Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1999 0616 CC REG ITEM 09BlrolA FROM DATE CITY OF MOORPARK AGENDA REPORT Honorable City Council ITEM Q• Be CITY OF lIOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council meeting of i T i? e ACTION: ''_gin L'n ux-1 �t rP r. n 1h is . cc - BY: Wayne Loftus, Acting Director of Community Developmenty -oe Prepared by: John Libiez, Principal Planner(' June 1, 1999 (City Council Meeting of 6/16/99) SUBJECT: CONSIDER THE MOORPARK HIGHLANDS SPECIFIC PLAN PROJECT (SPECIFIC PLAN 95 -2 /SPECIFIC PLAN NO.2, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 95 -2, AND ZONE CHANGE 95 -4); MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM; STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS. APPLICANT: MORRISON-FOUNTAINWOOD- A000RA.(Continued from April 21, 1999) BACKGROUND: The City Council initiated the public hearing on the Moorpark Highlands Specific Plan project on January 20, 1999, and continued consideration to February 3 and March 3, 1999. The Specific Plan No. 2 project and the certification of the Environmental Impact Report were recommended for adoption to City Council by the Planning Commission on December 14, 1999, subject to modifications contained within Resolution No. PC -98- 362. The City Council certified the project EIR on April 21, 1999. DISCUSSION: Public testimony has been provided to the City Council from staff, the project applicant and citizens at previous meetings. It is appropriate for Council to consider and address any additional comments or concerns related to the Specific Plan project to the applicant and staff at this meeting. The applicant has prepared revisions to the Specific Plan document to address the City Council preferred land use plan, and these changes have been incorporated into the revised Specific Plan document forwarded with this agenda report. M:\ JLibiez \M \SP2 \Stfrpt61699CC.doc 000131. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SPECIFIC PLAN NO.2 June 16, 1999 Page 2 Evaluation of impacts contained within the Final Environmental Impact Report adequately addressed the modifications to the Specific Plan design, requested by the City Council as an alternative. This Council preferred alternative was completed by the applicant and considered by the Council at previous meetings. Major application items that remain for City Council consideration and action are: 1) the Specific Plan No.2 document; 2) adoption of a General Plan Amendment to reflect appropriate changes to the Circulation and Land Use Elements for the site; technical data related to the Safety Element will be deferred for inclusion in the comprehensive rewrite of that element in the coming year; 3) a Zoning Code and Map amendment to reflect the development standards for Specific Plan No. 2 by incorporating these items within a chapter of the Zoning Code and adding the SP designator to the project property on the Zoning Map; 4) a Mitigation Monitoring Program; 5) a Statement of Overriding Considerations; and, 6) a Development Agreement. The Mitigation Monitoring Program and Statement of Overriding Considerations will need to be adopted prior to, or concurrently with, the approval of the project. Staff and the EIR consultant have prepared the language of these documents for Council consideration at a future meeting. The Development Agreement for the project, currently under initial negotiation will be forwarded to the Planning Commission following preliminary City Council review, and subsequently forwarded to the City Council with the Planning Commission recommendation for the Council public hearing. Council may wish staff to schedule the required resolutions and ordinances for consideration at one City Council meeting. Resolutions will be required to effect the General Plan Amendment, Mitigation Monitoring Program, Statement of Overriding Considerations and Specific Plan. Ordinances will be necessary to adopt the Zoning Amendments and the Development Agreement. The scheduling of these items is predicated upon the Planning Commission review and return of the Development Agreement for City Council consideration. Discussion Items: Council consideration of the following items and direction to staff and the applicant is appropriate at this time to 000132 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SPECIFIC PLAN NO.2 June 16, 1999 Page 3 facilitate the final details for the resolutions and ordinances for Council action. 1. CIRCULATION. Spring Road Configuration: One of the City Goal statements related to circulation "in conjunction with the processing of Specific Plan No. 2, prepare amendment to Circulation Element to consider re- designation of State Route 23 to Spring Road from its proposed intersection with Walnut Canyon Road south to New Los Anqeles Avenue:" The Specific Plan No. 2 EIR included an analysis of a circulation alternative that would include the construction of the Spring Road extension as a State Route 23 Bypass Arterial, by proposing a sweeping curve connection between Spring Road and Walnut Canyon Road, rather than the "T" intersection proposed by the Specific Plan 2 circulation plan. The construction of Spring Road extension as a State Route 23 Bypass Arterial is also a component of the Citywide Traffic Mitigation Fee Program development. The Planning Commission recommendation as contained within Resolution No. PC -98 -362 was to not designate Spring Road as the interim SR -23, and to not permit truck traffic along the entire length of the roadway from Walnut Canyon Road to High Street. This issue was to be considered as part of the continued public review of the Specific Plan No. 2. The configuration of Spring Road proposed by the revised Specific Plan is as follows: a. Charles Street to Walnut Canyon Road right - of -way dedication to accommodate 4 lanes with "T" intersection at Walnut Canyon Road. b. "C' Street to Walnut Canyon Road additional dedication to be required to provide for any future option to create a transition of Walnut Canyon Road onto Spring Road via a gentle sweeping curve configuration. 