HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05071991 - H.6 TO "s BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
GWtra H. 6
Costa
FROM: HARVEY E. BRAGDON ����
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT >+
Lnty
DATE: April 25, 1991
SUBJECT: North Gate Specific Plan
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Open public hearing and receive testimony on draft
Specific Plan.
2. Approve the Negative Declaration on this project.
3. Close public hearing and continue decision until June 18,
1991 to allow for continued discussion of Specific Plan
issues with the Joint City/County Liason Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT
This was a Board-initiated project for which the major costs of
Plan development have already been absorbed.
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR--RECOMMENDATIONS
The North Gate Specific Plan• was . approved by the County Planning
Commission on March 26 by a unanimous vote. The Planning
Commission adopted Development Alernative Two as the Plan's Land
Use Element and made other changes to the Plan which are reflected
in the attached Commission recommended Plan.
The Joint City/County Planning Committee, which contains
representatives from both the Board and the Walnut Creek Council,
have been meeting in an attempt to resolve outstanding issues. It
is staff's recommendation that the Board approve the Negative
Declaration, close the public hearing and continue this matter to
a future meeting. This action will allow the Committee to continue
discussing significant issues which remain. After completing its
deliberations, the Committee will make a recommendation to the
Board.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATUR
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF B COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) :
ACTION OF BOARD ON May 7, 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
4
This is the time heretofore noticed by the Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors for hearing on the recommendation of the Contra Costa
Cou.-ity Planning Commission on the proposed North Gate Specific Plan
(County File #SP-1991-1) . The North Gate Specific Plan provides
refined policy guidance to existing Contra Costa County General Plan
policies. The Specific Plan area is located in Central Contra Costa
and near the eastern city limits of Walnut Creek. It is approximately
seven miles east of Interstate 680 and one mile south of the Ygnacio
Valley/Oak Grove Road intersection. It lies both within the City of
Walnut Creek and within unincorporated Contra Costa County. The
Specific Plan area contains about 507 acres and is bounded by North
Gate Road to the north; the Walnut Creek Sphere of Influence boundary
to the east; Mt. Diablo State Park; Diablo Foothills Regional Park to
the south; Castle Rock Road and some properties which are accessed
from this road to the west. The Specific Plan' s Land Use Element
would limit new growth to that which is allowed under the',,County and
City General Plan.
1.
James Cutler, Community Development Department, presented the
staff report on the proposed North Gate Specific Plan commenting on
the joint planning process with the City of Walnut Creek. He advised
the Board of the three staff recommendations, that the Board open the
public hearing and receive testimony, approve the Negative
Declaration, and continue the decision to June 18, 1991. Mr. Cutler
also commented on the alternatives for consideration by the Board,
meetings that have taken place before various groups, the surplus
property in the area owned by the County, and various concerns that
are still unresolved.
The public hearing was opened and the following persons appeared
to speak:
Gail Murray, City of Walnut Creek, City Council, commented on the
history of the specific plan process, and she urged Board support of
the design controls and retention of public ownership of the County
detention basin excess property. Ms. Murray spoke in favor of
alternative two, putting back in the design concepts and giving
direction to staff to work on retaining the County land as open space
in order to make the whole process meaningful.
Mary Grace Davidson, 800 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek,
representing the North Gate Homeowners Association, presented a
statement of unresolved issues from the North Gate Landowners.
Connie Allen, 1001 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, commented on
concerns including the protection of property rights.
Clyde Davidson, 800 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, spoke in favor
of alternative two with the exception of the hillside aspects.
Jo Ward, 1330 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, spoke in favor of
large parcels of land and requested that the Board help preserve the
rural, agricultural, equestrian flavor of the area, and she spoke in
opposition to the widening of Castle Rock Road and in favor of
restrictive building on slopes.
JoAnn Hanna, 950 Trails End Drive, Walnut Creek, representing the
Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, commented on issues including the
detention basin being a joint public lands proposition.
Arlene Anthony, 1250 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, commented on
issues including deed restrictions on the hillsides, and the widening
of Castlerock Road.
Don Anderson, no address given, representing Elwood Kronick,
Vincent DiMaggio, Ben Kronick and John Kronick, complimented the
parties involved in this specific plan proposal and he expressed his
clients approval of the one unit per , acre recommendation and the creek
setback credit.
Milton Kubicek, Contra Costa County Flood Control, commented on
the Pine Creek Detention Basin Disposal Site.
Gary McManus, 620 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, spoke in favor
of Plan #2 as approved by the Planning Commission.
Richard Mudgett, 170 Acacia Way, Coronado, expressed opposition
to the City of Walnut Creek' s participation in the planning process
for this area.
Supervisor Schroder advised that the County had invited the City
of Walnut Creek to participate in the process.
Donald Anthony, 1250 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, spoke on
concerns and in support of alternative #2 as recommended by the County
Planning Commission.
Gail A. Landis, 851 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, representing
Upper Ygnacio Valley Homeowners Association, complimented the parties
involved in this matter on the compromises that have arisen from the
joint planning process, and she spoke on concerns including the
surplus County property.
Joyce Payne, 851 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, presented written
comments and pictures of the area to the Board members.
2.
Ed Madigan, 1225 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, spoke in favor of
alternative #2•
Chris Borba, 720 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, spoke in favor of
alternative #2.
Seth Adams, P.O. Box 44, Martinez, representing Save Mt. Diablo,
commented on the character of the area, transition of development, and
he commented on concerns including the protection of ripairian areas,
protection of slopes over fifteen percent, the area within the
Alquist-Priolo Study Zone for Seismic Hazards, and he expressed
concern about the surplus property of the Flood Control District.
Florence M. Libbey, 21 Woodside Drive, Moraga, commented on
various issues including the character of the area, and limitations on
the use of the land.
Harold Libbey, 651 Central Avenue, Petaluma, commented on the
issue of the required setback.
Hart Fairclough, 957 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, clarified his
having signed two petitions on this matter and spoke in opposition to
there being all one acre zoning, and he described the area and the
location of his property.
Gregg S. Sorensen, 685 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, commented
on Castle Rock Road and issues including public safety, environmental
impact and financial impact.
The Chair read comments from the following persons:
Barbara Peter and family requesting that the Board vote for a 40
foot maximum right-of-way on Castle Rock Road;
Judy Gillivan, 3126 Hackney Lane, Walnut Creek, on homes in the
area;
Betty Fairclough, 957 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, referring to
a 40 foot right-of-way on North Gate Road.
The public hearing was closed.
Supervisor Schroder requested clarification on the time frame for
the Specific Plan process.
Jim Cutler responded that the Board should, now that the hearing
is closed, approve the negative declaration, and continue the matter
for decision to June 18, 1991 to allow time for the joint City/County
Laison Committee to meet.
Supervisor Schroder moved approval.
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that recommendations 1, 2, and 3 are
APPROVED.
Supervisor Torlakson requested further exploration of assessment
districts, lighting and landscaping districts, and ways to finance all
or part of the request for some of the area to be kept in open space
and as a buffer area.
The Board discussed issues that could be resolved before the
decision on this matter.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT 11 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Orig: Community Development Department ATTESTED May 7, 1991
cc: Public Works PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF
CAO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
County Counsel CO ADMINISTRATOR
City of Walnut Creek
$y ,", DEPUTY