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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 1973-6863RESOLUTION NO. 6863 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING THE EPdVIRONP2E~TTAL Ir~!IP11CT REPORT FOR SWEETWATER REGIONAL PARK The City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby resolve as follows: WHEREAS, the Administrator of the Public Works Agency of San Diego County, D. K. Speer, has forwarded a copy of the Environ- mental Impact Statement for the Sweetwater Regional Park, prepared by the Public Works Agency, Park Development Division, Edwin J. Moses, Director, to the City of Chula Vista because of the City's interest and concern in the development of said project, and WHEP,EAS, the report has been reviewed by the Environmental Review Coordinator and the Environmental Review Committee and it has been determined that said report does meet with the approval of the City of Chula Vista. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista that based upon the recommendation of the Environ- mental Review Coordinator and the Environmental Review Committee, the City Council does hereby approve the Environmental Impact Statement for Sweetwater Regional Park. Presented by .~ . _. E. Emerson Hall, Director of Parks and P.ecreation Approved as to form by ' ~ . -- George Lind erg, City Atto ADOPTED AidD APPROVED by the CITY COUNCIL of the CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA, this 22nd day of May , 19 73, by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Councilmen Hyde, E IQAYES: Councilmen None ahl, Scott, Hobel, Hamilton ABSENT; Councilmen None /~ ~ ;',,.= , s ,; ; ,~ '~ ~- ~1 ATTEST `%" r' L~_'.~ . Ci -y erk f, STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) ss. CITY OF CHULA VISTA ) x ~ ~ ,~ ~~' ,fin , ~p ~q~ ~ ~, ,: ~, 1~y'~^ti:r'.o'np"C.c+~"'r"A+'°~wr~e r~'~ ~~ r E-'Z y'ti. a Mayor of the City of Chula Vista I, , City Cler}c of the City of Chula Vista, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above is a full, true and correct copy of Resolution No. , and that the same has not been amended or repealed. DATED City Clerk Environmental Impact Statement Sweetwater Regional Park Prepared by Public Works Agency • Park•Development Division Edwi n J . h1oses , Director /! ;:~~~i Project Description Pro~act Location: The proposed project is located in the Stiv2etwater River Basin and is generally hounded by tl~e South Bay Free~~ray and .the proposed Helix Freetivay on the north and east and by San Miguel F,oad and Interstate tliohti~ray 5 on the south and west. The proposed prajact area is shoti~n on the attached 7 l/2 minute U.S.G.S. topograpi~ic map, idational City and Jamul btountain Quadrangles. Project Objectives: The objectives of tite proposed project are to provide recreational facilities for the residents of Sari Diego County. The recreation facilities to be offered are to be regional in scope and will accent the natural environment of the park setting. Cf~aracteristics of t'ze Project: Tlie proposed project is planned as a phased program for acquisition and developr;~ nt of a San Giego County Regional Park. This regional park will be located in the Sweetwater River Basin and will encompass tf~e Sweetwater Reservoir. Tl~e proposed park will. grow to maximum size of 5015 acres by 1990 and will offer recreational facilities that are regional in scope to include picnicking, games areas, bicycling, swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, family and group camping, equestrian facilities, cultural facilities, a museum and an amphitheatre. This project is included in the Regional Paris Implementation Study as approved in concept by San Diego County Board of Supervisors action on items 4/19/72 (1) through 4/19/72 (6~. The proposed project, i]lustrated on the attached master plan sketch, is designed to accent the natural environment of~the park site. All modifications to the existing topography including roads, building sites for structures and ~r ~ ;~ ,.~i" i..~ -2- cultural facilities trill be located to mininize any impact on existing plant or animal life. The entire concept of this park project is to preserve open space for posterity in a manner that allotivs non destructive use of facilities by boot present and future generations. Description of Environ~rQntal Setting: The, proposed park site is an irregular shaped parcel of land t~~hich is expected to reacf~ a maximum sizs of 5015 acres by 1990. This property is located in the Svreetvrater P,iver Basin and is in a generally natural state. Immediately to the north and vest of the proposed park: site are the densely urbanized communities of San Diego, National City and Chula Vista, California. These areas are zoned for residential, commercial and industrial usage in normal urban patterns. South and east of the proposed site are o .,rln~~n ~~~ , ~.,; , , ~~,~'~~-~'' residential davclop- vast reach_s of u1...,r...l,,,~..d .and «~tn onl,~ a fo,r ~~,u1.1.L~%~. ments. This entire area is zoned LC for limited control of development. The undeveloped land consists of acid coastal desert and hasonly sparse vegetative cover, primarily chaparral and low grasses. t~io rare or endangered species are kno~~m to utilize the area and no geologic hazards exist in the vicinity. The proposed park ~ si to surround the existing SweetY~ater Reservoir and extends into the flood plain south and west of the reservoir dam. Aside from the chaparral covered canyon area just belotir the dam, the park Contains little significant native vegetation, being primarily limited to grasses, herbaceous