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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-25 - RESOLUTIONS - MC 13-184 GPA 13-003 (3)RESOLUTION NO. 14-03 ' A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, TO ADOPT THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION PREPARED FOR MASTER CASE 13-184 AND APPROVE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 13-003, AMENDING THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA GENERAL PLAN NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. FINDINGS OF FACT. The City Council does hereby make the following findings of fact: A. The City has a history of actively addressing visual blight through Community Preser- vation activities, including graffiti abatement and implementation of a Sign Compliance Amortization Program, which concluded in 2010 after facilitating the voluntary removal of hundreds of non-compliant business signs. B. Sixty-two (62) off-site advertising structures (118 billboard faces) currently exist within the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO) right-of-way (ROW) within the City of Santa Clarita, constituting a significant visual blight for the residents of the City. METRO has proposed to remove or cause the removal of all 62 of the existing structures within their ROW. In consideration of the removal of the existing METRO billboards, the City and METRO have identified three City -owned sites adjacent to the Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route 14 (SR 14) freeways as suitable for the develop- ment of three digital billboards (six billboard faces), and the City has proposed to lease the sites to METRO subject to the terms and conditions of a Development Agreement for the Reduction and Relocation of Billboards and associated site Lease Agreement. C. On November 15, 2013, an entitlement application was filed by METRO which consists of Master Case 13-184, Zone Amendment 13-005, General Plan Amendment 13-003, Zone Change 13-007, and Development Agreement 13-002. D. As a component of this project, the City is adopting a Zone Amendment to the text of Titles 11 and 17 of the Municipal Code, which would create a Billboard Relocation Overlay Zone, and authorize the City Council to enter into Billboard Reduction and Relocation Agreements under which new billboards, including digital billboards, may be constructed in existing or new locations in exchange for the permanent removal of existing billboards. E. The proposed Development Agreement and associated Lease Agreement provide for: ' (1) the staged removal of all 62 existing METRO outdoor advertising structures; (2) the development of three digital billboards on City -owned sites; (3) the management and operation of the digital billboards; and (4) the allocation of revenue derived from the digital billboards. (collectively "The Project") F. The Planning Commission held a duly -noticed public hearing on January 7, 2014, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The Project was advertised in The Signal newspaper on December 17, 2013, and notices were mailed to all property owners within a 1,000 -foot radius of each of the three proposed development sites. Additional notices were mailed to residences up to 1,700 feet from the proposed Norland Road development site where the visual line -of -sight exhibits indicated there would be some visibility of the Norland Road billboard. The hearing was held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m. G. On January 7, 2014, the Planning Commission received City staff's presentation summar- zing the proposed Project, opened the public hearing, and received public testimony regarding the Project. Staff received comments and questions from the Planning Commis- sion regarding the Project. Following the discussion and comments, the public hearing was closed. The Commission reviewed three alternative Billboard Design Options (attached) and voted 3-1 to adopt a resolution recommending that the City Council amend its General Plan Land Use Map and Unified Development Code (UDC) Zoning Map, amend Titles 11 and 17 of the Municipal Code, approve the Development Agreement, and approve the Lease Agreement. The Planning Commission further recommended that the billboard design be consistent with Option 1 of the Billboard Design Options, modified to utilize more neutral colors that will blend into the background to the extent feasible, that the minimum spacing between digital billboards be increased from 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet, that the minimum spacing between static billboards be increased from 500 feet to 1,000 feet, and that the applicant continue to work with the billboard companies on the matter of compensation and work with small business owners to provide alternative advertising opportunities. H. The City Council a held duly -noticed public hearing on February 25, 2014, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The project was advertised in The Signal news- paper on February 4, 2014, and notices were mailed to all property owners within a 1,000 -foot radius of each of the three proposed development sites. Additional notices were mailed to residences up to 1,700 feet from the proposed Norland Road development site where the visual line -of -sight exhibits indicated there would be some visibility of the Norland Road billboard. Additionally, Notice of Public Hearing signs were posted at each of the three proposed development sites in accordance with the City's public notice requirements. The hearing was held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m. I. At the City Council meeting on February 25, 2014, the City Council received City 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 City Council regarding the Project. Following the discussion and comments, the public , hearing was closed. 