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HomeMy WebLinkAbout92-22 - Resolutions RESOLUTION NO. 92-22 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFY THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE ETIWANDA NORTH SPECIFIC PLAN, AND MAKING FINDINGS IN SUPPORT THEREOF. A. Recitals. (i) There has been presented to this Commission, in conjunction with this Commission's consideration of the recommended adoption of the Etiwanda North Specific Plan, a Final Environmental Impact Report. (ii) The Final Environmental Impact Report referred to in this Resolution consists of that document dated May 1991, entitled "Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Etiwanda North Specific Plan, " together with the draft Final Environmental Impact report dated September 11, 1991, including written comments on the draft EIR and written responses thereto submitted by staff of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, and testimony presented during the hearings on the recommended adoption of the said Specific Plan insofar as that testimony pertained to the environmental matters, as well as the revised executive summary, including revisions to mitigations measures, as well as the mitigation monitoring plan. Hereinafter, the above-referenced documents will be referred to as the "Final Environmental Impact Report. " The entirety of the Final Environmental Impact Report is hereby incorporated in this Resolution by this reference. (iii) All legal prerequisites prior to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred. B. Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby found, determined, and resolved by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga as follows: 1. This Planning Commission does hereby recommend that the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga take the following actions with respect to the Final Environmental Report: a. Certify that the Final Environmental Impact Report has been prepared on the Etiwanda North Specific Plan in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, California Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq. and with the regulations promulgated thereunder. Further, that the Council certifies that it has considered the contents of the Final Environmental Impact Report in considering the adoption of the Etiwanda North Specific Plan; b. Find that the Final Environmental Impact Report does identify physical environmental impacts inherent in the project and that changes or alterations have been incorporated in the project which mitigate or avoid all significant environmental effects thereof other than as follows: PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 92-22 ETIWANDA NORTH SPECIFIC PLAN EIR - CITY OF R.C. February 26, 1992 Page 2 1) Substantial alteration of existing open space land use character: Almost all of the total project area of 6,840 acres is currently in natural open space. Of the total, 4,442 acres will be designated as open space. Nevertheless, 2,112 acres are proposed for development and will result in the loss of the existing open space land use character. 2) City transportation policies and Traffic: Applicants for development will mitigate" all on-site impacts and specified off-site impacts, as well as contribute to the City's Traffic Nexus Fee program for off-site impacts. Nevertheless, as a result of incremental increases to cumulative traffic impacts, off- site impacts will occur even after mitigation. 3) Landform modification: Applicants for development will comply with the Hillside Development Ordinance and City development standards. Nevertheless, grading for development within 2,112 acres will modify the existing character of the alluvial fan and portions of the hillsides. 4) Wildlife habitat impacts: The project is designed to retain large, defensible areas of open space which will maximize the habitat value for the project area. A total of 4,442 acres will remain in open space land use designations. Nevertheless, development of the 2,112 acres will diminish on-site wildlife density and diversity and fragment the remaining wildlife habitats. 5) Alluvial fan scrub habitat loss: Applicants for development will be conditioned to preserve 1-acre of alluvial fan scrub habitat for 1-acre of alluvial fan scrub habitat lost. There are significant areas of natural alluvial fan scrub habitat within the project area which are available for preservation or which can be rehabilitated. Nevertheless, almost all of the 2,112 acres planned for development are alluvial fan scrub habitat and will be lost. 6) Threat to riparian habitats: Applicants for development will be conditioned to retain existing riparian corridors, as well as to provide a buffer zone to protect the riparian PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 92-22 ETIWANDA NORTH SPECIFIC PLAN EIR - CITY OF R.C. February 26, 1992 Page 3 corridors from degradation associated with urban development. Also, conditions will be enforced to protect the Resource Conservation areas including restriction of human use to designated trails, exclusion of domestic cats and dogs, exclusion of off-road vehicles, and techniques to divert urban irrigation run-off and polluted storm flows. Nevertheless, urbanization of the area will remain a threat to riparian habitat. 