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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-07-09 - ORDINANCES - MC 10-103 UDC & LYONS CORRIDOR (2)ORDINANCE NO. 13-11 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING MASTER CASE NO. 10-103 (UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE 10-006, ZONE CHANGE 13-003), AMENDING THE SANTA CLARITA UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC) BY ESTABLISHING THE LYONS CORRIDOR PLAN THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: 1. FINDINGS OF FACT. The City Council does hereby make the following findings of fact: a. On June 14, 2011, the City Council adopted the Santa Clarita General Plan, by adoption of Resolution No. 11-63. The General Plan provides a vision that will guide future development in the City of Santa Clarita through a set of goals, objectives, and policies; b. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65860, local jurisdictions, with newly adopted general plans, are required to amend their zoning ordinances to ensure consistency with the newly adopted General Plan; I c. Following adoption of the General Plan in June 2011, the City of Santa Clarita (the "Applicant" or "City") initiated the Lyons Corridor Plan (the "project" or "LCP"); d. The City of Santa Clarita's proposed project consists of the following: Unified Development Code (UDC) 10-006: To update the Unified Development Code, to ensure consistency with the General Plan. The Lyons Corridor Plan is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit A; Zone Chance (ZC) 13-003: To update the zoning map to ensure consistency with the General Plan; e. The Planning Commission held duly -noticed study sessions on October 18, 2011, and June 19, 2012, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The study sessions were held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, and at Old Orchard Park, Community Room, located at 25032 Avenida Rotella, Santa Clarita. The following occurred at the study sessions: 1. On October 18, 2011, the Planning Commission received a presentation on the project and the community outreach held to date. At that meeting, staff received comments from both the Planning Commission and the public; 2. On June 19, 2012, the Planning Commission received a presentation on the draft Lyons Corridor Plan and a progress report on the project. At that meeting, staff received comments from both the Planning Commission and the public; f On January 28, 2013, the draft of the Lyons Corridor Plan was made available to the , public and posted at the Santa Clarita Library (Canyon Country, Newhall, and Valencia Branches), at the Permit Center at the City of Santa Clarita City Hall, and on the SantaClaritaCorridorPlan.com website. Copies of the Lyons Corridor Plan were also distributed to the Planning Commission and the City Council; g. The City Council Development Subcommittee held duly noticed meetings January 28, and March 4, 2013, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The meetings were held at City Hall, Century Room, at 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita; It. The Planning Commission held duly noticed public hearings on March 19, 2013, and April 16, 2013, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The project was advertised in The Signal newspaper on February 26, 2013. The hearings were held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m. The following occurred at the public hearings: 1. On March 19, 2013, the Planning Commission received staff's presentation summarizing the proposed project, opened the public hearing, and received public testimony regarding the project. Staff received comments and questions from the Planning Commission regarding the project. The Planning Commission continued the public hearing to April 16, 2013; 2. On April 16, 2013, staff provided responses to questions and comments that were ' raised by the Commission on March 19, 2013. Staff presented the necessary approval documents (resolution and associated attachments), including the Errata Summary, as shown in Exhibit B. The Planning Commission received public testimony regarding the project, provided final comments to staff, and closed the public hearing. The Planning Commission voted 4-0 (Commissioner Burkhart recused himself) to adopt Resolution No. P13-04 recommending that the City - Council certify the Negative Declaration prepared for the project, and approve the Lyons Corridor Plan; At hearings on the project listed above, the Planning Commission considered staff pre- sentations and reports, and public comments and testimony on the Lyons Corridor Plan; The documents and other materials, which constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the Planning Commission is based, are on file within the Community Development Department and are in the custody of the Director of Community Development; k. On June 25, 2013, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on the Lyons Corridor Plan, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The project was advertised in The Signal newspaper on June 3, 2013. The hearing was held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. The City Council received the staff report, received public testimony, and closed the public hearing; ' 1. On June 25, 2013, the City Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance for the Lyons Corridor Plan and voted 4-1 to pass the ordinance to a second reading on July 9, 2013; m. Based upon the staff presentations, staff reports, and public comments and testimony, the City Council finds that the Lyons Corridor Plan will not adversely affect the health, peace, comfort, or welfare of persons residing in the area; nor will the Lyons Corridor Plan jeopardize, endanger or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health, safety, or general welfare; and n. The documents and other materials, which constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the City Council is based, are on file within the Community Development Department and are in the custody of the Director of Community Development; SECTION 2. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings, the City Council hereby finds as follows: a. An Initial Study and a Negative Declaration for this project have been prepared, as set forth in Exhibit C, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act ' (CEQA); b. The Initial Study has been circulated for review, and comment by affected governmental agencies and the public, and all comments received have been considered. The Negative Declaration was advertised on February 26, 2013, and posted on March 5, 2013, in accordance with CEQA. The public review period was open from March 5, 2013, through April 4, 2013; c. There is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment. The Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment of the City of Santa Clarita; d. The documents and other materials which constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the City Council is made is the Master Case No. 10-103 project file, located within the Community Development Department and is in the custody of the Director of Community Development; and e. The City Council, based upon the findings set forth above, hereby finds that the Negative Declaration for this project has been prepared in compliance with CEQA. SECTION 3. FINDINGS FOR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE 10-006 AND ZONE CHANGE 13-003. Based on the above findings of fact and recitals and the entire record, including, without limitation, oral and written testimony and other evidence received at the public hearings, reports and other transmittals from City staff to the City Council, and upon studies and investigations made by the City Council, the City Council finds as follows: a. That the proposed zone change or amendment is consistent with the objectives of the I Development Code, the General Plan, and development policies of the City: Master Case No. 10-103, which consists of Unified Development Code 10-006 and Zone Change 13-003, is consistent with the objectives of the Development Code, the General Plan, and development policies of the City. The Lyons Corridor Plan carries out a number of General Plan policies and objectives. Specifically, the Land Use Element of the General Plan dictates the City work to promote business development that upgrades and revitalizes older commercial corridors in a manner that reflects each community's character, architecture and history. The Lyons Corridor Plan provides incentives for property and business owners to invest in upgrading and revitalizing older commercial centers. The proposed plan is also consistent with Land Use Policy 2.1.2 by promoting healthy, walkable communities. This is achieved by providing an appropriate mix of residential and service uses in proximity to one another. The street and streetscape section of the document implements this policy by creating wider sidewalks and parkways to ensure that pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles are in harmony with one another. The Lyons Corridor Plan further implements the General Plan by applying distinctive community character guidelines to the planning area through the use of frontage types, building types, and architectural styles. SECTION 4. The City Council hereby adopts the Negative Declaration (Exhibit C) prepared for 1 the project and approves the Lyons Corridor Plan, which includes Master Case No. 10-103, Unified Development Code 10-006, Zone Change 13-003, consisting of the Lyons Corridor Plan (Exhibit A) and the Errata Summary (Exhibit B). SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days from its passage and adoption. SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law. 0 PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 9th day of July 2013. M YOR DATE:2 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Armine Chaparyan, Interim City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No.] 3-11 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting' of the City Council on the 25th day of June 2013. That thereafter, said Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 9th day of July 