Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-09-16; City Council; Resolution 37451 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 3745 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN BY THE ADOPTION OF A SCENIC HIGHWAYS ELEMENT AS PART OF THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD (GPA- 3 5) WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad has undertaken a comprehen- sive review of the General Plan, including the participation of a number of citizens' committees and a series of Planning Com- mi.ssion workshops in order to adopt all the General Plan Elements mandated by the State Planning Act, including a Scenic Highways Element: and WHEREAS, as a result of such review the Planning Commis- sion did on August 27, 1975, after public hearings adopt resolution No. 1177 recommending to the City Council an amendment to the General Plan (GPA-35) adopting a scenic highways element as part of the City of Carlsbad General Plan. Said resolution is on file in the Planning Department and is incorporated by reference herein; and WHEREAS, said Amendment has met the requirements of the City of Carlsbad Environmental Protection Ordinance of 1972 and has been declared to be of nonsignificant environmental impact; and WHEREAS, the City Council has held a series of duly adver- tised public hearings to consider said amendments and has received the recommendations, objections, protests and comments of all individuals and parties who desired to be heard: L NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad as follows: 1. 2. That the above recitations are true and correct. That the findings of the Planning Conmission as set forth in Planning Commission Resolution No. 1177 constitute the findings of the City Council. 3. That the General Plan of the City of Carlsbad is amended by the adoption of a Scenic Highways Element consisting of a text dated February, 1975, as revised through August 21, 1975, marked Exhibit A, in a form on file in the office of the City Clerk and incorporated by reference herein. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council held on the 16th day ofSeptember, 1975, by the following vote, to wit: AYES : Councilmen Chase, Lewis; Skotnicki and Councildoma NOES : None Casler 1: 1: 0 19 2c 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ABSENT: Councilman Frazee "\ h ATTEST : (SEAL) SCENIC HIGHWAYS ELEMENT r Revision Date f 6-11-75 &jz - 6- 18-75 hi ‘;c 7-14-75 ,- - I I CITY OF CARLSBAG GENERAL PLAN FEBRUARY 1975 1200 ELM AVENUE CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA 92008 QCitp of QCarIGbab July 14, 1975 TO THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS OF CARLSBAD: TELEPHONE: (714) 729-1 181 On behalf of the Scenic Highways Element Citizens Advisory Committee, I am pleased to submit to you the preliminary Scenic Highways Element of the General Plan of the City of Carlsbad. The Committee has care- fully reviewed the Element and believes that it contains the policies and action programs necessary to protect and enhance the outstanding scenic and historic areas of the City visible from selected roadways. The Committee feels that the Scenic Highways Program can, and should, be developed through the mutual cooperation of the City, property owners, and other concerned citizens for the total benefit of all. Although every street in Carlsbad should be developed with aesthe- tics as a consideration, the protection of the scenic routes listed in thcs Element will help maintain the overall scenic character of the City. The Scenic Highways Element Citizens Advisory Committee has devoted long hours in the development of this Element. We are especially concerned with the implementation needed to achieve the goals and objective of the Element. is but a first step. the Element is meaningless. of this Element and strongly urges that the City actively work to carry out the recommended action programs. Adoption of the Scenic Highways Element Without an assertive program of implementation, This Committee recommends the adoption I would like to express my thanks to the other appointed members of the Committee and to the many concerned citizens who worked so hard in the development of this Element. The appointed members included Sally Katich, Betty Wollrich, Allan 0. Kelly and Joe Eggleston. concerned citizens i ncl uded Iva Dyche , Harry Truax, Dol ores Hutf 1 esz , Jane Skotnicki , Mary Casler and Jeannette Smale. The Respectfully submitted, Col. &>;&?2z-xn David M. Dunne, Cha "The outdoors is deeply ingrained in all that is California. The history and character of our Golden State were founded and formed in our mountains and forests, by our rivers and the sea, in the broad sweep of our valleys and deserts. To the generations that came before us the outdoor scene was so boundless that few worried about it. Now we know there are definite limitations to our resources, our funds,and the time left to assure that outdoor beauty will always be a part of California living. Youth needs to match itself against mountains, and we who are older need to know the stillness of our own minds -- the quietness of God's hidden places. Such is the essence of deep understandina and the dignity of man's spirit. Our children will judge whether we cared enough to preserve the splendor of the California we inherited, or stood idly by and watched its destruction.'' Edmund G. Brown Governor of California TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. I. INTRODUCTION A. B. C. General Plan Relationships GOALS OF THE SCENIC HIGHGIAYS ELEHENT Intent of the Scenic Highways Element State Law - Scenic Highways Element 11. 