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CC RES 1974-067 RESOLUTION NO. 74-67 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ADOPTING THE INTERIM OPEN SPACE PLAN OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES GENERAL PLAN WHEREAS, the California Government Code requires the adoption of an Interim Open Space Plan by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes by August 31, 1974; and WHEREAS, the Interim Open Space Plan sets forth preliminary goals and a description of the planning program underway to com- plete a final open space plan; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has held a public hearing to consider the adoption of the Interim Open Space Plan as a part of the City' s General Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes does hereby adopt as a part of the General Plan the Interim Open Space Plan described above, a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of August, 1974. p Mayor LEONARD G. WOOD, City Clerk and Ex Officio Clerk of the Council By Cli)dWk;•08 &Ark....- Deputy • INTERIM OPEN SPACE PLAN OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES • August, 1974 'r , Intent and Scope The Interim Open Space Plan is intended to provide a preliminary approach to the preparation of an Open Space Plan in the General Plan of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. It is not to be considered a final state- ment of policy or program. This document is also intended to meet the require- ments of the California Government Code and its scope in- cludes a statement of preliminary goals and a description of the planning program underway to complete a •final open space plan. The preliminary goals were developed by the General Plan Goals Committee, a citizens group, which has had widespread citizen participation. These goals will be refined and finalized through the General Plan process. • The planning program described is already underway, and is the work program of the Environmental Services staff, consultants, the General Plan Goals Committee, and other community participation, including ultimate adoption by the City Council. • • State Conservation and Planning Law Authorization and Requirements • In 1970, the State mandated that every city and county in the State adopt an open-space element as part of its general plan. Article 10. 5 of Chapter 3 of the Government Code defines the requirements for an open- space element: "Section 65563. On or before June 30, 1973, every city and county shall prepare, adopt and submit to the Secretary of the Resources Agency a local open-space plan for the comprehensive and long-range preservation and conservation of open-space land within its jurisdic- tion. Every city and county shall by August 31, 1972, prepare, adopt and submit to the Secretary of the Re- sources Agency, an interim open-space plan, which shall be in effect until June 30, 1973, containing, but not limited to, the following: (a) The officially adopted goals and policies which will guide the preparation and implementation of the open-space plan; and (b) .A program for orderly completion and adoption of the open-space plan by June 30, 1973, including a description of the methods by which open-space resources will be inventoried and conservation measures determined. "1 This section was amended to change the June 30, 1973 deadline to December 31, 1973. In July, 1974 legislation was signed by the Governor extending the deadlines on various planning law require- ments for newly incorporated cities. Consequently, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes must meet the following open- space plan deadlines: " August 31, 1974 -- adoption and submittal of interim open-space plan June 30, 1975 -- adoption of general plan, including open-space element, and open-space ordinance • 1 AB966 (Stats. 1972, California( , Ch. 251) , Californi Government Code, Section 65563. f Scope and Definitions of Open Space Uses The Government Code, Section 65560, defines several types of open space uses, as follows: (1) Open space for the preservation of natural re- sources including, but not limited to, areas re- quired for the preservation of plant and animal- life, including habitat for fish and wildlife species; areas required for the ecologic and other scientific study purposes; rivers, streams, bays and estuaries; and coastal beaches, lakeshores, banks of rivers and streams, and watershed lands. (2) Open space used for the managed production of re- sources, including but not limited to, forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands and areas of economic importance for the production of food or fiber; areas required for recharge of ground water basins; bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers and streams which are important for the management of commercial fisheries; and areas containing major mineral deposits, including those in short supply. (3) Open space for outdoor recreation, including but not limited to, areas of outstanding scenic, historic and cultural value; areas particularly suited for park and recreation purposes, including access to lakeshores, beaches, and rivers and streams; and areas which serve as links between major recreation and open-space reservations, in- cluding utility easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails, and scenic highway corridors. (4) Open space for public health and safety, including but not limited to, areas which require special management or regulation because of hazardous or special conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, flood plains, watersheds, areas presenting high fire risks, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs and areas required for the protection and enhancement of air quality. 2 2 `AB9 6 6 (Stats. 1972, Ch. 251) , California Government Code, Section 65560. • Preliminary Goals and Policies OPEN SPACE General Goal Statement: The City of Rancho Palos Verdes recognizes that open space land is a limited and valuable resource, and that many of the unique characteristics and much of the atmosphere of the Peninsula depends upon it to a degree impossible to achieve elsewhere. The residents of Rancho Palos Verdes therefore de- sire that highest priority be given to acquisition and other preservation of large amounts of open space within the City. By definition, open space land shall be considered to be large acreage agricultural land or raw unde- veloped land, canyons, coastline and present park sites. 