2013, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Weste, McLean, Kellar NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boydston ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Ferry AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Lai 5 .C. No. 13-11 EXHIBIT A OF ORDINANCE NO. 13-)l THE LYONS CORRIDOR PLAN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE www.SantaC]aritaCorridorPlan.com �zH Hoy xw w O a w O o O 0 N CD 0 M o O^' Cr ( UQ O CD 0 0 �. a c (D a w a m a w n n �o o,ow D N N n p w CrN n (p GCD C C a 0 w ' EXHIBIT C OF ORDINANCE NO. 13-11 NEGATIVE DECLARATION / INITIAL STUDY CITY OF SANTA CLARITA NEGATIVE DECLARATION [X] Proposed [ ] Final MASTER CASE NO Master Case 10-103 PERMIT/PROJECT NAME: Unified Development Code Amendment 10-006, Zone Change 13-003, and Initial Study 13- 002 APPLICANT: City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302 Valencia, CA 91355 LOCATION OF THE PROJECT: Along Lyons Avenue from I-5 to the west and Newhall Avenue to the east DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT: The Lyons Corridor project area is located within the City of Santa Clarita in the County of Los Angeles on Lyons Avenue, east of Interstate 5 and west of Newhall Avenue. The project area embraces 102 acres. Today, the Lyons Avenue Corridor consists of retail centers, medical office buildings, gas stations, freeway -oriented businesses, and housing complexes that total more than 1.3 million square -feet of commercial building space. The Lyons Corridor Plan has been proposed to protect and promote the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of the Lyons Corridor. The LCP, as proposed, will take on a form -based code type approach. This type of code addresses the relationship between the buildings themselves and public spaces for the entire planning area. Form -based codes create environments that highlight the importance of outdoor public spaces such as plazas, squares, and open space, while looking at the connectivity of streets and blocks. The regulations and standards in this form -based code are presented in both words and clearly drawn diagrams and other visual exhibits. The result will be a more user friendly document for property owners and business owners.. as well as, a community engaged plan that promotes high quality development and uses._-...... Based on the information contained in the Initial Study prepared for this project, and pursuant to the requirements of Section 15070 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City of Santa Clarita [X] City Council [ ] Planning Commission [ ] Director of Planning and Building Services finds that the project as proposed or revised will have no significant effect upon the environment, and that a Negative Declaration shall be adopted pursuant to Section 15070 of CEQA. Mitigation measures for this project [X] Are Not Required [ ] Are Attached _ [ ] Are Not Attached`—_— Jeff Hogan, AICP PLANNING MANAGER Prepared by: Patrick Leclair, Associate Planner (Signature) (Name/Pitle) Approved by: Jeff Hogan AICP Planning Manager (Signature) (Name/Title)_ — Public Review Period From March 5 2013 To April 4 2013 Public Notice Given On February 26 2013 ' [X] Legal Advertisement _ [ ] Posting of Properties [ ] Written Notice CERTIFICATION DATE: S:\CD\UDC Update\Environmental\Draft ND - LCP.doc INITIAL STUDY CITY OF SANTA CLARITA Project Title/Master Case Number: Master Case 10-103 Unified Development Code Amendment (UDC 10-006) Zone Change (ZC 13-003) Initial Study (IS 13-002) Lead Agency name and address: City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 302 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Contact person and phone number: Mike Ascione Assistant Planner I1 (661) 255-4330 Project location: The Lyons Corridor project area is located within the City of Santa Clarita,'in the County of Los Angeles, on the Lyons Avenue Corridor, east of Interstate 5 and west of Newhall Avenue. Applicant's name and address: City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 302 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 General Plan designation: Community Commercial (CC) and Mixed Use Corridor (MXC) Existing Zoning: Community Commercial (CC) Proposed Zoning: Corridor Plan (CP) zoning designation including Lyons Urban 1 (LU I), Lyons Urban 2 (LU2), Lyons Urban 3 (3), and Lyons Urban Corridor (LUC) Description of project and setting: The City of Santa Clarita is updating the Unified Development Code (UDC or Code) consistent with the General Plan adopted on June 14, 2011. One element of this Code update is the creation of "Corridor Plans" that guide development/redevelopment within a specific "corridor" or "planning area" in the City where specific development requirements will assist in creating a look and feel consistent with the vision of the General Plan. This initial study shall serve as the enviromnental ' analysis in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the first "Corridor Plan" known as the Lyons Avenue Corridor Plan (LCP). A Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified for the City's General Plan on June 14, 2011. In addition, the City adopted its Climate Action Plan (CAP) on August 28, 2012, with its own certified environmental document. This Initial Study shall tier off of the findings of the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and shall further be in compliance with the City's Climate Action Plan to ensure that the City's greenhouse gas emissions are reduced in accordance with State Law. General Plan EIR This initial study is a tiered document in accordance with Section 15152(b) of CEQA. In accordance with this Section, agencies are "encouraged to tier the environmental analyses which they prepare for separate but related projects including general plans, zoning changes, and development projects" in an effort to ' avoid "repetitive discussions on the same issues and focus the later EIR or negative declaration on the actual issues ripe for decision at each level of environmental review." The approval of the LCP is implementing the General Plan by creating specific development standards for the Lyons Avenue corridor to maintain the theme of development along the corridor, while prescribing the look and feel of future development of the Mixed Use Zones approved along the corridor as a part of the General Plan. The LCP will create a "form - based" code for the Lyons Avenue Corridor that will direct the aesthetics of future development including the location of structures on a project site, the heights associated with development, and the location of parking on a project site. The LCP will not entitle additional development other than what was considered under the General Plan. A copy of the EIR certified for the General Plan is available for review at the City of Santa Clarita Permit Center at 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 140, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. ' Proposed Project The Lyons Corridor project area is located within the City of Santa Clarita in the County of Los Angeles on Lyons Avenue, east of Interstate 5 and west of Newhall Avenue. Lyons Avenue is commonly known as the ' dividing line between the communities of Valencia to the north and Newhall to the south. The project area embraces 102 acres. Today, the Lyons Avenue Corridor consists of retail centers, medical office buildings, gas stations, freeway -oriented businesses, and housing complexes that total more than 1.3 million square -feet of commercial building space. Surface parking is common, particularly on properties that were developed in the 1960s and 1970s, and building heights range from one to four stories. Two senior living facilities are located on the north side of Lyons Avenue, west of Wiley Canyon Road. The senior communities were constructed in the early 2000s and are adjacent to medical offices, freeway -serving businesses, and a Southern California Edison substation. Other residential uses back up to Lyons Avenue between Wiley Canyon Road and Avenida Rotella, though primary access to these communities are oriented inward to the housing development with no street presence on Lyons Avenue itself. Most properties on Lyons Avenue contain single -story ' "strip mall" buildings that reflect typical commercial construction from the 1960s through the late 2000s. This type of development consists of small -lot, multi - tenant, stucco buildings with parking situated between the store fronts and the street. Newer projects, including a financial building at the corner of DeWolfe Road and a drug store at the corner of Valley Street, were built with a higher level of design with the intent to create a better street presence. The newer projects were designed to avoid the visual blight of large parking lots adjacent to the street and to create as much leasable space as possible under the zoning code. Future development within the Lyons Avenue corridor will further improve the appearance of the street and will help create an environment that is more conducive to commerce and economic vitality. The LCP will be an integral part of this process. The Lyons Corridor planning area is surrounded primarily by single family residences. Some multi- family residential units are located within the Lyons ' Avenue corridor itself but are not included in the planning area. Other apartments and condominium ' complexes are located south of the corridor. There are nearly 3,000 dwelling units within a five minutes' walk of Lyons Avenue and more than 5,000 units within a ten minutes' walk. With thousands of homes and multi- family units located so close to Lyons Avenue, there is tremendous potential to create a walkable environment where people can shop, eat, and gather. The Lyons Corridor Plan will help realize this potential and create a community destination that meets the needs of residents and visitors alike, regardless if they reach the corridor by automobile, bicycle, walking, or other means of transportation. The Lyons Corridor Plan has been proposed to protect and promote the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of the Lyons Corridor. More specifically, the purposes of this Lyons Corridor Plan is