HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm Rpts./1995/11/15 (11)
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA STATEMENT
Item .1
Meeting Date: November 15. 1995
ITEM TITLE:
Public Hearing: PCM 95-01; Consideration of approving the Otay
Ranch Sectional Planning Area (SPA) One Plan including the
Planned Community District Regulations, Overall Design Plan,
Village Design Plan, Public Facilities Finance Plan, Parks,
Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan, Regional Facilities Report,
Phase 2 Resource Management Plan, Non-renewable Energy
Conservation Plan, Ranch-wide Affordable Housing Plan, SPA One
Affordable Housing Plan, and Geotechnical Report
The Baldwin Company has submitted the first Otay Ranch Sectional Planning Area (SP A)
Plan governing Villages One and Five. SPA One covers 1,061.2 acres generally located
south of Telegraph Canyon Road between Paseo Ranchero and the future SR-125
alignment. The Otay Ranch SPA One application is the first SP Alspecific plan submitted
to implement the Otay Ranch General Development Plan/Subregional Plan (GDP/SRP)
jointly approved by the City and the County of San Diego in October of 1993.
ISSUES:
The following are unresolved policy and design issues between the project applicant and
City staff:
. Should pedestrian parks receive 100% park credit?
. Should the Village One neighborhood park P-2 be located north of Palomar
Street?
. When should construction of the first community park begin?
. Should there be additional internal access north of Palomar Street in Village
One?
. Should the third access into Village One from Telegraph Canyon Road be
closed when access to East Orange Avenue is available?
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Planning Commission conduct the Public Hearing on the proposed Otay Ranch
SPA One Plan (PCM 95-01); and
Continue the hearing on the Otay Ranch SPA One Plan including the Planned Community
District Regulations, Overall Design Plan, Village Design Plan, Parks, Recreation, Open
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Space and Trails Plan, Regional Facilities Report, Public Facilities Finance Plan, Phase 2
Resource Management Plan, Non-renewable Energy Conservation Plan, Ranch-wide
Affordable Housing Plan, SPA One Affordable Housing Plan, and Geotechnical Report to
November 17 and 29, 1995;and
Direct staff to prepare a resolution of approval recommending the City Council adopt the
Otay Ranch SPA One Plan (PCM 95-01) with the proposed conditions of approval.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION:
Commission on Aging: On October 11, 1995, the Commission on Aging met to consider
the Regional Facilities Report concerning senior citizen services in SPA One. The
Commission tabled the report and asked for additional information from Parks and
Recreation staff regarding fire, police, transit and park services and facilities.
Design Review Committee: On October 23, 1995, the Design Review Committee voted
unanimously to recommend approval of the Overall Design Plan for the Otay Ranch and
conceptual approval of the Village Design Plan for SPA One, Villages One and Five of the
Otay Ranch.
Housing Advisory Committee: On October 30, 1995, the Housing Advisory Committee
voted unanimously to recommend the adoption of the Ranch-wide and SPA One
Affordable Housing Plans be deferred until adoption of the first tentative map for the
project to enable the City and the applicant adequate time to satisfactorily revise the
documents to address staff concerns. However, major modifications have been made to
the plans to City staff satisfaction and the Housing Advisory Commission is scheduled to
review the revised plans and make a recommendation to the City Council at the
Commission's November 22, 1995 meeting.
Parks and Recreation Commission: The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed
the SPA One Parks Master Plan in August of 1994 and in January, March and April of
1995. On October 26, 1995, the Commission voted 5 to 2 to recommend approval of the
SPA One Plan for Villages One and Five with the pedestrian parks to receive partial credit
to be determined by staff only if the pedestrian parks are maintained under separate
agreement (homeowners association or landscape/open space maintenance district).
