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RESOLUTION NO. 1683
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ARCADIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY
COUNCIL AMENDMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
RESOURCES SECTION OF THE ARCADIA GENERAL
PLAN SETTING FORTH WATERSHED AND STORM
WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY MANAGEMENT
CONSIDERATIONS AND POLICIES PER STATE
REGULATIONS
WHEREAS, this General Plan amendment was initiated by the
Development Services Department and Public Works Services Department to
amend the Environmental Resources Section of the Arcadia General Plan
setting forth watershed and storm water quality and quantity management
considerations and policies per State regulations; and
WHEREAS, on December 10, 2002, a public hearing was held before the
Planning Commission on said matter at which time all interested persons were
given full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence; and
WHEREAS, after the public hearing the Planning Commission voted to
recommend to the City Council approval of General Plan Change 2002-005 as
recommended by the Development Services Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ARCADIA HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the factual data submitted by the Community Development
Division in the attached report is true and correct.
Section 2. This Commission finds:
1. That the proposed amendments comply with Order No. 01-182 of the
State of California, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles
Region.
2. That approval of General Plan Amendment 002-005 will not be
detrimental to the pUblic health or welfare, or injurious to the property or
improvements in such zone or vicinity.
3. That the proposed changes are categorically exempt from CEQA per
. Sections 15061 (b)(3) and 15378(b)(2).
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1683
Section 3. That for the foregoing reasons the Planning Commission
. recommends to the City Council approval of the General Plan Changes as set
forth in attached Exhibit A.
Section 4. The Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution
and shall cause a copy to be forwarded to the City Council of the City of Arcadia.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted at a
regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 10 oayof Dec by the
following vote: 2002
AYES: Commissioners Baderian, Hsu, Lucas, Wen, Olson
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
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Chairman, Planning Commission
City of Arcadia
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Approved by:
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~Z~s~mey
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1683
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STAFF REPORT
December 10, 2002
Development Services Department
TO: Arcadia City Planning Commission
FROM: Donna Butler, Community Development Administrator
SUBJECT: Consideration of General Plan amendment G.P. 2002-005
Amending the Environmental Resources Section of the Arcadia General
Plan setting forth watershed and storm water quality and quantity
management considerations and polices per State regulations
SUMMARY
State regulations require that all cities include a watershed and storm water quality and
quantity management considerations and polices in their general plan. In accordance
with the State's requirements, the Development Services Department and Public Works
Services Department are recommending the following changes to the Environmental
Resources Section of the Arcadia General Plan.
The Development Services Department is recommending approval of G.P. 2002-005 as
set forth below and adoption of Planning Commission Resolution No. 1683.
PROPOSAL AND ANALYSIS
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program is a federal
program intended to regulate the quality of storm water and urban runoff discharges into
all waterways, rivers, lakes and oceans, The State of California administers the
program locally through its regional water quality control boards. The local agencies are
required to comply with the permit issued by their respective regional board. The most
recent permit, issued in December 2001 by Order No. 01-182 of the State of California
RWQCB, Los Angeles Region. requires that each local agency amend, revise or update
its General Plan to add policies for storm water and urban runoff quality and quantity
management.
The intent of the requirement is to emphasize the importance of planning and
management of storm water and urban runoff quality and quantity. The proposed
changes are outlined in Exhibit A and include addition of a subsection addressing Storm
GanPlan
G.P.2002-005
December 10, 2002
Page 1
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water and Urban Runoff Management and new General Plan Strategies. The strategies
reflect the requirements of the permit for new developments such as permanent
systems and controls in place to reduce pollutants entering the storm drain system.
The purpose of this General Plan amendment is to comply with Order No, 01-182 of the
State of Califomia, RWQCB, Los Angeles Region.
The proposed changes are outlined in Exhibit A and include addition of a subsection
addressing Storm water and Urban Runoff Management and new General Plan
Strategies.
CEQA
The proposed General Plan amendments will not have a potential for causing a
significant effect on the environment and are, therefore, categorically exempt from
CEOA per Sections 15061 (b)(3) and 15378(b)(2) of the California Code of Regulations
(CCR) Title 14, Chapter 3, Article 5.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Development Services Department recommends approval of G.P. 2002-005 and
adoption of Resolution No. 1683 '
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AMENDMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES SECTION OF THE
ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN SETTING FORTH WATERSHED AND STORM
WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND
POLICIES PER STATE REGULATIONS.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION
The Planning Commission should adoption Resolution No. 1683 and direct staff
to forward the Resolution to the City Council for consideration at a scheduled
public hearing.
If any Planning Commissioner, or other interested party has any questions or comments
regarding this text amendment, prior to the December 10 public hearing, please contact
me at (626) 574-5442.
