the City and Ports, Bella (Santa Clarita LLC) entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June 1999. This MOU anticipated a number of
revisions to the original Ports. Bella approvals. These revisions included: Ports. Bella
Specific Plan Land Use Amendments; Development Agreement Amendments; and revisions
to the conditions of approval to allow for phased development based upon the DTSC-
approved Operable Unit (OLT) concept. The Ports. Bella team is in the process of finalizing
the requested land use changes and preparation of a Subsequent EIR is expected to
commence in October 2000. The entitlement requests, with the associated environmental
analysis, will be brought before the Planning Commission and City Council in Spring -
Summer 2001.
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No fiscal impact is anticipated at this time.
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