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Home My WebLink About2004-02-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - REDEVELOPMENT AREA PLAN (2)NEW BUSINESS DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: Agenda Item: a..6" 1 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: February 10, 2004 Jill Fosselman PROPOSED SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA City Manager RECOMMENDED ACTION Direct staff to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Specific Plan for the Downtown Newhall Area to include the following elements: vision and business plan, streetscape (including traffic flow, parking plan, and master design), rezoning (including design guidelines) and an environmental impact report (EIR). BACKGROUND As part of the fiscal year 2003-2004 budget process, the Newhall Redevelopment Committee (NRC) prioritized funding for a streetscape plan for the downtown Newhall area as their number one priority. In support of this priority, the Redevelopment Agency (Agency) approved a 2003-2004 budget appropriation in the amount of $365,000 to initiate the streetscape project, which includes funding for traffic flow and parking plans, master design plans, and engineering plans. At the July 1, 2003 Study Session, the Council discussed ways in which to create an environment that is conducive to enticing private investment to the Downtown Newhall Area. The intent of the Study Session was to obtain Council direction to create alternative development tools to implement the ideals of the Freedman Plan and to reaffirm the principles of the Freedman Plan. The discussion recognized that a streetscape plan alone would not provide the tools necessary to entice private investment into the area, and that rezoning would be necessary. Based on the discussion, Council directed staff to develop a plan/process to clearly articulate the vision, design guidelines, zoning, streetscape, parking, density, pedestrian, mixed-use, and landscaping for the area (including a connection to the area's historical heritage) and bring it back to the Agency for approval with a corresponding timeline and cost. Over the summer, staff formulated a plan to develop a Specific Plan for the Downtown Newhall area that would accomplish the goals desired by the City Council, as well as looked further into how to effectively and appropriately incorporate the goals and the processes of the San Fernando Road streetscape project with the Specific Plan. In addition, staff evaluated potential necessary environmental studies based on the expanded scope of the streetscape project to ensure that the comprehensive Specific Plan process would not be in jeopardy of an environmental challenge. On September 15, 2003 Planning staff presented the proposed methodology to develop a Specific Plan, the associated timeline and estimated costs to the NRC to obtain their input on the proposed process. The NRC requested that the process be expedited as much as possible, and wanted to ensure that projects and opportunities that arose during the Specific Plan process would be addressed in a timely fashion. In addition, the NRC expressed interest in including Lyons Avenue in the Specific Plan and process and sought to explore avenues to initiate design and land use planning on Lyons Avenue. At the November 25, 2003 Agency meeting, the Agency directed staff to explore expanding the special standards district in Newhall, including the scope and purpose of the of the NRC. On January 6, 2004, the City Council provided direction to staff on the scope of the Committee, and asked staff to explore the costs, timeline, and NRC committee implications were the Newhall Specific Plan concept to include the Lyons Avenue corridor. Based on the input received from the Council, Agency and NRC, staff revised the plan and developed the proposal as presented in this agenda report. Staff presented this proposal to the NRC at their February 2, 2004 meeting for review and input. The NRC voted to support the staff plan and recommendation, and is eager to initiate the RFP process. Staff will work with the selected consultant(s), the NRC and the public to ensure that the development of the plan will be consistent with the guiding principles of the Freedman Plan, One Valley One Vision, the Beautification Master Plan, the Mayor's Committee on Managed Growth and the City's Housing Element. The overall estimated timeline to complete the Specific Plan and its required EIR is approximately 24 months. The proposed Specific Plan will contain the following elements and phases: Phase One: Phase One consists of two components that should be initiated simultaneously to ensure consistency in design and desired outcomes -- a vision and business plan, and the streetscape plan. The total timeline estimated for this phase is 12 months. • Vision and Business Plan Desired Outcome: Creation of a clearly articulated vision for the downtown area that incorporates the principles of the Freedman Plan, the area's historical heritage, and a corresponding business feasibility study to ensure that the vision is economically focused to encourage development and private investment in the area. While the Freedman Plan established the original vision for the area, there are currently multi -visions within the community that need to be consolidated into a consensus for a final vision for the area that will attract the desired private development and most feasible housing plan for the area. Time Line: Six months Estimated Cost: $100,000 Environmental: Evaluate the preparation of required environmental documents (what may or may not be needed to ensure adequate environmental review of the entire process) Streetscape