Attachments: Exhibit A
Resolution No. 1683
GenPlan
G.P. 2002-005
December 10,2002
Page 2
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GaP a 2002-005
EXHIBIT A
. 4.0 Environmental Resources
INTRODUCTION
To ensure General
Plan consistency, notes
such as thi3 one will be
tE'dedWhere issues
ned it? the
Ironmenlal
Chapter are also
discussed ilt other
parts of the General
Plan
The availability of a clean, well-managed environment. is an important factor in the
desirability of a community. As development of Arcadia has neared build out, the role of
environmental management in Arcadili has been changing. Arcadia's primBIy
environmental concerns are no longer related to balancing preservation of significant
environmental features with the need for urban residential and commercial development;
today's environmental concerns center on the need to wisely manage the ongoing use of
resources.
Environmental Resources Issue Areas
AI, QruJlhy: Maximizing the quality of the air
within the City through the attainment of Stale
andPederal air quality standards,
Biological Resources: Preserving the biological
habitats of sensih"ve, threatened and/or
endangered plant and animal species,
Waler Resources: Reducing the use. oJ. and the
future needfor, waler resources.
MInerai Resources: Ensuring thal any future
mineral extraction processes are conducted in
such Q way as to minimize adverse impacts on
the. environmem.
Open SfHU'e: Identification and preservation of
open space lands within Arcadia
Cultural Resources:. Preservation Df Arcadia's
cultural and historic resources for fUture
generations.
Energy Resources: Reducing the use and
depletion of non~renewab/e' energy resources
through the use of alternate fUels and energy
reduction programs.
Solid Waste MalUl/ll!m/!nt: Reducing Arcadia:'
input into the regional waste stream and
instilling communily participation in source
reduction and recycling.
The environmental issues that Arcadia faces are not unique within the Southern
California region. Many issues require regional or statewide action. Air quality and the
long-term availability of adequate water supplies, for example, cannot be resolved by
individual communities acting on their own. The primBIy responsibility for managing air
quality and water supply lies with State and regional agencies. However, local agencies,
such as the City of Arcadia, have the responsibility to assist these agencies in
appropriately managing environmental resources through their local land use planning
authority.
LEGAL AUTHORITY
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The Environmental Resources chapter contains policies relating to _ eight major
topics: Air Quality, Biological Resources, Water Resources and Conservation, Minerals
Resources, Cultural Resources and Natural Open Space. All of these topics, with the
exception of Storm Water and Air Quality (which is considered to be an optional
ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN
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element) are required by the State to be discussed in the Conservation Element of the
General Plan. Under State Law (Government Code Section 65302[d]), the City is
required to include a Conservation Element:
''for the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources including
water and its hydraulic force, for~ts, soils, rivers and other waters, harbors,
fisheries, wildlife, minerals, and a/her natural resources. ..
Under State regulation, (NPDES Pennit No. CAS00-4001, Order No_ 01-182 Section D,
12-a) all cities are required to:
"include a watershed and storm water quality and quantity management
considerations and polices... .. in their general plan.
Table i-A Index /0 the Location of State Mandated General Plan Issues Wilhin the
Arcadia General Plan included within the Introduction section of the General Plan
provides an index reference to State General Plan requirements and indicates the section
of the Arcadia General Plan under which each State requirement is fulfilled.
GENERAL PLAN APPROACH
. ENYlRONMENTAL RESOURCES GOALS
It is the goal of the City of Arcadia to:
. achieve air quality that is conducive to good bealth and enjoyment of the area's
climate, and to assist in attaining Federal and State air quality standards; and
. ensure the retention and proper stewardship of biological, energy, water, mineral and
cultural resources located within the City.
AIR QUALITY
Issues
Arcadia is located within the South Coast Air Basin (Basin), which includes Los Angeles
and Orange Counties, as well as portions of RivelSide and San Bernadino Counties.
Although air quality within the region has improved in the last several years, local air
quality measurements conducted from 1990 through 1994 show that ozone levels
containue to exceed both the State and Federal air quality standards during portions of the
year and State stanfards for particulate matter (PMI0) have been exceeded approximately
46 percent of the time in five years of data.
Although the City of Arcadia is cornmitted to contributing to air quality improvements,
the City is limited in the types of programs and policies that it can implement to achieve
any substantial air quality benefits. Local air quality problems are largely the result of
pollutants emitted'upwind of Arcadia. In addition, Arcadia's air pollutant emissions are a
minuscule portion of the total air pollution problem. (continued on next page)...
ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN
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. 4.0 Environmental Resources
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General Plan Approach
Since Arcadia is dependent on local water resources, the City recognizes the importance
of the existing water resource system and will continue to take a comprehensive approach
to the preservation of water resources within the planning area through a combination of
land use controls, water conservation and urban runoff management. The City will fulfill
its responsibility for the management of water resources within the planning area through
implementation ofNPDES requirements and the following concepts.
