Resolution - 5773RESOLUTION NO. 5773
A_RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA APPROVING AND CERTIFYING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NO. 1977-1 FOR
THE SAN JOSE HILLS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT,
AS BEING ADEQUATE AND IN CONFORMANCE WITH
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S, AND THE CITY OF
• WEST COVINA'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
GUIDELINES.
The City Council of the City of West Covina does
hereby resolve as follows:
WHEREAS, there was filed with the City of West Covina
verified applications for approval for the physical development
of that certain property generally described as follows:
Tentative Tract No. 32323
Zone Change No. 523(a): a 95 acre parcel
south of Alpine and Hollencrest Drives, east
of Galster Park, west of Tentative Tract No.
32324 and north of the San Jose Hills Crest -
line.
Tentative Tract No. 32324
Zone Change No. 523(b): a pre -zone of 215
acres in unincorporated territory of Los
Angeles County south of Hidden Valley Drive,
Sandy Hill Drive and Montezuma Way, east of
Tentative Tract No. 32323, west of Tentative
Tract No. 33656, and north of the Main San
Jose Hills Crestline.
Tentative Tract No. 33656
• Zone Change No. 523(c): 72 acres southeast
of Citrus Street, east of Tentative Tract No.
32324, west of Tentative Tract No. 33835, and
north of the Main San Jose Hills Divide.
Tentative Tract No. 33835
Zone Change No. 524: a pre -zone of 240 acres
of unincorporated territory of Los Angeles
County south of Cameron Avenue, west of Grand
Avenue, east of Tentative Tract No. 33656, and
north of the Main San Jose Hills Divide.
WHEREAS, it was determined that said project could have
a potential adverse impact on the environment and, therefore, an
Environmental Impact Report should be prepared covering said
project; and
WHEREAS, a Draft Environmental Impact Report was prepared
and completed in March of 1978; and
WHEREAS, a copy of said Draft Environmental Impact Report
was submitted to the following agencies for comment on March 24, 1978:
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Local Agency Formation Commission
• Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department
City of Walnut
United States Postal Service/West Covina Post Office
General Telephone Company
Southwest Suburban Water Systems
Valencia Heights Water Company
Covina Valley School District
West Covina School District
Southern California Association of Governments
Southern California Edison
Southern California Gas
Los Angeles County Flood Control District
Los Angeles County Engineer
West Covina Disposal
West Covina Fire Department
•� West Covina Police Department
West Covina Recreation & Parks Department
West Covina Engineering Department
WHEREAS, the State Office of Planning and Research pub-
lished in the California EIR Monitor of March 5, 1978, reference
to said Draft Environmental Impact Report; and .
WHEREAS, Draft Environmental Impact Report No. 1977-1,
after a thirty day review period, was submitted to the Planning
Commission with related comments for public hearing and Planning
Commission review on May 3rd, May 17th, June 7th, and July 19,.
1978, and testimony on said Environmental Impact Report was re-
viewed by the Commission; and
WHEREAS, after said hearings, the Planning Commission
determined that the submitted Draft Environmental Impact Report
No. 1977-1 and related comments have adequately.discussed the
project setting, the project description, the environmental im-
pacts, mitigating measures to be taken, unavoidable adverse im-
pacts, alternatives to the project, irreversible changes, growth
inducing impacts, short-term vs. long-term impacts, and conformance
with adopted General and Specific Plans and Policies; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission on July 19, 1978, adopted
Resolution No. 7-78-2873 recommending that the City Council certify
• Environmental Impact Report No. 1977-1 as being adequate and in con-
formance with the State of California's, and the City of West Covina's
Environmental Impact Report Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, said Resolution, Draft Environmental Impact Report,
comments and responses to comments pertaining to said Report, minutes
of the Planning Commission hearings, and staff reports were forwarded
to the City Council for their review and public hearing; and
WHEREAS, a duly advertised public hearing was held before
the City Council on August 28, 1978, to accept testimony pertaining
to Draft Environmental Impact Report No. 1977-1, and received testi-
mony; and
WHEREAS, after said hearings, the City Council of the
City of West Covina has determined that the submitted Draft Environ-
mental Impact Report No. 1977-1 and related comments have adequately
discussed the project setting, the project description, the environ-
mental impacts, mitigating measures to be taken, unavoidable adverse
impacts, alternatives to the project, irreversible changes, cumula-
tive impacts, alternatives to the project, irreversible changes,
growth inducing impacts, short-term vs. long-term impacts, and con-
formance with adopted General and Specific Plans and Policies; and
• WHEREAS, pursuant to review of said Environmental Impact
Report the following mitigation measures were recommended in response
to identified potential significant adverse environmental impacts:
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Mitigating Measure
1. Land Use and Zoning Manufactured (man made) slopes no
steeper than 2:1 should be used
wherever possible to provide optimum
conditions for restoration of plant
material and irrigation of same.
All man made slopes (other than minor
• sideyard slopes) should be graded in
an undulating contoured manner so as
to appear natural. All manufactured
slopes that rise or fall into a
natural area will be contoured to
blend with the natural topography.