to: A. Ensure that development is of human scale, pedestrian -oriented, and designed to create attractive streetscapes and pedestrian spaces; ' S. Moderate vehicular traffic by providing for a mixture of land uses, pedestrian -oriented development, compact community form, safe and effective traffic circulation, and appropriate parking facilities; C. Provide standards for the orderly growth and development of the Lyons Corridor that will assist in protecting and enhancing the community identity of the Lyons Corridor; D. Ensure that proposed development and new land uses conserve energy and natural resources; E. Facilitate the development and redevelopment of walkable, complete neighborhoods with a variety of housing types to serve the needs of a diverse population; and F. Provide for compatibility between different types of development and land uses through effective urban and architectural design. ' The LCP, as proposed, will take on a form -based code type approach. This type of code addresses the relationship between the buildings themselves and public spaces for the entire planning area. Form -based codes create environments that highlight the importance 1 of outdoor public spaces such as plazas, squares, and open space, while looking at the connectivity of streets and blocks. The regulations and standards in this form - based code are presented in both words and clearly drawn diagrams and other visual exhibits. The result will be a more user friendly document for property owners and business owners, as well as, a community engaged plan that promotes high quality development and uses. More specifically, the LCP will achieve these goals by: A. Creating the Corridor Plan (CP) zone on the City of Santa Clarita zoning map. Further, within the CP four new distinct zones will be created including the Lyons Urban 1 (L -U1), Lyons Urban 2 (L -U2), Lyons Urban 3 (L -U3), and Lyons Urban Center (L- LC) zones. Typical uses within these zones include medical office, commercial office, retail and services. A mixture of residential and commercial uses is permitted in the L -U3 with the appropriate entitlement. Building heights in the L -U1, L -U2, and L -U3 range from 1 to 3 stories. The L -UC zone 1 is characterized by mandatory mixed use development including both commercial and residential use types. Maximum building height in the L -UC zone is 4 stories. The zoning types mentioned will ensure that properties along the corridor planning area are maintained and redeveloped in context to parcel size and based on adjacent uses. These zoning standards will assist in ensuring development is of human scale and pedestrian -oriented by regulating placement of buildings directly adjacent to public sidewalks. B. Creating a street and streetscape standard plan that identifies the street and streetscape types allowed within the Lyons Corridor planning area to promote walking, biking, and other alternative modes of transportation. This section provides right-of-way design standards to ensure that proposed development is consistent with the City's goals for the character of the public realm of the street. This section is also based on projected development permitted by the Land Use Element of the General Plan. The ultimate right-of-way width under the 1 City's General Plan is 116 feet. The LCP will require all future development to build -out the ultimate right-of-way to include an eight -foot (8'- 0") sidewalk and an eight -foot (8'-0") landscaped parkway. The "curb -to -curb" pavement portion of the right-of-way is already built -out to ultimate width and would not change under the proposed plan. C. Providing architectural standards which currently include Craftsman and Victorian architecture for all future development and modifications to existing development. Other architectural styles could be included as deemed appropriate by the City Council, or its designee. These standards provide direction for the design of buildings, appurtenances, and site elements within the planning area. The intent of these standards is to retain and encourage architectural variety; promote quality development; and ensure that both existing and new development is compatible in size, scale, and appearance with the character of the LCP. D. Creating standards for building types and frontage ' types allowed within the planning area, and provide design standards for each type, to ensure that proposed development is consistent with the City's goals for building form, character, and quality. Frontage types will provide the planning area a continuity that gives distinctive character to the street while also contributing to the specific form of each building. The frontage and building types will also ensure that buildings are oriented directly adjacent to the street and provide opportunities for outdoor dining and sitting areas. Surrounding land uses: The Lyons Corridor planning area includes a mixture of Urban Residential and Commercial land uses on all sides of the Lyons Corridor. Other public agencies whose N/A approval is required: A. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED: The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a "Potentially Significant Impact' or a "Less than Significant with Mitigation" as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. Aesthetics [ ] Agriculture .Resources [ ] Air Quality ] Biological Resources [ ] Cultural Resources [ ] Geology / Soils ] Greenhouse Gas [ ] Hazards & Hazardous [ ] Hydrology / Water Emissions Materials Quality ] Land Use / Planning [ ] Mineral Resources [ ] Noise Population / Housing [ ] Public Services [ ] Recreation Mandatory Findings of Transportation /Traffic [] Utilities / Service Systems H Significance ....... _......_ B. DETERMINATION: On the basis of this initial evaluation. I [X] I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. [ ] I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because revisions in the project have been made by or agreed to by the project proponent. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. [ ] I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required. [ ] I find that the proposed project MAY have a "potentially significant impact" or "potentially significant unless mitigated" impact on the environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed. [ ] I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, nothing further is required. Patrick Leclair, Associate Planner Date Jeff W. Hogan, AICP, Planning Manager Date C. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation I. AESTHETICS - Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but [ } [ ] [ ] [X] not limited to, primary/secondary ridgelines, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character or [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] quality of the site and its surroundings? d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare that [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the ' area? e) Other [ ] [ ] [ ] [ } II. AGRICULTURE AND FOREST RESOURCES — In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (1997) prepared by the California Dept. of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. In determining whether impacts to forest resources, including timberland, are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to information compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the state's inventory of forest land, including the Forest and Range Assessment Project and the Forest Legacy Assessment project; and forest carbon measurement methodology provided in Forest Protocols adopted by the California Air Resources Board. Would the project: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] a Williamson Act contract? c) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code section 12220 (g)), timberland (as defined by Public [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104(g))? d) Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] forest land to non -forest use? e) Involve other changes in the existing environment [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to non-agricultural use? III. AIR QUALITY - Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations. Would the project: a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] applicable air quality plan? b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation? c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non -attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions that exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors)? d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] ' concentrations? e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] number of people? Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation I) Other [ ] IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES — Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or [ ] through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian [ ] habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or US Fish and Wildlife Service? c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally [] protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any [ ] native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances [] protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? Oak trees? f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat [ ] Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan? [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] C Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation g) Affect a Significant Ecological Area (SEA) or Significant Natural Area (SNA) as identified on the [] [ ] [ ] [X] City of Santa Clarita ESA Delineation Map? h) Other [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] V. CULTURAL RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the [ ] [ ] [] [X] significance of a historical resource as defined in '15 064.5? b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the [ ] [ ] [] [X] significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to '15064.5? c) Directly or indirectly destroy or impact a unique [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] ' paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] outside of formal cemeteries? e) Other [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] VI. GEOLOGY AND SOILS - Would the project: a) Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving: i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42. ii) Strong ] [ ] [ ] [X] seismic ground shaking? [ iii) Seismic -related ground failure, including liquefaction? iv) Landslides? b) Result in substantial wind or water soil erosion or the loss of topsoil, either on or off site? c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse? d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18- 1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1997), creating substantial risks to life or property? e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater? f) Change in topography or ground surface relief features? g) Earth movement (cut and/or fill) of 10,000 cubic yards or more? h) Development and/or grading on a slope greater than 10% natural grade? i) The destruction, covering or modification of any unique geologic or physical feature? j) Other Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation [] [] I [X] [] �] [] [X] �] L] H [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] . [] [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] [l [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] [] [X] VII. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS- Would the project: I ' Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] the environment? b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] emissions of greenhouse gasses? VIII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - Would the project: a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the [ ] [ ] [ J [X] environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving explosion or the release of hazardous materials into the environment (including, but not limited to oil, pesticides, chemicals, fuels, or radiation)? c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? c) For a project located within an airport land use plan [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] ' would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? Potentially Less Than Less Than No , Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation g) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? h) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands? i) Exposure of people to existing sources of potential [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] health hazards (e.g. electrical transmission lines, gas lines, oil pipelines)? j) Other IX. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY - Would the project: I a) Violate any water quality standards or waste [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] discharge requirements? b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or [ ]. [ ] [ ] [X] interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local groundwater table level (e.g., the production rate of pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level which would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off- site? 11 d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or off-site? e) Create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? f) Otherwise substantially degrade water quality? g) Place housing within a 100 -year flood hazard area as mapped on a federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood hazard delineation map? h) Place within a 100 -year flood hazard area structures which would impede or redirect flood flows? i) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a result of the failure of a levee or dam? j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow? k) Changes in the rate of flow, currents, or the course and direction of surface water and/or groundwater? 1) Other modification of a wash, channel creek or river? m) Impact Stormwater Management in any of the following ways: Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation [] I I [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] I [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] [] [X] [] [] [] [X] i) Potential impact of project construction and [ ] project post -construction activity on storm water runoff? [X] [X] Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation ii) Potential discharges from areas for materials [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] storage, vehicle or equipment fueling, vehicle or equipment maintenance (including washing), waste handling, hazardous materials handling or storage, delivery areas or loading docks, or other outdoor work areas? iii) Significant environmentally harmful increase in [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] the flow velocity or volume of storm water runoff? iv) Significant and environmentally harmful [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] increases in erosion of the project site or. surrounding areas? v) Storm water discharges that would significantly [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] impair or contribute to the impairment of the ' beneficial uses of receiving waters or areas that provide water quality benefits (e.g. riparian corridors, wetlands, etc.) vi Cause harm to the biological integrity of drainage [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] systems, watersheds, and/or water bodies? vii) Does the proposed project include provisions [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] for the separation, recycling, and reuse of materials both during constriction and after project occupancy? X. LAND USE AND PLANNING - Would the project: a) Disrupt or physically divide an established [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] community (including a low-income or minority community)? I ' Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] plan, natural community conservation plan, and/or policies by agencies with jurisdiction over the project? XI. MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral [ ] [ ] [ ] IN resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state? b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan? c) Use nonrenewable resources in a wasteful and [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] inefficient manner? XII. NOISE - Would the project result in: a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? b) Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive [] [] [] [X] groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? Potentially Less Than Less Than No ' Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? e) For a project located within an airport land use plan [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? ' XIII. POPULATION AND HOUSING - Would the project: a) Induce substantial population growth in an area, [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere (especially affordable housing)? c) Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? XIV. PUBLIC SERVICES - Would the project result in: Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation a) Substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services: i) Fire protection? [ ] ii) Police protection? [ ] iii) Schools? [ ] iv) Parks? [ ] XV. RECREATION - Would the project: a) Increase the use of existing neighborhood and [ ] regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? b) Include recreational facilities or require the [] construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? XVI. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC - Would the project: Potentially Less Than Less Than No ' Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation a) Conflict with an applicable plan, ordinance or policy [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] establishing measures of effectiveness for the performance of the circulation system, taking into account all modes of transportation including mass transit and non -motorized travel and relevant components of the circulation system, including but not limited to intersections, streets, highways and freeways, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and mass transit? b) Conflict with an applicable congestion management [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] program, including, but not limited to level of service standard and travel demand measures, or other standards established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? ' c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns, including [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] either an increase in traffic levels or a change in location that results in substantial safety risks? d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature [ ] [ ] [ ] [Xl (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? e) Result in inadequate emergency access? [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] f) Conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] regarding public transit, bicycle, or pedestrian facilities, or otherwise decrease the performance or safety of such facilities? g) Hazards or barriers for pedestrians or bicyclists? [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] XVI. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS - Would the project: a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board? ' Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation b) Require or result in the construction of new water or [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? c) Require or result in the construction of new storm [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] water drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects?. d) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] project from existing entitlements and resources, or are new or expanded entitlements needed? e) Result in a determination by the wastewater [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] ' treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project's projected demand in addition to the provider's existing commitments? f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] capacity to accommodate the project's solid waste disposal needs? g) Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] regulations related to solid waste? XVII. