HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08062002 - D2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS k
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FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AICP Costa
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR County
DATE: AUGUST 6, 2'002
SUBJECT: HEARING ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY
REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE APPLICATION TO REZONE 65
ACRE PARCEL FROM AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE—A-4 (20 ACRE PARCEL
REQUIRED) TO EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL—A-20 (20 ACRE PARCEL
REQUIRED), COUNTY FILE#RZ993073. THE SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL.
PLANNING COMMISSION HAS APPROVED THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO
SUBDIVIDE 65 ACRES INTO THREE 20+/-ACRE PARCELS IN THE SAN RAMON
AREA, COUNTY FILE #MS000014. (SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT Ill)
SPECIFIC''REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S)& BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION'
I. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. APPROVE the recommendation of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning
Commission, as contained in their Resolution No. 22-2002; and rezone a 65-acre
parcel from Agricultural Preserve (A-4) to Exclusive Agriculture (A-20).
2.; ADOPT the findings contained in the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning
Commission Resolution No 22-2002 as the basis for the Board's action:
CONTINUED®N ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE I .
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD'C€> llf[ITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
- SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON August 6. 2002 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
.See attached addendun for Board action.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
X UNANIMOUS(ASSENT CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION .,TAKEN AND
AYES: NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES of THE BOARD OF
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN'
Contact: Rose Marie Pietras(925-335-1216) ATTESTED August 6, 2002
Orig: Community Development Department JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
cc: DeBolt Citric Engineering(Applicant) PERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Val Nunes(Owner)
City of San Ramon
East Bay Regional Park District 1 DEPUTY
File ,
August 6,`;2002
Board of Supervisors
File#RZ993073
Page 2
3. FIND the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation:Monitoring Program prepared
for this project to be adequate for the purposes of compliance with the California
Environmental Quality Act and adopt the same.
4. INTRODUCE the ordinance giving effect to the aforementioned rezoning, waive
reading and set date for adoption of same.
5. DIRECT the Community DevelopmentDepartment to post the Notice of Determination
with the County Clerk.
II. FISCAL 'IMPACT
None. The applicant is responsible for application processing costs;
III. BACKGROUND/ REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
On June 9, 1999, the applicant, DeBolt Civil Engineering, filed an application to rezone a
65-acre parcel from Agricultural Preserve—A-4/20 acre minimum to Exclusive'Agriculture°'
A-20/:20 acre minimum. The application was assigned County File#RZ993073. The
subject property is designated Agricultural Lands "(AL) in the County General Plan.
The subject property is located on the southwest-facing flank of Las Trampas Ridge
overlooking Bollinger Canyon. The site and surrounding area are hillside properties
consisting of open space, large oak trees and beautiful vistas. The property is
characterized by steep slopes throughout:
There are three individual property owners on this property, Ken and Nancy Sheets, Val
and'Belia Nunes and Glen and Loitta Mather. On August 2, 2000 the three property owners
of the subject property, submitted a request for a Vesting Tentative Map approval of their
property(APN 208-210-003)to subdivide the 65 acres into three parcels at 20+/- acres
each. The application was assigned County File #fMS000014. The San Ramon Valley
Regional Planning Commission approved County File#MS000014 on April 17, 2002, with a
recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve the rezoning request. The
subdivision approval was not appealed.
The difference between the A-4 and the A-20 zoning districts (20 acre minimum for both
zoning districts)is that the A-4 zoning district'reflects property usually in a`.County Land
Conservation Contract subject to Williamson Act requirements. This property is not within a
land conservation contract. If the rezoning request to the A-20 zoning district is denied, any
future development would remain subject to the A-4 zoning district standards and
procedures. Therefore, to establish a new residence on each lot would require the approval
of a land use permit in the A-4 zoning district.
As stated above, both the existing zoning (A-4) and the proposed zoning (A-20) have 20
August 6; 2002
Board of Supervisors
File#RZ993073'
Page 3
acre minimum parcels. Thus, the proposed rezoning is not an attempt to gain a higher lot
count or;more density. The applicant is proposing the rezoning to A-20 to reflect the
property's earlier release from the Land Conservation Contract and to allow for the more
appropriate A-20 zoning district. The A-20 provisions in Section 84-80.1006 state that no
structures shall be located on a`lot less than fifty feet from the boundary line of any
residential land use.