Slopes that rise into natural areas
will be rounded at the top. All
corners and sharp edges should be
rounded off to avoid the "machine
made" appearance.
Any remedial grading should be
identified prior to approval of the
tentative tract map.
Deed restrictions prohibiting devel-
opment in any of the open space areas
should be included as a condition of
the tract map.
All residential open areas should be
identified as to their value in
terms of "common" or "private" owner-
ship. Those parcels that are visible
or accessible primarily to only those
who reside adjacent should probably
• be under private ownership, unless
other overriding factors exist.
Prior to the approval of the tentative
tract maps, it is considered advisable
for the Fire Chief of the City of West
Covina to closely examine the entire
project and identify any fire equipment
access roads, specific roofing materials,
fuelbreaks, etc., that may be required
for fire protection.
The City should identify any public
access easements which may be desired
through the private or commonly owned
open space areas.
2. Landforms Adherence to the standards set forth
in the West Covina Hillside Overlay
Zone Ordinance for hillside develop-
ment and landscaping should minimize
the impact of the project on -site
landforms. Incorporation of the
recommendations provided in the engin-
eering geological reports will further
• enhance slope stability and minimize
topographic impacts.
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3. Soils and Geology Inspection of the geologic conditions
encountered during grading will provide
the opportunity to modify the grading
plan to the presence of deep canyons
and steep topography.
All modified slopes should be planted
with approved ground cover. Normal
seismic safety measures should be in-
corporated into the grading plan.
Implementation of the grading plans
in conformance with building code
requirements will resolve any subsur-
face difficulties not presently known.
The provision of subdrains in canyon
fill areas will reduce any subsurface
ground water problems. Modification
of final slopes to fit existing geologic
bedding angles as recommended will
avoid this slope problem.
Planting of slopes as soon as feasible
will reduce risks of surface erosion.
4. Biota_ The retention of some stands of grass-
land, coastal sagebruch, and oak wood-
land would insure a mix of habitat types
used by the various wildlife species in
their daily and seasonal activities.
Retention of native vegetation could
be designed in such a way so that vege-
tation elements would form a series of
interconnected links, thus providing
daily and seasonal movement of wildlife
from one area or habitat to another.
Galster Wilderness Park along the
southwestern boundary of the proposed
project site could be expanded to in-
clude grassland on the site, or made
contiguous with on -site natural areas.
The use of native trees and shrubs in
street and yard landscaping would re-
establish appropriate food and shelter
for wildlife species,especially birds.
All street tree and parkway plantings
should be provided with underground
water -injection systems to reduce
maintenance costs and to conserve water.
Cuts and fills could be planted to
various grass species, including native
bunch grasses, to aid in slope stabili-
zation, provide wildlife habitat, and
to re-create the "country" environment.
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5. Drainage and Flood Drainage requirements for the pro -
Control posed project will be established by
the City of West Covina. Drainage
facilities to be transferred to the
District upon completion of construc-
tion must also be reviewed and approved
by the Flood Control District prior to
construction. A possible means of
• controlling storm run-off from the
project site is the construction of
temporary retention basins. Drainage
requirements, plans for drainage
facilities and funding and approval
of facilities should be determined
prior to a final decision on approval
of the project to insure drainage is
adequately controlled.
6. Circulation and Traffic Provide a westbound left turn pocket
on Cameron Avenue at the proposed
East Hills Drive intersection.
Provide a northbound left turn pocket
on Grand Avenue at the proposed Hill-
side Drive intersection.
Construct primary internal roadways
within all tracts in accordance with
the City Standard of a 40-foot pavement
width on a 60-foot right-of-way.
Lessor streets will most likely be 32
foot pavement width on a 54-foot right-
of-way.
Provision of ao.connection to Aroma
• Drive to the west, would lower the
volume of traffic on some existing
local streets in the area.
7. Air Quality Improved automobile emissions should
over time reduce the pollutant burden
in Southern California.
8. Noise Construction and grading operations
should take place only between the
hours of 7:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., and
at no time during weekends and holidays.
Transportation of equipment and/or
materials and servicing of heavy grading
equipment should also be limited to the
time periods noted above. Heavy earth -
moving equipment should be equipped
with adequate and well-mainteined noise
suppressive mufflers.
9. Archaeology No concentrations of cultural material
were found on the parcel and the
material which did occur should be
interpreted as isolated surface finds.
• However, surface visibility was very
poor and it is possible that an archae-
ological site exists but was not found
by the survey staff. Therefore, we
recommend that a qualified archaeologist
be retained to monitor any grading
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operations which take place. This
archaeologist should have the authority
to temporarily halt grading activities
in the event that archaeological
material is uncovered. The proposed
development is not likely to have any
unavoidable adverse impacts upon
archaeological resources.
10. Paleontology Periods in grading inspections by
Paleontologists are recommended to
further evaluate the fossil resources
of the site. .
11. Schools
None required.
12. Parks and Recreation
Special consideration should be given
to the development in the area of
Galster Park in an attempt to protect
the flora and fauna of that unique park
setting.