2 ' J. The documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the City Council is based is the Master Case No. 13-184 project file. This record is located in the Community Development Department, specifically 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 Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project have been prepared 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 draft Mitigated Negative Declaration was advertised on December 17, 2013, and posted on December 17, 2013, in accordance with CEQA. The public review period was open from December 17, 2013, through January 17, 2014. C. There is no substantial evidence that the project, as conditioned by the required mitigation measures, will have a significant effect on the environment. The Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment of the City of Santa Clarita. t D. The documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the City Council is made is the Master Case No. 13-184 project file. This record is located within the Community Development Department and is in the custody of the Director of Community Development. E. The City Council, based upon the findings set forth above, hereby finds that the Mitigated Negative Declaration for this Project has been prepared in compliance with CEQA. SECTION 3. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 13-003. Based on the above findings of fact and recitals and the entire record, including, without limit- ation, 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. The proposal is consistent with the objective, policies, general land uses, and programs specified in the General Plan. The proposed Project is consistent with the following relevant General Plan policies: General Plan Policy LU 4.1.4: Promote economic opportunity for all segments of ' the community including small businesses and new businesses. The three proposed freeway -oriented digital billboard structures (six billboard faces) will provide advertising opportunities to a wide spectrum of both large and small businesses ' due to multiple "flips" within each time slot, as well as potential for differential adver- tising rates during different hours throughout the day and different days of the week. The freeway -oriented locations will provide advertising exposure to a larger number of potential customers than the current METRO ROW locations due to substantially greater traffic volumes on both the I-5 and SR -14 freeways. General Plan Policy LU 6.3.5: Restrict the establishment of billboards within the planning area. General Plan Policy CO 6.6.3: Restrict establishment of billboards throughout the planning area, and continue abatement efforts to remove existing billboards that impact scenic views. The proposed Project is consistent with these policies because it will result in the overall net reduction of 59 billboards and the elimination of significant visual blight within the railroad corridor along Soledad Canyon Road, Bouquet Canyon Road, Sierra Highway, Rallraod Avenue and Newhall Avenue. The Zone Amendment, which is a component of this Project, restricts the establishment of billboards because the only new billboards permitted would be those permitted pursuant to City Council approval of a Billboard Reduction and Relocation Agreement, which would require, at a minimum, an overall reduction in the number of existing billboards within the City. General Plan Policy CO 6.6.4: Where appropriate, require new development to be I sensitive to scenic viewpoints or viewsheds through building design, site layout, and building heights. Each of the three proposed billboard sites have been carefully selected to maximize freeway visibility while minimizing potential for visual intrusion on existing residential neighborhoods as evidenced by the visual analysis prepared for each of the three sites, which is included in the environmental document. With regard to land use, the Magic Mountain and Remsen sites currently hold a land use designation of Business Park (BP). The Project includes an amendment to the City's General Plan for the Norland Road site which will also designate this site as Business Park. The three proposed billboards are fully compatible with the types of light industrial and supportive commercial uses within the Business Park General Plan land use category, and therefore the project would be consistent with the General Plan as amended. Economic Development Element Page E-26: The Santa Clarita Valley is home to a variety of cultural and sports -related events, attracting large audiences from key regional and national markets. The goal of these events is to expose visitors to a memorable experience they cannot find elsewhere, while encouraging visitor spending at local businesses. The Development Agreement and Lease Agreement include provisions that allocate ' advertising time to the City, at no cost, on all six digital billboard faces for the purpose of promoting civic and community events. This extensive promotional opportunity will help to further the economic development goal as noted above. B. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone and complies with all other applicable provisions of the Unified Development Code. The Project contains a Zone Amendment which would amend the text of the Unified Development Code to include provisions which would authorize the City Council to enter into Billboard Reduction and Relocation Agreement under which new billboards, including digital billboards, may be constructed within a designated Billboard Relocation Overlay Zone along the I-5 and SR -14 freeways in exchange for the permanent removal and overall reduction in the number of existing billboards within the City. With regard to zoning, the Magic Mountain and Remsen sites are currently zoned Business Park. The Project includes a zone change for the Norland Road site which rezones this site from Open Space to Business Park. The three proposed billboards are fully compatible with the types of light industrial and supportive commercial uses within the Business Park zone, and therefore comply with both the site zoning and the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as amended. C. The proposal will not endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public convenience, health, interest, safety, or general welfare, or be materially detrimental or injurious to the improvements, persons, property, or uses in the vicinity and zone in which the property is located. The proposed digital billboards will comply with all relevant Federal Highway Admin- istration (FHWA) and California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) traffic safety standards. Nothing in the development of the three billboard sites will be detrimental to the improvements, persons or property in the vicinity. The billboard removals will positively affect the improvements and property in the vicinity of the 62 billboard structure removals (118 billboard faces) by removing a significant visual blight from the railroad corridor along Soledad Canyon Road, Bouquet Canyon Road, Newhall Avenue, Sierra Highway, and Railroad Avenue. D. The proposal is physically suitable for the site. The factors related to the proposal's physical suitability for the site shall include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) The design, location, shape, size, and operating characteristics are suitable for the proposed use; 2) The highways or streets that provide access to the site are of sufficient width and are improved as necessary to carry the kind and quantity of traffic such proposal would generate; 3) Public protection services (e.g., Fire protection, Sheriff protection, etc.) are readily available; and 5 4) The provision of utilities (e.g., potable water, schools, solid waste collection and ' disposal, storm drainage, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal, etc.) is adequate to serve the site. The three proposed billboard sites are three small leasehold areas within larger City -owned properties. The proposed billboards are physically suitable for the selected sites because they are located immediately adjacent to the I-5 or SR -14 freeways, and have been located to minimize visual intrusion on residential neighborhoods. Each of the three sites has existing electrical service nearby. The three billboards will generate negligible traffic during construction and periodic maintenance, and have positive impact on public safety as the City is guaranteed usage of the three digital billboards for emergency messaging. Therefore, there is no impact to traffic, public protection services and the provision of utilities. SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 13-003. Based on the foregoing facts and findings for General Plan Amendment 13-003, the City Council hereby finds as follows: A. The proposed General Plan amendment meets all of the findings per Section 17.06.130. All findings per Section 17.06.130 have been met by this proposed Project and are I described in this resolution in Section 3, (a) through (d). B. Properties which benefit from increased density or intensity of development resulting from the General Plan amendment shall fully mitigate their increased sewer impact at the time that development occurs on the properties. This Project consists of a Zone Amendment, General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, and a Development Agreement to allow for the removal of 62 billboards within the Metro right-of-way, and the construction of three new digital billboard structures (six billboard faces) on City -owned sites adjacent to the I-5 and SR -14 freeways. There are no aspects of the proposed project that will generate wastewater. C. The proposed General Plan Amendment is consistent with other elements (Land Use, Conservation and Open Space and Economic Development) of the City's General Plan, pursuant to Government Code Section 65300.5 as discussed in Section 3(a) of this resolution above. SECTION 5. The City Council hereby adopts the Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the Project, and approves General Plan Amendment 13-003, with Exhibit A (General Plan Amendment 13-003 Norland Site). SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution. ' R I PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 25th day of February, 2014. ATTEST: iNiYkim CIT LE DATE: 7 v 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 Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 25th day of February, 2014, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Ferry, Kellar, McLean NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boydston ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None RECUSED: COUNCILMEMEBERS: Weste ERIM C LE