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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-04-22; Planning Commission; ; EIR 268|SP 168| CT 74-10- RACA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONCITY OF CARLSBAD PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT April 22, 1975 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT ON: LAGOON SHORES - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT #268 SPECIFIC PLAN #168 APPLICANT: RACA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 1815 E. Carnegia Avenue Santa Ana, California 92705 I. REQUEST: The applicant is requesting certification of an EIR, and approval of a Specific Plan for 156 dwelling units on a 8-acre piece of land zoned P-C and described as: That parcel of land lying in Lot "I", Rancho Agua Hedionda, in the City of Carlsbad, according to Map thereof No. 823, as recorded in the office of the San Diego County Recorder, December 15, 1896. The subject property is located on the south side of Park Drive between Marina Drive and Neblina Drive, fronting on the north shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. II. RECOMMENDATIONS: A) EIR 268 - Staff recommends that the final Environmental Impact Report be CERTIFIED, based on the following justifications: 1) Compliance with all CEQA requirements. 2) Compliance with the requirements of the Carlsbad Environmental Protection Ordinance. B) SPECIFIC PLAN #158 and CT 74-10 - These applications were for an earlier proposal on the Lagoon Shores property. The cases were tabled by the Planning Commission on September 10, 1974. The applicant has requested that the old applications be withdrawn. Staff recommends that the Commission vote to approve withdrawal of these applications. -2- C) SP-168 - Staff recommends that the Specific Plan be APPROVED based on the following justifications: 1) The adverse environmental impacts of the project have been adequately mitigated; 2) The project meets the requirements of the Planned Community Zone; 3) The project is in compliance with the City's General Plan; 4) The project meets the requirements of the Public Facilities Policy. Recommended Conditions of Approval: 1. The approval is granted for land described in the application and any attachments thereto, and as shown on the plot plan, labeled Exhibit A, the elevations labeled Exhibit B, the garage plan labeled Exhibit C, and the floor plan labeled Exhibit D, all of which are dated 3/14/75. All buildings, roadways, landscaping, parking and other features shall substantially conform to these exhibits. 2. Unless a final subdivision map is recorded for the project within thirty months of this approval, the Specific Plan shall become null and void. 3. All requirements of any law, ordinance or regulation of the State of California, City of Carlsbad, and any other governmental entity shall be complied with. 4. Any mechanical and/or electrical equipment to be located on the roof of the structure shall be screened in a manner acceptable to the Planning Director. Detailed plans for said screening shall be submitted, in triplicate, to the Planning Director. 5. A detailed landscape and sprinkler plan prepared by a landscape architect shall be submitted to the Parks and Recreation Director for consideration and approval. 6. All utilities including electrical, telephone and cable television, shall be installed underground and/or shall be completely concealed from view. 7. Any phasing of this project shall require an amendment to this Specific Plan. 8. Right of way shall be dedicated to provide a 42 ft. half street section for Park Drive, plus a 10 ft. two-way bike lane, and public frontage improvements shall be constructed as required by the City Engineer. Rights of access to Park Drive shall be waived. -3- 9. Right of way shall be dedicated and public frontage improvements shall be constructed along Marina Drive to provide a 40 ft. curb- to-curb dimension, plus a 10 ft. parkway. The intersection of Park , Drive and Marina Drive shall be realigned to avoid acute turning movements, in accordance with City Standards. A 15 ft. improved walkway from Marina Drive to the lagoon shall be dedicated. 10. A public cul-de-sac street shall be fully dedicated and improved along the eastern boundary of the lot. The applicant shall be responsible for off-site dedication and improvements to this street; if this is not possible, the applicant shall file an amended specific plan showing the entire street within the subject property. The street shall have a 60 ft. right of way with a 40 ft. curb to curb dimension. The alignment and perpendicular parking layout, as shown on the Specific Plan, is subject to revisison by the City Engineer. An improved 15 ft. wide access extending from the terminus of this cul-de-sac to the lagoon shall be dedicated to the City. 11. A public walkway shall be dedicated and improved to City standards at the top of the slope to the lagoon along the entire lagoon frontage. 12. Driveways shall have a 24 ft. clear width. Minimum width of paving at parking areas shall be 44 or 64 ft.(one or two 20 ft. stalls, plus 24 ft. aisles). Parking at the top of garage ramps is not approved. 13. Adequate facilities, clearances and maneuverability for trash removal and emergency vehicles shall be provided. 14. All structures shall observe a 35 ft. height limitation, as defined by the Uniform Building Code. 15. Adequate fire protection shall be ensured through a combination of fire resistant building design materials and construction of water mains and hydrants. This shall be accomplished in a manner acceptable to the Fire Chief. 