15-1117_DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS OAK, LLC_Agenda Report_E1a - Class I BikewayTO :
FROM:
DATE :
City of San Juan Capistrano
Agenda Report
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Thorn Coughran, P.E., Interim Public Works ~nd U · · · s irector
Prepared by: Joe Mankawich, Associate Engine
November 17, 2015
11/17/2015
E1a
SUBJECT: Consideration of a Class I Bikeway for the San Juan Creek Trail Extension
(The Oaks)
RECOMMENDATION:
By motion, approve the Trails and Equestrian Commission recommendation regarding
construction of the San Juan Creek Trail Extension, with the Class I Bikeway being
aligned adjacent to the Oaks Development, eliminate the mulch buffer, grading of the
multi-use/equestrian trail kept to a minimum, and installation of a bio-swale on the outer
edge of the trail, closest to the creek.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At their November 5, 2015, Trails and Equestrian Commission (TEC) meeting the
Commission approved, on a 3-1 vote with one abstention, to recommend to the City
Council the construction of the San Juan Creek Trail Extension with the Class I Bikeway
being aligned adjacent to the Oaks development, elimination of the mulch buffer,
grading of the multi-use/equestrian trail kept to a minimum and installation of a bio-
swale on the outer edge of the trail, closest to the creek (Attachment 4).
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
At its January 6, 2014, meeting the Open Space Trails and Equestrian Commission
(OSTEC) unanimously approved the proposed trail improvements for Tentative Tract
17441 (The Oaks) (OSTEC Minutes, Attachment 1 ). The alignment approved placed the
bikeway adjacent to the development, with the equestrian/multi-use trail closest to the
creek (Attachment 2).
At its January 14, 2014, meeting the Planning Commission approved a Mitigated
Negative Declaration, Tentative Tract Map, Rezone, Tree Removal Permit and Grading
Plan Modification for the Project. At that meeting staff presented a change in alignment,
City Council Agenda Report
November 17, 2015
Page 2 of 4
with the equestrian/multi-use trail located closest to the development and the bikeway
closest to the creek and was approved (Attachment 3).
Based on the recommendations from the former Open Space, Trails and Equestrian
Commission and the Planning Commission, the City Council on February 18, 2014,
adopted City Council Resolution No.14-02-18-03. The resolution approved Tentative
Tract Map 17 441 for the Oaks Development and included construction of a Class I
paved bike trail and an unpaved Multi-use Hiking/Biking/Equestrian Trail which
completed the gap in the San Juan Creek Trail. The resolution conditioned the City
Council's approval on the developer's (Davidson Communities) construction of a Class I
paved bike trail and an unpaved Multi-use Hiking/Biking/Equestrian Trail, which would
complete the gap in the San Juan Creek Trail. The condition is as follows:
'Trail and Bikeway Dedications. Prior to approval of each final map, the
applicant/subdivider shall design to City trail standards, improve, and
dedicate, at no cost to the City, the trails listed below and shall show the
easement dedications on the final map. Any deviation from the trail
requirements shall be subject to prior review and approval by the City
Engineer.
Trails shall be improved and easements dedicated to the City for all public
hiking, equestrian and bicycle trails located within parcels belonging to the
Homeowner's Association or within parcels which are privately owned.
Trails within existing or proposed City-owned parcels and/or open space
do not require separate trail easements. Said dedicated trails shall
include:
• Class 1 Paved Bike Tail, and
• Multi-Use Hiking/Biking/Equestrian Trail (Unpaved)
The applicant/subdivider shall construct all street and trail improvements
within the preceding dedications in accordance with the applicable City
Standards and Trail Design Manual or to the satisfaction of the City
Engineer, subject to the limitations imposed by outside agencies for
habitat preservation and/or by mitigation requirements, as approved by the
City Engineer. The bike trail shall be constructed adjacent to San Juan
Creek and shall include a minimum of a 3' wide bio-swale, or other design
feature as approved by the City Engineer to provide separation from the
multi-use trail."