111. POLICIES AND ACTION PROGRAMS IV. V. VI. APPENDIX CRITERIA FOR SCENIC HIGHWAY DESIGNATION MASTER LIST OF ELIGIBLE ROUTES A. Glossary of Terms 1 2 4 5 6 7 9 14 A- 1 a Io INTRODUCTION The scenic qualities and historical significance of various areas in the City of Carlsbad have been acknowledged for many years. Scenic Highways Element of the General Plan for the City of Carlsbad seeks to continue this trend by recognizing the aesthetic character- istics of land visible from our local roadways. For example, the City of Carlsbad has been endowed with such unique scenic features as Buena Vista, Agua Hedionda, and Batiquitos Lagoons, fields of colorful flowers during certain seasons of the year, and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, there are many areas of historical significance in the Carlsbad area, such as the La Costa Adobe Ranch House Fe Road. stagecoach route that once connected the missions up and down the coast. the 1700's Captain Gaspar de Portola was assigned to protect the priests on their "missions of salvation", and he had a camp in the Carlsbad area. The ruins just off Rancho Santa El Camino Real, which extends through Carlsbad, approximates the In Many scenic and historical areas, such as the ones mentioned above, are traversed by public roads and highways that are easily accessible from anywhere in the City. historical standpoint, it is important that these areas be preserved. These and other attractions along our roadways should not only be pro- tected for us, but also for future generations who will undoubtedly place a great deal of value on such a legacy as scenic and historical land. From a recreational, environmental, and 1 A. Intent of the Scenic Highways Element The intent of the Scenic Highways Element is to establish a Scenic Highways Program for the City with the ultimate objective of the protection and enhancement of prime scenic and historical areas along designated routes within the City. The Program established by this Element contains the following general steps: 1. Statement of Goals - The Element contains a series of goals related to the overall end results desired of the Scenic Highways Program. They are intended to form the framework for public and private decision-making. Policies and Action Programs - The policies contained in the Element are intended to be a more detailed inter- 2. pretation of the goals. for the achievement of the goals and policies. These The action programs are suggested programs will be initiated after the adoption of this Element and will require further public participation. Criteria for Scenic Highway Designation - The Element contains criteria that should be considered during future 3. programs when studying routes for their e!igibility and/or des i gnat i on. Master List of Eligible Routes - The Element will contain the official list of local routes that are eligible for further study within the context of the Scenic Highways Program. Upon completion of this study, it will be 4. decided whether or not the route should receive official designation. 2 a The Scenic Highways Element is not designed or intended to impose unnecessary or unjustifiable restrictions on public or private property. Nor is it intended to adversely affect the value of private property. eligible routes listed within the Element. Upon completion of the study, if areas have been identified as worthy ef protection, numerous public hearings would be necessary to determine by what method this protection should be accomplished. It merely establishes a program to study the It should be noted that the study of each route requires the in- xolvement of property owners and other concerned citizens as well as City staff. mandatory to achieve an effective Scenic Highways Program. Widespread citizen support and participation is 3 BO State Law - Scenic Highways Element In 1971, Section 65302 of the California Government Code was amended to require the adoption of a Scenic Highways Element as part of all City and County General Plans, as follows: The Plan shall include a "Scenic Highway Element for the development, establishment, and protection of Scenic Highways pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code." This amendment was in response to an increasing concern for the preservation of scenic, historical , and recreational resources through- out the State. General Plan Element, the California Council on Intergovernmental Relations published guidel ines to assist all local jurisdictions in the