13. Public Utilities and
Various conservation measures could be
Services
utilized to mitigate the impacts on
water, gas and electricity.
14. Police Facilities
None proposed.
15. Fire Facilities
Development.of project site .streets
and cul-de-sacs to Engineering Depart-
ment requirements. All deadend streets
should have a cul-de-sac at the terminal
end.
Provision on the project site of steamer
fire hydrants with 300 feet spacing on
a total looped 8" water system. Avail-
ability on the project site of 2000 to
2500 gallons per minute.
Driveways are to be 20 feet wide and
able to support a twenty -ton fire engine.
Provision of a sprinkler system with
manual override on all slopes over
15 feet in height.
Installation of water mains and hydrants
per City of West Covina Water Department
and AWWA Standards.
As development progresses, fire breaks
and fire roads should be installed per
Fire Department recommendations.
16. Social -Economic None required.
17. Aesthetics/View Analysis The project applicants have planned
development of the site in conformance
with the density transfer option of the
Hillside Overlay Zone Ordinance. This
is the desired development approach as
specified in the Ordinance. This Ordi-
nance contains specific landscaping
requirements.for graded and disturbed
slopes. Conformance with the Hillside
Ordinance landscaping specifications
will minimize the visual impacts of
the proposed development.
WHEREAS, any significant adverse impacts to the environment
by the project have been identified and appropriate mitigation meas-
ures identified; and
• WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of West Covina pur-
suant to a review of said Environmental Impact Report, testimony
received at public hearings, responses 'to said comments and condi-
tions imposed upon each of the tentative maps does hereby. make the
following findings:
1. Changes or alterations have been required in, or
incorporated into the project which mitigate or
avoid the significant environmental effects thereof
as identified in the Environmental Impact Report in
that the mitigating measures recommended therein
have either been incorporated through revision of
Tentative Tracts 32323, 32324, 33656 and 33835; or
in the conditions of approval for said tracts; or
in the normal operating procedures of the City of
West Covina.
2. Those mitigating measures pertaining to public
utilities are being implemented through regional
or local conservation programs operated by the
effected agencies.
3. With regard to the recommendations pertaining to
Archaeological and Palentological impacts, it is
found that current state safeguards and lack of
positive evidence of the existence of significant
• Archaeological or Palentological areas make the
imposition of the mitigating measures suggested
in the Environmental Impact Report unfeasible and
unwarranted. I
4. Those environmental impacts and risks identified
as unavoidable are balanced by the benefits of the
proposed project in that: _
a. The rights of the property owner are balanced
with the environmental concerns of the area.
b. Superior fire fighting capabilities will be
implemented at the project's completion.
C. Additional drainage and flood control.facilities
will provide greater protection to existing
downhill residents.
and.the project should, therefore, be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
1. That the Environmental Impact Report is hereby supple-
mented to include the minutes of City Council meetings
• of August 28, 1978 and September 11, 1978, by incorpor-
ation of a copy of said minutes in the Final Environ-
mental Impact Report.
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2. That the City Council approve the Final Environmental
Impact Report and certify said Environmental Impact
Report which has been completed in accordance with the
California Enviromental Quality Act of 1970, as amended,
the California State Environmental Impact Report Guide-
lines, and the City of West Covina Environmental Impact:.
Report Guidelines; and further, that the City Council
has considered all public input and had reviewed and
considered the information contained in the Environ-
mental Impact Report consisting of:
a. Draft Environmental Impact Report.
b. Addendums to the Environmental Impact Report.
i. Comments and replies from responding
public agencies.
ii. Minutes of the Planning Commission hearing
of May 3, 1978,.May 17, 1978, June 7, 1978,
and July 19, 1978.
C. Letters and staff responses to letters and oral
comments.
i. Robert G. Mahan
ii. Mr. Hurt
Mr. Duncan Howard
iv. Mr. & Mrs. R. Watson
V. Mrs. M. Abeling
vi. Villas Homeowners Association
vii. League of Women Voters
viii.. Mr. & Mrs. Penick
ix. Sierra Club
X. Mrs. Curtsey
xi. Mrs. Janet Dickinson
xii. Mr. J. Frohen
xiii. Mr. & Mrs. Pierson
xiv. Hollencrest Homeowners
xv. Mr. Kamerella
xvi. Mr. Pearson
xvii. Mr. White
xviii. Mr. Stevenson
xix. Cameron/Grand Homeowner's Association
xx. Mr. Givvons
xxi. Mrs. A. Lindberg
xxii. Mr. Cohen
xxiii. Members of the Planning Commission
xxiv. Members of the City Council
xxv. Staff responses to comments at City Council
meeting of August 28, 1978
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Clerk shall certify to
the adoption of this resolution.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this llth day of September, 1978.
ATTEST:
Mayor
✓ City Clerk
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution';No::.5773_wa.s duly
adopted by the City Council of the city of west covina at a regular
meeting thereof held on the llth day of September, 1978, by the
following vote of the Council:
AYES: Councilmen: Miller, Shearer, Browne, Chappell, Tice.
NOES: Councilmen: None
ABSENT: Councilmen: None
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
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City Clerk