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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1991 0821 CC REG ITEM 08KITEM MOORPARK 799 Moorpark Avenue Mc, rparK, California 93021 oQ$R5a City Council Meeting of 02 199 2 ACTION: S T A F F R E P O R T / TO: The Honorable City Council. FROM: Patrick J. Richards, DirErc:tor of CommiA D velopment DATE: August 15, 1991 (CC meeting of 8/21/91) SUBJECT: MOORPARK COMMUTER RAIL STATION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION Background Southern California counties through a regional joint powers authority (JPA) are together implementing a commuter rail system. Counties involved are Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange. Services is scheduled to begin in October 1992 on three lines: 1) the Moorpark line which would link the City of Moorpark with the Los Angeles Union Passenger Station (LAUPT); 2) the Santa Clarita line connecting the City of Santa Clarita with LSUPT; and 3) the San Bernardino line which would connect the existing San Bernardino station with LAUPT. Local jurisdictions within the five - county areas are responsible for environmentally clearing and building the commuter rail stations. The LACTIC together with the cooperating counties would have overall project responsibility including environmentally clearing and constructing the Maintenance Facility, layover facilities, trackwork, bridges and signalization. CEOA Statutory Exemption The proposed commuter rail project, including all proposed facilities and stations constructed within the railroad right -of- way, are considered to be exempt from the regulations of CEQA. Those facilities or stations that would require property outside the railroad right -of -way may also be exempt. The statutory exemption is discussed in the paragraphs below. In 1978, the Legislature amended CEQA to provide an exemption from CEQA for "the institution or increase of passenger or commuter services on rail lines already in use, including the modernization existing stations and parking facilities." In 1982, the Legislature amended the exemption by deleting the term "rail lines" and substituting "rail or hi :. -;:ray rights -of -way" (Section C :\WP51\PJR\FtA1L -6.21 PAUL W LAWRASON JR BE_RNARDO M PERE.' SCOTT M)raT, ,ME AN • )Y E TALLLY _�, JOHN E WOZNIAK Mayor Mayor Pr( 1,,T, -,ow (-* ,e rr Couneilmemtie' Councilmember The Honorable City Council August 15, 1991 Page -2- 21080(b)(11) of the Public Resources Code). In the same bill, the Legislature added to the Civil Code a section intended to describe the legal attributes of rights -of -way that have been granted to railroad corporations. Under Civil Code section 801.7, subdivision (a), "when a right -of -way is granted pursuant to Section 801 or 802 to a railroad corporation whose primary business is the transportation of passengers, the grant shall include, but not be limited to,. a right -of -way for the location, construction, and maintenance of the railroad corporation Is necessary works and to every necessary adjunct thereto" Moorpark Commuter Rail Station The commuter rail station would be located at the site of the former Caltrain station immediately south of High Street and east of Moorpark Avenue. The station would be expanded to provide additional parking within the existing railroad right -of -way on the south side of the rail tracks. Because this site was a former station and expansion would take place within the existing right - of -way, an exemption would be appropriate. The commuter rail station project. in Moorpark will include improvements to existing parking facilities, design and construction of new facilities to accommodate additional parking, and improvements to enhance pedestrian and bicycle use. LACTC has advised Moorpark that its station qualifies for a statutory exemption under CEQA requirements included in Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(11). On July 29 the Transportation Committee approved staffs' recommendation to file a Notice of Exemption with the County. By filing a Notice of Exemption the public has 35 days to review and comment on the project. If a Notice of Exemption is not filed, the public review and comment period is extended to 180 days. Filing a Notice of Exemption does not prevent a jurisdiction form preforming additional impact studies at a later time if it wishes. Staff has discussed the feasibility (f conducting a traffic study in the future. Staff Recommendation That the City Council concur with staffs' intention to file a Notice of Exemption, under Section 21080(b) (11) of the Public Resources Code and receive and file this report. Attachment: Notice of Exemption C:\WP511PJR\RAIL 8 21 Notice of Exemption To: ❑ Office of Planning and Research 1400 Tenth Street, Room 121 Sacramento, CA 95814 ® County Clerk Countyof . Ventura 800 S. Victoria Avenue _ Ventura, CA 93009 From: (Public Agency) - C 1 tV of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, CA Oless) 93021 Project Title: Commuter Rail Station aria reated parking facilities, Project Location. Specific: South side of h gh Street between Magnol is Avenue and Spring Road, Project Location - City: Moorpark Project Location-county:- Description of Project: The former Caltrain Station would be expanded to provide additional parking within he exi5, q_raiiroad right of-wa on the north & south side of the railroad tracks improvemen the existing parking facilities, design & on rULt1Qr kedestrlan & bicycle Ise - ame of Public Agency ..new p platform & improvements to enhance Approv ng Oroject: C i t!/ _�)or� ark Name of Person or Agency Carrying out Project i s _Ingeles County Transportation Exempt Status: (check one) ! )il)rl ! S Jn & Ventura County ❑ Ministerial (Sec, 21080(b)(1); 15268); 11 ;FM I tip t -1 on Commission ❑ Declared Emergency (Sec. 21080(b)(3); 15269(a)'); ❑ Emergency Project (Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c j i, ❑ Categorical Exemption. State type and section number IM Statutory Exemptions. State code number. _ _ h_ (b , (11 ) Reasons why project Is exempt: The Commuter- R, former Caltrain Station i d Station i s located at the site of tr & is an exis Ir.c station. All expansions to the station, existing parking lot & flLi rallroal right -of -way, _Farking will occur within -- the exlstln Lead Agency , Contact Person: Patrick J. Richards Director of If filed by applicant: et�de%"'lephone/Extension: Lommun i tv Deve 1 oilmen 1. Attach certified document of exemption finding. 2. Has a notice of exemption been filed by the public agcnc approving the project? ❑Yes ❑ No Signature: ate - — — -- Title: ❑ Signed by Lead Agency )Jute recei� i:, 'or filing at OPR: 0S igncd by Applicant Revised October !G Q