7) Short term fugitive dust: Project applicants will be conditioned to implement actions to reduce fugitive dust during construction to the maximum extent feasible. Nevertheless, some construction dust will occur. 8) Solid waste: Project applicants will be conditioned to participate in City waste minimization programs. Nevertheless, there will remain an impact on landfill capacity as a result of solid waste generated by development of approximately 3,157 dwelling units, as well as up to 28 acres of commercial development. c. Find that notwithstanding the unmitigated adverse environmental impacts specified in paragraph b above, that specific economic and social considerations make infeasible any project alternative specified in the Final Environmental Impact Report and constitutes an overriding basis for Council approval of the project; and d. As to those impacts identified in the Final Environmental Impact Report which cannot feasibly be avoided by mitigation measures and project alternatives, recommend adoption of a Statement of Overriding Considerations in substantial form to that set forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. 2. The Secretary to this Commission shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 26TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1992. PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA 1 /I� r BY: tit. _ ar Niel, - rma� ATTEST: BradIC, Sy PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 92-22 ETIWANDA NORTH SPECIFIC PLAN EIR - CITY OF R.C. February 26, 1992 Page 4 I, Brad Buller, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced, passed, and adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 26th day of February 1992, by the following vote-to-wit: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: CHITIEA, MCNIEL, MELCHER, TOLSTOY, VALLETTE NOES: COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: NONE EXHIBIT "A" STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS The Final Environmental Impact Report identifies certain impacts which cannot feasibly be avoided by mitigation measures. Impacts which have been mitigated to the maximum extent feasible, but still have not been mitigated to a level of not significant, include the following: Substantial Alteration of Existing Open Space Land Use Character: Almost all the total project area of 6,840 acres is currently in natural open space. Of the total, 4 , 442 acres shall be designated as open space. Nevertheless, 2 , 112 acres are proposed for development and will result in the loss of existing open space land use character. City Transportation Policies and Traffic: Applicants for development shall mitigate all on-site impacts specified off-site impacts, as well as contribute to the City's Traffic Nexus Fee Program for off-site impacts. Nevertheless, as a result of incremental increases to cumulative traffic impacts, off-site impacts will occur even after mitigation. Landform Modification: Applicants for development shall comply with the Hillside Development Ordinance and City Development Standards. Also the prominent knoll, where the historic U. S. Forest Service Fire Station site is located, shall be preserved as open space. Nevertheless, grading for development within 2 , 112 acres will modify the existing character of the alluvial fan and portions of the hillsides. Wildlife Habitat Impacts: The project is designed to retain large, defensible areas of open space which shall maximize the habitat value for the project area. A total of 4, 442 acres will remain in open space land use designations, including approximately 145 acres in the vicinity of the bog and north of the northern branch of the Cucamonga Fault, a portion of which was previously designated for residential development. Further, a Resource Management Plan shall be prepared and implemented. Nevertheless, development of 2 , 112 acres will diminish on-site wildlife density and diversity and fragment the remaining wildlife habitats. Alluvial Fan Scrub Habitat Loss: Applicants for development shall be conditioned to preserve 1 acre of alluvial fan scrub habitat for 1 acre of alluvial fan scrub habitat lost. It is intended that 4,442 acres shall be designated as open space and that alluvial fan scrub habitat in Day Creek wash, Etiwanda Creek wash, San Sevaine Wash, and 145 acres in the vicinity of the bog and north of the northern branch of the Cucamonga Fault shall be retained as open space. Further to the maximum extent feasible, resource conservation easements EXHIBIT "A" STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS February 26, 1992 Page 2 shall be obtained for the aforementioned wildlife habitat areas. Nevertheless, almost all of the 2, 112 acres planned for development are alluvial fan scrub habitat which will be lost. Threat to Riparian Habitats: Applicants for development will be conditioned to retain existing riparian corridors, as well as to provide a buffer zone to protect the riparian corridors from degradation associated with urban development. Also, conditions will be enforced