DISCUSSION:
1. Site Characteristics:
SPA One is located in the Otay Valley Parcel of the Otay Ranch on 1,061 acres south of
Telegraph Canyon Road/Otay Lakes Road. SPA One includes all of Village Five and the
portion of Village One east of Paseo Ranchero. Historically, this portion of the Otay
Ranch has been used for ranching, dry-farming, and truck farm activities. The site is
currently vacant, unoccupied and unimproved The rolling hills of Villages One and Five
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are adjacent to Telegraph Canyon to the north and Poggi Canyon on the south. The Otay
Water District property is located on the east side of Village Five, and the future Sunbow
project is located to the west of Village One.
2. Zoninl! and Land Use:
Villages One and Five, along with the entire Otay Ranch properties, were prezoned
Planned Community (PC) as part of the General Development Plan (GDP) process. The
PC zone implements the GDP by requiring the preparation of a sectional planning area
(SPA) plan. The SPA plan provides for the orderly planning and development of large
tracts ofland with a variety ofland uses. The Otay Ranch GDP requires the implementing
of SP As to focus on the pedestrian oriented village concept SPA One accomplishes that
goal.
The Otay Ranch GDP and the PC Zone also require additional master plans and studies to
be completed in conjunction with the first SPA. Those include Planned Community
District Regulations, Overall Design Plan, Village Design Plan, Public Facilities Finance
Plan, Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan, Regional Facilities Report, Phase 2
Resource Management Plan, Non-renewable Energy Conservation Plan, Ranch-wide
Affordable Housing Plan, SPA One Affordable Housing Plan, and Geotechnical Report
These plans and reports are outlined in the Document Organization Flow Chart, Exhibit I-
1, of the SPA One Plan and summarized in the Project Proposal section of this agenda
statement.
Since this is the first SPA application in the Otay Ranch, the GDP requires the preparation
of several additional Ranch-wide plans including the Overall Design Plan (ODP), Ranch-
wide Affordable Housing Plan and Phase 2 Resource Management Plan (RMP). The GDP
further requires concurrent approval of the ODP and Phase 2 RMP including the Funding
and Conveyance Plans by the County of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista prior to
the adoption of the first SPA. County staff is currently processing these plans for the
County Planning Commission November 17, 1995 meeting and the Board of Supervisors
December 13, 1995 meeting.
3. Proposal:
SPA One Plan Alternative B-2
The B-2 Alternative is the land plan proposed by the applicant and recommended by City
staff with modifications. This plan is a revision of Alternative B in the SPA One
Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The revisions were prepared to respond to staff
concerns over the original submittal. Except for the location of Park P-2 in Village One,
staff is satisfied the proposed B-2 Alternative meets the goals, objectives and policies of
the Otay Ranch GDP with the resolution of the policy issues and adoption of the proposed
conditions of approval.
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The plan proposes access points to Villages One and Five off Telegraph Canyon Road.
These access points are proposed to enable the applicant to start construction of single-
family homes in the villages without the major infrastructure improvement costs associated
with constructing La Media. Second phases will provide access from Paseo Ranchero and
La Media.
The B-2 Alternative also proposes pedestrian parks located in the single-family
neighborhoods. The applicant sees these parks as one of the key components of the
pedestrian-oriented village concept. Both villages implement the GDP village concept
policy by planning the villages around urbanized cores that contain future transit stations
at the center of the village. Elementary school sites are planned for each village just off
the core along with large neighborhood parks.
Telegraph Canyon Road and East Orange Avenue are Prime Arterial streets in scenic
corridors that border SPA One on the north and south. The Prime Arterials providing
north/south access are Paseo Ranchero and La Media (the extension of Otay Lakes Road
south into the project). These roads provide sidewalks on one side and regional trails on
the other.
Palomar Street is planned as a Village Entry and Core street and it is proposed that the
transit right-of-way run in the street median. Placing the transit in the median eliminates
the need for gates on the village streets under current Public Utilities Commission and
Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) design criteria. The transit alignment
is designated on the SPA land use plan, and its dedication will be a condition of tentative
map approval. However, transit alignment west and south of SPA One still needs to be
determined and construction funding identified for extending the transit to Villages One
and Five.
