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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-01-24 - RESOLUTIONS - GV RANCH CIRCULATION ELEMENT (2)RESOLUTION NO. 02-15 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 97-003 "B" (MASTER CASE 97-212) AN AMENDMENT TO THE CIRCULATION ELEMENT TEXT AND MASTER PLAN OF HIGHWAY & ROADWAY SYSTEM MAP FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELIMINATING THE GOLDEN VALLEY ROAD LINK BETWEEN VIA PRINCESSA AND PLACERITA CANYON ROAD THROUGH THE GOLDEN VALLEY RANCH PROJECT SITE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council does hereby find and determine as follows: a. On June 25, 1991, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 91-98, adopting the General Plan of the City of Santa Clarita and certifying the Environmental Impact Report. b. In November 1992, the City Council adopted General Plan Amendment 92-02 (Master Case No. 92-154) that revised the Circulation Element text for clarity and added the Lyons Avenue Extension as a planned arterial roadway with a connection to Sierra Highway (through Dockweiler Drive). C. On December 9, 1997, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 97-144 (Master Case No. 97-111, Previous Master Case No. 93-198), a comprehensive amendment to the Circulation Element for the purposes of removing portions of planned limited access expressway State Route 126 through the City and to identify a new east -west route through the City center. d. On January 11, 2000, the City Council adopted Resolution 00-18 (Master Case Nos. 98-183 and 99-055) for the purpose of allowing modifications to standard highway cross sections in Specific Plan areas through an adopted Specific Plan. e. On November 6, 1997, the applicant submitted Master Case No. 97-212, requesting approval to construct 866 single-family detached units and approximately 89.8 acres (50 net acres) of commercial on 1,259 acres. Originally, the applicant was proposing to cluster residential development within three natural "bowls" on-site, while locating the commercial development along the Antelope Valley Freeway corridor. Golden Valley Road would be extended through the project site as a secondary highway from State Route 14 to Placenta Canyon Road, connecting the three development areas. Over the course of the Draft EIR review and Planning Commission and City Council public hearing process, alternatives to the proposed development were analyzed to reduce the scale of the project, and the associated environmental impacts. Four of the six project alternatives considered the removal of Cluster 2, Cluster 3 and the elimination of the Golden Valley Road link between Via Princessa and Placenta Canyon Road. These project alternatives were analyzed as part of the Draft EIR. At the Resohil: 8n No. 02-15 - Page.2. May 30, 2000 Planning Commission meeting, the -Commission indicated that Alternative 5B was, preliminarily, the Commission's preferred alternative. Alternative 5B, Modified Project Design, eliminates several components of the original project including Cluster 2, the Golden Valley Road extension between Via Princessa and Placenta Canyon Road, and Cluster 3. The Commission found that a number of significant, irreversible environmental impacts would .result from extension of this roadway east of Via Princessa. Additional environmental, studies will be prepared to analyze impacts associated with the removal of this roadway link. Expanded analysis of Alternative 5B was incorporated into the revised Draft EIR and recirculated through a formal 45 -day public review period from November 27, 2000 to January 10, 2001, prior to Council making a determination on General Plan Amendment 97-003 "B". f. The Planning Commission held duly noticed public hearings on the Golden Valley Ranch entitlements, including the Circulation Element Amendment, on August 17, 1999 and continuing on September 7, September 21, December 7, 1999, January 4, January 18, January 20, February 1, February 10, March 7, April 18, and May 30, 2000. The Planning Commission closed the public hearing on May 30, 2000 and continued the item to the July 5, 2000 meeting for the purposes of finalizing their recommendation to the City Council. g. On July 5, 2000, the Planning Commission voted 3-1-1 to recommend certification of the Final EIR SCH No. 97121037 and adoption of a Statement of Overriding Considerations, prepared for the Golden Valley Ranch project and related entitlements. The Commission voted 4-0-1 to recommend that the City Council approve General Plan Amendment No. 97-003 "B", an amendment to the Circulation Element text and Master Plan of Highway & Roadway System Map to allow for the elimination of the Golden Valley Road link between Via Princessa and Placerita Canyon Road. The Commission voted 3-1-1 to recommend that the City Council deny Prezone 97-001 for the Golden. Valley Ranch annexation area (Annexation 1997-001). The Commission was split with a 2-2-1 vote on the following two staff recommendations, resulting in a "no action" on the part