1 A. NATURAL RESOURCES. I. ISSUE: How should the City of Rancho Palos Verdes preserve open space for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of natural resources and community atmosphere? RECOMMENDED POLICIES: a. The City should designate areas of the coastline for acquisition and controlled development for public use or preservation for public benefit including,_ but not limited to: 1. Black sand beach west of Portuguese Bend Club. 2. Portuguese Point and Inspiration Point. 3. Golden Cove area. 4. Cliffside area from San Pedro to Portuguese Bend. b. The City should identify and preserve canyon areas, because of their importance as wildlife sanctu- aries, watersheds, and as natural population density and development barriers, and maintain them in a wilderness category. c. The City should identify and preserve areas of major geologic or scientific interest, as well as areas appropriate for wildlife refuge; including, but not limited to: 1. Tidepools, kelp beds and underwater P arks . 2. Fossil sites . d. Public and private views should be protected (see Urban Design) . 1 Z ' B. MANAGED PRODUCTION OF RESOURCES. 1. ISSUE. How should the City of Rancho Palos Verdes preserve open space for the managed pro- duction of natural resources? RECOMMENDED POLICIES: a. The City should cooperate with other govern- mental agencies, private property owners , and service clubs in the area in establishing forested areas within the City, with special attention given to terrain not suitable for other uses . b. The City should use zoning and taxing powers to retain and reestablish areas devoted to agricul- • tural uses. c. The City should encourage 4-H or FFA use of lands currently or potentially in agricultural use. d. The City should regulate extractive industries and activities . e. The City should encourage establishment or re- establishment of such areas as: 1. Abalone or kelp beds . • 2. Shrimp beds in warm water areas. f. The advantages and disadvantages of commercial extraction of marine life should be carefully studied. • • C. OUTDOOR RECREATION. I . ISSUE. How should the City of Rancho Palos Verdes create and preserve open space for outdoor recreation? RECOMMENDED POLICIES : a. The City should acquire large parcels for parks. b. The City should create a system of pocket parks in developed areas, as well as requiring inclusion of provision for such parks in any future development. c. Access to the shoreline should be insured. d. Areas of known value as public scenic vistas should be identified. Such areas should be protected by restrictive and limiting ordinances and their use enhanced by improv- ing access and providing facilities for their enjoyment. e. The City should preserve the scenic value of existing drives around the Peninsula. (See Scenic Highways and Urban Design) . f. • Use of the Quimby Act should be studied. J ' D. PUBLIC SAFETY. I. ISSUE: How should the City of Rancho Palos Verdes provide for the community safety by the designation and preservation of open space? RECOMMENDED POLICIES: a. Identify and define that the City policy towards areas of known geologic .instability or fault should be that no development will be permitted. b. The City should identify and establish standards which restrict or severely limit development of areas where the terrain requires substantial alteration of the natural contours of the land. c. The City should adopt open space ordinances which protect the public health and safety, such as High Fire Risk Areas Ordinances. d. The City should restrict uses of slide areas to those defined (e.g. , trails, wildlife refuge, etc. ) . E. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS. I . ISSUE: How should the City of Rancho Palos Verdes use open space to channel urban growth? RECOMMENDED POLICIES: a. The City should require any commercial developer to establish and maintain green belts contiguous to and surrounding or buffering his property. This would apply to shopping centers, apartments , condominiums, etc. b. Economic Studies should be made which determine the overall costs to the community of preserv- ing open space versus permitting development. c. Open space should be used as a method of preserva- tion of land for future uses which have economic benefit to the community. d. The City should assume consistency of zoning, grading, and building ordinances or codes with any adopted open space ordinances and restrict grading of open space areas . e. The City should consider the cluster concept of housing with a view to increasing open space in new residential housing. • Program for Completion and Adoption of Open Space Plan It is the intent of the City, as part of the General Plan document, to develop an Environmental Resources Management Element. The final open space plan will be a part of this Element. Work on the Element is currently underway, and in- cludes the following: 1. Preliminary goals have been developed by the citi- zen' s General Plan Goals Committee. These will be refined during the process, based on additional studies . 2. An inventory of environmental resources , including open space, is being prepared. This includes : existing undeveloped land, topography, soils, land- related resources, flora and fauna, ocean-related resources, mineral resources, archeological and paleontological resources . 3. This inventory will be incorporated into a series of constraint maps and a composite land use suit- ability map. 4 . These syntheses will provide a basis for assessing both the current "state of the City" and the im- plications of alternative future "states of the City" in the development of alternative plan con- cepts. When combined with a cost/revenue analysis, a further synthesis of physical/biological con- straints, social, and economic/fiscal factors will result. 5. The most desirable development alternative will be incorporated as the land use plan for the City in the final General Plan document. The projected schedule calls for adoption of the Gen- eral Plan, including the Open Space plan, in June, 1975 . An open space ordinance will be part of the City ' s Zoning Ordinance.