The Village Core streets also have a 10-foot electric cart path in addition to as-foot
sidewalk on one side of the street. The Promenade streets provide the main pedestrian
access to the village core. These streets have a 6-foot wide sidewalk with an 8-foot
parkway with trees on both sides of the sidewalk. This design promotes a better
pedestrian walking environment than City-standard monolithic sidewalks by providing a
shaded walkway separated from the street. The Promenade streets run rrom the residential
areas to the village core. Residential streets are proposed to have 6-foot parkways with
street trees and 4-foot sidewalks to enhance the pedestrian experience. A specific list of
street trees using root barriers has been developed to avoid root damage to sidewalks.
While cart paths are part of the village design in the paseos, promenade and village core
streets, no provision is proposed by the project applicant to make electric carts available as
part of the home sale. The City's Environmental Resource Manager has identified funding
sources that could assist in acquisition by residents of electric carts in the future. Staff
believes the carts will be utilized when the village core or other destinations are built.
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The pedestrian bridge between Villages One and Five has been included in the Public
Facilities Finance Plan and required by the conditions of approval Its construction will be
phased with other improvements between the two villages. The future bridges to Village
Two and Six are proposed to be financed by the facilities portion of the open space
maintenance district
Village One
Village One comprises 585 acres located in the northwestern portion of the Otay Valley
Parcel Village One is an urban village with transit and pedestrian orientation The land
use pattern emphasizes balanced yet diverse land uses, environmentally sensitive
development, transit and pedestrian orientation, and creating a "sense of place" for the
Village One residents. The village core is centrally located and includes 1,566 multi-
family residential units, an elementary school site, two neighborhood parks, commercial
and Community Purpose Facility (CPF) sites and the light rail transit right-of-way The
Village One core is based on a traditional "main street" theme. The main street concept is
implemented with commercial, office and public/quasi-public uses along a pedestrian
friendly, tree lined main street The secondary area of Village One contains 1,314 single-
family homes with a range oflot sizes and two pedestrian parks
Village Five
Village Five is comprised of 476 acres located south of Otay Lakes Road between La
Media and the future alignment of SR-125. Village Five is an urban village to be served
by the light rail transit The land use pattern emphasizes balanced yet diverse land uses,
environmentally sensitive development, and transit and pedestrian orientation creating a
"sense of place" for the Village Five residents. The village core is located in the
southwestern portion of the village and includes 1,615 multi-family units, an elementary
school site, two neighborhood parks, a town square, commercial and CPF sites and light
rail transit right-of-way. The Village Five core identity is based on a traditional town
square design. Commercial buildings, multi-family units, community purpose facilities and
a larger neighborhood park are planned around the town square park. The transit station
for the light rail has also been planned at the town square. The Village Five secondary area
contains 1,263 single-family units in a variety of densities.
Planned Community District Regulations
Part III of the SPA One Plan contains the Planned Community (PC) Regulations. These
regulations will be adopted pursuant to Title 19, Zoning, of the Chula Vista Municipal
Code and are intended to implement and integrate the Chula Vista General Plan, the Otay
Ranch GDP and the SPA One Plan These regulations set forth the development and use
standards for all property within the Otay Ranch Planned Community District for setbacks,
building heights, parking requirements, landscape requirements, land use restrictions, lot
sizes and signage regulations. The PC District Regulations are organized into three
different land use districts: Residential, Village Core, Open Space and Parks.
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Each of the three land use districts are divided into specific land use categories as follows:
Residential:
Single-Family Three (SF-3)
Single-Family Four (SF-4)
Residential Multi-Family One (RM I)
Residential Multi-Family Two (RM 2)
5,000-8,000 square foot lots
3,000-5,000 square foot lots
Small lot single-family detached housing
Attached multi-family housing
It is the intent of the residential regulations to provide one set of residential regulations for
the entire Otay Ranch. The SF-4 designation is proposed for small lot single-family home
projects such as auto court or alley products. The SF-3 designation will allow standard
single-family projects The rural villages that have lower density single-family GDP
designations will have the SF-E, SF-1 and SF-2 districts designations. These designations
are not part of this SPA One Plan.