N. BIOLOGICAL ISSUES
The applicant submitted, on February 14, 2002, the Alameda Whipsnake Habitat Evaluation
dated November 20, 2001and Site Plan Recommendations dated February 6 2002
prepared'by Malcom J. Sproul, Principal of LSA. To mitigate'potential construction in
proximity to core whipsnake habitat, the applicant has agreed to a conservation easement
as-a condition of approval to the minor subdivision application, County File#MS000014.
The conservation easement will be over the remaining portions of the property, which
contain core chaparral habitat adjacent area. This approach minimizes the impacts of site
development on whipsnake and;,preserves those portions of the property most important to
the species.
V. EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
On April 11, 2002 the East Bay Regional Park District forwarded a letter to the County
discussing their concerns. The following is a summary of their concerns with staffs
response`:
1. The adequacy of the environmental document;
+ The San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission found the
Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Program adequate. AH
potential significant impacts to protected trees,Alameda Whipsnake habitat, and
wildland fire protection have been thoroughly mitigated.
2. The irregular lot;,configuration of the proposed subdivision;
+ The San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission found the irregular lot
configuration irrelevant since most of the property will be in a cortsenratiort
easement dedicated to the County. The three property owners were satisfied
with the arrangement of their future property lines.
+ The configuration of the parcels was drawn in order to follow natural to o ra h
and to approximate for the three families'equal acreage and usable, open pace
land.
3. The discouragement of ranchettes within the city's sphere of influence where such
cities have urbanization planned in their Sphere of Influence;
August 6,;2002
Board of Supervisors
File#RZ993073;..
Page 4
• The San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission found that the proposed
subdivision and rezoning applications did not encourage the development of
ranchettes. The proposal is for twenty-acre parcels. A ranchette is a five-acre
parcel.
+ The°City of San Ramon does not have urbanization planned in this area.
4. The potential of future monster homes would compromise the aesthetics of a sensitive
area;
• The subdivision Condition of Approval#15.a specifically addresses this concern
by requiring that elevations and architectural design be submitted for final review
and approval of the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator shall give 30
days prior notice and opportunity for comment to the City of San Ramon and the
East Bay regional Park District at the time the elevations and architectural
designs are considered by the County Zoning Administrator.
• Each twenty-acre parcel will have a two-acre building envelope that is located at
the lower end of the property. Homes are less visible on the lower portions of the
property. The visible areas in the highlands will be in the conservation easement.
5. A request to dedicate the conservation'easement to the Park District since the District
owns and manages the adjacent'property that is also Alameda Whipsnake habitat.
• The San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission found that the
conservation easement be dedicated to no other entity than the County. The
applicant and property owners agreed to their decision.
VI. CITY OF SAN RAMON
On April 11, 2002 comments on the Mitigated Negative Declaration were received through
correspondence from the City of San Ramon. According to the City, the Mitigated Negative
Declaration did not demonstrate consistency with the newly adopted General Plan Policies``
applicable to the Bollinger Canyon area:
On April 16, 2002, a meeting was held between representatives of the City of San Ramon,
County staff, the applicant, Jim D ggins of DeBolt Civil Engineering, and the property
owners' attorney, Alan Moore of Gagen, McCoy, McMahon & Armstrong. An agreement
was reached to amens! the Conditions of Approval by adding 14.a and 15.a which gives the
City of San Ramon and the East Bay Regional Park District 30 days`:prior notice and
opportunity for comment on the proposed building envelope and final design of the homes.
August 6,„2002
Board of Supervisors
File#RZ993073
Page 5
VII. CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION OR DENIAL OF PROPOSAL. BY THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
In the event that the Board denies the request to rezone the property, and the Agricultural
Preserve-•A-4 zoning is not changed; the future development will be subject to the
standards and procedures of the A-4 ordinance.
