HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-11 Additional Information Item 09 I�°m �'
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2. Prior to any final action; the City Council also requests that the Coastal -
Commission """� complete the analysis already initiated of the feasibility and benefits
of requiring the und�grounding o�any and all additional transmission lines proposed as
part of the Projectt�0` of 230 kV across the substation and/or undergrounding Li8 kV •
resultin� from rem�ing Tower�01) to the extent such undergrounding creates a net
positive improvement in visual impacts caused by the Project insomuch as CCC
considers this part of the MOU and SDG&E contends that undergrounding 230 kV lines
is expensive to redesign and construct, delays substation relocation, and that �vhat goes
underground must come up in the form of one or rivo giant silver-colored saguaro cactus-
type poles on Bay Boulevazd.
3. The City Council desires that the Project be developed consistent �vith (i)
its n40U �i�ith the SDG&E; (ii) its Certified LCP approved by the Citv Council on
September 2�, 2012; (c)'the Coastal Act; (iii) best practices for the development of such
facilities in environmentally sensitive areas; and (iv) the enerey needs of the. region.
Towards this end; the Citv Council requests that the CCC take particular no[ice of and be
�uided by the follo���ing: OK
� a. Section I.7 of the �40U �vhich provides for the removal of To�i�er
188701 and related under�roundina as part of the Project (attached hereto as
Exhibit A). OK V
b. LCP, LUP (Land Use Plan) Objective GD.2 ���hich provides for the
undergrounding of utilities servine the Bayfront , and LUP Polic}� VW.1.A and
. Specific Plan Section 19.85.006 �+�hich provide for development ensuring views
that presen�e a sense of proximit}�to the Bay (attached hereto as Exhibit B). OK
c. Coastal Act Section 302�1 which provides for consideration and
protection of visual qualities of coastal areas as a resource of public importance
(attached hereto as Exhibit C). OK
d. A letter dated January 16, 2014 from Neil Millar; Executive
Director, Infrastructure Development at the ISO (Independent Service Operators,
the same a�ency that uitimately agreed not to reapply Reliability Must Run status
to the South Bay Power Plant; thereby allowing its demolition and removal to
Alison Dettmer, Deputy Director at the California Coastal Commission regarding
the urgent need for the Project to ensure the safe, reliable and economic operation
of the transmission system (attached hereto as Exhibit D). A credible concem.
• Undergrounding 138 kV lines from removal of t«�o towers south of the
relocation site doesn't have to delay the Project of relocating the
substation if the PUC so approves that this portion be designed after
the CCC-approved Project is begun.
3
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RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA
IN SUPPORT OF THE RELOCATION OF THE SDG&E BAYFRONT
SUBSTATION INCLUDING THE BAYFRONT ENHANCEMENT FUND
ALTERNATIVE AND CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL FEASIBLE
UNDERGROUNDING OF UTILITY LINES AND OTHER MEASURES TO
ADDRESS VISUAL IMPACTS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S
CERTIFIED LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AND THE COASTAL ACT
WHEREAS,on October 12,2004, the City of Chula Vista ("Cit�')entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding("MOU")with San Diego Gas & Electric("SDG&E")to facilitate,among other things,the
relocation of the existing SDG&E Bayfront 138kV substation ("Substation"�, and the undergrounding of
existing and future utility transmission and distribution lines and towers along the Bayfront; and
WHEREAS on Aoril 25, 2006. the Ciri of Chula Vista 1"Cit�/') created an undereroundine district within
the Chula Vista Local Coastal Pro¢ram ("LCP")area consistent with its Bavfront Master Plan efforts and
the "MOU"entered into with San Dieeo Gas& Electric("SDG&E")�
WHEREAS, on lanuary 6, 2010, SDG&E and the San Diego Unified Port District("Port District") entered
into that certain Real Estate and Exchange Agreement to facilitate the exchange of properties
encumbered by SDG&E and the Port District to allow for the relocation of the existing Substation;and
WHEREAS,on August 9, 2012,as the result of an effort of over ten years of collaborative planning and
community outreach on the part of the City and the Port District the California Coastal Commission
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("CCC")certified the Chula Vista Local Coas[al Program Amendment(the "LCPA"or"LCP") and the San
Diego Port District Port Master Plan Amendment/Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan (°CVBMP"); and
IWHEREAS,said the Certified LCP's policies and regulations envision the relocation of the existing
Substation to a site on Bay Boulevard near Palomar Street located approximately one-half mile south
from its current location(the "Relocation Site"); and contain specific land use policies requirin�the
under¢roundine of utilitv lines as reflected in LUP Obiective GD.2 which states utilities servin¢the
bavfront shall be nlaced undereround• and further it is the CitWs stated oosition that such certified
IanQUa¢e is an exoansion uoon prior adouted IanRUa¢e which specificallv required the undereroundin¢
of 230kV transmission and distribution oower lines:
WHEREAS, the CVBMP designates the site currently occupied by the Substation for the development of a
ICommunity Park, RV Park,and Industrial Park; and
WHEREAS,said development would not be implemented without the relocation of the Substation to the
IRelowtion Site; and
WHEREAS, without the relocation of the Substation from its current site the Cit�/s LCP and CVBMP's
vision, objectives, and policies would not be implemented;
I �
WHEREAS,on October 17,2013 the California Public Utilities Commission ("CPUC")granted a Permit to
Construd the Substation at the Relocation Site, but without all of Cit�s desired Project elements to
address visual impacts; and
.
