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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1992/10/22 MINUTES OF A JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Thursday, October 22, 1992 City Council Chambers 3:00 p.m. Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmembers Hor~on, Malcolm, Moore, Rindone, and Mayor Nader ABSENT: None 2. APPROVAL OF MINUIES: - None 3. ORAL COMMUIqlCATIONS - None 4. INFORMATION ITEM - Habitat and Species Protection Approach for Otay Ranch (Resource Planning) Anthony Lettieri, Otay Ranch General Manager, outlined the agenda, and stated the purpose of the workshop was to promote understanding of the approach to habitat and species protection for Otay Ranch. Steve Lacy, Biologist with Ogden Environmental, gave a presentation regarding a survey of the regional and subregional landscape with respect to major geographic features, sensitive habitats and species, and wildlife corridors. He stated one of the major issues of a project that size was management of a data base for the ultimate establishment of a long-term multi-species preserve. Mr. Lettieri informed the Council/Board the purpose of the Resource Sensitivity Analysis was to provide a comparative study of environmental resources which would serve as a reference for future land use decisions on the Ranch. He explained the criteria applied in evaluating the resource quality of individual parcels. Anne Ewing, Regional Planner for the County of San Diego, stated the one goal of the Resource Management Plan would be to establish an open space system that would become a permanent management preserve dedicated to the protection and enhancement of biological, cultural, paleontological resource, flood plains, and scenic resources of Otay Ranch. The City of Chula Vista would be adopting the plan as well as the County. She then outlined the chapters of the document. She highlighted Chapter Three which included the nine objectives to implement the one goal. Mr. Lacy stated a smaller project would look at open space and how it would tie into the property next door. The Otay project was a key project regarding regional biological planning. In developing the Plan alternatives, attention was given to such features as wildlife corridors; how well the alternative supported or impacted open space; how well the open space tied into City-owned lands around Otay Lakes; and how the infrastructure was impacted. Mr. Lettieri stated through the EIR comment period a number of public comments were made regarding the fact the Otay Ranch should not be taken in isolation and he felt the presentation had assisted the Planning Commissions in understanding the approach and that staff was coordinating the NCCP and MSCP programs. Ogden Environmental was also involved in those programs. Members of the public may also be interested in speaking to the Council/Board. Minutes October 22, 1992 Page 2 Supervisor Bilbray felt it was a comprehensive view of the situation regarding habitat issues. One of the benefits of the project was the ability to look at the big picture. Mr. Lettieri stated one of the comments the Council/Board would be hearing when going through the process had to do with preserved boundaries. Even though staff would be making a recommendation, Fish & Wildlife and Fish & Game would also be making recommendations as they had through the public review period regarding the work that had been done, as well as the inventory of specific species. Staff was responding to those comments through the public review process. There were certainly disagreements that would be coming before the Council/Board during those hearings as to where that line should be drawn on what was open space and what was not. Supervisor Bilbray questioned if the property owner abandoned the process and went to the uncleflying zoning how much review would have to be done. Ms. Ewing stated there would be no Resource Plan and it would revert to the RPP protection. Councilmember Rindone requested further information regarding the specific resources within each class of the Resource Sensitivity Analysis. Supervisor MacDonald stated it was inconceivable that the total project would be developed at once and questioned how much repetition the developer would have to go though. Ms. Ewing responded it was assumed that as the SPA's were developed, there would be supplemental EIR's. However, the supplemental EIR's would reference back to the Program EIR that was currently being prepared. The supplemental EIR's would only be prepared for any new effects. There was a big unknown in the future and that was the listing of new species or identification of new habitats as sensitive. When, and if, that happened it would have to be dealt with at that time. Mayor Nader stated that any issue pertaining to a specific subarea of the plan, which had not been comprehensively dealt with, would have to be the subject of further review and a supplemental EIR. 5. ADJOURNMENT at 4:00 p.m. There being no further comments from the Council or Board, the Mayor adjourned the joint hearing to the next joint hearing scheduled on Wednesday, November 4, 1992 at 10:00 a.m. at the County Administration Center. Respectfully submitted, BEVERLY A. AUTHELET, CMC, City Clerk by: Vi~ki ~. ~oderqui~t, Deput~L~/Clerk