Resolution Number 90-7-17-3RESOLUTION NO. 90-7-17-3
APPROVING LOS BIOS PRECISE PLAN CIRCULATION ELEMENT AMENDMENT
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING "ALTERNATE A"
AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE LOS RIOS PRECISE PLAN
CIRCULATION ELEMENT
WHEREAS, the City has initiated consideration of an amendment to the Los
Rios Precise Plan Circulation Element in order to update the circulation plan for the
area and bring it into conformity with the July, 1987, amendment to the land use portion
of the precise plan; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the "Alternate A"
amendment wit[ not have a significant effect on the environment and has accordingly
approved a negative declaration for the amendment in accordance with the California
Environmental Quality Act; and,
WHEREAS, the City's Los Rios Review Committee and Traffic and
Transportation Commission have both reviewed proposed amendment alternatives and
forwarded them to the Planning Commission with their recommendations; and,
WHEREAS, on June 12, 1990, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed
amendment alternatives and the recommendations of the Los Rios Review Committee
and the Traffic and Transportation Commission, received testimony at a public hearing,
and has forwarded the circulation element amendment to the City Council with a
recommendation for approval of "Alternate A" with accompanying text changes to the
precise plan; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds and determines as follows regarding
the circulation element amendment:
1. A public hearing describing the proposed precise plan amendment and the
time, date, and location of the hearing was published in the Capistrano
Valley News. Property owners within 300 feet of the project boundary
were sent notice of the project review pursuant to requirements of State
law.
2. "Alternate A" is consistent with the overall purpose and intent of the Los
Rios Precise Plan and with the goals, policies, and objectives of the
General Plan.
3. "Alternate All would eliminate through -traffic in the Los Rios area and.
help preserve its historic residential character while Alternate B would
allow it.
4. "Alternate B" would attract additional traffic through the Los Rios area
as a shortcut around the downtown but would not be a desirable "bypass"
because of the residential nature of the area served by Avenida de la
V ista.
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5. "Alternate All would result in less traffic on both Paseo Adelanto and
Avenida de la Vista than Alternate B.
6. "Alternate B" would have greater overall adverse impacts on the Del
Obispo/Adelanto intersection, other nearby intersections, and the
railroad crossing.
7. "Alternate B" would increase traffic on Camino Capistrano north of La
Zanja by attracting additional Dana Point traffic using the
Adelanto/Avenida de la Vista connection to avoid the downtown.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
San Juan Capistrano does hereby adopt the "Alternate All amendment to the Los Rios
Precise Plan circulation element, including graphics and text, attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 17th day
of July ,1990.
ATTEST:
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037
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO )
1, GEORGE SCARBOROUGH, Acting City Clerk of the City of San Juan
Capistrano, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct
copy of Resolution No. 90-7-17-3 adopted by the City Council of the City of San
Juan Capistrano, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 17th day
of July , 1990, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmen Buchheim, Bland and Mayor Hausdorfer
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Councilmen Schwartze and Friess
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EXHIBIT A
REVISED CIRCULATION ELEMENT MAP & TEXT
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CIRCULATION
PLAN
® CIRCULATION
A. Introduction
The circulation plan for the Los Rios area is essential to implementing the desired pattern
of land uses described in the preceding land use plan. The circulation plan, as amended
in July, 1990, provides for vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian access, and for
necessary parking in the area. The plan, shown on Figure C/1, contains the following
central concepts:
(1) The encouragement of local traffic flow directly to Paseo Adelanto in order
to minimize traffic on residential streets.
(2) The creation of a new Street, shown as "Street A" on the plan, to get
traffic from Los Rios Street to the signalized intersection at Paseo
Adelanto and Del Obispo Street.
(3) The elimination of the through -connection from Los Rios Street to Del
Obispo Street, except for access to the Las Hades center.
(4) The elimination of the undesirable Mission -Los Rios intersection. Little
Hollywood traffic will take access to Paseo Adelanto via Lobo and Ramos
Streets.
(5) The connection of private River Street directly to Paseo Adelanto to serve
the Jones and Ito properties.