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE: a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate ' important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? Potentially Less Than Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact with Impact Mitigation b) Does the project have impacts that are individually [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? c) Does the project have environmental effects which [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? XVII. DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME `DE MINIMUS' FINDING a) Will the project have an adverse effect either [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] individually or cumulatively, on fish and wildlife resources? Wildlife shall be defined for the purpose of this question as "all wild animals, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, and related ecological communities, including the habitat upon which the wildlife depends for its continued viability." 11 D. DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND/OR EARLIER ANALYSIS: Section and Subsections Evaluation of Impacts I. AESTHETICS a.) No Impact: The City of Santa Clarita is located within Southern California's Santa Clarita Valley, which is bound by the San Gabriel Mountains to the south and east, the Santa Susana Mountains to the southwest, and the mountains of the Los Padres and Angeles National Forests to the north. The surrounding natural mountains and ridgelines, some of which extend into the City, provide a visual backdrop for much of the City. Other scenic resources within or visible from the City include the Santa Clara River corridor, forested/vegetated land, and a variety of canyons and natural drainages in portions of the City. The proposed LCP is not located on, or in proximity to any, scenic vistas in the City. The project would create a "form -based" code for the portion of the Lyons Avenue Corridor starting at the Interstate 5 Freeway on the western edge of the project area, to Newhall Avenue on the eastern boundary of the project area. No development would be approved with the adoption of the LCP, rather the LCP would provide the framework for future development/redevelopment within the planning area. Based on the analysis completed with the EIR for the General Plan and the proposed LCP, no impact to scenic vistas is anticipated and no further analysis is required. b.) No Impact: The LCP is located along the Lyons Avenue corridor between I-5 and Newhall Avenue. The LCP planning area does not include any General Plan designated ridgelines as it is located in a relatively flat portion of the City. The western portion of the planning area does gradually slope up to the Lyons Avenue/Pico Canyon overpass at the I-5, beginning at Wiley Canyon Road. The property between the I-5 and Wile Canyon Road is substantially developed, and is terraced to maintain the integrity of the existing grade in this portion of the planning area. Development in this area in the future would likely continue in this "terraced" pattern of development and would maintain the topography of the community. Further minor topographical changes exist along the eastern portion of the project area east of Wayman Street. The area within this portion of the planning area is likely to continue to develop/redevelop in a "terraced" pattern of development as well. Since no General Plan designated ridgelines are located within the planning area, no impacts to these scenic resources are anticipated. Oak trees exist within the LCP planning area. However, the proposed LCP does not allow for any further impact to oak trees. The City's Unified Development Code includes provisions for the removal, encroachment, and pruning of oak trees in the City. Impacts to oak trees will be evaluated on a project by project basis as impacts are identified. Therefore, no impacts are anticipated to oak trees with the approval of the LCP. In January 2013, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita adopted the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance to protect historic resources in the City. The Ordinance allowed property owners to "opt -in" to place the historic designation on their property. In addition eight properties were designated as "historic" under the ordinance as well. However, none of the properties designated as historic are located within the LCP planning area. The proposed LCP will not impact the Historic Preservation Ordinance and will allow property owners within the LCP to opt -in and request that a property be designated as historic. c.) No Impact: The LCP will guide the orderly development/redevelopment of property within the LCP planning area. The LCP designates that future development/redevelopment within the planning area utilize two specific architectural themes including Victorian and Craftsman styles. Further, the LCP designates the building and frontage types permitted within the planning area. Designating the frontage and building types in a form - based code clearly defines the street scene that is desired along the Lyons corridor in order to get more orderly development consistent with the vision for the corridor. The Lyons Corridor has been predominantly developed with parking and small outbuildings located on the street side of each lot, with the buildings located along the rear portions of the project. The LCP would require that each new development/redevelopment of a project site would bring the buildings out to the street, tucking the parking either behind the building, or within structured parking as appropriate. The changes to the street scene will change upon development/redevelopment. However; the clear prescriptions provided by the LCP will ensure the orderly design and development to ensure that the appropriate street scene is accomplished. Therefore, a less than significant impact related to visual character or quality of the site and surroundings is anticipated with the adoption of the LCP. d.) No Impact: The LCP does not propose to regulate any lighting within the plan area. The City's Unified Development Code addresses lighting, providing regulations that require that all lights are directed downward and are screened from neighboring properties. In addition, the UDC requires that there is no spill-over of light onto sensitive biological areas or neighboring properties. 1 Development/redevelopment in the LCP will likely create new sources of light, however structured parking in mixed use areas will likely reduce the need for unenclosed lighting structures in parking areas. Since no development is proposed at this time, lighting impacts are too speculative to analyze at this time and must be evaluated on a project -by -project basis. However, compliance with the provisions of the UDC is anticipated to reduce all impacts relating to light in the LCP area to less than significant levels. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the General Plan analyzed the potential impact of aesthetics in Section 3.6 of the General Plan EIR. The EIR determined that all impacts relating to aesthetics were anticipated to be less than significant with the buildout of the General Plan and no mitigation measures were required for aesthetics. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the Lyons Corridor Plan proposed at this time, no impact to aesthetics is anticipated and no further analysis is required. II. AGRICULTURE a. -e.) No Impact — There is no farmland of any kind located within RESOURCES the LCP planning area. The LCP planning area is predominantly developed with a mixture of residential, commercial, and service related uses. The creation of a form -based code to guide development/redevelopment in the planning area will therefore not impact any farmland, forest areas, or other agricultural uses. The EIR prepared for the General Plan discusses agricultural resources in section 3.5 of the EIR. The General Plan EIR identifies there would be a significant impact to Important Farmlands due to areas in the City's Sphere of Influence being converted to Urban Land Use designations and a Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC) was adopted for agricultural resources. No mitigation measures were identified that would reduce impacts as a result of the conversion of farmland described above. However, none of these Important Farmland areas are located within the current City boundary, its recently annexed areas, or the LCP, and will therefore not be impacted with the creation of the LCP. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the Lyons Corridor Plan proposed at this time, no impact to agricultural, farmland, or forest resources is anticipated and no further analysis is required. 