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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-27 - RESOLUTIONS - MTA BILLBOARDS PUBLIC TOILETS (2)RESOLUTION NO. 00-85 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA IN OPPOSITION TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY'S PROPOSED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE AUTOMATED SELF-CLEANING PUBLIC TOILETS AND ADVERTISING MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND IN OPPOSITION TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY'S PROPOSED BILLBOARDS ALONG PORTIONS OF STATE ROUTE14 AND INTERSTATE 5 WHEREAS, the County of Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) entered into a contract with STI Outdoor, LLC (STI Outdoor), under which STI Outdoor would furnish and operate up to 10 automated public toilets, 44 advertising/public service billboards, and 10 advertising/public service kiosks for a period of ten years. This project is known as the MTA's Automated Self -Cleaning Public Toilets and Advertising Media Campaign; and WHEREAS, the project description for the MTA's Automated Self -Cleaning Public Toilets and Advertising Media Campaign includes a proposal to place billboards within the MTA rights-of- way in the Santa Clarita Valley (proposed billboards B02 and B03); and WHEREAS, the project description for the MTA's Automated Self -Cleaning Public Toilets and Advertising Media Campaign includes a proposal to place billboards within the MTA rights-of- way in the Newhall Pass, a recognized gateway to the Santa Clarita Valley (proposed billboards B04, B05, B06, B07, B08, B09, B10, B11, B12, B13, and B14); and WHEREAS, the MTA has prepared a proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration to review the proposed impacts of the MTA's Automated Self -Cleaning Public Toilets and Advertising Media Campaign and released such draft for public review between May 22, 2000 and June 12, 2000. The public comment period for the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration was subsequently extended to June 30, 2000; and WHEREAS, the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration does not adequately describe the project because there is no mention of the height of the proposed billboards and the map identifying the project is vague, with no street references; and. WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has a Sphere of Influence application submitted to the Los Angeles Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) that includes the areas proposed for billboards B02 and B03; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita is concerned with the issue of visual blight, particularly along the freeway corridors (I-5, SR -14 and SR -126) that serve as entryways to the Santa Clarita Valley and the City of Santa Clarita; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita General Plan encompasses the 256 -square -mile Santa "^ Clarita Planning Area, extending beyond the incorporated limits of the City of Santa Clarita and including the area proposed for billboards B02 and B03; and RESOLUTION N0. 00- 85 June 27, 2000 — Page 2 WHEREAS, the Initial Study Site Survey Forms, pages 2, 3, and 4, neglect to mention that the areas proposed for billboards B02 and B03 are directly adjacent to existing and approved, yet unbuilt, residential uses in an unincorporated County area designated for residential uses in the City of Santa Clarita's General Plan and the County of Los Angeles Santa Clarita Valley Areawide Plan; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita prohibits placement of billboards in residential areas in order to protect residential areas from the visual blight. Under the City's code, billboards B02 and B03 would be prohibited in the location shown because of the proximity to residential uses; and WHEREAS, the Visual Impact Analysis provided on pages 2 and 3 of the Mitigated Negative Declaration only addresses the visual impacts of billboards B02 and B03 for those driving on the freeway, not the potentially significant visual impact of billboards upon existing and approved, yet unbuilt, residential uses; and WHEREAS, the Visual Impacts section on pages 2 and 3 of the Initial Study Site Survey Forms that states "the predominant feature in this area in the CA -14 Freeway. A billboard structure would not change the character of the freeway corridor. The open space and natural areas to the north and east are so broad and prominent that a billboard structure would not create a significant obstruction. Visual impacts would not be significant" The City objects to this statement and holds that the visual impacts from billboards would be significant in this general location, particularly because of the scenic natural vistas offered in this area and that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) should be prepared to address these significant visual impacts; and WHEREAS, the County of Los Angeles is in the process of studying the area east of SR -14, including the area shown for billboard B03 for inclusion as a Significant Ecological Area (SEA) because of its natural resource value, including its aesthetic value, which would be significantly impacted by the proposed billboards. The Initial Study and proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared by the MTA is deficient because it does not mention consideration of this SEA study in the Initial Study Analysis on page 7 under the biological resources discussion or on page 17 under the discussion heading "conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan," nor does it identify or provide mitigation for the potential significant impacts to this natural resource