The Village Core Districts contain the Commercial (C) and Community Purpose Facility
(CPF) designations, and the Open Space/Park District contains the Open Space/Park One
and Two designations.
Additional sections in the PC District Regulations cover special and conditional uses,
comprehensive sign regulations, off street parking and administration of these districts.
The project applicant is concerned with the Community Purposes Facility requirements for
SPA One. The concern focuses on the amount ofland required and the limited land uses
allowed in the designation. The Zoning Ordinance allows additional uses in the SPA CPF
designation upon the approval of the Planning Commission. The applicant has recently
proposed additional uses in the SPA One CPF designation which staff will continue to
review and bring forward to the Planning Commission at a later time.
Additional SPA One Documents
The SPA One Plan is organized as outlined in the Document Organization Flow Chart,
Exhibit 1-1, of the SPA One Plan and summarized in this section of the agenda statement
A. Overall Design Plan
The Overall Design Plan (ODP) identifies the major design features that will tie the
23,000-acre Otay Ranch Project together. The goal of the Plan is to identify the features
that will be present in all three major parcels to let people know they are within the Otay
Ranch. The ODP is required by the Otay Ranch GDP and is one of the plans that requires
both City and County approval: The San Diego County Planning Commission reviewed
and recommended approval of the ODP at their May 26, 1995 meeting. The Board of
Supervisors is scheduled to consider the ODP on December 13, 1995 prior to the City
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Council meeting of December 19, 1995. The ODP identifies nine unifying elements that tie
the three major parcels together. Those elements are:
Riparian Meander, Mountain Landforms, Dominant Skyline Landscape Treatment,
Major Streetscapes, Landscape Palette, Sign age, Furnishings, Linkages and
Pedestrian Design
The ODP design elements will be applied and implemented in two ways: through open
space, streetscape and landscape zones and by identifying elements, linkages and
destinations. These elements further define functional outdoor spaces, enhance natural
features and create a cohesive sense of community. Each feature is fully explained with
text and exhibits Special design criteria are also provided for grading and viewshed
development
B. Village Design Plan
The Village Design Plan (VDP) is required by the Otay Ranch GDP for each village at the
SP A level of planning. Villages are the heart of the Otay Ranch communities, and the
GDP requires special attention to such design considerations as overall character, creation
of a sense of place and pedestrian/transit orientation of the village core. Village-specific
design guidelines are required to address the following landscaping and streetscapes,
signage, site plan, grading and architectural guidelines, special visual studies and the
village core concept
The SPA One VDP is divided into three main sections. Part One establishes the overall
framework for future village design plans and addresses overall design guidelines and
administrative procedures which will apply to this and each of the subsequent Otay Ranch
villages. Part One also provides a description of the "village concept", addresses the
required design elements of the Overall Design Plan and presents guidelines for the
pedestrian/transit orientation of the villages. Part Two and Three address the specific
design guidelines for Villages One and Five, respectively. When the Design Review
Committee (DRC) reviewed this plan, the graphics had not been updated to reflect the B-2
Alternative, so they recommended approval of the plan in concept No additional review
of the plan by DRC is necessary since the B-2 Alternative was presented during their
revIew.
C. Public Facilities Financing Plan
The Otay Ranch GDP and the City's Growth Management Program require the
preparation of a Public Facilities Finance Plan (PFFP) in conjunction with each SPA Plan
for the Otay Ranch. The PFFP is required to ensure that the phased development of the
villages is consistent with the GDP and General Plan Quality of Life Threshold Standards.
The PFFP is based on the phasing of Alternative B-2. This phasing is done to assist in the
prediction of when additional or upgraded facilities will be needed to meet or maintain
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compliance with the City's Quality of Life Threshold Standards. The PFFP provides
recommended mitigation necessary for the continued compliance with the Growth
Management Program and Quality of Life Threshold Standards.
