HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - CVC EIR CERTIFICATION (2)Agenda Item: z?
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
DATE: May 24, 2005
SUBJECT: CERTIFICATION OF CROSS VALLEY CONNECTOR EIR,
ADOPTION OF THE MITIGATION MONITORING REPORTING
PROGRAM AND STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING
CONSIDERATIONS
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Economic Development
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive the staff report, open the public hearing for testimony, close the public
hearing and adopt a Resolution that: (1) certifies the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR)
for the construction of Newhall Ranch Road from the existing terminus of Copperhill Drive/Rye
Canyon Road west to the Interstate 5 (I-5)/State Route (SR)126 interchange; (2) adopts the
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and (3) adopts the Statement of Overriding
Considerations that weighs the project benefits against the project's significant unavoidable
impacts.
BACKGROUND
The project analyzed in the FEIR is one of six segments planned or under construction that
would comprise, along with previously completed roadway segments, what is known as the
Cross Valley Connector. The Cross Valley Connector is an 8.5 -mile (13.7 -kilometer) roadway
through the City that would provide a cross-town connection between I-5 and SR 14.
The complete Cross Valley Connector was analyzed at a program level in the City of Santa
Clarita Circulation Element Amendment Environmental Impact Report (1997). FEIR is tierred
from the FEIR for the Circulation Element Amendment and provides a project -level review of
the proposed segment.
The need for a Cross Valley Connector between I-5 and SR 14 has been identified in traffic
studies since before the incorporation of the City. In the 1980's, the California Department of
Adopted: Reno. 05-5-1
Transportation (Caltrans) studied the extension and realignment of SR 126 as the Cross Valley
Freeway/Highway or Expressway. Caltrans' studies were the subject of much discussion between
the City and various community -interest and neighborhood groups. As a result, some alignments
for the road were rejected based on this public input, and the freeway concept was ultimately
rejected by the City. Nonetheless, Caltrans, and other studies proved valuable over the years in
determining feasible alignments across the City for the Cross Valley Connector.
In 1997, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared for the City's Circulation Element
Amendment. That EIR addressed, at a program level, seven alternatives to the SR 126
Expressway, which was included in the City's first Circulation Element adopted in 1991. The key
difference among the alternatives was the approach to providing a route across the Santa Clarita
Valley, connecting I-5 and SR 14. On September 30, 1997, the Santa Clarita City Council
adopted Resolution 97-113, approving the removal of SR 126 from the Master Plan of Arterial
Highways, selecting Alternative 4 (Augmented Newhall Ranch Road Reduction) and
Transportation Demand Management measures and adopting the amendments to the Circulation
Element. The City Council also certified the FEIR for the Circulation Element Amendment and
adopted a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the measures specified in the
Circulation Element EIR (Resolution 91-143).
The project analyzed in this FEIR is known as the Cross Valley Connector Gap Closure Project
Newhall Ranch Road — Copper Hill Drive/Rye Canyon Road to I-5 project. Because of the
potential for significant environmental impacts as a result of the project, staff determined that an
EIR must be prepared. Therefore, a Notice of Preparation (NOP) was completed and filed with
the State Clearinghouse on December 3, 2002. The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)
circulation period was from December 21, 2004, to January 20, 2005. A public meeting was held
in accordance with Caltrans' requirements on January 5, 2005. A legal notice advertising the
public hearing was placed in a local newspaper. No members of the public appeared at the
public hearing and all comments regarding the DEIR were received and addressed in the FEIR
for the City Council's review and certification.
The project before the Council this evening is the review of the FEIR for the construction of an
8 -lane (four in each direction), 160 -foot wide, 1.6 mile extension of Newhall Ranch Road from
Copper Hill Drive/Rye Canyon Road to just east of the Interstate 5/SR126 interchange, including
sidewalks, a raised and landscaped median, landscaped parkways, streetlights, curb and gutter,
and a Class I bike path. Construction of the project would entail excavation and grading, utility
relocation including the relocation of a debris basin, road paving, and miscellaneous finish work.
The proposed roadway would be located in a generally undeveloped area bordered to the south
by industrial and commercial uses. New industrial and commercial uses are also located in the
Rye Canyon Business Park, immediately north of the proposed alignment and west of Copper
Hill Drive. An existing Southern California Edison transmission corridor, Los Angeles County
debris basin, oil pipelines, high-pressure gas pipelines, and other utilities cross the proposed
alignment. The terrain immediately north of the alignment is steeply sloped and includes
City -designated significant ridgelines. The property to the north is owned by the Southern
California Gas Company, which uses the area for the underground storage of natural gas.
Vegetation in the western portion of the alignment is limited to shrubs and sparse grasses. There
is a dry wash near the eastern portion of the alignment which contains riparian vegetation and at
least two mature oak trees. No heritage oak trees would be impacted by the project. One valley
oak and one scrub oak may be removed. In the event that an oak tree may be removed, an oak
tree permit will be obtained. Refinement of the final project plans may result in a limited
increase or decrease in the riparian and other plant community impacts, however, mitigation
measures included in the FEIR would fully mitigate biological resource impacts and any minor
changes in impact area will be addressed as part of the permitting process with regulatory
agencies.
The existing General Plan designations for the project site are Residential Estate (RE) and
Business Park (BP). The project site is zoned RE, BP, and Specific Plan (SP). The project does
not involve any new development. Furthermore, the project does not change the current zoning
or land use designations along the alignment and therefore, will not result in an increase in
density throughout the vicinity.