perennials and scatternd groups willo~~r, cottonwood,•sycamore and pepper trees. l~(ildlife is mainly limited to rabbits, ground squirrels, skunks and related small animals. None are known to be rare or endangered species. No paleontological, archeological or historical significance is knotirn to be associated with this area. ;.. , _, -3- • '~ Tie geologic significance of the proposed park site is limited to its relationship to flood plain aspects of the area. Tfie proposed park. is generally deficiad by the 100 year flood line of the Sweetl~~ater Riverbed and acts as a drainage facility for a surrounding area of approximately 220 acres. Since the majority of all water in the reservoir is artificially introduced this natu~•al supply from ground ti~~ater sources is of little consequence. `Enyi ron^,entai Ir~pacts ' The direct impacts on the environrn~ent which ti~rill result from the construction of th~ proposed par:c cri 11 be 1 imi ted to: 1. Minor noise and air pollution during construction of facilities at the site (sf~ort-tenm) ' 2. Possible slight to moderate traffic congestion of local roads during hig;i use periods at the park, i.e., Holidays and weekends. 3. Favorable ir~pacts related to preserving extensive areas of open space in its natural state. ft. Visual relief of preserving a "green-belt" area adjacent to areas of extensive urbanization. Adverse Effects 4:hich Cannot Be Avoided if the Proposal is Im?lemented: t*iinor noise and dust pollution during construction of tine park facilities and slight to moderate traffic congestion in the area during period of peak attendance at the park are unavoidable, ho~~~ever, none of t!~ese effects appear to be significant. iii ti 4 a ti n cLh"~ as u res Restricting construction activities at the park to normal day-time working hours and long-term plans ti•rhich will improve roads and frze-,rays to handle peak traffic at tl~e park will suitably mollify anyadverse effects which might be derived from the proposed project. ~ i - ~ k' "~~ _, ` ~ 4 Alternatives to the Proposed Project: The only viable alternative to the proposed project is to leave the proposed site in its present state. This alternative v~rould result in dense residential and commercial development of the area through private sources - with it's associated increased severity of environmental impact. Lon :Term Productivity versus Short-Term Ilse: The long-term productivity of the area remains unchanged when incorporated in a park or open space plan since construction of facilities is accomplished at such a low density. Lack of change in the natural environment maintains the land in its present state and thereby permits land use by both present and future generations while minimizing any impact~on the land. Should a more effective land use pattern become apparent in the future - its productivity can be realized to its full potential. Irreversible Environmental Chances: Since the proposed park program will maintain the project area in its present natural state - there will be no irreversible committment of resources. Growth-Inducing Impact of the Proposed Project: The net environmental effect of the proposed-park construction project relative to growth inducing factors is positive. Inasmuch as the Sweetwater Regional Park Development Plan Study was approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors prior to approval of a Sweetwater Community Plan, the recommend- ations for land use and peripheral traffic circulation adjacent to the park which are included in the study can be considered during the preparation of the Community Plan. Not only will the park include in excess of 5,000 acres of public land dedicated as open space which otherwise would be devoted to private development, but low density housing along the perimeter of the park can be enforced through i' ;'~ ~~ 5. design of the Sweetwater Community Plan. Long term design of circulation routes adjacent to the proposed park can be directed to~~rard accomodating peak traffic which will be generated by the park on weekends ar,d holidays and thus traffic congestion problems will be minimized. It must be emphasized that any impact on the environment which would result from construction of the proposed park project is so minimal considered relative to any alternate land use plan - that the growth inducing factors which can be considered have a net effect of being beneficial to the environment. References Used in Preparing the Environmental Impact Statement: 1. San Diego County Regional Parks Implementation Study 2. IREt~I Natural Resources Inventory 3. San Diego County Planning Department Files 4. San Diego County Department of County Engineer Files 5. San Diego County Department of Sanitation and Flood Control files 6. California State Division of Highways files 7. Environmental Impact Statement previously prepared by Jones/Peterson Associates, Inc. 8. Sweet~vater Regional Park Master Plan Study prepared for the County of San Diego. fl~PARTb{~NTAL CORR~SPCND~NC~ DATE: May 7, 1973 TO: Bob Bourcier, Assistant City Manager ~'~ FROM: Emerson Hall, Director of Parks & Recreation SUBJECT: Environmental Impact Statement for Sweetwater Regional Park I have reviewed the attached statement and discussed this project with Mr. Carl Pippin, Real Property Division, County of San Diego. I feel that we should recommend the acceptance of this report to the Council as requested by rir. D. K. Speer, Administrator, Public Works Agency, thus moving this Regional Park one more step toward development. EH:amp C~.~y o~ Chu.~a Vt~S.ta, Ca~~,~orcn~.a A 111 ' • ~;~~ ~;