At its meeting on March 17, 2015, the City Council considered the Final Map for Tract
17741 (The Oaks). During discussion of the approval for the Final Map a letter from a
concerned Trails and Equestrian Commissioner, and public comment led to discussion
regarding the development of the trail. The City Council requested the Trails and
Equestrian commission review the placement of the equestrian trail and bring back a
City Council Agenda Report
November 17, 2015
Page 3 of 4
recommendation for City Council approval. The developer's representative, present at
the meeting, stated that he would be open to considering moving the alignment back to
the one previously approved by the OSTEC. The City Council approved Final Map
17441 (The Oaks), based upon the developer meeting all conditions of approval for the
project, including receiving plan approval for the construction of the subject trail. The
map was recorded on April 15, 2015. The Planning and Zoning Law prohibits cities from
adding or changing conditions to approved final maps for a period of 5 years (3 years, if
the tentative map life was extended pursuant to certain statutes) after the final map was
recorded. (Gov. Code 65961.) The Trails and -Equestrian Commission's
recommendation to change the trail alignment meets the requirements of the conditions
of approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The San Juan Creek Trail Extension is developer funded. Trail maintenance costs will
be the only outlay required by the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The City's Environmental Administrator has reviewed and filed a Mitigated Negative
Declaration Notice of Determination for this project on November 15, 2013. The City
received no comments on this filing.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW:
• On March 17, 2015, the City Council approved Final Tract Map 17441 (The
Oaks) and requested the Trails and Equestrian Commission to review the
equestrian trail and to report back to the City Council with a recommendation.
• On February 18, 2014, the City Council approved Tentative Tract Map 17441.
The resolution approving the tract included a condition to construct a Class 1
bikeway and equestrian trail along the City-owned berm adjoining the Oaks
property.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE/BOARD REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
• At its November 5, 2015, Equestrian and Trails Commission meeting the
Commission voted on a 3-1 vote, with one abstention, to recommend to City
Council the construction of the San Juan Creek Trail Extension with the Class I
Bikeway being aligned adjacent to the Oaks development, elimination of the
mulch buffer, grading of the multi-use/equestrian trail kept to a minimum and
installation of a bio-swale on the outer edge of the trail, closest to the creek.
City Council Agenda Report
November 17, 2015
Page 4 of 4
• On October 5, 2015, the Equestrian and Trails Commission requested additional
information regarding the bikeway gates at Reata Park prior to finalizing their
recommendations for the San Juan Creek Trail Extension.
• On September 2, 2015, the Equestrian and Trails Commission directed staff to
review the possibility of changing the design of the approved and conditioned trail
plans.
• At its June 3, 2015, Equestrian and Trails Commission meeting, the Commission
held an onsite tour of the San Juan Creek Trail Extension.
• At its January 14, 2014, meeting the Planning Commission approved a Mitigated
Negative Declaration, Tentative Tract Map, Rezone, Tree Removal Permit and
Grading Plan Modification for the Project.
• At its January 6, 2014, meeting the Open Space Trails and Equestrian
Commission approved the trail improvements for Tract 17441 (The Oaks).
NOTIFICATION :
Trails and Equestrian Commission
Tim O'Grady, Davidson Communities
Tom Ostensen
A TTACHMENT(S):
Attachment 1-OSTEC Minutes January 5, 2014
Attachment 2-Trail Section showing bikeway adjacent to development (Per original
OSTEC approval January 6, 2014)
Attachment 3-Trail Section showing equestrian trail adjacent to the development
(Per Planning Commission approval January 14, 2014)
Attachment 4-Trail Section showing bikeway adjacent to development and
elimination of the mulch buffer as approved by TEC on November 5,
2015
Attachment 5-Location Map
32400 PASEO ADELANTO
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675
(949) 493·1171
(949) 493·1053 FAX
www.sanjuancapistrano.org
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MEMBERS OF THE CllY COUNCIL
SAM AlLEVATO
ROY L BYRNES, M.D.
LARRY KRAMER
DEREK REEVE
J,OHN TAYLOR
OPEN SPACE, TRAILS & EQUESTRIAN COMMISSION
January 6, 2014
·A. ORGANIZATION:
1. CALL TO ORDER: The Vice-Chair called the meeting of the Open Space,
Trails and Equestrian Commission to order at 6:30p.m.
2 . PLEDGE ·OF ALLEGIANCE: The Vice-Chair led the Commission and
audience in the Pledge of Allegiance .
3. ROLL CALL:
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Rob Ferguson, Chairman
AI King, Vice-Chair
lise Syrnes
Elliott Levenson
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Tom Ostensen
STAFF PRESENT: William Ramsey, AICP, Assistant Director
Nelson Miller, Interim Dev. Services Director
Nick Taylor, Associate Planner
Cynthia Alexander, Comm. Service Director
B. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None.
C. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Open Space. Trails & Equestrian Commission October 7. 2013 Meeting
Minutes: On motion duly made and passed, the Commission approved the
subject meeting minutes as submitted.
D. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
-1. Continued Consideration of a Proposed Revenue-Generating and
Maintenan'ce Strategy for the Citv-Owned Rancho Mission Viejo (RMV)
San Juan Capistrano: Preserving the Past to Enhance the Future
ft.
\,., Printed on 100% recycled paper •
ATTACHMENT 1
OSTEC Minutes 2 January 6. 2014
Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano and Open Space Lands Funding
(Project Manager: Finance Work ing Group-Cha ir Ferguson and Commiss ioner
Levenson).
E. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Consideration of Tentative Tract Map (TIM) 17 441 . Rezone <RZ} 13-003 .
Arch itectural Contr61 (AC) 13-018. Tree Removal Permit (TRP) 13-052.
Grading Plan Modification (GPM) 13 -002 , Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
13-006 . and Zone Variance (ZV) 13-002. The Oaks; a Proposed 32-lot
Subdivision for Single-family Detached Residential Homes . and
Modifications to an Existihg Commercial Equestrian Facility on a 20.25
Acre Project Site Located at 31000 Avenlda Siega . Generally Located
East of the Southern Terminus of Avenida Siega . and South of Ortega
Highway approximately 3.400 feet west of La Pata Avenue (Applieant:
Dav idson Communlt ies)(P roject Manag er: Nick Taylor. Associate Planner).
Chair Ferguson made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Levenson, to
recommend that the Planning Commission and City Council approve the
proposed trail improvements. The motion passed unanimously.
2 . Worksession on Updating the Open Space. Trails and Equestrian
Commission (OSTEC) Priorities for 2014 (Pro ject Manage r: William Ramsey ,
AICP. Assistan t Development Serv ices Director). Mr. Ramsey made a brief
presentation to the Commission and provided background on the
Commission's priority setting process. He noted that the 2013 priorities,
provided as an attachment to the agenda report, were now available for
review and updating by the Commission. By motion duly made and
seconded, the Commission continued consideration to their February 3
meeting.
F:. INFORMATION ITEMS:
1. Verbal Update on North West Open Space Sewer Connection and Phase
1 plan Status. Mr. Miller provided an update indicating that the Public
Works & Utilities Department had completed the preliminary design. Mr.
Ramsey noted that the City had retained a California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) consultant (Keeton Kreitzer Consulting) to conduct the
environmental review of the project which was under preparation.
2. Verbal Status on Equestrian Trail Plan through Rancho Mission VieJo
Riding Park (RMVRP). Mr. Ramsey advised the Commission that the staff
had completed conceptual design alternatives for this trail connection, had
provided those to Rancho Mission Viejo (RMV) for review, and were
awaiting comments and recommendations to assure that the alignment
would connect seamlessly with the Sendero Trail at the Ortega Highway
(SR 74) under-crossing.
.·
OSTEC Minutes 3 January 6. 2014
3. Verbal Status on Alternative Trail Connection between North West Open
Space and Saddleback Trail. This item was continued to the February 3
meeting.
G. COMMITTEE REPORTS: To assure compliance with the Brown Act, Committee
reports are only for the purpose of the Committee chair to provide a verbal
update. Should the Commission want to discuss any Committee work item, those
would need to be agendized for the next, regularly scheduled Commission
meeting.
Chair Ferguson noted that there was no need at this time to provide Working
Group reports on the following:
1. Northwest Open Space Working Group (King. Ostensen).
2. Trails Working Group (Levenson. Byrnes}.
3. Finance Working Group (Ferguson, Levenson).
4. Reata Park & Event Center Working Group (Ferguson. King).
H. ADJOURNMENT: The Chairman adjourned the Open Space, Trails, and
Equestrian Commission meeting to the next regularly schedule meeting for
Monday, February 3, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Approved:
m A. Ramsey, AICP , Ass ista nt
Commission Secretary
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OSTEC APPROVED TRAIL SECTION-JANUARY 6, 2014
2' MIN.
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MULCH
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10'-0"
CLASS II
BIKE TRAIL
36"
MULCH
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MIN. 20 '-0"
VARIABLE TO TOP OF SLOP E
EQUESTRIAN TRAIL
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BIOSWALEAT
TOP OF SLOPE SAN JUAN CREEK ---+
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PC APPROVED TRAIL SECTION-JANUARY 14, 2014
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QUESTRIAN CENTER
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~ EQUESTRIAN CENTER
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2'MIN.
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MULCH
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CLASS II
BIKE TRAIL
MIN . 20'-0"
VARIABLE TO TOP OF SLOPE
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