1I1. AIR QUALITY a. -e.) No Impact: The City of Santa Clarita is within the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB), which is bounded by the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains to the north and east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south and west. The air quality in the SCAB is managed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The SCAB has a history of recorded air quality violations and is an area where both state and federal ambient air quality standards are exceeded. Because of the violations of the California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS), the California Clean Air Act requires triennial preparation of an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). The AQMP analyzes air quality on a regional level and identifies region -wide attenuation methods to achieve the air quality standards. These, region -wide attenuation methods include regulations for stationary -source polluters; facilitation of new transportation technologies, such as low -emission vehicles; and capital improvements, such as park-and-ride facilities and public transit improvements. The most recently adopted plan is the 2007 AQMP, adopted on June 1, 2007. This plan is the South Coast Air Basin's portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP). This plan is designed to implement the California Clean Air Act an in turn implement the Federal Clean Air Act administered by the EPA. The AQMP accommodates population growth and transportation projections based on the predictions made by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). Thus, projects that are consistent with employment and population forecasts are consistent with the AQMD. The creation of the LCP will not alter any of the aforementioned measures: The General Plan for the City outlined the land use designations in the City, including the establishment of commercial and residential densities within the various zones in the City. The LCP is a form -based code that will set parameters for the development of property within the LCP planning area consistent with the densities envisioned in the General Plan. The form -based code for the LCP provides clear direction on the types of buildings, the design of the frontages along the public right-of-way, and the architectural style of the buildings within the planning area. These parameters will provide the clear direction for future development/redevelopment within the planning area, encouraging the mixing of uses in the corridor to create a walkable, pedestrian community that will reduce vehicle miles traveled by providing the necessary services in close proximity to existing and future residential uses. There are over 2,800 residential units within a five (5) minute walk of the planning area and over 5,000 residential units within a 10 minute walk of the planning area. Providing a well Ll f—' balanced mix of uses along the corridor will encourage further pedestrian connectivity, reducing vehicle trips in the corridor. The EIR prepared for the General Plan discusses air quality impacts in Section 3.3 of the EIR. The EIR identifies that there would be impacts to air quality that require mitigation for both construction - related and operations -related air quality. The EIR proposes the implementation of mitigation measures MM 3.3-1 to MM 3.3-9 to mitigate any potential air quality impacts associated with the implementation of the General Plan. The General Plan EIR determined that with the implementation of these mitigation measures, the impacts to air quality will likely be significant and unavoidable and an SOC for air quality was adopted. Since the LCP is implementing the General Plan by providing the form -based framework for the development/redevelopment of the planning area, no further mitigation would be required for the proposed amendments to the UDC. Future projects developed under the LCP would be subject to appropriate CEQA analysis to determine project -specific impacts, if any, to air quality to ensure compliance with the General Plan and the required mitigation measures established in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP proposed at this time, no further impact to air quality is anticipated with the proposed amendments and no further analysis is required. IV. BIOLOGICAL a. -g.) No Impact – The LCP is located in an urban environment that RESOURCES is predominantly developed and therefore does not include any habitat identified by the Department of Fish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Therefore, the creation of the LCP is not anticipated to impact any special status species of flora or fauna. The LCP is intended to guide the development/redevelopment of property within the planning area and will not entitle any construction activity within the planning area. The creation of the LCP will implement the General Plan, by creating a form -based code that will prescribe the building types, frontage types, and architectural styles for development/redevelopment of property within the planning area. Any development in the planning area is speculative at this time, however must be consistent with the densities outlined in the General Plan for both residential and commercial land uses. All future projects under the LCP would be required to be analyzed under CEQA to determine any project specific impacts to biological resources as a result of the project would exist. FIR prepared for the General Plan discusses possible impacts to biological resources in Section 3.7 of the EIR. The EIR identifies that potential impacts related to biological resources would exist as a result of the implementation of the General Plan including impacts to special status species of flora and fauna, impacts to possible "blueline" streams, and possible impacts to conservation plans in the City. However, the extent of these potential impacts cannot be identified at this time and will require further analysis on a project by project basis. The General Plan incorporated mitigation measures MM 3.7-1 to MM 3.7-3 to address the possible impacts to biological resources. However, these mitigation measures are not anticipated to address the potential impacts to biological resources and an SOC was adopted for biological resources. The creation of the LCP proposed at this time is a regulatory act and is not development specific. The Mitigation Measures identified in the General Plan will address project specific impacts requiring additional studies at the time development is proposed in the City. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, the proposed UDC amendments are not anticipated to have an impact to biological resources and no further analysis is required. V. CULTURAL a. -d.) No Impact — The General Plan identifies resources of historic RESOURCES significance to the City of Santa Clarita, as well as resources that have historical significance to the State of California. To further protect these resources, as well as provide for regulations for the treatment of historical structures in the City, the City Council adopted a Historic Preservation Ordinance on January 8, 2013. The LCP planning area is located in a portion of the City that is urbanized with a mixture of commercial, residential and service related uses. None of the resources identified in the General Plan, or the Historic Preservation Ordinance are located within the LCP planning area, and would therefore, not be impacted as a result of the creation of the LCP. Historic resources within the LCP would still be subject to the Historic Preservation Ordinance for any properties that are designated as historic resources in the future. Further, impacts associated with historical resources were considered in Section 3.8 of the EIR prepared for the General Plan. The creation of the LCP will not have any further impact on cultural resources in the City of Santa Clarita as it will not alter any unique geological feature, paleontological resource, any human remains or affect any historical or archeological resource. However, as identified in mitigation measures MM 3.8-1 to MM 3.8-7 of the General Plan EIR, further studies on a project specific basis will be required to determine if any possible historical resources or unique paleontological resources exist on a project site. Should any resources be identified in any future studies or found during any construction activities, the proper authorities would be notified to ensure that the proper measures are taken to preserve all identified resources. With the mitigation measures outlined in the General Plan EIR, all impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to archeological, historical or cultural resource is anticipated and no further analysis is required. VI. GEOLOGY AND a. -i.) No Impact — Southern California has numerous active and SOILS potentially active faults that could affect the City. As stated in the City's General Plan, the City is susceptible to geologic hazards in the event of a major earthquake (magnitude 8.3) along the San Andreas Fault. This could result in ground failure and liquefaction. However, the creation of the LCP would not change the requirements of future development to follow all state and City building codes/regulations. The proposed corridor plan will implement the General Plan by establishing code language to guide future development in the LCP planning area. The LCP planning area is located in a portion of the City that is urbanized with a mixture. of commercial, residential and service related uses. Although no construction is proposed at this time, any future construction would be required to address the geologic and/or soils conditions on their project site prior to the issuance of any permits on the project site. The creation of the LCP proposed at this time is regulatory in nature to further implement the General Plan. The EIR prepared for the General Plan evaluated the potential impacts to geology and soils in Section 3.9 of the EIR. Mitigation measures MM 3.9-1 to MM 3.9-9 were identified and are anticipated to reduce any impacts associated with future development to less than significant impact levels. Therefore, based on the FIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact related to geology and soils is anticipated and no further analysis is required. VII. GREENHOUSE a. -b.) No Impact — "Greenhouse gases" (so called because of their GAS EMISSIONS role in trapping heat near the surface of the earth) emitted by human activity are implicated in global climate change, commonly referred to as "global warming." These greenhouse gases contribute to an increase in the temperature of the earth's atmosphere. The principal greenhouse gases (GHGs) include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide. Collectively GHGs are measured as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Fossil fuel consumption in the transportation sector (on -road motor vehicles, off-highway mobile sources, and aircraft) is the single largest source of GHG emissions, accounting for approximately half of GHG emissions globally. Industrial and commercial sources are the second largest contributors of GHG emissions with about one- fourth of total emissions. California has passed several bills and the Governor has signed at least three executive orders regarding greenhouse gases. GHG statues and executive orders (EO) include Assembly Bill (AB) 32, Senate Bill (SB) 1368, Executive Order (EO) 5-03-05, EO S-20-06 and EO S-01-07. AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, is one of the most significant pieces of environmental legislation that