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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 1994 0525 CC SPC ITEM 06ATO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: AGENDA REPORT CITY OF MOORPARK The Honorable City Council The Planning Commission 712. t_/(~) ITEM6, A.· Jaime Aguilera, Director of Community Develop.men~ Deborah s. Traffanstedt, Senior Planner :DST May 17, 1994 (CC/PC Joint Meeting on 5-25-94) CONSIDER DRAFT LAND USE AND CIRCULATION PLAN SUBMITTED FOR SPECIFIC PLAN NO. 1 PROJECT AT JOINT CITY coUNcIL/PLANNING coMMissioN PUBLic woRKsHoP ( 1-. cVY) Background At the City Council's April 20, 1994, meeting, the Council authorized staff to schedule a joint workshop with the Planning Commission for the purposes of allowing preliminary public input to be received on the draft land use and circulation plan for the Specific Plan No. 1 project. A goal of the workshop is to reach consensus on the conceptual land use and circulation plan to be analyzed in an environmental impact report (EIR) as the "Project." Discussion The May 25, 1994, workshop will be the first in a series of meetings and public hearings that will be held for the Specific Plan No. 1 project. The workshop is intended to assist in educating the public and receiving public input about the proposed project. The applicant, the Levy Company, has provided three exhibits for the workshop: 1. Draft Land Use Plan, 2. Typical Cross Sections, and 3. Preliminary Environmental Constraints Analysis. The referenced exhibits are attached to this report. The Levy Company has hired Development Planning Services (DPS) to coordinate the preparation of the specific plan and EIR for the project. The EIR is being prepared by Impact Sciences, and DPS will prepare the specific plan document with assistance from both Impact Sciences and RNM Architecture and Planning. Representatives from all three of these firms are expected to be present at the workshop. A brief description of the workshop program and preliminary staff comments on the draft land use and circulation plan are provided on the following pages. The Honorable City Council and The Planning Commission May 17, 1994 Page 2 Workshop Program: I. Introductions ( Jaime Aguilera, Director of Development and Dennis Hardgrave, Development Services -DPS) II. Project Overview (Dennis Hardgrave, DPS) III. Environmental Constraints Study (Impact Sciences) IV. Land Use Plan Concept (Dennis Hardgrave, DPS) Community Planning v. Architecture/Community Theme (RNM Architecture and Planning) VI. City Council/Planning Commission Question and Answer Period VII. Public Question and Answer Period Analysis of Draft Land Use and Circulation Plan: In addition to the three exhibits provided by the applicant, staff has attached an excerpt from the Land Use Element of the City's General Plan, identifying the requirements and limitations for Specific Plan No. 1. Please note that under Proposed Land Uses, the number of dwelling units is restricted to a "maximum" density of 415 dwelling units and a "density limit" of 620 dwelling units. The attached draft land use plan would allow the higher density limit of 620 dwelling units. The City Council would need to determine whether the applicant has provided public improvements, public services and/or financial contributions that are of substantial public benefit to the community in order for the number of dwelling units to exceed 415 (the maximum density). In a separate section of the Land Use Element, each specific plan area is required to include a minimum of 25 percent of the total plan area as open space. The attached draft land use plan is consistent with this requirement. For Specific Plan No. 1, a minimum of 3 acres of land is also required to be designated as Public Institutional, and the attached plan should be revised to be consistent with this requirement. Staff notes that a special study area of 4 acres is included on the plan, and all or a portion of that area may be appropriate for a Public Institutional designation. In regard to circulation, the attached land use plan identifies an extension of Casey Road, consistent with Figure 2 of the City's Circulation Element. No precise alignment for future roadways is specified by the City's Circulation Element. The attached plan The Honorable City Council and The Planning Commission May 17, 1994 Page 3 also includes a Caltrans corridor, consistent with Figure 2 of the Circulation Element. Both the Circulation and Land Use Element include language which requires that Specific Plan No. 1 shall provide right of way protection for the future State Route (SR) 118 freeway corridor. Recent alignment plans that the City has received from Caltrans have confirmed that the most feasible alignment for future SR-118 is through the Specific Plan No. 1 area. Given the limited project information available at this time (prior to specific plan preparation), staff cannot comment on the appropriateness of the residential densities shown on the land use plan. Issues which will be analyzed in the environmental impact report for the specific plan include grading, visual, and neighborhood compatibility concerns. The EIR will need to propose mitigation for project impacts and include analysis of an alternative design for any impact that cannot be fully mitigated. One alternative that will need to be analyzed in the EIR is a land use plan based on the "maximum" density, 415 dwelling units, as allowed by the Land Use Element. It is staff's intent to schedule for separate City Council discussion, the alternatives to be addressed in the EIR. The alternatives will be