ADDENDUM TO ITEM D.Z
August 6, 2002
On this date,the Board of Supervisors considered the request by Val Nunes(Owner)and DeBolt
Civil Engineering(Applicant)to rezone 65 acre parcel from Agricultural Preserve-A-4(20 acre
parcel required)to Exclusive Agricultural—A-20 (20 acre parcel required), County File
#RZ993073.
Dennis Barry, Director, Community Development Department presented the staff report and.
recommendations,
The Chair opened the public hearing and invited those who wished to address the Board on this
matter. There were no speakers to present testimony.
The Chair closed the public hearing. Supervisor Gerber moved to approve the staff s five
recommendations presented today,with the addition of recommendation#6,directing the
Community Development Department to schedule a meeting,with the District III office, the City
of San Ramon and East Bay Regional Park District, regarding the architectural design and
elevations of proposed homes on the subdivision.
The Board of Supervisors took the following action:
♦ CLOSED the public hearing;
♦ APPROVED the recommendations of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning
Commission, as contained in their Resolution No. 22-2002; the request of Val Nunes
(Owner) and DeBolt Civil Engineering (Applicant) to rezone a 65-acre parcel from
Agricultural Preserve (A-4) to Exclusive Agriculture (A-20) on the property located at
18400 Bollinger Canyon Road, in the San Ramon area,
♦ ADOPTED the finding contained in the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission
Resolution No. 22-2002 as the basis for the Board's action;
FOUND the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Program prepared
for this project to be adequate for the "purposes of compliance with the California
Environmental Quality Act and ADOPTED the same;
♦ INTRODUCED Ordinance 2002-25 giving effect to the aforementioned rezoning,
♦ WAIVED reading and set date of August 13,2002 for adoption;
♦ DIRECTED the Community Development Department to post the Notice of Determination
with the County Clerk;
♦ DIRECTED the Community Development Department to schedule a meeting with the
District III Supervisor, the City of San Ramon, and the East Bay Regional Park District
regardingagricultural design and elevations of any proposed homes on the subdivision.
RESOLUTION NO. 22-2002
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING
COMMISSION OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, ;,STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, INCORPORATING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION OF
THE'REQUESTED CHANGE IN ZONING BY DeROLTCIVIL ENGINEERING
(APPLICANT) AND VAL NUNES, et al (OWNERS) (RZ9930'73) IN THE
ORDINANCE CODE SECTION PERTAINING TO THE PRECISE ZONING
FOR THE 13OLLINGER CANYON AREA OF SAID COUNTY.
WHEREAS, a request by DeBOLT CIVIL ENGINEERING (.Applicant)and VAL
NUNES, et al (Owners) to rezone a'65 acre parcel from Agricultural Preserve (A-4) to
Exclusive Agricultural (A-20),:for which an application'was received by the Community
Development Department on June 6, 1999; and
WHEREAS, for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act and the State and County ',CEQA Guidelines, a Mitigated
Negative Declaration was prepared and circulated for 'review and ::comments between
March 13, 2002 and April 12, 2002 and the San Ramon Valley'Regional Planning
Commission'adopted the Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring Program at
their meeting on April 17 2002; and
WHEREAS, after notice having been lawfully given, a public hearing was
scheduled before the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission on Wednesday,
April 17, 2002,where all persons interested therein might'appear and be heard; and
WHEREAS, on Wednesday, April 17, 2002, the Sari. Ramon Valley Regional
Planning Commission having fully reviewed, considered and evaluated all the testimony
and evidence submitted in this matter;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Ramon Valley Regional
Planning Commission:
1. FINDS that on the basis of the whale record, including the CEQA'Initial
Study and comments received during the public review process,there is no
substantial evidence that the project would result in a significant affect on
the environment and that the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the
County's independent judgment and analysis;
2. FINDS that the proposed Mitigated`Negative Declaration and Mitigation
Monitoring,Program is adequate for the purposes of compliance with the
California Environmental Quality Act and adopts same;
3. FINDS that the proposed subdivision, together with the provisions for its
design and'improvements, is -<consistent with the applicable general and
specific plans required by law.