Coordinate General Pmn BuDd Out wilh AvaiJoble Water Supplies
As part of establishing a "build out" population for the Arcadia General Plan planning
area, the City has dermed the water supplies that can reasonably be made available to
support new development in the foreseeable future. Land uses and intensities reflected
on the General Plan land use map wiu result in a level of water consumpti.on that is
consistent with the availability ofwater supplies. Future development projects will be
analyzi,d for their effect on long-temt water availability to ensure. that adequate water
supplies will continue to be available to support existing uses within Arcadia.
Storm water and Urban RnnoffManagement
Issues
Arcadia is located within the Los Angeles River Watershed, which drains stomt water
and urban runoff from approximately 832 square miles of land. The City of Arcadia is a
co-pennitteewith the County of Los Angeles and 84 other municipalities in the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pennit, which regulates the quality of
stOmt water and urban runoff discharges to the Municipal separate stomt water system
(MS4).
The effect of pollutants in stOmt water and urban runoff can be significant. In the short
tenn, litter and other pollutants carried by the water during a rain event, may be deposited
on streets and sidewalks, creating unnecessary backups of water on City streets.
Pollutants that make their way into the waterways and subsequently to the ocean, create a
hazard to biological resources, threatening and endangering plan and animal species.
General Pion Approach
StOmt water and urban runoff management reduces the impact of pollutants on the urban
landscape, recreational areas and open spaces. Unmanaged stOmt water and urban runoff
can carry litter and pollutants into waterways, and subsequently the ocean, causing
environmental hann, reduction of water quality, and reduces the integrity of natural
drainage systems and water bodies. Careful planning and proper management of stonn
water and urban runoff will help create a community that. is aesthetically appealing, as
well as protecting the environment.
ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN
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Protect and Improve Area Water Quality
Wliter quality concerns will be integrated into storm water management planning,
ensuring that designs for urban runoff pollutant management are part of the overall
planning and approval processes for new development proposals. Mitigation for
pollutant and sediment loading will include concepts of slowing water flows to enhance
percolation and other filtering Best Management Practices, allowing them to work in
harmony with the area's topography.
Balanced with the need to provide adequate flood control, the City recognizes its
responsibility to protect the quality of groundwater from the hannfuI effects of storm
water runoff. The City will, therefore, fulfill its water quality responsibilities as a "co-
permittee" under the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended, and implement the
provisions of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) by
defining and requiring that "Best Management Practices" (BMP) be employed to
improve the quality of storm water runoff from the storm drain system and City
roadways. Tbe City of Arcadia will also continue to monitor emerging technologies and
techniques of minimizing water quality impacts .from storm water runoff and require the
implementation of new BMPs as they are devised.
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4.0 Environmental Resources
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WATER RESOURCES
ER-3l Ensure fulfillment of the City's responsibilities relative to the' requirements of the
County's NPDES permitting and implementing programs.
ER-32 Minimize, to the maximum extent practicable, the impacts of stonn water and
urban runoff on the biology, water quality and integrity of natural drainage
systems and water bodies.
ER-33 Maximize to the extent practicable, the percentage of pervious surfuces to allow
percolation of stonn water into the ground.
ER-34 Minimize to the extent practicable, the amount of stonn water directed to
impervious surfaces, and to the municipal separate stonn water system. ·
ER-35 Require all new development and redevelopment projects to have stonn water
pollution prevention systems in place, inclu~ing maximizing landscaped areas
and providing areas forstonn water storage and sedimentation.
ER-36 Require new development projects to include permanent controls to reduce stonn
water pollutant loads from development sites including parking lots to the
maximum extent practicable.
ER-37 Continue to implement the City's Water Conservation Plan contained in the
Arcadia Municipal Code.
ER-38 Facilitate public understanding of the need for water conservation by distributing
water conservation information to the public as appropriate.
ER-39 Maintain contingency plans for continuing water services in the event of large..
scale emergencies.
ER -40 Protect existing groundwater recharge capacities within fonnal recharge
facilities, as well as within proposed development sites where such development
could have a negative effect on groundwater recharge.
ER-4l Ensure that proposed development projects avoid degradation of groundwater
quality.
ER-42 Encourage the installation of efficient irrigation systems.(e.g., drip irrigation, soil
moisture sensors and autoniatic irrigation systems) which minimize runoff and
evaporation and maximize the water that will reach the plant roots.
ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN
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MINERAL RESOURCES
ER-43 Monitor current regulations regarding the extraction of minerals for changes that
would impact the General Plan study area, and modify City policies and/or
ordinances to reflect new regulations.
ER-44 Ensure protection of adjacent land uses from potential hazards related to existing
and past mining and drilling acti~ities.
ER-45 In making land use decisions involving areas whiCh have been designated
pursuant to the California Surface Mining 'and Reclamation Act (SMARA) as
having minerals of regional significance, balance mineral values against
alternative land uses in consideration of the importance of these minerals to their
market region as a whole, and not just their importance to Arcadia.
ER-46 Require that potential environmental effects as dust, noise and erosion of
quanying sand and gravel areminimimd to the maximum feasible extent.
ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN
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