developed following the distribution of a Notice of Preparation for the EIR to responsible and trustee agencies and receipt of any comments. The Notice of Preparation will be prepared and distributed after the "Project" has been agreed upon. Recononendation 1. City Council and Planning Commission provide comments to staff pertaining to the draft land use and circulation plan for the Specific Plan No. 1 project; 2. City Council authorizes staff to distribute a Notice of Preparation of an environmental impact report (EIR); and 3. City Council directs staff to schedule a subsequent meeting before the Council for discussion of project alternatives to be analyzed in the EIR after the Notice of Preparation process has been completed. Attachments: 1. Draft Land Use Plan 2. Typical Cross Sections 3. Preliminary Environmental Constraints Analysis 4. Pages 29 and 30 from Land Use Element Specific Plan 1 Specific Plan 1 consists of 285 acres under single ownership, located in the western section of the City, north of Poindexter Avenue and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. Gabbert Road crosses the westerly portion of the specific plan area. Generally, the specific plan area is characterized by rolling hillsides which are currently used for grazing purposes. Opportunities and Constraints Specific plan area development issues to be addressed during specific plan preparation and subsequent review will include: Topography -An evaluation of steep slopes, unstable soils, seismic faults, and other geotechnical constraints within the hillside areas of development will be considered during the development/ review of this specific plan. Consistent with City policy, grading is restricted on slopes greater than 20 percent and development prohibited in areas where potential hazards cannot be fully mitigated. Hydrology -An evaluation of existing drainage courses, surface runoff, potential flood hazards and other hydrological constraints will be conducted during the development/review of this specific plan. Viewshed The visual importance of hillside horizon lines/prominent ridgelines within this specific plan area from surrounding areas will be evaluated during the preparation and review of this specific plan. Clustering of dwelling units should be considered where appropriate to conserve important visual and natural resources. Biological Resources -The significance of biological resources which may occur onsite (i.e., oak trees, threatened, rare, endangered plants and animals, etc.) shall be determined during specific plan preparation. The preservation of any resources determined to be significant shall be encouraged through habitat preservation, enhancement, or replacement. Archaeology -The specific plan area will be evaluated to determine whether archaeological resources occur within the overall plan area and their potential significance. Public Services/Infrastructure -Water, sewer, gas and electric service to the specific plan area will be provided through service extensions from existing transmission lines in the surrounding area. An evaluation will be conducted during the development of this specific plan regarding required land use set-asides and financing for schools and community services such as fire stations and libraries. 29 ATTACHMENT L\ :m BJ Hl§l!'.1 m m1u rmn u 1 1:u n rn m! n: iii 1 IF rim nu Parks -An evaluation will be conducted during the development of this specific plan to identify required park land dedication consistent with the City Municipal Code and General Plan requirements. Circulation -The specific plan area circulation network will require consideration for topographical constraints, viewshed issues, and the adjacent Southern Pacific railroad tracks; shall provide protection for the conceptual alignment of the future SR- 118 freeway corridor; and shall ensure that roadway rights-of-way are protected for the planned roadway upgrades, improvements, and additions as identified in the City's circulation plan. Proposed Land Uses The number of dwelling units shall not exceed 415, unless th_e specific plan area property owner agrees to provide public improvements, public services and/or financial contributions that the City Council determines to be of substantial public benefit to the community, in which event, the number of dwelling units shall not exceed 620. A minimum of 3 acres of land shall be designated as Public Institutional within this specific plan area. The appropriate amount of land to be designated as Open Space, Park, School, or any other appropriate land use designation, will be determined .at the time ?f specific plan preparation or approval. Overlay Designation -Agriculture 1 (285 acres) Specific Plan 2 Specific Plan 2 consists of 445 acres under single ownership. It is located northerly of the City, east of Walnut Canyon Road and west of College Heights Drive. Generally, the majority of this specific plan area is characterized as a gently sloping plateau with prominent hillsides in the northern section, and is currently vacant and used for seasonal grazing. Opportunities and Constraints Specific plan area development • issues will be addressed during specific plan preparation and subsequent review, and include: Topography -Existing steep hillsides within the specific plan area require a complete evaluation of steep slopes, unstable soils, and other potential geotechnical constraints during the development/ review of this specific plan. Consistent with City policy, grading is restricted on slopes greater than 20 percent and development prohibited in areas where potential hazards cannot be fully mitigated. 30