Willdan Associates was selected to prepare the PFFP for SPA One. Public facility master
plans for all utilities have been prepared for the SPA One Plan and were used as the basis
for the PFFP. Those plans reflect Alternative B-2 and indicate that acceptable levels of
service and threshold standards can be maintained if the recommended conditions are
implemented. As indicated in the Document Organization Flow Chart, those facilities
include:
Sub Area Master Plan (SPA water plan prepared for Otay Water District)
Water Conservation Plan
Overview of Sewer Service for SPA One
Master Drainage Plan
Fiscal Impact Analysis
The SPA One PFFP will be presented at the November 17, 1995 Planning Commission
meeting. An additional agenda statement analyzing the PFFP will accompany the Plan.
D. Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan
The Otay Ranch GDP requires the preparation of a Parks Master Plan for each SPA. The
SPA One Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan is the project applicant's
proposal to satisfy the GDP requirements. The Plan presents the Otay Ranch Park System
with its recreation facility requirements including plans for open space, trails and
community gardens in SPA One. Phasing, funding and maintenance are also part of the
Plan. This Plan satisfies the GDP requirement for a recreation access master plan.
The Plan's proposals are different from the standard City parks and open space
requirements. SPA One's local park obligation at 3 acres per 1,000 population is 49.7
acres The applicant has proposed that 2/3 of this obligation be satisfied by neighborhood
parks within SPA One, and the remaining 1/3 obligation would be satisfied by the future
community park in Village Two unless the location is change by subsequent GDP
amendments. Based on a household population of2.88, SPA One requires 33.2 acres of
neighborhood park. SPA One proposes 41.7 acres of parks with 34.2 acres of
neighborhood park and 7.5 acres pedestrian parks. This acreage exceeds the standard by
8.5 acres. If 50% credit is allowed for the pedestrian parks, 37.9 acres will satisfY the
neighborhood park standard with the balance of 10.0 being allocated to the community
park.
The SPA One Parks Master Plan is based on Alternative B. The B-2 Alternative is a
refinement of the B Alternative. Staff supports and recommends approval of the Village
Five land use plan as indicated in the B-2 Alternative but has conditioned the Village One
plan to modify the location of a neighborhood park and pedestrian park. The conditions
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require the relocation of Park P-2 north of Palomar Street to the westerly end of
Neighborhood R-9 and the Pedestrian Park P-3 to be relocated adjacent to Neighborhood
R-14.
The Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended the B-2 Alternative park plan as
proposed by the project applicant with conditions on maintenance and credit. They
recommended maintenance for the pedestrian parks not be funded by the General Fund but
by an open space maintenance district or homeowner's association. They recommended
credit for the pedestrian parks be determined by City staff Staff recommends that
pedestrian park credit range from 25% to 50% depending on compliance with small park
criteria that will be developed by City staff The Parks Master Plan will be revised to
reflect the plan adopted by the City Council.
Open space areas and street parkways and medians will be maintained by an open space
and landscaping assessment district. Conditions are proposed by staff requiring the project
applicant to study the feasibility of forming a master open space maintenance district for
the entire Otay Valley parcel. Future SPAs will annex to this district as development
occurs.
E. Regional Facilities Report
The Otay Ranch General Development Plan/Subregional Plan (GDP/SRP) requires that
SP A applications be accompanied by a Regional Facility Report. This report identifies the
forecasted demand for regional facilities generated by development of the SPA One Plan
and addresses how that demand will be satisfied. The regional facilities considered in this
report, as required by the GDP, are Integrated Solid Waste Management, Arts and
Cultural Facilities, Child Care Facilities, Health and Medical Services and Facilities,
Hospitals, Mental Health Facilities, Community Clinics, Nursing Facilities, Community
Health, Education, Screening and Research Organizations, Medical Practitioners,
Community and Regional Purpose Facilities, Social and Senior Services, Correctional
Facilities, Justice Facilities and Cemetery Facilities.