California has adopted. Among other things, it is designed to maintain California's reputation as a "national and international leader on energy conservation and environmental stewardship." Most notably AB 32 mandates that by 2020, California's GHG emissions be reduced to 1990 levels. The EIR prepared for the General Plan analyzed the impacts related to global climate change in Section 3.4 of the General Plan EIR. The analysis in the General Plan EIR determined that mitigation measures MM 3.4-1 to MM 3.4-16 were required to reduce impacts to global climate change. With these mitigation measures, the impacts to global climate change were considered to be significant and unavoidable, and a Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted related to global climate change. However, Policy C08.1.1 of the Conservation Element of the General Plan required that a Climate action Plan (CAP) be adopted within 18 months of the certification of the City's General Plan to ensure that the City will be able to achieve California's State -mandated targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. On August 28, 2012, the City of Santa Clarita adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) in compliance with the General Plan policy. The CAP used the baseline year of 2005 in comparison to the impacts associated with the General Plan land use designations to establish the mitigation measures required to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. The CAP determined that projects in compliance with the General Plan are consistent with the CAP. The proposed LCP is a planning document for the Lyons corridor that is in compliance with the land use designations outlined in the General Plan and therefore would be in compliance with the CAP. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, the CAP prepared for the City, and the creation of the LCP no further impact related to greenhouse -,as.emissions is anticipated and no further C analysis is required. VIII. HAZARDS AND a. -i.) No Impact — The creation of the LCP would not directly expose HAZARDOUS people to health hazards or hazardous materials, interfere with any MATERIALS emergency response plans, or any land use within 2 miles of an airport, airfield, or otherwise impact any airport land use plan. The LCP will implement the goals and policies of the General Plan and will not have an impact on the environment other than what was previously analyzed under the General Plan EIR. The General Plan EIR analyzed the impacts to hazards and hazardous material in Section 3.11 of the EIR and did not identify any mitigation measures related to hazards or hazardous materials were required. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact related to hazards and hazardous materials is anticipated and no further analysis is required. IX. HYDROLOGY a. -l.) No Impact — The City of Santa Clarita has an interconnected AND WATER system of waterways that lead to the Santa Clara River. Development QUALITY in the City is required to reduce the alteration of flows, impeding flows, and further changing flows of water that would impact properties and resources both up and/or down -stream. Prior to the installation of any improvements; developers must demonstrate that the improvements will not have an impact on the path or velocity of water flow off of the site. Further, development in the City must comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) having the responsibility to ensure that water is properly treated prior to leaving a project site and discharging into any stormwater drainage facility. The proposed LCP is not changing any development standards that would impact these requirements. The EIR for the General Plan evaluated the potential impacts to hydrology and water quality in Section 3.12 of the EIR. The EIR determined that there could be impacts associated with hydrology and water quality, and required that mitigation measures MM 3.12-1 to MM 3.12-5 be incorporated to mitigate all potential impacts. With these mitigation measures, all impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels, requiring all development to demonstrate compliance with the NPDES standards prior to the issuance of any permits for development on a project site. Further, prior to any permits, development would also be required to demonstrate that there would be no impact to any floodway, water way, or other drainage course as a result of the proposed project. The creation of the LCP is a regulatory act and is not anticipated to Chan e an of these standards as they currently exist in the UDC or in the Municipal Code of the City of Santa Clarita. The LCP will not result in direct impacts on hydrology and water quality. Further, the LCP is not anticipated to impact any 100 -year flood hazard area, tsunami, drainage pattern, or runoff of Stormwater Management systems. Any construction related activity within the City would comply with the zoning codes in place at the time that revisions are requested, including any additional CEQA review if required. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to hydrology and water quality is anticipated and no further analysis is required. X. LAND USE AND a. -c.) No Impact — The creation of the LCP is implementing the PLANNING General Plan by creating a plan for future development/redevelopment along the Lyons Avenue corridor. The planning area is predominantly developed with commercial, residential, and service -related uses. Future development/redevelopment along the corridor will not impact any established community that would be disrupted or physically divided due to the proposed amendments, and therefore, no impact is anticipated. Further, the creation of the LCP will implement the General Plan adopted by the City on June 14, 2011, including the following objectives and policies of the General Plan encouraging the creation of similar plans for revitalization of communities in the City: Objective LU 1.2 Maintain the distinctive community character of villages and neighborhoods throughout the planning area by establishing uses, densities, and design guidelines appropriate to the particular needs and goals of each area, including but not limited to the following: Policy LU 1.2.1 In Newhall, provide opportunities for new business and housing by implementing the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan, provide incentives to promote infill development and re -use of underutilized sites, and continue to plan for the future development of North Newhall. Objective LU 4.3 Enhance older commercial and industrial areas. Policy LU 4.3.4 Promote business development that upgrades and revitalizes older commercial corridors, including Lyons Avenue, Railroad Avenue/Newhall Avenue, Main Street and Soledad Canyon Road, in a manner that reflects each area's character, architecture, and history. As described above the creation of the LCP. will create provisions for the development/redevelopment within the planning area consistent with the land use designations approved in the City's General Plan, promoting infill development and re -use of existing sites. The EIR prepared for the General Plan comprehensively analyzes the Goals and Policies of the Land Use Element of the General Plan in Section 3.1 of the EIR. Implementation of the Goals and Policies of the General Plan is anticipated to address any potential impacts associated with Land Use and Planning and no further mitigation measures are necessary. The proposed LCP will not affect current City standards regarding habitat conservation plans, natural community preservation plans, and/ or the policies of agencies with jurisdiction over resources and resource areas within the City since no development is proposed at this time. All future development would be subject to the standards established by the City, at the time development is proposed. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to land use and planning is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XI. MINERAL AND a. -c.) No Impact — Gold mining and oil production historically have ENERGY been the principal mineral extraction activities in and around the RESOURCES Santa Clarita Valley. Other minerals found in the General Plan planning area include construction aggregate, titanium, and tuff. Mineral resources and extraction areas are shown in Exhibit CO -2 of the City's General Plan. There are no current extraction operations within the Lyons Corridor planning area. There are small portions of the planning area at the Wiley Canyon Road/Lyons Avenue intersection and areas east of Orchard Village that are identified as being in a Zone 2 (Aggregate) Mineral Resource Zone. However, these areas are developed and do not have any mining operations. Therefore, the creation of the LCP is not expected to affect mineral resources in the planning area, or the City. Should any aggregate or oil extraction be expanded or introduced in the planning area, additional review under CEQA will be required to determine if any project specific impacts exist. The EIR prepared for the General Plan evaluates the impacts to mineral and energy resources in Section 3.10 of the EIR. The EIR did not identify the need for any mitigation measures as all impacts were anticipated to be less than significant relating to mineral and energy resources. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to mineral and energy resources is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XII. NOISE a. -f) No Impact — The creation of the LCP will not expose persons to the generation of a significant increase in noise levels, groundborne vibration, or increase ambient noise. The LCP is a planning document that will serve as the code for the development/redevelopment within the Lyons Corridor planning area. The LCP will serve as a regulatory document and does not propose any development at this time and therefore, there would not be a direct impact to noise levels in the city. Further, the LCP does not propose to alter any noise standards in the Unified Development Code, or the City's Municipal Code that would impact development/redevelopment along the Lyons Corridor planning area. The FIR prepared for the General Plan evaluated the impacts associated with noise in Section 3.18 of the FIR. The FIR determined that the impacts associated with construction and operations -related noise impacts will be significant and unavoidable, even with the mitigation proposed under mitigation measure MM 3.18-1 to limit the use of pile driving activities during construction, and an SOC was adopted for noise. Since the creation of the LCP is implementing the General Plan and is not proposing any alterations to 11.44 of the Municipal Code regarding noise standards in the City, no impacts to noise are anticipated. The proposed LCP is consistent with the General Plan and will not require any further analysis under CEQA. However, all future development will be subject to CEQA and would be required to analyze possible project specific noise impacts and incorporate all feasible mitigation measures to reduce any identified impacts. Therefore, based on the FIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to noise is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XIIL POPULATION a. -c.) No Impact — The creation of the LCP is not anticipated to AND HOUSING induce substantial population growth in the Santa Clarita Valley -beyond what was considered as a part of the General Plan. The LCP will implement the General Plan by creating a development code for the future development/redevelopment along the Lyons Corridor to encourage redevelopment along the corridor. The FIR prepared for the General Plan evaluated the impacts related to population and housing in Section 3.19 of the FIR. The EIR determined that there would be no impacts related to population and housing and no mitigation measures relating to population and housing were required. The creation of the LCP is a regulatory act and will not include any development activity at this time. Therefore, the creation of the LCP would not alter the City's population projections and would be consistent with the City's General Plan. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to population and housing is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XIV. PUBLIC a)i.-iv No Impact — The proposed LCP will not directly increase the SERVICES need for additional fire, police, schools, or libraries. However, any future development/redevelopment along the Lyons Avenue corridor would be subject to any applicable development fees, which are established to compensate for growth. The creation of the LCP would implement the General Plan by creating a plan for the future development/redevelopment along the Lyons Corridor. Further, the EIR prepared for the General Plan analyzed the impacts associated with public services in Section 3.15 of the FIR. The EIR found that mitigation measures including mitigation measures MM 3.15-1 to MM 3.15-4 which will require individual development applications to pay the applicable development impact fees associated with their development prior to the applicable timeline established by the jurisdiction responsible for the regulatory fee. With the payment of the applicable development impact fees impacts to public services would be mitigated to less than significant levels. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to mineral and energy resources is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XIV. RECREATION a. -b.) No Impact — The proposed LCP will not have any impact on recreational amenities within the City of Santa Clarita. The LCP will implement the General Plan by creating a planning document for the future development/redevelopment along the Lyons Avenue Corridor. The General Plan EIR evaluated the impacts associated with recreation in Section 3.16 of the EIR. The FIR determined that there would be no impact to recreation facilities and no mitigation measures were required for recreational facilities. The proposed project does not include any development activities at this time and all subsequent approvals would be required to comply with the Open Space and Conservation Element in the City's General Plan and would be subject to the City's park impact fees. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to recreation is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XV. a. -g.) No Impact — The creation of the LCP is regulatory in nature TRANSPORTATION / and is not anticipated to have direct developmental impacts that alter TRAFFIC traffic load or capacity on streets stems. As previously discussed, Land Use Objective LU 1.2, Policy LU 1.2.1, Objective LU 4.3, and Policy LU 4.3.4 of the General Plan seek to encourage the revitalization of the Lyons Avenue corridor and further revitalize existing, older communities in the City, implementing of the General Plan. The LCP will create development standards for the development/redevelopment of property within the planning area, providing standards for the building types, frontage types, and architectural types for all future projects along the Lyons Avenue corridor. The General Plan prescribed the land uses permitted along the corridor, including the introduction of the Mixed Use land use designation along the corridor, with the Mixed Use Overlay zone designation at the Lyons Avenue/Orchard Village intersection. Any subsequent development under the LCP would be regulated by the City's UDC, General Plan, and transportation policies and would be subject to additional CEQA review to determine the specific project - related impacts. The EIR prepared for the General Plan analyzed the potential impacts related to traffic and transportation in Section 3.2 of the EIR. The EIR determined that all impacts related to transportation and traffic in the City would be less than significant with the incorporation of three mitigation measures including MM 3.2-1 to MM 3.2-3. These measures will require the City to work with CalTrans as additional infrastructure is required on the regional highways neighboring the City, and to analyze traffic impacts on a project -by -project basis. Since no new development is proposed at this time, no further study is required regarding traffic and transportation. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to traffic and transportation is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XVI. UTILITIES AND a. -g.) No Impact — The creation of the LCP does not include any new SERVICE SYSTEMS development at this time. The LCP would implement the General Plan by creating a planning document to guide the future development/redevelopment of the Lyons Avenue corridor, consistent with the land use designations of the General Plan. Therefore, the project would not directly result in the construction of new water facilities, expansion of existing electric or natural gas facilities, affect drainage patterns, water treatment services, and furthermore, no impacts to landfill capacity would occur beyond what was analyzed in the General Plan EIR. The EIR prepared for the General Plan evaluated the impacts to utilities and service systems in Section 3.17 of the EIR. The EIR determined that there would be significant and unavoidable impacts related to solid waste even with the incorporation of mitigation measures MM 3.17-1 to MM 3.17-8, and an SOC was adopted for solid wate. These mitigation measures require that future development be required to provide the appropriate facilities at the time they are developed, in coordination with the applicable City/County agency. Water availability was extensively analyzed in the General Plan EIR in Section 3.13. Water facilities, including adequacy of water supplies, groundwater recharge, and perchlorate contamination, will be adequate for areas within the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) service area and the east subbasin. However, water facilities for areas outside the CLWA service area and east subbasin would be unavoidably significant even with the mitigation measures identified in the General Plan EIR and an SOC was adopted for water. The General Plan incorporates mitigation measures MM 3.13- 1 to MM 3.13-46. Any subsequent development would be required to comply with the City's General Plan and the requirements of the Regional Water Quality Control Board and all applicable utility purveyors. Compliance with these requirements would ensure all federal, state and local statutes and imposed regulations are met. Since the LCP is implementing the General Plan, no further impact to utilities and services are anticipated. Therefore, based on the EIR prepared for the General Plan, and the creation of the LCP, no further impact to utilities and service systems is anticipated and no further analysis is required. XVII. MANDATORY a. -c.) No Impact — The creation of the LCP will not have a FINDINGS OF significant impact on the environment that would lead to a substantial SIGNIFICANCE reduction in habitat of a fish or wildlife species, or reduce or restrict the number of rare, threatened or endangered species. The LCP planning area consists of urbanized development along a commercial corridor in the City. Since the LCP being considered at this time is implementing the General Plan, no further impacts beyond those considered under the EIR prepared for the General Plan are anticipated. XVIII. DEPARTMENT a.) No Impact — The legislative intent of the Department of Fish and OF FISH AND GAME Game `De Minimus' Finding is "to extend the current user -based `DE MINIMUS' funding system by allocating the transactional costs of wildlife FINDING protection and management to those who would consume those resources through urbanization and development..." (AB 3158, Chapter 1706, Statutes of 1990, effective January 1, 1991, Section 1(c)). However, the creation of the LCP would not entitle any new development; and any future development proposal seeking discretionary a proval would remain subject to CEQA and the CDFG Code. Since, the creation of the LCP implements the General Plan, no further impacts beyond those considered under the EIR prepared for the General Plan are anticipated and no significant adverse effect either individually or cumulatively are anticipated to fish and wildlife resources. Therefore, the project's impacts on fish and wildlife are de minimus. S:\CD\UDC Update\Hnvironmental\LCP Initial Study.doc r