-WHEREAS,the CCC will consider the issuance of a Coastal Development Permit, pursuant to the Coastal
Ad,for the construdion of the Substation at the Relocation Site; and
WHEREAS,the City has consistently advocated for the relocation of the Substation before the CPUC and
the CCC, including the Project alternative commonly known as the Bayfront Enhancement Fund
IAlternative; and
WHEREAS,the City desires to rea�rm its previous support for the relocation, including BEFA, and the
consideration of additional feasi�le undergrounding of utility lines and other measures to address visual
impacts consistent with the Cit�/s certified LCP and the California Coastal Act and the vision and oolicies
of the Chula Vista Bavfront Master Plan•:
NOW,THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby resolve as follows:
I1. The City Councii requests Coastal Commission approval of the
following:
a.The relocation of the SDG&E Substation (the "ProjecY')from its existing site within the CVBMP, now
designated for redevelopment into a Community Park, RV Park and Industrial Park, to the 12-acre
IRelocation Site to the south of the existing site, currently designated and zoned for industrial use.
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�°"°°°a `" °"'"�,° i" °'°"" °r'tii°" i a ° �. �Not wlthin CCC)
be.Grant of a conditioned Coastal Develooment Permit(`CDP"1 which reauires comoliance with i)the
Chapter 3 provisions of the California Coastal Act. ii)the certified Chula Vista LCP which consistent with
Ithose oolicies should include-t�he version of the Project commonly known as the "Bayfront
Enhancement Fund Alternative;'which has been identified by SDG&E in its application with the CCC as
its"preferred least environmentally damaging feasible alternative", particularly those elements that
remove Transmission Tower 188701, replace Transmission Tower 188700 with a steel pole and
underground the related 138kV lines, and including the provision for funding of the Living Coast
Discovery Center and other projects coordinated with the U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service and direction to
the aoplicant SDG&E to brin¢forth specific en¢ineerin�plans which include the undereroundin¢of all
transmission and distribution lines includine the 230kV"l000 in".-
d. Request that the CCC condition the permit to include landscaped berms and/or vegetative screening
selected or maintained to provide year round screening and architectural features such as screen walls
Ito address the adverse Visual effects of the proposed project.
2. Prior to any final adion, the City Council also requests that the Coastal Commission independentiv
analyze the submitted plans feasibility givin�prioritv to the aad benefits of requiring the
undergrounding of any and all additional transmission lines proposed as part of the Projed to the extent
such undergrounding enhances comoliance with the Coastal Act and LCP policies and creates a net
positive improvement in visual impacts caused by the Project.
3.The '
°°'''^`�o:.._ , ity Council requests that the CCC take particular notice of
and be guided by the following:
a. Section 1.7 of the MOU which provides for the removal of Tower 188701 and related undergrounding
Ias part of the Project(attached hereto as Exhibit A).
b. LCP, LUP Objective GD.2 which provides for the undergrounding of utilities serving the Bayfront, and
LUP Policy VW.1.A and Specific Plan Section 19.85.006 which provide for development ensuring views
Ithat preserve a sense of proximity to the Bay(attached hereto as Exhibit B).
c. Coastal Act Section 30251 which provides for consideration and protection of visual qualities of
coastal areas as a resource of public importance and the vision and obiedives of the Chula Vista
Bavfront Master Plan(attached hereto as Exhibit C).
, not CCq
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e.Such other relevant documents and submittals consistent with City objectives for the Project