preparation of such an element. following these guidel ines. In an effort to meet the objectives of this mandatory This document has been prepared 4 C. General Plan Relationships There is a strong interrelationship between the Scenic Highways Element and other Elements of the General Plan. This Element is perhaps most strongly related to the Open Space and Conservation Elements because the proposed program of scenic routes will help initiate some of the gotls and policies contained in those Elements, These goals and policies refer to such things as recreational uses, scenic and historical preservation, visual relief, protection of community identity, and the utilization of proper design criteria to preserve the unique and special resources in the City. Also, the scenic corridors, once established, by definition, will tra- verse significant natural and urban open space areas. The relationship with the Circulation Element is fundamental because it forms the skeletal framework for the proposed network of scenic routes. The Circulation Element also discusses the establishment of the City's Bikeway Program, a possible consideration to be in- cluded within the Scenic Highways Program. The Scenic Highways Element also relates to the Parks and Recreation Element by assisting in the development of linear recreation and scenic amenity corridors as discussed in that Element. 5 11, GOALS OF THE SCENIC HIGHWAYS ELEMENT The following goals relate to the overall end results desired of the Scenic Highways Program. They are intended to form the framework for public and private decision-making. These goals will be inter- preted in more detail by a number of policies. ‘In addition, action programs will be suggested to achieve the goals and policies of this Element. The goals of the Scenic Highways Element are: 1. To consider a system of routes that will increase both the enjoyment of, and opportunities for, re- creational and cultural pursuits and tourism in Carl sbad. To provide a process for the establishment of convenient and safe scenic pleasure drives and scenic routes to major recreational areas and points of historical, scenic, or cultural significance. To provide multiple recreational uses, such as bike- ways, roadside rests, and observation points, when appropriate, on lands within, and adjacent to, desig- nated scenic routes, and to provide a means of co- ordinating scenic routes with other trail systems within the City. To assist in stabilizing or increasing private property values and/or the economy of Carlsbad by preserving and adding to the present scenic and historical amenities of the City. 2. 3. 4. 6 111. POLICIES AND ACTION PROGRAMS The policies below set a broad outline for action and form the basis on which more detailed development criteria can be for- mulated for designated scenic routes. Essentially, these pol icies act as a connective link between general goals and the future action programs. Policy 1: The Scenic Highways Element shall supplement the Circulation, Open Space and Conservation, and Parks and Recreation Elements of the City's General Plan, and shall be in conformance with the policies and objectives of all City General Plan Elements. Policy 2: The City shall implement the Scenic Highways Program established b!y this Element. Maximum citizen par- ticipation shall be utilized with each step of the Program. Action Program 2.1: Utilize, and update when necessary, the criteria for scenic highway designation contained within this Element. Action Program 2.2: Prepare a Master List of Eligible Routes within the context of this Element and include as part of the Element. Periodically review this list for possible additions or modification. Action Program 2.3: Prepare a comprehensive corridor study for each of the routes contained in the master list. 7 Action Program 2.4: If the corridor study shows that the route is worthy of official designation, adopt a Specific Plan for the scenic corridor that establishes the boundaries of the corridor and sets forth development standards for the protection and enhancement of the scenic and historical features identified within the corridor. Action Program 2.5: Upon completion of the corridor study and Specific Plan, apply protective overlay zoning (i .e. Scenic Preservation or Qualified Overlay Zones) to all affected properties within the corridor. is determined that the implementation of the Specific Plan would have a s$gnificant adverse effect on any private property, the City should make every effort to acquire the property and/or development rights in a fair and just manner. Where it Policy 3: The City shall coordinate its scenic highways program with the State, County, and adjacent cities, wherever possi bl e. Action Program 3.1: Solicit and utilize input from other govern- mental jurisdictions, as well as input from property owners, civic groups and other concerned citizens, in the preparation of corridor studies and Specific Plans. Policy 4: The City shall seek financial assistance from Federal, State, and County sources whenever the expenditure of funds is necessary for the implementation of this Element. 