HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-27 - AGENDA REPORTS - VALENCIA BLVD I-5 RECONFIG OAK (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by: Fred Follstad
NEW BUSINESS
DATE: June 27, 2000
SUBJECT: AN APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF
AN OAK TREE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR THE REMOVAL OF
THREE OAK TREES, INCLUDING ONE HERITAGE TREE AND
THE ENCROACHMENT ON UP TO SIXTEEN OAK TREES FOR
THE WIDENING OF VALENCIA BOULEVARD AND
RECONFIGURATION OF THE SOUTHBOUND INTERSTATE 5
OFF -RAMPS. THE APPLICANT IS THE CITY OF SANTA
CLARITA.
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt a resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project
and approve Master Case No. 00-180 which consists of Oak Tree Permit No. 00-024, which
upholds the Planning Commission approval of the project.
BACKGROUND
CalTrans is currently in the final stages of issuing a permit to improve the Valencia
Boulevard and Interstate 5 interchange. The project is located in both the City and in
unincorporated Los Angeles County. The existing interchange is an incomplete cloverleaf
without direct southbound and northbound on -ramps. In addition, both the existing loop
on -ramps and off -ramps are single lanes at the freeway merge and diverge points.
The proposed project would widen Valencia Boulevard through the interchange, modify the
ramp configurations to improve traffic flow, add a southbound direct on-ramp, and replace
the existing bridge. The improvements include Valencia Boulevard being widened to seven
lanes, the construction of a paseo, the addition of lanes to the on -and off -ramps, and
installation of a signal for the northbound on-ramp. Construction is expected to begin
within the next 60 days.
Since CalTrans is the lead agency on the project, it prepared the environmental
documentation. The Initial Study/Environmental Assessment was completed in April and
the public review was complete on May 17, 2000. Within that document, an identified
mitigation measure was the requirement to obtain a City of Santa Clarita Oak Tree Permit
A�; 50 -9R
Randa Item:
for any work done within the City limits. This item is the implementation of that
mitigation measure.
On June 6, 2000 the Planning Commission adopted Resolution P00.019 which approved
Master Case 00.180. On June 21, 2000, the City Clerk received a request from
Councilmember Keller appealing the Planning Commission approval of the oak tree permit.
Therefore, the item has been scheduled to be heard by the City Council.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project site is located on both sides of Valencia Boulevard adjacent to the northbound
side of Interstate 6. The oak trees on the south side of Valencia Boulevard, which may be
encroached upon, are located on CalTrans and College of the Canyons property next to the
current northbound off -ramp. The widening of the off -ramp is to accommodate an
additional lane that will necessitate the encroachments. The encroachments are quite
minimal on the three trees in this area.
The north side of Valencia Boulevard is the area that will have the most impact on the
existing oaks. Of the sixteen oak trees in proximity to the project, thirteen are within close
proximity to the proposed roadway improvements. Of those thirteen, three trees are
scheduled for removal. Tree Number One is a 36" diameter Valley Oak that would be
located within the roadway. This tree falls within the Heritage category. Tree Number
Two is a 23" diameter Valley Oak that would be located within the sidewalk and abutment
area. The last tree to be removed is a multi -trunk Valley Oak. The tree would be located in
a fill area for the abutment of the bridge and is several feet below grade. Two additional
trees would be encroached upon for the construction of the road. These trees, Number's
Three and Five, were originally scheduled for removal, however the project was redesigned
to save the trees. The remaining trees in this area are not envisioned to be affected by the
construction of the road.
NG COMMISSION ACTION
On June 6, 2000 the Planning Commission held a hearing on the oak tree permit. At that
meeting, the Commission heard testimony from staff and the consultant for the project.
There was no other testimony given on the item. After deliberations, the Commission
determined that they could make all the required findings for the project. Therefore, the
Planning Commission adopted Resolution P00.19 approving the oak tree permit by a four to
one vote with Commissioner Hoback dissenting.
The Planning Commission considered the alternatives to the design that requires this
action. However the only design that avoids the removal of the Heritage oak tree is the "no
project" alternative resulting in no improvements to the interchange.
FISCAL IMPACT
The oak tree permit is not envisioned to have any fiscal impacts to the City of Santa
Clarita.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
1. Deny the oak tree permit, thereby delaying the interchange improvements and causing
additional traffic impacts.
2. Other action as determined by the Council.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution of Project Approval
Planning Commission Resolution P00.019
Minutes from the June 6, 2000 Planning Commission Meeting
Vicinity Map
Appeal letter
Letter from Santa Clarita Oaks Conservancy
Site Plan (in packet)
Staff Report to the Planning Commission (reading file)
Initial Study / Negative Declaration (reading file)
Oak Tree Report (reading file)
Final CalTrans Initial Study / Environmental Assessment (reading file)
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City of
Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Blvd.
Suite 300
Santa Cladta
Califomia 91355-2196
Website: www.santa-cladta.com
June 21, 2000
Phone
(661) 259-2489
Fax
(661)259-8125
Sharon Dawson
City Clerk
City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 300
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
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SUBJECT: MASTER CASE NUMBER 00-180 (OAK TREE PERMIT 00-024)
Dear Ms. Dawson:
I would like to request that the Planning Commission's approval of Master
Case Number 00-180 (Oak Tree Permit 00-024) be appealed to the City Council
and placed on the agenda for June 27, 2000.