000133 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SPECIFIC PLAN NO.2 June 16, 1999 Page 4 c. Construction from "C" Street to Walnut Canyon shall be limited initially to 2 lanes, with special design of intersection at Walnut Canyon Road to install left turn pocket and "T" intersection. The intersection design should provide for future expansion of the intersection to four lanes with a left turn pocket. d. Traffic signals are required at the intersections of Walnut Canyon and Spring Road and at Spring Road and Charles Street, for either configuration Direction is requested as to whether or not the final General Plan Circulation Amendment related to Specific Plan No.2 should incorporate the redesignation of SR- 23 to Spring Road. Also, clarification is requested as to the project signal requirements. During the discussion related to the revised plan, the school site and park site were relocated to the south side of "C" Street east of Spring Road. This will require crossing of Spring Road in the "C" Street intersection area by pedestrian, equestrian, and bicycle users. The requirement for the signals at Spring Road /Walnut Canyon Road and at Spring Road /Charles Street have been viewed as necessary to insure appropriate intersection operations. The requirement for a signal at Spring Road and "C" Street was not defined, however, there was a sense that appropriate traffic control would be achieved were a signal provided. Both streets are four lane arterial roadways which frequently include signals at important intersections. This signal will be included in the Development Agreement. 2. SPECIFIC PLAN NO.2 DOCUMENT: Substantial changes to reflect the Council's preferred land use alternative have been completed by the applicant. All exhibits have been revised to reflect the Council Preferred Land Use Plan. Some new exhibits have been added to demonstrate potential landscape entry features, typical walls and fences, 000134 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SPECIFIC PLAN NO.2 June 16, 1999 Page 5 amenities, and conceptual plot plans for 10,000 and 30,000 square foot lots. Larger setback criteria have been specified for the 10,000 and 30,000 square foot lots. Animal control regulations for large lot areas will implement the Zoning Code provisions. A building density range has been assigned to each planning unit area and the plan has been restricted to a total of 598 dwelling units overall. Some density transfer may be permitted, subject to the overall unit restriction, provided that the planning area ranges which are defined in the Specific Plan text are not exceeded. As noted on page 18 of the revised plan, an Affordable Housing Component has been proposed on -site. The applicant has proposed 66 affordable units within the project (11 %). Of these, 50 for rent units are intended to serve Very Low and Low Income families. Twenty -five units would be provided to families earning no more than 60% of the median county income; 25 units would be provided to families earning an income no more than 800 of the county median income; 16 units will be offered as for sale units at no more than 110% of the county median income. Staff intends this matter will be addressed as part of the Development Agreement. The applicant, consultant and staff are prepared to respond to questions and comments related to the draft revised plan. Council consideration for corrections and clarifications is appropriate. 3. HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN: Following the completion of the City of Moorpark project review and approval process, the applicant will need to complete the final negotiations and approval processes for a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Game. The habitat plan is required by the Mitigation Monitoring Program and the conditions of approval for the project. The HCP will address the requirements for preservation, protection and promotion of the 000135 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SPECIFIC PLAN NO.2 June 16, 1999 Page 6 California Gnatcatcher, a threatened species, found to be resident within the lower 1/3 of the project. A draft HCP was prepared by the applicant and initial reviews by USFWS have been completed. The plan will need to be completed and in place before any permits which would allow the entitlement are issued, which includes grading and /or building permits. The HCP process comprises a portion of the mitigation monitoring process. Upon completion of testimony and discussion, City Council may wish to continue this matter until the Development Agreement is completed for Planning Commission review and recommendation. The Council Ad Hoc Committee, Council- members Harper and Evans, and staff are just now scheduling a meeting of the Committee for the Development Agreement. We expect that an agreement can be presented if not on July 21, 1999, then on August 18, 1999, for forwarding to the Planning Commission. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Accept further testimony and continue the Public Hearing open to a date certain, and request the Ad Hoc Committee and staff to return with a proposed Development Agreement Ordinance. (July 21 or August 18, 1999) Attachments: A. Specific Plan No. 2, Revised June, 1999. (Under separate cover) 000136