HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-05 - AGENDA REPORTS - DRAFT NORTH NEWHALL SP (2)44—
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor McLean and City Councilmembers
irpers fur ch and City Planning Commissioners
FROM: P" skamp, anager
DATE: June 5, 2007
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION OF DRAFT NORTH NEWHALL SPECIFIC PLAN;
DISCUSSION OF CITY'S ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council and Planning Commission receive presentations and provide input on the Draft
North Newhall Specific Plan (NNSP) and the City's Architectural Design Guidelines.
BACKGROUND
Draft North Newhall Specific Plan
At this joint study session, the City Council and Planning Commission will hear the results of the
September 2006 community charrette on this specific plan project including a draft project
description and a discussion of the key issues. The ultimate goal of this Specific Plan is to
complement the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan and to provide property and business owners
with the tools necessary to entice quality investment into the area, ensure a consistent
development pattern, preserve environmentally sensitive areas and create a mechanism to
construct needed public improvements.
Some of the subject areas to be elaborated on tonight include land use, property
constraints/opportunities, integration with neighboring communities, transportation, mixed uses,
transit -oriented development, architectural standards, and plan implementation. In addition, staff
will detail, in a powerpoint presentation, the efforts and strategies it is pursuing in order to gain
approvals from appropriate agencies for the extension of Lyons Avenue at -grade, over the
railroad tracks, into the Placerita Canyon community.
Architectural Design Guidelines
In an effort to ensure that development within the City of Santa Clarita continues to achieve the
high standards of the community, the Council has requested a review of the City's Architectural
Design Guidelines. These guidelines, which were adopted in December 2002, serve as a tool for
developers and designers to address community demands and focus on the areas of architectural
styles, building height, building orientation and building mass and materials. Since the adoption
of the Architectural Design Guidelines, staff has made further advancements in its expectations
for urban design and architectural enhancements on a project -by project basis. In addition to the
higher architectural standards, staff has encouraged sustainable development that complements
the idea of a Valley of Villages, which will be further described during this study session. In
order to encourage the Valley of Villages concept, the Architectural Design Guidelines have
been expanded to include more specific direction regarding sustainable development practices
such as transit -oriented development and mixed use development. As a result of these higher
standards, the name of the document is now "Community Character and Design Guidelines."
Please note that this document is in draft form. As a result, many of the pictures included in this
draft did not print properly due to the large file sizes. All technical issues will be addressed prior
to being formally presented to the City Council and Planning Commission in Fall 2007.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Any other action as directed by the City Council or Planning Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT
None by this action.
ATTACHMENTS
North Newhall Specific Plan Charrette Catalogue of Drawings
Draft Community Character and Design Guidelines
KRP:JES:lep
S. IMCURRENMOO6106-137 (NORTHNEWHALL) lPlanning Commission1060507 jnt stdy sessnZdoc
ATTACHMENTS
NORTH NEWHALL SPECIFIC PLAN
CHARRETTE CATALOGUE OF DRAWINGS
IS ON FILE IN THE PLANNING DIVISION