If you have any questions, please call me at (661) 299-2378.
Sincerely,
Ro ert C. Kellar
Councilmember
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PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
FROM Panasonic FAX SYSTEM PHONE NO. .
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SAN1"A 'CLARITA D C N ER'VAIVICY
P.Q.:Bo?C.' SID
Saugus,..CA 91380 .
Dedicated to ' : APPEAL•OF RESOLUTION # POO -19
the OAKTREE PE$MIT #OM03 .
Preservation,. - MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARA, YON I;4/VAL-ENd& OFFRAAV .
Vis; .'wN MASURtA$1 #00-1:•8..0
rtatign PrCOfCi.{ # 0. A -c _My cct• % !f
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'Th"a-n#a Clanta Oak Conserviiit wishes''ti�'i
�Y' ppeai tiii5 project iased'on''the"foliowiiig:''
L. T0,9ur knowledge, neither the Fede;,ai highway A& nieistraiion, nor the California Dept• of
ranapotiatign; District 1lias adopted or coctlfzei! this mifipWdaeggjW declaration as stated in Section2
,' item A aftllF
ore
theref
dt?i€,5 fire
P? giid''cou2d not ttta a an. was not pt»perty itifozzued as'.trisratus.of
2: ie'S�iita Caatak Cons ' 'itifo�s radon 4': -: :.,: ;
racy tf fifiiid'inadyico'oftJais o ed
P po ix? ovals.04, 40 i t'EYe PAF, s.. premlira teen
�s�
diaAot#ite,o : Thei>~foretlie'C;"V.Qatr
Y to'pz�opose atternahves..for the projfcL '
:r;, anal jxve;iiilpaels.'of qak lti"', 'c#uscd by.i1*. ojeerlA othbr jurisdictions (County. and''Colle
tiir.EA .Yd is.atpas).wm not disclosed°to•tile • - of'
o
cimsidtired by'tltenr 'Totaltte�mgvaly ' ear.to� fisted
.. .
sioA aud..dtersf • ' •' pr '::;.:'
SPP *many'as tbitty oaks:.
Tiic mitigated iw. .ir+e iieclYs iion'.is under•dispthto by acycral local and ewide'oigazvzations..
P1ani?uigcomcnission:bv: ,
�' ! ? !s, ? 'didtls,idccnro.copicsoftiiesecommentsassYated
ip itcm�t ., 44d c of section i.
�= .'Clie.,oti/off raatp was not ooiWdeced as a part of the• Westiidge Elia as stated in the mfugatcd :baro
dcclaratio7ti ;rind, the:oak removals'wei`e not itiehrdcd ibi th4 oak corer' for :that
G:;::Cutii}tative'lossc .to.y[caviie40�' '
bictogicalit4otires,.noiscraricl'airpoltufloir pgeraao}:
cgonsiderpi' bjr yrs znt4pt d i?�P '....:..! • ::
»bgative'dec�siatton 'There.:Qv7i•be. cant linpac?s froin>t is:pfajecf o :. .
env%enm
ezitdontrazy
• Goalie.statement?z'{a�aJ�:R�?d.,.'�?�tlon'2y.7.;:' ':. '• '�.^:;:. ;.
`ItwvaSstatediiithe'sCaffzniifieris}s'ttiat.oriehec 'deatl.'R
ztport needs to be co ap foals thatthe. tits is'itoiu ouC: F1tt '
free , . .
completed whh ail trees tagged, classi$ed as to their health and their exact location.
The oak trop xvpw should also include a map of all tre=es located in the project and indicate how they will
be protected doting construction. IV=fozn a m -examination should be required. .
8.: ;The Plannim Commisaioiy failed to wake a • • ..
fineling;as . by law for removal'of a heritage oak bice
lhf'guc11'rezqaval avi m not EP6 uareasop W.' dettit4cW:tcr gm And
6np pl • comn!itnity azcivtuidizig area , .Indeed.
arming commissioner stand that iR'would.ae+eielynnpagt hoz of the acre
9.., No•rizi .. atloYmcnt
ttgation written plan was dexjgned,,iev1ewed or rc4uit'od by tha Cozmtussiosi that stafcd whattfio:
zztctigafioa measures would bes; to where:the one tree grould b - relocated• or.wete zeplacezpent: flees would.be
plaritei3 Failuro to state. ' maW public such ozi.fivstrates:tkte public's abtlity in observe;ivitether
t(xC`uitigafion,hasbeeniut'91od
In conclusion, the Sanaa Clarity Oalc Conservancy appgats. this approval for the above ieasozrs. We. belieue ' .. .
tfi.it all peznro ttizt agencies: can work togett►Fr to fitidd an *cmafiw that' wi717. >>ave less itngaets on idle ozk . .
• ': re$ouiges;of'tlte 82itts Clatita'.Vailey and'preseive the•viewetted' end quality. ofli%e'of Osis ''; .
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