F. Phase 2 Resource Management Plan
The Resource Management Plan (RMP) is a comprehensive plan for the preservation,
enhancement and management of sensitive natural and cultural resources within the Otay
Ranch. The tasks required to implement the RMP are collectively called Phase 2. Phase 2
is comprised of the resource related studies, plans and programs that are required prior to
the approval of the first SPA.
A Habitat Maintenance Assessment District is proposed to maintain the Otay Ranch Open
Space Preserve as identified in the Phase 2 RMP. This district is proposed to maintain all
of the 11,3 7 5 acres in the preserve and will be funded by the residences of the Otay
Ranch. This district is limited to charging $25 per year per parcel by State law with
adjustments for inflation. The GDP does not require the developer or land owner to
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provide for recreation, education or research funding These functions are the City's
responsibility under the proposed joint powers agreement between the City and the
County of San Diego for establishing the Preserve/Owner Manager. Future City funds
will have to be identified and budgeted for these functions to occur within the Otay Ranch
Open Space Preserve.
The other functions of operation and maintenance of the open space preserve will be
performed by the County supported by the $25 per parcel habitat district. Also, in the
area of education, even though there is a requirement that the developer will identify the
location and study funding source for a Nature Center, there is no requirement that they
fund its construction. This probably means such a center will not be built unless other
funds are found.
G. Non-Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
The Otay Ranch GDP requires the preparation of a Non-renewable Energy Conservation
Plan for each SPA to address energy conservation within each village of the project. This
Plan identifies measures to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy resources by
feasible methods in areas of transportation, building construction and operation, and land
use patterns Residential measures focus on housing efficiency with attached and smaller
detached single-family homes which use less energy. Pedestrian-oriented villages, with
public transit facilities in their core areas and integrated urban villages with commercial
and residential services, will also reduce energy consumption. The compact design and
integrated street/path circulation systems will encourage pedestrian/walking trips to the
core. In addition, the extension of the San Diego light rail transit system through Otay
Ranch and provision of electric cart pathways when utilized will lead to a reduction in
automobile trips.
H. Ranch-wide Affordable Housing Plan
The Otay Ranch General Development Plan/Subregional Plan (GDP/SRP) requires an
Affordable Housing Plan (AHP) for the entire Otay Ranch Project area as well as an AHP
for each village within the Otay Ranch. The GDP/SRP requires the Ranch-wide AHP be
consistent with the Housing Elements of both the City and the County for those portions
of Otay Ranch which lie within the boundary of either jurisdiction. As a result of the first
phase being proposed in the City of Chula Vista, this AHP details how, at both Ranch-
wide and SPA levels, Otay Ranch will satisfy the affordable housing requirements of the
City housing Element and GDP/SRP.
Under the current City of Chula Vista Housing Element, the Otay Ranch is required to
provide 10% of the total units be affordable. At least 5% of these units should be for low
income households and 5% should accommodate moderate income households. Staff has
proposed tiering requirements for the Ranch-wide Plan indicating the level of detail and
standards for each Plan and subdivision map.
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I. SPA One Affordable Housing Plan
The SPA One AHP addresses the phasing and potential location of affordable housing
units to be provided in SPA One, including the area west of Pas eo Ranchero. SPA One is
projected to contain 6,201 dwelling units at buildout, and the affordable housing
obligation associated with this construction is 310 low income units and 310 moderate
income units
Through a prior agreement with The Baldwin Company on Telegraph Canyon Estates
project, the City Council required a 3-acre site within Village Five of the Otay Ranch to
satisfy that project's affordable housing obligation. The applicant is proposing to satisfy
the Telegraph Canyon Estates obligation by providing an additional 34 affordable units in
SPA One. The existing agreement for the Telegraph Canyon Estates requirement will
need to be amended by the City Council in order to implement the applicant's proposal.
No action is necessary at this time in relationship to SPA One.
The AHP provides five potential sites for low income affordable housing within SPA One.
