Page 139 - lyonsdockweilerdeir081617

City of Santa Clarita August 2017

Railroad Avenue, west of the Project Site. Light and glare from Old Town Newhall is largely blocked
from land uses to the east by the steep terrain and hillsides east of Railroad Avenue.

Regulatory Setting

Aesthetics is addressed in various sections of the City of Santa Clarita’s General Plan and Municipal
Code. Each element of the General Plan contains goals, objectives, and policies to map out the
development approach for the City. General aesthetic appearance goals, policies, and objectives are
discussed below in the General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element and Municipal Code’s
Hillside Development Ordinance.

General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element

The Conservation and Open Space Element establish a framework to ensure preservation of an open
space greenbelt around large portions of the Santa Clarita Valley, in addition to preserving water quality,
historic and cultural resources, scenic views, and providing recreational facilities to enhance the quality of
life for residents. Preservation of scenic and accessible open spaces around the urbanized portions of the
Valley, and between neighborhoods and districts, contributes to community character and the distinctive
sense of place. The Conservation and Open Space Element includes goals, objectives and policies for the
following resources: soils and geological resources; water, including water supply, quality and
conservation; biological resources; cultural and historical resources; air quality, energy conservation and
climate change; parks, recreation, and trails; and open space conservation.

Hillside Development Ordinance

Section 17.51.080 of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code establishes the Hillside Development Ordinance in
order to regulate the development and alteration of hillside areas, to minimize the adverse effects of
hillside development and to provide for the safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Santa Clarita
while allowing for the reasonable development of hillside areas. The Hillside Development Ordinance
includes the following objectives:

1. Provide hillside development standards to maximize the positive impacts of site design, grading,
landscape architecture and building architecture, and provide development consistent with the
goals and policies of the General Plan.

2. Maintain the essential natural characteristics of the area such as major landforms, vegetation and
wildlife communities, hydrologic features, scenic qualities and open space that contribute to a
sense of place.

3. Retain the integrity of predominant off-site and on-site views in hillside areas in order to maintain
the identity, image and environmental quality of the City.

Projects with slopes that average 10% or greater qualify for hillside plan review. As the Proposed Project
encompasses slopes of 10% or greater, the Proposed Project is subject to the provisions of this Ordinance.

Lyons Avenue/Dockweiler Drive Extension Project 4.1. Aesthetics
SCH No. 2013082016 Page 4.1-7