HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - DRAFT DOWNTOWN NEWHALL SP EIR (2)Agenda Item: ) O
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: Jason Smisko
DATE: November 8, 2005
SUBJECT: DRAFT DOWNTOWN NEWHALL SPECIFIC PLAN AND DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council to (1) adopt resolution adopting the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan and General
Plan Amendment, (2) adopt resolution certifying the project's Environmental Impact Report
adopting the Statement of Overriding Conditions and adopting the Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program, (3) introduce ordinance to enact the proposed zone change and Unified
Development Code Amendment, and (4) pass ordinance to a second reading on November 22,
2005.
BACKGROUND
On September 13, 2005, this project was introduced to the City Council. At that meeting, the
City Council opened the public hearing, received presentations from staff and the consultant,
took testimony from the public, closed the public hearing, and directed staff to return to the
Council meeting on October 25 with a resolution of project approval, a resolution to certify the
Environmental Impact Report, and with the necessary documents to adopt the Statement of
Overriding Conditions and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and to introduce an
ordinance to enact the zone change.
On October 25, the City Council continued this.project as an Unfinished Business item to
November 8, 2005.
Since the September 13 Council meeting, additional meetings have occurred with area residents
and business and property owners including a community meeting in Downtown Newhall
conducted by Community Development Director Paul Brotzman on Monday, October 12.
Ordinance passed to lPP.so- "s 13"1—
Second reading Adopted: 65a,,.,Q, / 3 3
Project Request
Approval of the Draft Downtown Newhall Specific Plan designed to revitalize and redevelop
Downtown Newhall into a thriving, mixed-use, pedestrian -oriented urban village with a series of
economic engines.
Entitlement requests include: (1) A Specific Plan to establish the vision, objectives, policies,
zoning, development standards and implementation measures for the project area; (2) a General
Plan Amendment to modify the existing General Plan land use designations to Specific Plan and
to amend the Circulation Element to change San Fernando Road from a major highway to serve
as a collector between two major highways and to change Railroad Avenue from a
non -Circulation Element road to a secondary highway; (3) a Zone Change to amend the existing
zoning map designations to a Specific Plan zone; (4) a Unified Development Code Amendment
to have this Specific Plan supersede the existing Downtown Newhall Special Standards District;
and (5) review and certification of the Environmental Impact Report prepared for this project.
Council Direction on September 13, 2005
At the September 13 meeting, the Council gave staff direction on three issues:
1. Proposed location of the Mercado - The Specific Plan will be revised to allow for the Mercado
to be developed on either the north and/or south identified civic sites. The property owners on
the block where the the Mercado was previously proposed will not be required to construct such
a use.
2. Parking for the SCV Food Pantry - Staff will continue to work with the Food Pantry to ensure
that its users and employees have adequate access to free and/or nominal -rate parking. Staff is
confident that this can be accomplished through the use of available on -street parking, the
existing vacant parking lot on 5th Street and San Fernando Road, and with the development of
the parking structures identified in the Specific Plan.
3. Provide explanation on how the Specific Plan relates to the City's use of eminent domain - In
regard to eminent domain, the City currently does not have the authority to use that process on
residential properties. The Specific Plan does suggest that the Council pursue obtaining that
authority. For this to happen, the Council would have to amend its Redevelopment Plan and
form a Project Area Committee elected by area residents.
For commercially developed properties, the Specific Plan does not impact or change the
Council's existing ability to use eminent domain as it deems appropriate. For commercially
developed properties, eminent domain remains as a tool, option and process available to the
Council at its direction and the Specific Plan has no discussion of any policies or objectives to
modify that.
Provided the Council takes the actions as recommended above, the Downtown Newhall Specific
Plan will be in effect on December 22, 2005, 30 days after the November 22, 2005 second
reading of the ordinance for this project's proposed zone change. Following that, staff will
identify appropriate projects to pursue for plan implementation.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
In fiscal year budget 2005/06, the Council appropriated $7 million for revitalization and
redevelopment projects in Downtown Newhall. If the Council approves this specific plan and
directs staff to implement the projects identified in the plan, costs and funding sources would be
identified in advance.
Staff anticipates that it will seek additional consultant resources during future budget cycles in
five areas of expertise to assist with the financing, implementation and construction of major
projects. Those areas of expertise consist of. construction management, architectural/urban
design review, public/private negotiator to assist in the crafting of development and owner
participation agreements, financial and legal services
ATTACHMENTS
Council Resolution (Project Adoption and General Plan Amendment)
Council Resolution (CEQA) - Exhibit A: Findings Required by CEQA - Exhibit B: Final EIR in
City Clerk's Reading File
Ordinance (Zone Change and UDC Amendment) - Exhibit C: Zone Change Map