16. A 5 ft. utility and tree planting easement shall be dedicated along all public frontage. III. BACKGROUND: A. Location: Between Park Drive and the Agua Hedionda Lagoon on the east side of Marina Drive. B. Site Description: The site gently slopes to the south; with a short, steep bank adjacent to the lagoon. Vegetation is sparse. C. Project Description: The project entails certification of an EIR and adoption of a Specific Plan to allow construction of 156 condominium units. -4- D. Zoning: Subject Property: P-C North: P-C South: P-U East: P-C West: R-W E. Surrounding Land Use: North - Vacant South - Agua Hedionda Lagoon East - Vacant West - Bristol Cove (Su Casa) F. General Plan Recommendation: The Land Use portion of the General Plan shows the subject property as residential high density at 20-30 dwelling units per acre. The applicant proposes a density of 18.8 dwelling units per acre. The Open Space and Conservation Elements of the General Plan identify the Agua Hedionda Lagoon as a prime resource. Specific goals set forth in this Element are the preservation of scenic vistas and recreational amenities. The preliminary Circulation and Scenic Highways Elements designate Park Drive as both a bicycle corridor and a scenic highway corridor. For this reason, staff has considered bicycle routes and preservation of scenic vistas as major issues with this application. G. Environmental Impact Requirements: Staff has prepared an EIR for the project based on draft information supplied by the applicant and comments submitted by affected agencies. Some of the major issues discussed in the EIR are: 1) P/ior fill: The draft Environmental Impact Report touches on the fact that a portion of the site was a tidal mud flat, with native vegetation and fauna. The site was filled approximately ten years ago, prior to requirements for environmental review. Although the environmental damage has already been sustained, the effects should not be ignored. The disruption of the mud flat caused the elimination of a number of plant and animal species, namely, molluscs and marsh grasses. According to the preliminary geologic and soils study done on the site, the ground water table is at about 5 ft. (depending on tide) at the lowest portion of the site. The majority of the site (60%) is underlain by uncompacted fill and soft bay muds. The soils report states that the uncompacted bay mud areas when property treated would be suitable for light structures, parking, boat storage or roads. 2) Protection of Lagoon Resources: The Environmental Impact Report stresses the need to preserve both visual and physical access to the lagoon. Public access and preservation of scenic vistas are both included in recommended mitigations. -5- H. Public Facilities Policy: The applicant has provided the necessary evidence to insure that public facilities will be able to serve the project. A letter from the Carlsbad Unified School District has been attached. The City Engineer has stated that the City will be able to provide water and sewer facilities to serve the project. IV. MAJOR PLANNING CONSIDERATION: 1) Will the project be consistent with the General Plan goal of preserving lagoon resources? 2) Is the intensity of the development commensurate with service capabilities and the maintenance of long-term environmental productivity? 3) Is adequate public access to the lagoon being provided? V. DISCUSSION OF.SPECIFIC ITEMS: 1) Park Drive: Park Drive has been designated in both the preliminary Circulation and Scenic Highways Elements as a bicycle corridor and scenic corridor. Staff has recommended that the applicant dedicate and improve a 10 ft. bikeway along the east side of Park. This route can be extended in the future along the unimproved sections adjacent to Laguna Riviera Unit I (east side of Park). Kelly Drive has adequate right of way for inclusion of a bike lane. It is anticipated that specifications for this route will be included in the future Specific Plan for the Park Drive scenic route. 2) Access: Staff has recommended that the following be provided for public access: a) A 15 ft. public walkway from the terminus of Marina Drive to the lagoon. b) Publicly dedicated street along the east side of the property and a 15 ft. walkway extending from the terminus of that street to the lagoon. c) A publicly dedicated walkway at the top of the slope along the entire lagoon frontage. The requirement that the walkway be at the top of the slopes stems from the need to protect it from inundation. Steps to the beach should be provided as shown on the plot plan. DH/br - 4/18/75 ATTACHMENTS: Exhibits A, B, C and D, dated 3/14/75 Final Environmental Impact Report #368 Letter from Carlsbad Unified School District LEGAL DESCRIPTION ; A fWHTlOH OP U3T I OP RAMCHfl /^U* CONDOMINIUM PROJECT RACA DEVELOPMENT CO. E, CAI^HB&IB ST., of C«rMb«J Commiwioii DENSITY - I^O UNITS T S-41 AC. » |0.» AREA QO>\,\\O 93,ft OMtfAO AR&A T £9, EXISTING 3UILDIN& TYPB CHWM FEMSE ELEVATION SICTQON L©T Wife B*PRM. UNIT® «M • 4+* 2 • 88 A I ONE. &EDROOM UNIT ' (°^O "aF. ) — «2xJ»I 31 TWO BEDROOM UNIT ( l<?10 S.p.) • 4 £; TWO E>fcDROOM UNIT - (\1*?o %•?.}-- 72 ]")' TWO E>&PftM.-4 IPtN UNIT- (1*7^ e.F.) • • 44 UNIT* F - '••' CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT "AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER" 801 PINE AVENUE CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA 92008 April 15, 1975 Reference: SP-168 156 Condominium Units RACA Development Company Mr. Gary Wrench, Chairman and Members of the Planning Commission City of Carlsbad 1200 Elm Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Attention: Mr. Donald A. Agatep, City Planning Director Gentlemen: Our district has reviewed the proposed 156 condominium unit develop- ment generally located south of Park Drive between Marina Drive and Neblina Drive as referenced above and have evaluated the impact of that development on the facilities of our district. Please be informed that our district is able to assure you that school facilities and services will be available concurrent with need for this development as it is presently proposed. Very trulyvours, A. Crawfo/d District Superintendent FHL:RAC:aw CC: RACA Development Company APR 171975 OF CftRLSBAO Department ADMINISTRATION 729-9291