to protect the Resource Conservation areas, including restriction of human use to designated trails, exclusion of domestic cats and dogs, and exclusion of off-road vehicles, as well as techniques to divert urban irrigation run-off and polluted storm flows. Nevertheless, urbanization of the area will remain a threat to riparian habitat. Short-Term Fugitive Dust: Project applicants will be conditioned to implement actions to reduce fugitive dust during construction to the maximum extent feasible. Nevertheless, some construction dust will occur. Solid Waste: Project applicants will be conditioned to participate in City waste minimization programs. Nevertheless; there will remain an impact on landfill capacity as a result of solid waste generated by development of approximately 3 , 157 dwelling units, as well as up to 28 acres of commercial development. Notwithstanding these impacts, project approval is recommended based upon a finding that specific environmental, economic and social considerations make infeasible any project alternatives specified in the final Environmental Impact Report and accordingly constitutes an overriding basis for project approval. Substantial environmental benefits will occur as a result of approval of in the Etiwanda North Specific Plan, and associated General Plan Amendment No. 90-03B, as follows: * Of the total 6,840-acre plan area, development will be limited to 2, 112 acres and 4, 442 acres shall be designated as open space. * Applicants for development shall contribute to the building of the circulation and transportation system of the community by mitigating all on-site impacts specified off-site impacts as well as contributing to the City's Traffic Nexus Fee Program for all other off-site impacts. EXHIBIT "A" STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS February 26, 1992 Page 3 * Applicants for development shall comply with the Hillside Development Ordinance and City Development Standards. Also the prominent knoll, where the historic U.S. Forest Service Fire Station site is located, shall be preserved as open space. * The project is designed to retain large, defensible areas of open space which shall maximize the habitat value for the project area. A total of 4, 442 acres will remain in open space land use designations, including approximately 145 acres in the vicinity of the bog and north of the northern branch of the Cucamonga Fault, a portion of which was previously designated for residential development. Further, a Resource Management Plan shall be prepared and implemented. * Applicants for development shall be conditioned to preserve 1 acre of alluvial fan scrub habitat for 1 acre of alluvial fan scrub habitat lost. It is intended that 4 ,442 acres shall be designated as open space and that alluvial fan scrub habitat in Day Creek wash, Etiwanda Creek wash, San Sevaine Wash, and 145 acres in the vicinity of the bog and north of the northern branch of the Cucamonga Fault shall be retained as open space. Further to the maximum extent feasible, resource conservation easements shall be obtained for the aforementioned wildlife habitat areas. * Applicants for development will be conditioned to retain existing riparian corridors, as well as to provide a buffer zone to protect the riparian corridors from degradation associated with urban development. Also, conditions will be enforced to protect the areas designated as "Resource Conservation, " including restriction of human use to designated trails, exclusion of domestic cats and dogs, and exclusion of off-road vehicles, as well as techniques to divert urban irrigation run- off and polluted storm flows. * Project applicants shall be conditioned to implement actions to reduce fugitive dust during construction to the maximum extent feasible. * Project applicants shall be conditioned to participate in City waste minimization programs to reduce the flow of municipal solid waste to landfills. EXHIBIT "A" STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS February 26, 1992 Page 4 Also, the Etiwanda North Specific Plan, and associated General Plan Amendment No. 90-03B, are themselves measures to mitigate potential adverse impacts of development on the existing community which would otherwise occur without a planned and comprehensive approach to future development. The Specific Plan contains provisions tailored to development of the sensitive alluvial fan and hillside environment, and is meant to replace existing Citywide zoning regulations that do not address the unique qualities and community traits of that portion of the City of Rancho Cucamonga and its Sphere-of-Influence. Further, the Etiwanda North Specific Plan provides pre-zoning for the Sphere- of-Influence area and for the planning area north of the National Forest boundary where City zoning ordinances do not apply. Consequently, the adoption of the Etiwanda North Specific Plan will result in potential environmental effects that are substantially less significant in scope and extent than those effects which would otherwise occur under the existing General Plan and zoning regulations, including each alternative analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Report.