2
4. RECOMMENDS to the Board of Supervisors the APPROVAL of the
rezoning of the parcels from the Agricultural Preserve (A-4) to the
Exclusive Agricultural(A-20)District;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the reasons for this recommendation are as
follows:
A. REZONING FINDINGS:
1. Required Finding — The change proposed will substantially comply
with the General Plan.
Protect Findinz The proposal is consistent with the goals and
policies of the Agricultural.Lands Designation of the General Plan.
The proposal is consistent relative to the size and density
requirements of the General:Plan 'Designation, which allows one
unit per five acres. The proposed A-20 zoning district will meet the
General Plan Policies for the.Bollinger Canyon area.
2. Required Finding— The uses authorized or proposed in the land use
district are compatible within'the district and to uses 'authorized in
adjacent districts.
Pro,�ect Finding: The zoning district within the immediate adjacent
properties ;,consists of Agricultural'Preserve (A-4) and Exclusive
Agricultural (A-20) zoning districts. The uses allowed in the A-24
district are similar to these in the A-4 district. The subject properties
are surrounded by A-20 and A-4 districts, with compatible uses on
all surrounding properties.
3. Required Finding.— Community need has been demonstrated for the
use proposed, but this does :.not require demonstration of future
financial success'.
Pro'e� ct Fin a'in :A number ofpareels in the immediate area have A-
4 and A-20 zoning, so a community need has been demonstrated for
the use proposed.
B. Growth 1Vlanagement Element Performance Standards Findings
I. Traffic: There are no development plans proposed at this time.,
Rezoning of the properties will not impact current traffic patterns'.
The uses allowed in the A-20 zoning district as compared with those
allowed in the A-4 district will not lead to any significant impact on
3
traffic patterns. Therefore the applicant is not required to prepare a
traffic report pursuant to the 1958 pleasure C requirements.
2. Water: The subject sites are not connected to public water supplies.
All of the subject parcels will be on well water.,
3. Sewage: The subject sites do not utilize public sanitary systems. All
of the subject parcels will be on septic systems.
4. Fire" Protection: The site is within the San Ramon Valley Fire
Protection District. The site lies within a wildlands fire area. Per the
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District special 'fire sprinkler
requirements apply to this project.
5. Public Protection: The Growth Management Element standard is 155
square feet',of Sheriff facility station area per 1,000 population. This
project will not trigger this requirement.
6. Parks and 'Recreation: At the time to issue a building permit, the
applicant will be required to contribute a park dedication fee in
accordance with ordinance requirements. Currently, the park
dedication fee is $2,000 per new residence.
7. Flood Control and Drainage: Compliance with drainage standards
per Public Worley Department requirements will be a part of the
applicant's subdivision conditions of approval.
(Ref. The Growth Management Element, Chapter 4, ofthe'General Plan)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the San Ramon Valley
Regional Planning Commission will sign and attest the certified copy of this resolution
and deliver the same to the Board of Supervisors, all in accordance with the Government
Code of the State of California.
The instructions,by the San Ramon Valley Regional' Planning Commission to
prepare this resolution were given by motion on Wednesday, April 17 2002 by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioners-Matsunaga, Mulvihill, Couture, Gibson,McPherson,Neely
NOES: Commissioners-None
ABSENT: Commissioners- eha
ABSTAIN: Commissioners-None
Chairman of the County Regional Planning
Commission>
County of Contra Costa, State of California
ATTEST: t�
y 1
Dennis Barry,'AICP Secre
San Ramon Valley Region' laning Commission
County of Contra Costa
State of California
Findings Map
a A-40 T
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Om A-40
A.2 i
A•d A•
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11 J.4 J�SfJi.w ? � _ lfyJ
\� A-4
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Rezone From A_4 �—
To A—20 San 12Q1'rtonArea'.
I, N. Mulvihill Chair of the San Ramon valley
Planning Commission,State of California,do hereby certify that this is a true and
correct copy of. IGS T-15 Qnd V-15 of the
County's 19119F zoning map
indicating thereon the decision of the San Ramon Valley Planning Commission in
the matter of DeBolt R0993073
ATTEST.
Secretary of the Contra Costa County
Planning Commission, Mate of Calif.