8 IV. CRITERIA FOR SCENIC HIGHWAY DESIGNATION The Scenic Highways Element is only the initial step leading toward the designation of a scenic highway. As such, the Element provides the basis for the preparation of specific scenic corridor plans. The Element is not a scenic highway corridor study, but rather provides the basis for scenic corridor studies by the State Depart- ment of Transportation or by the City. This section of the Element provides general criteria to be used when considering the eligibility of a route to be included within the "Master List of Eligible Routes" and when considering those routes for official designation as a scenic highway. The steps, and related criteria, that are necessary before a route can be designated as a scenic highway are as follows: 1. The route must be included within a "Master list of Eligible Routes'' contained within the Scenic Highways Element of the Carlsbad General Plan. When considering routes for inclusion within this list, the following criteria should be utilized: a. The corridor through which the route passes should possess significant scenic and/or historical amenities. b. The City should have jurisdiction over the lands adjacent to the route. lapping of State or County authority, every attempt should be made to coordinate and cooperate with those agencies. Whenever there is an over- 9 C. d. t Significant Pub1 ic Significant Significant Scenic Ownership Landscape L? Historic Amenities Topography Amenities \. 'Route X X X X X X X Route Y e. # of Mi 1 es 2.1 6.5 If possible, significant landscape and topographical areas should be represented along the route. Routes of historic significance, or routes which connect places of interest, should be considered even though the route is of marginal scenic value. When a rolrte or corridor will have an immediate impact on other City programs dealing with scenic and historic preservation, those routes should be i ncl uded . The following is the type of matrix that could be used when evaluating routes for inclusion within the list: 10 2. A corridor study must be prepared for each route contained in the "Master List of Eligible Routes." When preparing each corridor study, the following criteria should be considered : 3. a. The scope of the corridor study should include, but not be limited to, the following: angle and duration of vision; range of visibiJity; topography; vegetation; structures; distant visibility; scenery character- istics; natural and man-made features; landscape character; ecological areas; probable methods of protection; legal boundaries; precise alignment of the highway and boundaries of the corridor; potential locations of roadside rests, vista points, and areas for public or commercial information sites. b. The City should solicit, at the earliest possible time, the help and advice of local citizens' com- mittees, affected property owners, conservation groups9 and anyone else who might be interested in the results of the corridor study. If the route under study has the potential for official State designation, the City should request the assistance of the California Department of Transportation. c. If the corridor study presents evidence that further controls are necessary, the City should prepare and 11 adopt Specific Plans and overlay zoning for each route. When preparing these implementing measures, the following criteria should be considered: a. By State law, Specific Plans may include regulations limiting the location of buildings and other improve- ments with respect to existing or planned rights- of-way; regulations of the use of land and buildings, the height and bulk of buildings, and the open spaces about buildings; street and highway naming and numbering plans in order to establish the official names of streets and highways, to remove conflicts, duplication and uncertainty among such names, and to provide an orderly system for the numbering of buildings and properties; such other matters which will accomplish the purposes of the Specific Plan, including procedure for the administration of such regulations; and such other measures as may be required to insure the execution of the General P1 an. b. Specify the treatment and protection the route and corridor are to receive, i.e., land use controls, landscape control, land acquisition needs, construc- tion standards, type and location of complementary faci 1 i ti es . Where applicable, establish regulations and guidelines regarding building heights and setbacks, signs and c. 12 I. 1. outdoor advertising, placement of utilities and undergroundi ng of uti1 i ty 1 ines, cover and screening of earthwork operations, erosion control, preserva- tion of the natural conditions of bodies of water, preservation and restoration of plant material , clearing for views, site planning and landscape design, property maintenance, and public uses within the corridor. d. When official State designation is desired, the mini- mum requirements which must be met by the City include, but are not limited to; (1) regulation of land use which may include density and/or the intensity of development; (2) detailed land and site planning; (3) control of outdoor advertising; (4) careful attention to and control of earthmoving and land- scaping; and (5) the design and appearance of structures and equipment. The involvement of local citizens in determining the five items is very important if the program is to have popular support. 