(6) The connection of the central park parking area directly to Paseo
Adelanto to keep park -oriented traffic off of local residential streets.
(7) The restriction or prohibition of parking on Los Rios Street and Paseo
Adeianto.
(8) The creation of a strong walking link between the town center, through
a new Los Rios entry plaza, and into the central park.
(9) The retention of the bicycle connection from La Zanja Street through the
existing alley to Los Rios Street. From Los Rios Street, a new connection
will be made through the central park to the existing Trabuco Creek levee
bikeway.
(10) ` The creation of an equestrian connection between the Trabuco Creek
stabiwand a hitching post -rest stop area near the central park parking
area.
These features are descrlged1h more detail in the following sections.
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B. Streets
The revised circulation plan, per the 1990 amendment, is shown on Figure C/1. it
includes the following elements:
1. Paseo Adelanto - Under the circulation plan, local traffic flow will be directed to
Paseo Adelanto in order to minimize traffic on residential streets. The street will be
widened and extended from its present signalized intersection with Del Obispo
Street, to an "L" intersection with Ramos Street. Adelanto will be improved to a
roadway width of approximately 40 feet curb -to -curb (i.e. to the City's "commuter'
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CIRCULATION PLAN
standard) from Del Obispo to the main parking entry or entries for the future central
park. This standard may have to be reduced slightly along some portions in order
to maximize preservation of the sycamore, pepper, and pine trees along the Trabuco
Creek levee. In any case, no parking shall be permitted on Paseo Adelanto in order
to ensure safe traffic flow.
2. New Street A - A new street connecting Los Rios Street and Paseo Adelanto, Street
A, will be approximately 30 feet wide and 400 feet long. There will be provision for
a new main entry for the Ito nursery near the middle of the new street. Upon
construction of Street A, Los Rios will terminate at the new street instead of its
present connection with Del Obispo Street.
The elimination of the through -connection from Los Rios Street to Del Obispo Street,
coupled with the future raised median planned for Del Obispo, will eliminate the
present undesirable left -turn movements from Los Rios onto Del Obispo. Right -turn
access onto and off of Del Obispo Street will be retained for the east entry to the
Las Hadas Center. Left -turn -in access to the Las Hadas center will be considered
upon review of the detailed plans for the Del Obispo raised median and will only be
approved if the City determines that the railroad crossing arm and equipment can
be relocated to provide safe sight distances. Left -turn -out access onto Del Obispo
will be eliminated in any case.
Because the new circulation at Los Rios and Del Obispo Streets will require less
roadway area, the present landscaping adjacent to the railroad tracks can be
expanded and augmented to serve as an attractive visual entry statement for the
area.
3. River Street - The present private River Street access to the Jones and Ito properties
will be reversed so that cars will enter from Paseo Adelanto instead of Los Rios
Street. This will transfer considerable traffic flow.from4*. oriq,Los 5ios Street onto
the major access for the area, Paseo Adelanto. jpse„kj4FS2reet-Los Rios Street
connection will not be physically -eliminated. Instead, the two property owners will
control access to Los Rios Street via a gate on River Street near the intersection
(see Figure C/1). This arrangement will al)ow;<>pft,eonnection to be retained for
pedestrian access and for service and emergency purposes.
4. Access to New Central Park - Figure C/1 shows the Paseo Adelanto driveway
access to the parking lot for the new central, park. The access location is
approximate. The exact location of the access point or points will be decided upon
preparation and approval of development plans for the park.
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FIGURE C/2
CLOSURE OF MISSION AND LOS RIOS
STREETS TO THRU AUTO TRAFFIC
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ALLEY RETAl;.1 GP6h4 TO PEDS. $ OWES
Y CL05E TO &UTO ZRdFFIG VIA
5TREJ'T $OLUKD5 O►,1 WIS510A1
LaS K105 STREETS
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KETA- I M bP.IVEWAY S IN
PRESENT LOCAT 10i15
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CIRCULATION PLAN
5. Elimination of Mission Street Intersection - The new circulation plan provides for the
closure of the present narrow "L" intersection between Mission Street and Los Rios
Street to auto traffic. This change, shown in blow-up on Figure C/2, will be
accomplished by means of two road breaks, one on Mission Street near Lobo Street
and one on Los Rios Street south of the present Mission Street intersection. These
breaks will be designed to continue to allow pedestrian and bicycle flow. They
could be implemented by the installation of street bollards or some other simple
"permeable" street barrier consistent with the character of the area.