Environmental Impact Report
An Initial Study and NOP for the Cross Valley Connector Gap Closure EIR were circulated in
December 2002. Subsequently, a DEIR was prepared by the City's EIR Consultant (Jones and
Stokes) that addresses the comments received in response to the NOP. On December 21, 2004,
the DEIR was circulated for public review and comment. The review period closed January 20,
2005. A public meeting was held during the public comment period on January 5, 2005, to
answer questions about the EIR and to receive public comments. No members of the public were
present at the public meeting. All comments on the DEIR were received and addressed in the
FEIR. The FEIR, which includes responses to agency comments and the Mitigation Monitoring
and Reporting Program, was completed and available for public review on April 14, 2005.
Two alternatives were considered .as part of the EIR, including the No Project/No Build
alternative and a Six -Lane alternative. Under the No Build alternative the proposed project
would not be constructed. Newhall Ranch Road would terminate, as it currently does, at Copper
Hill Drive/Rye Canyon Road and would not be extended to the west to connect to the I-5/SR 126
interchange. The Six -Lane alternative would reduce the number of lanes of through traffic and
would not be consistent with the City's Circulation Element. The preferred alternative is the
project alternative, which would provide 8 lanes, consistent with the General Plan Circulation
Element specifications for this portion of the Cross Valley Connector.
The EIR identifies the following impacts:
(1) `Beneficial" Impacts: community character and cohesion benefits, improved emergency
reponse time, trail system linkage improvements, improvements to seven of the roadway
segments studied, improvements in the overall traffic flow on the roadway system,
regional air quality, and long-term energy (reduced gas consumption) benefits.
(2) Impacts Which Are "Not Significant" Without Mitigation: these include impacts to land
use and planning, population and housing, utilities, police and fire, schools, parks, scenic
vistas and views, visual quality, character and resources, light, shade and glare, historical
resources, water supply, flood hazards and drainage, erosion, local operational air quality,
and energy impact.
(3) hnpacts Which Are "Not Significant" Without Mitigation, But For Which Mitigation
Measures Were Still Provided In The EIR To Lessen the "Less Than Significant"
Impacts: these include impacts to police and fire response during construction, traffic
during construction, hydrology and water quality during construction, hazardous
waste/materials, construction noise and oak trees.
(4) facts Which Are "Not Significant" With the Mitigation Specified in the EIR: these
include impacts to the intersection of the I-5 SB ramps and SR126 in the AM and PM
peak periods, archeological resources, paleontological resources, geology and soils,
wetlands and waters of the United States, vegetation, wildlife, and special interest
species.
(5) Impacts Which Remain "Significant" After Mitigation: these include impacts to the
roadway segment of Copper Hill Drive north of Newhall Ranch Road, impacts to the
intersection of Newhall Ranch Road and Copper Hill Drive/Rye Canyon Road during the
PM peak period, and peak -day and peak -quarter NOx and PM10 emissions during
construction.
As part of the certification of the EIR, a Statement of Overriding Considerations and a Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program will be adopted. The Statement of Overriding
Considerations is necessary due to the impacts that cannot be mitigated to a level of less than
significant. The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program incorporates the proposed
mitigation that will be completed for project implementation.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by the Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no impacts to the City's budget with the proposed project since this action is to certify
the EIR and approve the project in concept. However, if the project were to move forward in the
future, there may be fiscal impacts. The funding for the Cross Valley Connector Gap Closure
Project Newhall Ranch Road — Copper Hill Drive/Rye Canyon Road to I-5 project includes
federal funds, City and County Bridge and Thoroughfare Fees and Proposition C-25 funds. No
budget approval action is requested at this time.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Environmental Impact Report available in the City Clerk's Reading File
Final Environmental Impact Report available in the City Clerk's Reading File
City Council Resolution
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CITY OF SANTA CLARITA i';
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVLOPMENT
NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CROSS VALLEY r�
CONNECTOR �""'"'"` M
APPLICATION: Environmental Impact Report for Cross Valley Connector
PROJECT LOCATION: The Cross Valley Connector is Newhall Ranch Road from the
existing terminus of Copperhill Drive/Rye Canyon west to the
Interstate 5 (I-5)/State Route 126 interchange.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant, the City of Santa Clarita Transportation and
Engineering Services has prepared an Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) for the construction of Newhall Ranch Road from the existing
terminus of Copperhill Drive/Rye Canyon west to the Interstate 5 (I-
5)/State Route 126 interchange.
PROJECT PROPONENT: City of Santa Clarita
The public hearing to address certification of the EIR, adoption of the Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program and Statement of Overriding Considerations, and approval of the project will be
conducted by the City of Santa Clarita City Council on:
DATE: May 24, 2005 LOCATION: City Council Chambers
TIME: At or after 6:00 p.m. 23920 Valencia Blvd., First Floor
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
An Environmental Impact Report has been prepared for the project to identify potential
environmental impacts. The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) became available for public
review beginning December 9, 2004.
The Final Environmental Impact Report has been prepared and is available for public review
beginning on April 14, 2005.
Final action may be taken at this hearing. If you wish to challenge the final action taken on this
matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the
public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa
Clarita at, or prior to, the public hearing.
For further information regarding this proposal, you may contact the City of Santa Clarita,
Department of Building and Engineering Services, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, 302, Santa Clarita,
CA 91355; Telephone: (661) 255-4330. Project Manager: Harry Corder
Posted: Santa Clarita City Hall and Los Angeles County Library (Valencia Branch)
Published: The Newhall Signal