HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - SOLEDAD TOWNHOMES EIR CONTR (2)Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: Jason Mikaelian
DATE: February 22, 2005
SUBJECT: SOLEDAD TOWNHOMES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT (EIR) CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Economic Development
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council authorize the City Manager or designee to enter into a professional services contract
between the City and RBF Consulting to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the
Soledad Townhomes project, for a total contract amount not to exceed $204,420 from account
#501-23059, subject to City Attorney approval. EIR preparation costs will be bourne by the
applicant.
BACKGROUND
City staff is recommending RBF Consulting to prepare an EIR for the Soledad Townhomes
project along Soledad Canyon Road south of the Santa Clara River between Bouquet Canyon
Road and Golden Valley Road. The property owner and developer (Newhall Land) is proposing
to construct a 41 1 -unit residential townhouse development and 10,000 square feet of commercial
space on a 30 -acre parcel of land on the north side of Soledad Canyon Road between Bouquet
Canyon Road and Golden Valley Road. The residential units will range in size from
approximately 1,400 to 2,200 square feet. Requested entitlements include General Plan
Amendment No. 04-006 and Zone Change No. 04-004 to change the land designation from CO
(Commercial Office) to Residential Medium (RM) and Commercial Neighborhood (CN) and
Tentative Tract Map No. 62322 to subdivide the land.
The project site is currently vacant and graded pursuant to the recorded Parcel Map No. 20838.
Traffic improvements already completed include a new traffic signal at the project site entrance
and property frontage improvements. In addition, river bank stabilization and a trail system
(Santa Clara River Trail and Soledad Canyon Road Class I trails) have been completed. Land
APPROVED
uses surrounding the site include the Santa Clara River to the north and west, a mobile home
park and soccer field to the east and commercial and industrial businesses to the south. A
Metrolink commuter rail station is located one-half mile to the west.
The EIR will review the following potentially significant areas of environmental impact:
• Aesthetics;
• Air Quality;
• Hydrology/ Water Quality;
• Land Use/ Planning;
• Noise;
• Population/ Housing;
• Public Services;
• Recreation;
• Transportation/ Traffic; and
• Utilities/ Service Systems.
RBF Consulting was the highest rated firm of the firms interviewed by City staff for the
preparation of the EIR. The cost for preparing the document is $204,420. This includes a 10
percent contingency fee, which will provide a buffer in the event of unexpected costs. The
money will be deposited into a 501 account and this amount will cover all costs associated with
the EIR.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Not approve the contract with RBF Consulting and select an alternate consulting firm for the
preparation of the EIR.
2, Other action as determined by the Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of EIR preparation will be bourne solely by the applicant (Newhall Land). The
applicant has submitted a check for $204,420 which was deposited into account #501-23059,
Soledad Townhomes EIR. Therefore, authorization to proceed with the EIR does not create a
fiscal impact to the City's budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Aerial/ Land Use Map
3. Professional Services Contract available in the City Clerk's Reading File
4. Scope of Work available in the City Clerk's Reading File
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