The governing site selection principles include density, proximity to parks and schools,
and proximity to transit and retail and other services
A phasing approach is proposed within the proposed SPA One AHP, which encourages
the provision of both low and moderate income units in sequence with the proposed
development phases in SPA One.
J. Geotechnical Report
The GDP required a site-specific geotechnical study at the tentative map level, based on
proposed development plans, prior to construction. In this case, the geotechnical studies
will be used at the SPA One level. The Geotechnical Report found no faults or geological
hazards that can not be mitigated to a level ofless than significant within SPA One.
4. Analvsis
The B-2 Alternative implements the Otay Ranch GDP policies for urban villages. City
staff has worked closely with the Metropolitan Transit Development Board and the Chula
Vista Elementary and Sweetwater High School Districts in designing these two villages.
The plans for Village One and Five are comprehensive, well-integrated and balanced. A
wide range of residential densities provide a variety of housing opportunities within each
village. Alternative modes of transportation are promoted with pedestrian, bicycle and
cart facilities and the future light rail transit. The village cores have been planned to give a
sense of place to the villages by focusing on the main street and town square commercial
location surrounded by recreational, educational and civic uses
The proposed project phasing begins construction of both villages concurrently. Phases
1A will initiate construction in Village Five while Phase IB will open Village One. Both
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of these phases are single-family except for one multi-family site in Village One. The first
elementary school site is proposed for Village One in Phase IB while the initial large
neighborhood park will be in Phase 2A in Village Five. Pedestrian parks are proposed in
Phases IA and 18. This phasing will allow an initial deficit in the large neighborhood
parks The project applicant has proposed and staff has concurred with the deficit up to
500 units after which the provision of neighborhood parks will remain in surplus.
Initial Phases 1A and IB will require off-site Telegraph Canyon Road improvements.
According to the traffic study at 10,295 trips, a 1,400 unit threshold requiring additional
off-site road improvements will be reached during the construction of Phase 28. At this
point in the project development, either Palomar Street or East Orange Avenue needs to
be constructed from the western SPA boundary to I-80S. This phase of development will
also require the identification of the high school site as required by the high school district
Staff proposes that at the 1, l50th building permit, a project review be initiated by the
project applicant and reviewed by the City to determine:
. Which arterial street is extended to I-80S
. Where the high school site will be located
. Where the community park will be located
. Which village should be encouraged to be completed before additional
development is allowed in the other village
. How can development of the village core be accelerated.
. How will the affordable housing requirement be met
The project review requirement has been included as a condition of approval.
5. Issues:
Several policy and design issues remain unresolved between the project applicant and City
staff. These issues mainly relate to the provision of public facilities and phasing of SPA
requirements.
Pedestrian park credit
Issue: Should SPA One receive 100% park land dedication credit for the 7.5 acres of
pedestrian parks proposed in Alternative B- 27
The project applicant has proposed pedestrian parks in each village ranging in size from
pedestrian parks of .6 acres to 2.1 acres. They believe that all of these parks should
receive full park credit because the parks satisfy recreation needs of SPA One residents,
and they implement the pedestrian friendly goals of the GDP.
Other master-planned communities within the City have received 50% parkland credit for
private parks within their communities. Staff believes the pedestrian parks satisfy part of
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the recreation needs of the residents but should not receive full credit. The Park and
Recreation Commission agrees and recommended that the credit amount be determined by
staff
Recommendation: All parks less than 5 acres in size are eligible to receive park fee credit.
Park fee credit will range from a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 50% based on small
park criteria that includes park size, location and facilities. These parks should not be
maintained by the General Fund but by a homeowner's association or maintenance district.
Neighborhood Park Location
Issue: Should the Village One Neighborhood Park P-2 be located north of Palomar Street?
Staff believes that additional parkland is needed north of Palomar Street in Village One.
The majority of homes are located north of Palomar Street on the east end of this village
and should be provided with better access to parks. The 2.1 acre pedestrian park should
replace the neighborhood park south of Palomar Street adjacent to Neighborhood R-14.
