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City of Santa Clarita August 2017

Oak Trees

The City of Santa Clarita recognizes indigenous oak trees for their significant historical, aesthetic and
environmental value. Native oak trees are protected under City of Santa Clarita Oak Tree Ordinance
(Ordinance No. 89-10, passed by the City Council on April 25, 1989) and the City’s Oak Tree
Preservation and Protection Guidelines (adopted September 11, 1990). As discussed in further detail in
Section 4.3 Biological Resources, the City of Santa Clarita requires that all potential impacts to oak trees
be preceded by an application to the City that includes a detailed oak tree report and that loss of or
damage to protected oaks be mitigated at a minimum 2:1 ratio.

Based upon the development and grading footprint of the proposed project as depicted in Figure 2.9,
Proposed Site Plan at Lyons Avenue, it has been determined that the 2 oak trees that occur within the
project limits would be required to be removed for project construction. The removal of or encroachment
to oak trees as a result of project construction would be considered a significant impact under both the
City of Santa Clarita and CEQA. Replacement oak trees would be planted in the number necessary to
comply with the requirements stipulated in the Oak Tree Permit issued by the City. With approval of the
required oak tree permits, and implementation of Mitigation Measure 4.3-7 in Section 4.3, Biological
Resources, aesthetic impacts associated with the loss or pruning of any oak tree would be reduced to less
than significant levels.

Scenic Highways

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The Project Site is bounded by Lyons Avenue and Railroad Avenue to the west, 13 Street to north, and
the proposed extension of the Dockweiler Drive realignment to the east. None of these roadways are
designated as scenic highways. Furthermore, no historic or archaeological resources have been identified
within the Project Site (See Section 4.4 Cultural Resources).

Beautification Master Plan

The Santa Clarita Beautification Master Plan contains Citywide design guidelines as well as specific
guidelines tailored to maintain the aesthetic character of the communities of Canyon Country, Newhall,
Saugus, and Valencia. The Beautification Master Plan addresses concepts for streetscape design,
landscape enhancement, gateways, and monumentation and signage, on both a regional and a community
scale. The Master Plan strives to maintain the identity of individual communities while unifying the entire
City through design. The Beautification Plan identifies a goal of providing landscaped medians within
major arterial roadways in order to provide aesthetic appeal, control vehicle circulation, calm traffic, and
provide area for directional and traffic signs. The Beautification Plan identifies Lyons Avenue and
Railroad Avenue as targeted areas for landscape median enhancement.

Lyons Avenue/Dockweiler Drive Extension Project 4.1. Aesthetics
SCH No. 2013082016 Page 4.1-8