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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-07-11 - AGENDA REPORTS - PORTA BELLA ENTITLEMENTS (2)UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: AGENDA REPORT July 11, 2000 City Manager Approval Item to be presented 16: Jeffrey Lambert SUBJECT: STATUS OF PORTA BELLA PROJECT ENTITLEMENTS / GROUNDWATER CLEANUP PROCESS / VIA PRINCESSA ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION PROCESS DEPARTMENT: Department of Planning and Building Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council to receive information, provide feedback, and direct staff to work with the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Santa Clarita LLC to expedite the remediation and redevelopment process, including the engineering and construction of Via Princessa. Operable Unit Clean-up Status (OU1 and OU2) Remedial investigations are complete in Operable Unit 1 (OU1), located at the northeast portion of the 988 -acre property. With the exception of a 12 -acre portion of OU1 identified as OUIE, Santa Clarita LLC anticipates that there will be no soil cleanup needed for this 225 -acre section. The field investigation portion of the remedial investigation work for OU2, in the south central portion of the property, is anticipated to start in August or September 2000. This 209 -acre portion of Porta Bella is directly north of and contiguous to the proposed alignment of Via Princessa. The current schedule for completion of the environmental investigation and restoration of OU2 is August 1, 2002. Investigations for unexploded ordnance, ordnance and explosive wastes are continuing. As of this date, UXB International, Inc, the independent unexploded ordnance, ordnance and explosive waste contractor, has found no unexploded ordnance as a result of the investigations. • Acrio/J DEFEee A ; nda Confinued to: 5 Loy 5ess,o,f ItemAl Groundwater Remediation Status (OU7) Operable Unit 7 encompasses the site -wide groundwater investigation. Currently, site -wide investigation of groundwater (OU7) is proceeding. The Department of Toxic Substances Control, (DTSC) has approved four technical memorandums that are for field work activities related to the investigation of groundwater. Operable Unit 7 fieldwork involves installing additional wells in addition to sampling existing wells. Sampling and analysis of stormwater runoff will also be conducted as part of the OU7 investigation. Status of Porta Bella Project Entitlements On March 23, 1999, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Santa Clarita LLC, the owners of the Porta Bella property. This MOU anticipated a number of revisions to the original Porta Bella approvals including changes to the development agreement, conditions of approval, Porta Bella Specific Plan and Tentative Tract Map 51599. As part of these entitlement changes, Santa Clarita LLC is requesting that phased remediation and redevelopment of the project site be allowed based upon the DTSC-approved Operable Units (OUs). Santa Clarita LLC is now in the process of submitting the proposed revisions to TTM 51599 and the related documents to staff. Staff has determined that a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required to analyze the requested modifications to specific conditions of approval and mitigation measures. Preparation of the Subsequent EIR is anticipated to commence in July -August 2000. All project revisions and requests, with the associated EIR, will be presented to the City Council in early 2001. Via Princessa Engineering and Environmental Process City staff is in the process of developing a strategy for the engineering and construction of Via Princessa from Oak Ridge in the Circle J Ranch area to Rainbow Glen Drive in the Canyon Country area. City staff has divided the corridor into four segments — the majority of the central segment extends through the southern portion of the Porta Bella site. City staff has initiated the engineering design and environmental review processes for the segment extending from the Wiley Canyon Bridge at San Fernando Road east to the future Magic Mountain Parkway intersection within the Porta Bella site. Engineering design and environmental review has already been prepared and approved by City Council for the segment extending from Magic Mountain Parkway east to Rainbow Glen Drive. The Via Princessa alignment extends through Operable Units 1 and 2 through the Porta Bella site, as defined by the DTSC. Staff is now in the process of coordinating with Santa Clarita LLC and DTSC staff to address the soil contamination in Operable Unit 2 and develop a schedule for road construction. Definition of "Construction" In the approved conditions of approval for the original Porta Bella Specific Plan and TTM 51599, Condition DS -12 restricts any construction from occurring on any portion of the project site until the entire site is cleared by the Cal EPA/DTSC. A number of remedial activities, with DTSC oversight, are proposed which require some grading. In coordination with this remedial grading, Santa Clarita LLC is requesting to conduct other development -related grading throughout the eastern portion of the project site, adjacent to the Golden Valley Road construction area. Santa Clarita LLC believes that coordination of proposed development -related grading with the DTSC-required remedial grading and the construction process for Golden Valley Road would be more environmentally sensitive and efficient. On-site earth movement would be subject to DTSC approval and issuance of a City grading permit. At this time, it is necessary to further define or interpret the meaning of "construction" as stated in Condition DS -12 — whether that term refers to all development -related activity, including grading, or applies only to vertical development (homes, offices, public facilities). Staff is seeking the Council's interpretation of this term so that staff may continue to uphold the spirit of the original conditions of approval for the Porta Bella project. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Other actions as determined by the City Council FISCAL IMPACTS No fiscal impacts are anticipated by the recommendation listed in this report LMH:kdl S: \PBS \ C0UNCIL\Ptabe17.doc