Plan (to include three distinct components: traffic flow and parking plan, master design plan and engineering plans) Desired Outcome: Revised traffic and parking plans, a master design that includes public improvements and pedestrian amenities and engineering plans for the project Time Line: Six months for traffic and design plans, six months for engineering plans Estimated Cost: $450,000 total to be allocated as follows: 1) $100,000 for the traffic and parking plan, 2) $50,000 for the master design plan, and 3) $300,000 for engineering plans Environmental: May require an Environmental Impact Report if major changes, such as sewers, are made to San Fernando Road Phase Two: Phase Two consists of rezoning the downtown Newhall area, including development of design guidelines, and would begin as soon as the visioning plan is complete. The total timeline estimated for this phase is 12 months. • Rezoning Desired Outcome: Development of a zoning overlay to include mixed use, density, floor area ratios, housing, specific design guidelines, and a historic preservation element Time Line: Twelve months Estimated Cost: $250,000 Environmental: Most likely will require an EIR after the completion of the zoning plan Phase Three: Assuming an EIR will be required, it should begin as soon as the draft Specific Plan is completed (which includes the vision and business plan, streetscape plan, and rezoning). • Environmental Impact Report Desired Outcome: Complete the EIR, as necessary, to serve as an enticement for private investment as it is a likely necessary step that will expedite development efforts in the area Time Line: Nine months following completion of draft Specific Plan Estimated Cost: $250,000 The proposed plan includes a reliance on professional contract assistance to meet the timeline indicated. Conversely, preparation of the Specific Plan by mostly in-house staff with minimal reliance on consultants would add approximately 12 months to the timeline (increasing the overall project timeline from 24 to 36 months) with a corresponding reduction in cost of approximately $100,000. Inclusion of the development of a Specific Plan for the Lyons Avenue corridor with the recommended Newhall Specific Plan process would add approximately 21 months to the timeline and an additional cost of $450,000. If the Agency desires to initiate this process, staff believes that additional representation on the NRC from specific Lyons Avenue stakeholders is essential. Inclusion of the development of a Specific Plan for the currently excluded portions of San Fernando Road with the recommended Newhall Specific Plan process would result in a similar addition of 21 months and $450,000 to the project. If the Agency desires to initiate this process, staff believes that specific representation on the NRC from San Fernando Road stakeholders should be considered. Due to the Council/Agency's interest in expediting the specific plans process as much as possible, as well as the RDC's desire to expedite positive steps for Newhall, staff is recommending that the specific plan only address the Downtown Newhall Area. Staff will prepare the draft RFP and review it with both the City Council Sub -Committee on Redevelopment and the NRC Specific Plan Subcommittee prior to finalizing and releasing the RFP. Staff anticipates releasing the RFP to the public the first week of March 2004. Staff will work with the City Council Sub -Committee on Redevelopment and with the NRC to discuss project updates, next steps, public outreach and participation and key issues to insure effective communication and collaboration with these bodies. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS: 1. Direct staff to initiate the Lyons Avenue Corridor Specific Plan with the initiation of the Newhall Specific Plan ($450,000 additional funds will be needed). 2. Direct staff to initiate the San Fernando Road Specific Plan with the initiation of the Newhall Specific Plan ($450,000 additional funds will be needed). 3. Direct staff to initiate both Lyons Avenue and San Fernando Road Specific Plans with the initiation of the Newhall Specific Plan ($900,000 additional funds will be needed). 4. Other action as determined by the Council. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to drafting and releasing the RFP. Currently, $365,000 is allocated in the 2003-2004 CIP budget for the San Fernando Road streetscape plan, which is sufficient to fund both the 1) vision and business plan and the 2) traffic and master design plan. Staff will request appropriation of funds for this project at the time of the awarding of the contract. The anticipated cost for the completion of the Specific Plan and its required EIR may exceed $1 million. No funding has been identified for this project. However, it is conceivable that future tax increment may be available. San Fernando Road relinquishment funds are a possible funding source for this project. Vision and Business Plan $100,000 Streetscape Plan $450,000 Rezoning/Design Guidelines $250,000 Environmental Impact Report $250,000 Total Estimated Cost $1,050,000 Less Current Appropriation ($365,000) Total NET Estimated Cost $685,000 ATTACHMENTS GIS map of Redevelopment Area Specific Plan Elements Timeline L C O E a N N L d c O E E� p c A ILt v 0 w '$ E E N aC �- N A L d 2L C c O V E � C 3 O d O L CL a CL d� S I d , d OO O d p N :2U O 3 U {Up1 'p0 U `O_�E m E EE o L N M L W H W c W w 0 W W W 1171 CL loot It in to W IT P° 9 Y 111 7 •� _ .m ✓ P u N i \`�'J _��°� ff w�"' ��tr. �� SVA � • • ff is � �a�� 'a` li�� " �J��1��•�'� � �� tr! ♦ a .�P♦ �� c is 1 __ E ` .. tiI'�� F, � � � • moi. �.J-, ...... ti`s 8 �j� �Jlf./f��`Im'�� P", i�Y O � 1/'t.l•' b,� ;' � ... �� Z� �� a��