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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1997 0716 CC REG ITEM 09G'7!,q , / ° 0 ( &a -- '* �r ITEM • G. Agenda Report CITY OF 1MOORFUX CAL PODU To: The Honorable City Council MY MSS of 1 7 From: Dirk Lovett, Assistant City Engineer ACTION_/o .;�✓�t;'7;,�� Date: July 6, 1997 (City Council Meeting of July 16, 1997) BY Subject: Revisions to Vesting Tentative Map 5004 (Special Devices Inc.)rr�x� s zl-- «W- Background On August 21, 1996 the City Council approved Vesting Tentative Map 5004 for the SDI project establishing specific conditions of development, lot lines and finish grades. It is the City's policy that deviations to an approved tentative map, such as major lot boundary changes or elevation changes in excess of two feet, be approved by the City Council. In the development agreement with SDI the City authorized staff to approve changes in elevation up to 5 feet rather than the standard 2 feet for the purpose of providing contour grading of the ridgeline. City policy regarding changes in excess of two feet in elevation still require City Council approval on the remainder of the site. Pursuant to early grading and hold harmless agreements SDI was permitted to proceed with grading operations following City approval of the rough grading plan but prior to review and approval of the storm drain, street and utility plans. Grading commenced in February 1997. During the 5th submittal of the storm drain plan check on March 20, 1997 City Engineering staff observed substantial changes to the storm drain design. These changes necessitated elevation revisions to the rough grading plan in excess of the maximum allowed five feet. In addition, there were significant changes to the lot line configurations. SDI was notified on April 14, 1997 of the need to submit these revisions to the City Council. Revised rough grading plans (pad cut and fill) were submitted to City Engineering on April 21, 1997. However, the developer requested that they not submit the revised tentative map grading plans to the City Council until they had completed the fine grading plans (finish grade and drainage). To keep work moving, SDI was allowed to proceed with construction, at their risk, per the revised plans until such time that the City Council could review and approve the revisions. Discussion City Engineering staff has reviewed and approved the revisions as they apply to engineering standards. Following is a discussion of the major changes to the approved tentative map along with the developer's reasons for the changes. We have also attached, for the Council's review, a letter of explanation from the developer's engineer, a copy of the approved Vesting Tentative Map, a copy of the proposed Revised Vesting Tentative Map, cross sections showing the differences in grade between the two grading plans and a colorized map showing the lot boundary changes. Lot Boundary Changes Property lines were changed on Lots 1 and 3. Lot 1 The Ventura County Flood Control District required that a detention pond be located in the northeast corner of Lot 1. The developer has proposed that this pond be placed in the open OWa'7 space area, Lot C. As such, approximately 1/2 acre from the northeast corner of Lot 1 was transferred to Lot C. Lt As on lot 1, the Flood Control District required a detention pond along the northeast property line of lot 3. This area (almost an acre) was added to the open space area, Lot A. In addition, easterly property lines and one small portion of the southwesterly property line were relocated up to roughly 70 feet to accommodate additional building area and slope grading. The result is a net increase to open space of roughly 0.18 acres. Grading Changes Changes in elevation from the approved Vesting Tentative Map grading plan are proposed to resolve a shortfall of soil on site and to better design the storm drain. Generally the site elevations will be lowered to balance cut and fill. The shortfall of soil is due to the following: increased area of overexcavation required by the geotechnical engineer; higher shrinkage of soil than anticipated; engineering errors in the earthwork quantities and topography. All of these factors combined resulted in a shortage of approximately 350,000 yards (a difference of 28 %). The developer has proposed that the best solution would be to lower lot 3. In doing so, cut and fill could still be balanced on site while, at the same time, the building could be lowered to minimize its visual impact. The building pad is proposed to be lowered 5.5 feet. Grading changes on lot 3 will range between 0 to 15 feet, with the exception of the most easterly portion which will be raised in excess of 22 feet to decrease the depth of the storm drain. The visual impacts of the proposed plan revisions will be the relative lowering of the buildings with respect to the surrounding berms. Ridge lines will not be changed and grading daylight lines will not be substantially changed. The overall impact would probably not be noticeable from a distance, with the exception of the easterly most slope which will be cut back. At a meeting on -site with staff and SDI on June 23, 1997, contouring of the berm around the exterior of lot 3 was also reviewed. It was agreed to create a ten to fifteen foot high mound along the northerly portion of lot 3 to increase the undulations in the ridgeline. It is requested that Council also approve this concept in the final design, subject to approval of the City Engineer and Director of Community Development. Plan Check Fees /Deposits Numerous plan check submittals due to developer - requested changes and the need to submit this item to the City Council for review have created extra costs to staff above the initial plan check fee received by the City. A fee of $685 was requested of the developer on April 17, 1997 for the City Council's review of the revisions to the approved vesting tentative map and an additional plan check deposit of $24,739 was requested of the developer on May 28, 1997. The developer has indicated that these fees/deposits will be paid but have been held up due to procedural issues. This item was submitted to the City Council prior to the payment of these fees/deposits to avoid further delays.