The intersection closure will direct Little Hollywood traffic to Adelanto via Lobo and
Ramos Streets, thus further limiting through traffic on Los Rios Street. The existing
homes on Los Rios Street south of Mission Street will continue to take access oft
of Los Rios Street and will retain their Los Rios Street addresses.
6. Connection Between Little Hollywood and Ramos Street - One component of this
Precise Plan is the construction of new affordable housing in the "Little Hollywood"
area of Mission Street. The design of this housing may contain an additional
connection between Mission and Ramos Streets as shown in the note on Figure C/1.
This would give the Little Hollywood residents quicker access to Paseo Adelanto.
Emergency Access - Alternate emergency access connections into the area will be
retained at Verdugo Street and at Avenida de Is Vista as shown on Figure C/1. This
access would be used in the case the main Adelanto access became blocked for
any reason.
C. Phasing of Street Improvements
The circulation plan is intended to be implemented in phases in order to assess the
impacts of each street change on traffic flow prior to undertaking additional changes. The
sequence will be generally as follows:
(1) Extension of Paseo Adelanto to connect to Ramos St4st.
(2) Consideration of construction of Street A — after review of the' traffic effects
of the Adelanto-Ramos connection.
D. Parking
s.
Parking is presently prohibited along most of Los RiosItreet because of its narrow
width and historic character. Parking is effectively limited on other local streets within
the area, also because of narrow roadways. In addition, parking will be prohibited on
Paseo Adelanto. Because of these on -street parking limitations, offstreet parking is
especially important in the Los Rios area. The new circulation plan, Figure C/1, shows
existing and planned parking in and around the area.
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CIRCULATION PLAN
Long-term parking is provided in the Franciscan Plaza parking structure for train
commuters and others. Time-limited parking is provided at the Depot restaurant, the
multimodal terminal, and off of Los Rios Street (on both sides of the Montanez Adobe).
These spaces serve both visitors and Los Rios residents.
In addition to the above existing parking, the plan shows a new parking area off of Paseo
Adelanto to serve the future central park. The actual parking layout, precise access
point(s), and number of spaces required will depend on the park development plan and
the character of park and recreation facilities to be provided.
E. Pedestrian Linkages
The circulation plan provides for a strong pedestrian link between the Los Rios area and
the Mission/downtown. The linkage connects the Mission to Los Rios via existing
downtown sidewalks along Ortega Highway, Camino Capistrano, and Verdugo Streets.
From the Verdugo cul-de-sac, the pedestrianway crosses the railroad tracks at a protected
crossing and enters the planned pedestrian plaza at Los Rios and Verdugo. From that
point, the route goes a short distance north on Los Rios Street, to the Montanez Adobe,
and then westward into the central park.
The length of the pedestrian route on Los Rios Street and other local streets is purposely
minimized because of the narrowness of those streets and the lack of right-of-way available
for sidewalks. A sidewalk may be provided, however, on the east side of Paseo Adelanto
if it is determined that there is sufficient right-of-way to construct it and still maximize
preservation of existing trees on the west side of the street. This issue will be determined
upon preparation of improvement plans for the widening and/or extension of Paseo
Adelanto.
F. Bicycle Linkages
Primary bicycle access to the area is from the existing north -south Trabuco Creek levee
trail. The bike route will be extended from this trail across Paseo Adelanto and through
the new central park. In addition, the existing secondary bikeway connection from the
alley in the condominium development (adjacent to the north) to Los Rios Street will be
retained.
G. Equestrian Linkages
The major equestrian trail in the area is the north -south trail on the other or west side of
Trabuco Creek. The plan shows a spur of this trail connecting to a hitching area in the
new central park. This spur will provide access to the major trail and to the stables to the
north along Trabuco Creek.
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