HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - PLANNING BLDG SERVICES (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
NEW BUSINESS
DATE: November 12, 2002
SUBJECT: The Las Lomas Project
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION3
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Laurens Weste
City Council direct staff to prepare a resolution of opposition to the proposed Las Lomas project
and schedule City Council consideration of this resolution at its next available regularly
scheduled meeting.
City Council authorize hiring The Afriat Consulting Group, Inc. to represent the City in
lobbying efforts regarding this project.
City Council authorize the transfer of $50,000 from the Council Contingency account 2250-7401
to account 3120-8110.
BACKGROUND
In May of 2002, a proposal for the Las Lomas project was submitted to the City of Los Angeles.
The project requests the annexation of an approximately 555 -acre portion of unincorporated Los
Angeles County to the City of Los Angeles. In conjunction with the annexation, the project
proposes the development of a mixed-use community with approximately 5,800 dwelling units
of low to very high density, 2,300,000 square feet of office/research and development, 250,000
square feet of community facilities (including a K-8 school), 225,000 square feet of neighborhood
retail, a 300 -room hotel and 285 acres of open spaces.
The proposed project lies contingent to the City of Santa Clarita's southern boundary between Interstate 5
and Highway 14.
On June 27, 2002, the City of Los Angeles posted a Notice of Preparation (NOP) as the lead agency for
the preparation of an environmental impact report. On August 9, 2002, the City of Santa Clarita
submitted written comments addressing the Notice of Preparation.
On August 27, 2002, the City Council authorized the establishment of a $50,000 account to fund
the City's efforts regarding this project. The City Council directed staff to seek a qualified
lobbyist through an RFQ process. RFQs were distributed to eight firms. Four firms submitted
qualifications 2002 (one firm was not qualified and one later withdrew from the process) and
two of these were interviews by City staff on October 29, 2002.
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Based on the consultant's qualifications and these interviews, staff and the City Council
Development Committee recommend The Afriat Consulting Group, Inc.
ANALYSIS
The Las Lomas project is currently undergoing environmental assessment by the City of Los
Angeles to determine the potential environmental impacts. A project of this magnitude may
potentially have a significant adverse impact on the City of Santa Clarita.
Some, but not all, of the areas affected are as follows:
Aesthetics - one of the gateways into the Santa Clarita Valley will be degregated to as
part of the proposed project. The project as proposed will have a significant visual
impact resulting from the proposed grading. According to the project application, 60% of
the project site contains slopes greater than 50%, 27% of the site is covered with slopes
of 25% to 50 %, and 7% of the site is covered with slopes of 10%-25%. In order to
complete the project as proposed, 20,000,000 cubic yards if earth would have to be
graded.
Air Quality - Given the size of the project, the significant increase in density requested
and the changes in planned land uses, it is likely that the project will be inconsistent with
AQMD standards. The will likely increase the frequency and or severity of violations or
exceed the assumptions established by AQMD.
Annexation - The project includes annexation into of the project site to the City of Los
Angeles, when the project site abuts the City of Santa Clarita and does not abut the City
of Los Angeles.
Parks - The project proposes 10 acres of parks and landscape areas. The City of Santa
Clarita park standard is 3 -acres/ 1,000 people. The City is currently deficient more than
300 acres of parkland. Based upon 5,805 residential units, a minimum 54 -acres of park
land should be required for this project. It appears that the proposed project is deficient
in park services and facilities. Failure to provide adequate parks will result in additional
demand for parks and other recreational facilities in the City of Santa Clarita.
Traffic - The land uses proposed for the project is considerably more intense than what
was originally planned for the project area. The City's traffic division estimates the
original land uses would generate approximately 10,000 trips per day. The proposed
project would generate approximately 70,000 vehicle trips per day. This would severely
overburden our freeway system and roadway system at the southern end of the Santa
Clarita Valley.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Council may choose not to direct staff to prepare a resolution of opposition to the Las
Lomas project at this time
2. Other direction as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
This item is requesting $50,000 from the City Council Contingency account. Approval of this
transfer would leave a balance of $1,529,456. No other fiscal impacts are anticipated with this
proposal.
ATTACHMENTS
The Afriat Consulting Group Inc. qualifications (City Council reading file)
s:\pbs\current\los angeles city project\staff report -las lomas opposition