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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1987/05/12 Item 16 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item 16 Meeting Date 5/12/87 ITEM TITLE: PUBLIC HEARING: Nature Interpretive Center security fencing and security gate Coastal Development Permit RESOLUTION/ 2( Authorizing the issuance of a Coastal Development Permit to the City of Chula Vista Redevelopment Agency for the installation of security fencing and a security gate for the Nature Interpretive Center it Development SUBMITTED BY: Community ment Director P REVIEWED BY: City Manager(); (4/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) The City of Chula Vista Redevelopment Agency, lessee of the Nature Interpretive Center property on Gunpowder Point, would like to install security fencing and a security gate for the Nature Interpretive Center. The security fencing and security gate for the Nature Interpretive Center are exempt from environmental review under CEQA pursuant to Section 15303 Class 3(e) . RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council conduct a public hearing and consider the attached resolution, and findings therein, which finds that the proposed Nature Interpretive Center security fencing and security gate are consistent with and adequate to carry out the policies of the certified Chula Vista Bayfront Local Coastal Program (LCP) and issue a Coastal Development Permit for said project. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not Applicable DISCUSSION: The graphic, attached as Exhibit A, details the security fencing plan for the Nature Interpretive Center. The plan proposes installing a 6-foot chain link fence around the portion of the Nature Center site included in Phase I grading. Three standard gates with 20 feet between the gate posts are proposed for installation at the entrance to the access road, west of the access road to provide access to the planned park site, and north of the Nature Center building to provide access to the planned upland revegetation area. Fencing is also proposed to be extended from the gate at the entrance to the Nature Center access road to the existing 4-foot fence around the small hill just east of the stormwater detention basin. A gate with 20 feet between posts is planned for the area where the fencing will cross the existing dirt road that provides access to the western part of Gunpowder Point. This extension of the fence is an effort to discourage visitors to the Nature Center from Page 2, Item 16 Meeting Date 5/12/87 trespassing on private property. In addition, green plastic screening material will be installed on the proposed fencing to block views from the Nature Center site to areas that are not visually appealing. All proposed fencing is located upland of the 100-foot buffer around the Sweetwater Marsh complex as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The final element of the security fencing plan is the installation of an electronically controlled, digitally operated gate just west of the SDG&E right-of-way at E Street in an effort to eliminate unauthorized access. This digitally operated gate would function much like the card gate at the Public Works Yard, but a series of numbers entered into the mechanism, rather than a card would cause the gate to open. The major advantage of a digitally operated gate is that the combination can be changed at the discretion of the operator if the number is distributed to unauthorized persons. This gate would be a rolling chain link gate rather than the type of arm used on a railroad gate in an effort to preclude both pedestrian and vehicular access. Signs will be posted on the fence that inform Nature Center visitors that a shuttle bus will be arriving that services the facility every half hour, Tuesday through Sunday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Due to the potential environmental impacts as well as potential liability problems if Nature Center visitors make unauthorized use of private property, it is recommended that pedestrian traffic to the Nature Center be discouraged. Based on the following findings, the proposed Nature Interpretive Center security fencing and security gate have been found to be consistent with the policies of the certified Chula Vista Bayfront LCP` 1 . The Statewide and Regional Interpretive Guidelines have been reviewed and the development conforms with the requirements of Section 30604(c) of the Public Resources Code. That Section states that for every coastal development permit issued for any development between the nearest public road and the shoreline, a specific finding shall be made that such development is in conformity with the public access and public recreation policies of Chapter 3. The analysis of the conformity with those policies follows. a. The Nature Interpretive Center security fencing and security gate would be consistent with the Section 30210 requirement that maximum access, which shall be conspicuously posted, and recreational opportunities shall be provided for all people consistent with public safety needs, the need to protect private property rights, and the need to protect natural resource areas from over use. The planned sign to be posted on the security gate that advertises the hours of operation of the Nature Interpretive Center and the shuttle bus service will meet the requirement for posting the access opportunity. The limitation on the mode of access (shuttle bus) is allowed by the stipulation that the access shall be consistent with the need to protect private property rights and to protect natural resource areas from over use. Page 3, Item 16 Meeting Date 5/12/87 b. Consistent with Section 30211 , the security fencing and security gate will not interfere with the public' s right of access to the sea as access will still be provided by shuttle bus during posted hours. c. Public access will be provided beyond the security gate by shuttle bus from the nearest public roadway to the Nature Interpretive Center complying with Section 30212. d. Several public parking areas will be proposed for use adjacent to the developed areas of the Bayfront. The parking areas will be served by a shuttle bus to avoid overcrowding or over use of a single area for parking. e. The Nature Interpretive Center security fencing and security gate will provide security for the Nature Interpretive Center which will provide a low cost visitor facility consistent with the goals of Section 30213. f. The security fencing and security gate will limit the time, place and manner of public access as provided for in Section 30214. This will protect the wetland habitat and private property rights until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers implements the 100-foot marsh buffer or the private property owner installs a fence upland of the 100-foot buffer for construction purposes to minimize impacts on the wetland habitat. g. The proposed project would not foreclose the opportunity for use of the Bayfront for water-oriented recreational activities consistent with Section 30220. h. The proposed project does not include development of oceanfront land that is suitable for coastal dependent aquaculture, consistent with Section 30222.5. i . Consistent with Section 30221 , the proposed project does not contemplate the use of oceanfront land suitable for recreational use for other types of development. j . The security fencing and security gate project does not propose to utilize private lands suitable for visitor serving commercial recreational facilities for other purposes, consistent with Section 30222. k. The proposed project does not propose to develop upland areas necessary to support coastal recreational uses for other purposes, consistent with Section 30223. 1 . Consistent with Section 30224, the proposed project does not preclude future increased recreational boating use of coastal waters or other marine related uses. Page 4, Item 16 Meeting Date 5/12/87 2. Consistent with Section 30240(b) of the Public Resources Code, the Nature Interpretive Center security fencing and security gate were sited and designed to prevent impacts which could significantly degrade the adjacent areas. The fencing and security gate were located upland of the 100-foot marsh buffers to minimize any potential impacts on wetland species. 3. The implementation of the security fencing plan will not preclude implementation of the certified LCP. The security gate is an effort to minimize unauthorized access into the environmentally sensitive habitat areas until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers implements the 100-foot buffer per their mitigation obligation for the Sweetwater River Flood control project, or the private property owner installs a fence upland of the 100-foot buffer for construction purposes to minimize impacts on the wetland habitat. FISCAL IMPACT: The cost to the Redevelopment Agency to install the Nature Interpretive Center security fencing and security gate is estimated at $24,266. WPC 2910H .y the City Council of Chula Vista, California Dated -�----