Loading...
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: -2- 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. me • 0 11 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. -4- 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 -5- • • J 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. -7- • • • 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 • -8- 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 • City Clerk