area. An EIR should be prepared to address these significant impacts to biological resources in the area shown for billboards B02 and B03; and WHEREAS, the Geology and Soils Impacts section on page 10 of the Initial Study Analysis states "Southern California is widely recognized as a seismically active region and is susceptible to periods of intense ground movement and surface fault rupture. By inherent risk, all of the project sites are susceptible to hazards associated with strong seismic activity. Since the billboard and kiosk structures are not habitable structures, the only risk they present would be that of toppling over during a seismic event. The billboard and kiosk structures will, however, be designed, constructed, and erected in accordance with applicable building and RESOLUTION N0.00- 85 June 27, 2000 — Page 3 safety code requirements to ensure the structural stability and resistance to ground movement. Therefore, installation and operation of the proposed API's, kiosks, and billboard structures would not present a greater than average risk to the health and safety of any person living in a seismically active region. Impacts would be less than significant." The City of Santa Clarita objects to this statement and holds that the geologic and safety impacts associated with the locations of the proposed billboards in Newhall Pass (billboards B04, B05, B06, B07, B08, B09, B10, B11, B12, B13, and B14) are in a particularly hazardous location with known significant seismic hazard given the past history of catastrophic failure of the I-5 and SR -14 interchange bridges during the 1971 and 1994 earthquakes. It is inappropriate for the Initial Study to conclude that the seismic impacts would be less than significant in this area without the presence of accurate, site-specific maps showing the exact location, height, and size for each of these proposed Newhall Pass billboards along with a geotechnical report and soils report to support this conclusion. Of further concern to the City of Santa Clarita is the dismissal of the significant impacts to circulation and the public safety hazard from signage that could "topple over" and block the critical transportation corridors in the Newhall Pass (freeways, railroad tracks, and Sierra Highway) should that signage be located in poorly studied, ill-conceived and inappropriate locations. An EIR should be prepared to address these potentially significant impacts within the Newhall Pass transportation corridor; and -- WHEREAS, the Biological Resources section page 7 of the Initial Study Analysis fails to adequately identify the potentially significant impacts that placement of up to 11 billboards would have upon the biological resources in the Newhall Pass. It is the desolate wildland areas in Newhall Pass that provide habitat connections and a wildlife corridor between the San Gabriel Mountains and the Santa Susanna Mountains. The photos of Location 3 (billboards B04 through B11) show that, while portions of this area have been previously disturbed, there are numerous oak trees and other native habitat in this area. The City disagrees with the conclusion of the Initial Study that this project area has low potential to provide suitable habitat for sensitive species. Without adequate identification of each of the billboard sites in this area, including identification of access roads needed for billboard construction, it is likely that there may be significant impacts to oak trees, trees protected by both the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles, which have not been adequately identified or mitigated in the MTA environmental documents. The City of Santa Clarita requests that a full biology report to address wildlife species, wildlife corridors, plant communities, and other biological resources within the Newhall Pass be included in an Environmental Impact Report to address potentially significant impacts to biological resources; and WHEREAS, the proposed MTA's Automated Self -Cleaning Public Toilets and Advertising Media Campaign is inconsistent with the City's Community Design Element of the General Plan which has several policies to discourage and eliminate billboards as follows: Policy 8.2 states that the City shall "work with appropriate state, federal, and county agencies to prohibit billboards along freeway frontages and designated scenic highways"; Policy 8.4 states that it is the City's policy to "prohibit new billboards in the City and encourage the elimination of existing billboards Citywide'; RESOLUTION N0. 00-85 June 27, 2000 — Page 4 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA does resolve as follows: Section 1: The City of Santa Clarita is opposed to the MTA's proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Automated Self -Cleaning Public Toilets and Advertising Media Campaign because the proposed impacts are significant and cannot be mitigated to a level less than significant, and therefore requests that a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be prepared for the project; and, Section 2: The City Council is opposed to the MTA's proposed billboards along portions of SR -14 and I-5 that serve as entryways to the City and to the Santa Clarita Valley. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of JUNE 12000 YOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK RESOLUTION N0. 00-$�-L_ June 27, 2000 — Page 5 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 27th day of JUNE 2CDO by the following vote of the City Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: KELLAR, WESTE, SNYTH, FERRY, DARCY NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE .4-o',- CITY CLERK MY.dis council \ mta_bi11boards.doc