of the Commission. The recommendations are as follows: 1. Adopt Resolution P00-24, recommending that the City_Council approve General Plan Amendment No. 97-003 "A", an amendment to the Land Use Element Land Use Map. 2. Adopt Resolution P00-27, recommending that the City Council approve. Tentative. Tract Map 52414, Oak Tree Permit 97-024, Conditional Use Permit 97-017, and Hillside Review 97-022. h. The City's General Plan Circulation Element designatestheGolden Valley Road connection between State Route 14 and Placerita CanyonRoad as a secondary highway. Elimination of this roadway link requires an amendment to the Circulation Element to modify the Circulation Element text and. Master Plan of highway & Roadway System. Resolution No. 02-15 Page 3 As a result, Golden Valley Road would "T' into Via Princessa and no development would occur in the original Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 areas. The Circulation Element Amendment is consistent with the objectives of the General Plan. Specifically, the deletion of the Golden Valley Road link between Via Princessa and Placenta Canyon Road is consistent with the goals and policies of the Land Use Element and the Open Space & Conservation Element. SECTION 2. Based upon the testimony and other evidence received, and upon studies and investigation made by the City Council, the City Council further finds and determines the following. a. Extension of Golden Valley Road between Via Princessa and Placenta Canyon Road would result in significant impacts to the area's biological resources. Specifically, road construction and long-term operation would disrupt a prominent wildlife corridor, require the removal of 49 oak trees, encroach on 22 oak trees, and result in the loss of habitat for sensitive species. b. The proposed General Plan Amendment is consistent with the goals and policies of the adopted General Plan, and that the proposed amendment complies with all other applicable requirements of state law and local ordinances. C. The proposed Golden Valley Ranch project will not have an impact upon the Los Angeles County Congestion Management Plan Level of Service Standards to State Route 14 based upon the analysis from the County Traffic Model. d. The Golden Valley Ranch Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) was circulated for review and comment by the affected governmental agencies and all comments received have been considered. The Draft EIR (SCH No. 97121037) was distributed to the Planning Commission, the public and affected governmental agencies for a 45 -day public review period beginning on August 9, 1999 and ending. on September 22, 1999. Late written and oral comments received during the Planning Commission public hearings (through May 30, 2000) were accepted for inclusion in the Final EIR Response to Comments. e. The Golden Valley Ranch Revised Draft EIR was circulated for review and comment by the affected governmental agencies and all comments received have been considered. The Revised Draft EIR was distributed to the public and affected governmental agencies for a 45 -day public review period beginning on November 27, 2000 and ending on January 10, 2001. Late written and oral comments received were accepted for inclusion in the Final EIR Response to Comments. r f. On January 24, 2002, at a duly noticed special City Council meeting, the Council ij conducted a public hearing on the revised Golden Valley Ranch project. The City Council has further analyzed the applicant's newly -proposed preferred alternative, Resolution No: 02-15 Page 4 Alternative 7, which includes the removal of Golden Valley Road from Via Princessa and Placerita Canyon Road through the project site. g. Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the Golden Valley Ranch project (SCH No. 97121037) and adoption of a Statement of Overriding Considerations was approved by the City Council as part of a separate resolution. SECTION 3. Based upon the foregoing, the City Council resolves the following: a. The Secondary Highway Section of the Circulation Element (page C-38) shall be amended as follows: "Golden Valley Road from Newhall Ranch Road to Plum Canyon Road and from Via Princessa to State Route 14" (in reference to the list of designated Secondary Highways). b. The Master Plan of Highway & Roadway System Map shall be amended to eliminate the Golden Valley Road link between Via Princessa and Placenta Canyon Road within the Golden Valley Ranch project area. SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this Resolution. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of January, 2002. MAYOR ATTEST: j CITY CLERK Resolution No. (12-15 Page 5 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Sharon L. Dawson, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 24" day of January, 2002 by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEM 3ERS: Darcy, Kellar, Smyth, Ferry NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Weste ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None 0 LMH 8Apbs/current/gvrhesdr=.&c