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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-27 - AGENDA REPORTS - QUIGLEY CYN AGMT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval( X&&d46-4v- V Item to be presented by: Mark Yamarone DATE: August 27, 2002 SUBJECT: QUIGLEY CANYON LENNAR COMMUNITIES OAK TREE MITIGATION AGREEMENT DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Engineering Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council approve the oak tree mitigation agreement with Stevenson Ranch Venture, LLC/Lennar Communities; and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents related to the agreement, subject to City Attorney approval. Increase Estimated Revenues in Account No. 001.6714 by $187,500.00 to account for the reimbursement from Lennar Communities. BACKGROUND The City acquired the "Beazer Back Country," an area of 158 acres in Quigley Canyon, on October 30, 2001. Lennar Communities offered to subsidize a portion of the purchase price as part of an agreement to provide a protected open space area with an oak tree habitat suitable to Los Angeles County's forester. Lennar's oak tree mitigation requires the planting of a total of 136 Coast Live Oak and Valley Oak trees. The Quigley Canyon site already has established groves of mature oaks and was found suitable for the new plantings. The agreement, as proposed, further requires that Lennar Communities and their landscape consultants establish irrigation and provide maintenance of the trees for five years. This item will establish the City -owned Quigley Canyon property (Beazer Back Country) as a designated open space, and accept the addition of 136 Coast Live Oak and Valley Oak trees as a mitigation requirement imposed on Lennar Communities by the County of Los Angeles. Lennar and their subcontractors will be obligated to establish and maintain the trees and irrigation systems for five years. In addition, Lennar Communities agrees to pay $187,500.00 to the City as reimbursement for the property purchase. The Quigley Canyon site will be subject to a future General Plan Amendment changing the zoning to Open Space. Additionally, this area may meet requirements making it suitable for oak tree mitigation for future City projects. The City Council considered this item at the May 28, 2002 City Council meeting. At that meeting, Councilmember Kellar raised concerns regarding the potential impact of the "sapling" oak trees on (filming on the Quigley Canyon property. The City Council directed staff to APPOWED Agenda Item :+ QUIGLEY CANYON LENNAR COMMUNITIES OAK TREE MITIGATION AGREEMENT August 27, 2002 — Page 2 investigate the concern and to return to the City Council at a future meeting with a revised plan that addressed the Councilmember's concern. Staff has consulted with the City's Film Bureau, who confirms that the planting of saplings will not be a negative factor in the potential use of the site for filming. Staff has discussed the impact of film -related activities with the City's Oak Tree Specialist (Division of Urban Forestry) and has determined that the saplings, approximately five feet tall, will not be affected by other allowed uses on the property. The previously proposed planting layout has been reviewed by the Film Office and is acceptable. Both the Film Bureau and Urban Forestry Division are in agreement that minor provisions can be made to filming permits for the site, which will continue to support the City's existing Oak Tree Ordinances, and will work cooperatively with the atheistic desires of a rural filming location. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT All of the monies received from Lennar Communities would be reimbursed to the General Fund. ATTACHMENTS Construction and Maintenance Services Agreement Letter of Agreement dated April 22, 2002 Exhibit Map MLY:dmh council\Lennar_revisedMoc