13 V. MASTER LIST OF ELIGIBLE ROUTES The following list includes those existing local routes that the City has reviewed and found to be worthy of further study within the context of this Element. They .are listed in their.-respettive candi tions warrant. Routes elfgfF1e for Ctty of Caanlsbad State Scentc H'i'gh~zy des i'gna t i o n : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6, 7. 8. 9. .. hterstate 5 - from southerly City S4~7'si:s -LG Qee&n- stde City lfmits (Note: This route is TncTuded with- 1% the State's Scenl'c Fiighway System and has the potentfa1 of recerfving offfcial State designatton), 'El"Cabin0 Real - from southerly Cjty l-imfts to Qceanstde Ci'ty- 1 tmfts. Carl sbad Koulcvard (Pacific Htghway) - from southerly City limits to Oceanside Cfty limits. Jefferso'n Street - from has Flores Drtve to (iceanside Cfty Iimtts. Adams St.reet - from Park BrIve to Har'r5son Street, Park Drive - from Kelly DrSve to Adams Street- Lagoon Lane - from Poinsettia Lane to sautherfy City limits. Rancho Santa Fe Road - from southerly Clty limits to ). Patomar Airport Road - from Caslsbad Boufevzr?.G to easterly City 1 imi ts e .. .. - .. -. . . . . . .. . .. -- .- .. .. . . . . . . . 14 The following list includes future routes, as designated on the adopted Circulation Element of the General Plan, that the Staff feels, when constructed, may qualify to be added to the "Master List". when considering future improvement plans for these routes, the City should consider the potentizl scenic and historic amenities along these routes. The Staff suggests that 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Cannon Road - from Interstate 5 to E? Camino Real, Lagoon Lane - from Ps%nsett-ia Lane to El Camino Real, Melrose Drive - along the Countyts right-of-way throughout the City of Carasbad. Poinsettia tane/A7ga Road - from Carlsbad Boulevard to future a7ignment of Plelrose Rrfve. Park Drive - from intersection with Kelly Drnive to future connection with Cannon bad. 15 APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY OF TERMS Corridor Study A study conducted by the City to identify: recreational resources, scenic and visual corridor boundaries, sites for rest stops, vista points, or map stops, existing and proposed land use, and potential problems in protecting these resources. scenic, historical, or Designated Scenic Highway or Route An eligible route that has been subjected to all of the steps con- tained in the Scenic Highways Program, found to possess scenic or historical amenities worthy of preservation, and implemented by the adoption of a Specific Plan and overlay zoning. Eligible !?cute Any highway or street designated in the "Master List of Eligible Routes" contained in the Scenic Highways Element of the Carlsbad General Plan. Official State Scenic Highway A State or County route whose Scenic Corridor Protection Program has been reviewed and approved by the State Highway Advisory Committee. Scenic Corridor The bands of land generally adjacent to the scenic highway right-of-way that complete the visual appearance and integrity of the total composi- tion of the scenic highway. The boundaries of the scenic corridor may coincide with the boundaries of the visual corridor but are usually less. A- 1 ,. .. Scenic Highways Program A comprehensive program of the City established within the Scenic Highways Element leading to the eventual designation of scenic routes and corridors. The program includes the Element itself as well as all necessary follow- up programs such as corridor studies, Specific Plans and overlay zoning. Scenic Resources The objective and subjective visual features of a unique and irreplace- able landscape, including rewarding views of vegetation, topography, geological formations and historical sites. Specific P1 an Regulations, prcgrams, and legislation as may in the City's judgement be required for the systematic execution of the Genera: Plan as defined in Section 65450 et seq. of the California Government Code. State Scenic Highway System State or county highways listed in the Streets and Highways Code (Sec. 263) and shown on the official California Scenic Highway System Map. State Scenic Highway Program The State program leading to the designation of routes contained within the State Scenic Highway System as official State Scenic Highways. State Scenic Highway Advisory Committee A citizens committee established by the Scenic Highways Law responsible for recommending program criteria, reviewing application for, and recommending approval of, official State scenic highway designation. Visual Corridor All areas visible from the scenic highway (i.e. the view from the road). n-3