Recommendation: Move the 7 -acre Park P-2 north of Palomar Street to the westerly end
of Neighborhood R-9, and relocate the 2-acre Pedestrian Park P-3 south of Palomar
Street adjacent to Neighborhood R-14.
Community park construction
Issue: When should construction of the first community park begin?
The project applicant has proposed that the identification and construction of the
community park be coordinated with the high school site during the project review at the
1,400th building permit. These facilities will be located outside the boundaries of SPA
One. They propose the SPA One required community park grading, construction,
maintenance period and park opening be phased later in the project but over a shorter
period of time. The building permit threshold phasing for community park phasing is as
follows:
Baldwin City
Park Grading 4,100 2,650
Park Construction 4,500 3,000
Maintenance Period 4,900 3,400
Park Opening 5,300 3,900
Recommendation: Require the identification of the 25-acre community park at 1,150th
building permit project review with park improvements to satisfy SPA One requirements
initiated at 2,650th building permit. Second phase improvements are to be initiated prior
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to 3,000th permit. The City has the option to utilize Park Acquisition and Development
fees to construct the community park or other parks east ofI-805.
The affordable housing requirement for the Telegraph Canyon Estates project (St. Claire)
was for 17 low and 17 moderate units. The project was conditioned by the City Council to
provide a 3-acre site for affordable housing in the first phase of the Otay Ranch developed
in the City. The Baldwin Company entered into an agreement with the City to provide
that site with the development of Village Five. The project applicant is now proposing the
provision of 17 low and 17 moderate units in Village Five as part of the affordable housing
plan for SPA One instead of conveying the 3-acre site. This modification would require a
modification to the Telegraph Canyon Estates housing agreement.
Village One Internal Circulation
Issue: Should there be additional internal street access to the northern half of Village One?
The B-2 Alternative plan for Village One provides just three connections to the northern
half of Village One off Palomar Street. Two are at the large centrally located
neighborhood park at the village core and the other is at the eastern end of Village One.
City staff does not believe these streets provide sufficient access to the northern half of
Village One.
Recommendation: Condition the SPA One Plan to have two additional access points on
Palomar Street at the western end between Neighborhood Areas R-2 and R-20 and in the
middle of the project between R-8 and R-9.
Access to Village One
Issue: Should there be a temporary or permanent connection to Telegraph Canyon Road
from Village One? If the Telegraph Canyon Road access is temporary, should additional
access be provided from East Orange Avenue?
The project applicant has proposed that the initial access to Village One come from
Telegraph Canyon Road as indicated in Alternative B-2. Future access will be provided by
Palomar Street from Paseo Ranchero to La Media.
While the future access to Village One from La Media and Paseo Ranchero will
adequately handle traffic capacity, City staff has public safety concerns over this amount of
development with just two access points for emergency vehicles. Staff believes a third
access point to Village One is necessary for public safety and recommends that the B-2
alternative provide a permanent access to Orange Avenue. The road will align with the
future access to Village Two. This change in access points recognizes the access on
Telegraph Canyon Road as temporary and will eliminate the need for a traffic intersection
and signal on Telegraph Canyon Road when the southerly access could be provided to
East Orange Avenue.
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Recommendation Access to Telegraph Canyon Road should be temporary and a third
access point into Village One from East Orange Avenue should be provided for public
safety reasons This access is depicted in Alternative A in the ElR The project has been
conditioned to provided temporary access to Telegraph Canyon Road and permanent
access from East Orange Avenue when the Telegraph Canyon Road access is closed.
6. Conclusion:
City staff believes that the proposed SPA One Plan B-2 Alternative as conditioned
implements the goals, objectives, and policies of the Otay Ranch GDP, and the PC Zone
and recommends that the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council adoption
of the SPA One Plan as conditioned.
Attachments
I. Board/Commission/Committee minutes
2. Disclosure Statement
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