The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCC Res 2478 1975-09-08 . , I RESOLUTION NO. ,2t./1/ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH ADOPTING A SCENIC HIGHWAYS ELEMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH DOES HEREBY RESOLVE: WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 65302(h) requires that cities adopt scenic highways elements to their general plans; and WHEREAS, the City's Planning Commission held a study session with interested residents to obtain their input; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Seal Beach held a public hearing on the proposed Scenic Highways Element on August 20, 1975; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Seal Beach adopted the Scenic Highways Element by Resolution No. 945 and recommended that the City Council adopt said Element; and WHEREAS, the City Council held<a public hearing on the proposed Scenic Highways Element on September 8, 1975; NOW, THEREOFR~';,~BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Seal Beach does hereby adopt a Scenic Highways Element to the General Plan, attached hereto and made a part hereof. The City Clerk shall place an endorsement upon the Scenic Highways Element described herein to show that I it has been adopted by the City Council of the City of Seal Beach on even date herewith, PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Counc~JtZf the C~of Seal Beach, California, at a meeting thereof held on the ~ day Of\LJ(:{,lJ..l./kJon t1LA] , 1975, by the following vote' AYES: Council Members3A~ &11.1'&/.?Afj~,".b.i{a~~ NOES: Council Members ~ ABSENT: Council Members~ .. .. ,. , -. '3..~. ... .. a ... .._..~"'-. ... ... . - .-.- "\. ,,, ......................- ...\. , '. ,.... ,\':'1 , ... ' . . Resolution ~umber SCENIC HIGHWAY ELEMENT CITY OF SEAL BEACH I Prepared by: City of Seal Beach Planning Department I Summer, 1975 . " i " " - '. ; ~. ., 1- 2. 3. 4. 5. I 6. 7. 8, 9. ,I Resolution Number . APPENDIX A TASK FLOI~ CHART Planning Department prepares a Specific Plan and Implementation Program for Pacific Coast Highway and adjacent corridor. California Department of Transportation, District 7 office, reviews plan and program. Review by Interdepartmental Committee on Scenic Highways. Review by Scenic Highway Advisory Gommittee. Director of the State Department of Public Works determines the qualification of the proposal for official Scenic Highway designation. . Scenic Highway Specific Plan and Program is adopted by the Planning Commission and City Council of Seal Beach. Assuming approval, the City of Seal Beach carries out the Scenic Highway Plan and Program. City of Seal Beach applies to the Department of Transportation. District 7, Engineer for official designation, Director of Public Works designates Pacific Coast Hlghway between the San Gabriel Flood Control Channel and Anderson Street as an Official State Scenic Highway. The Highway is signed accordingly. '. 12 -. I I Resolution Number V IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Planning Department should prepare a specific plan based on the city's General Plan for Pacific Coast Highway. This plan will constitute the city's proposal to the California Department of Transportation for designation of Pacific Coast Highway as a State Scenic Highway, Prepare and adopt a Scenic Roadway Ordinance to govern development within designated scenic highway and local roadway' corridors. The ordinance could include regulations concerning: A. The regulation of land use, which may include: (1) Control of density and intensity of development. (2) Detailed land and site planning. --Building height and setback limitations. --Undergrounding of utilities. --Attractive site planning, (3) Control of landscaping. --Screening offensive land use, --Tree preservation. B. Control of the design and appearance of structures and equipment. (1) Control of outdoor advertising, both on and off site, C, Implementation of esthetic highway and roadway design standards. (1) Upgrade landscape treatment along scenic routes. (2) Determine appropriate design speeds, (3) Design road facilities to achieve maximum esthetic quality. 3. Post si9ns denoting local scenic routes. , 2. , , , 11 - Resolution Number -- --, ~ -- I r '-- ..__ I ~ .IIU"._ ..." ......... .,. "'...1.11.. I ..- ..E'UtUIITI . , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . , I' , - ------- -""... -----------... , - ..... ..,- FIbI'OseJ:> 'SCENIC. . III . 1H"If wAV VIST#\ _/I FbIWT' ---, . .... ......... . . . C A LlrO"NU oIULY I, 1111' '" . ~ (. ...::.~~. "~:.\" :. j; ..... .,. ~ ", I . { , ' , ~'~'~-'::" -';" , " " , ~ ...... If' THE CITY 0' SEAL,IEACH , I .J -, I I Resolution Number IV SCENIC HIGHWAY AND ROADWAY MAP The Scenic Highway and Roadway Map is a graphic expression of written policy. It identifies those routes which have been determined to merit further evaluation and control of their scenic value, The map depicts two major categories of scenic routes; the proposed State Scenic . Highway and Local Scenic Roadways, The proposed State Scenic Highway has not yet been officially designated, but will be subject of a corridor study in the future. Until such time as State recognition is acquired, Pacific Coast Highway will be considered as a part of the local scenic route. 9 .. I I Resolution Number 2. Scenic elements within the suggested corridor, 3, The relationship of the roadway to its surrounding environment. 4. Proposed realignments or improvements of the route. 5. Potential locations of roadside rests, vista points and areas for public information sites. Using the data collected from this study, the City should prepare a specific plan integrating the Pacific Coast Highway Scenic Corridor into the General Plan and implementation program. Local Scenic Routes Certain streets or corridors along local scenic routes were included because of their attractive qualities, while others serve primarily as links between scenic routes. Ocean Avenue. Electric Avenue and portions of Seal Beach Boulevard and Lampson Avenue are the most attractive local scenic routes. Through implementation of the plan additional landscaping and sign control in commercial areas can enhance the attractive aspects of these routes. 8 -, I I Resolution Number III IDENTIFICATION OF SCENIC CORRIDORS The scenic highway encompasses two elements: (1) the road and its right-of-way; and (2) the scenic corridor extending out to variable distances beyond the right-of-way. The scenic corr'idor, the bands of land generally adjacent to the scenic highway right-of-way, complete the visual appearance of the total composition of the scenic highway. The boundaries of the scenic corridor are usually delineated by the range of visibility from the highway. The lateral extent of these corridors will vary with the natural characteristics of the urbanscape. Scenic corridors are the foundation of any plan of scenic highways. A scenic corridor gives a scenic highway its principal significance. It includes elements which make up outstanding scenic vistas and the facilities for enjoying them. These may be within the immediate roadside area or they may be part of a sweeping distant panorama. The scenic, historic, or cultural character of the scenic corridor should have a quality that merits recognition, or it should be of sufficient interest to be a destination, in and of itself, for recreation purposes, In addition, it should provide frequent opportunities for the development of roadside complementary facilities adjacent to the road. In order to acquire scenic highway status for Pacific Coast Highway, the City of Seal Beach must cooperate with the Department of Transportation District Scenic Highway Coordinator (District 7) to prepare a Scenic Highway Study for the segment of Pacific Coast Highway which traverses Seal Beach, The study would include: 1. Suggested scenic highway corridor boundaries.* * The corridor is defined as the area of land adjacent to and visible from the highway which requi,'es protective measures to insure perpetuation of its scenic qualities. See Appendix A, 7 .. I I Resolution Number system. The scenery along this route varies considerably, but is generally considered good, From the crest of Marina Hill it is possible to see the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, E. Lampson Avenue between Seal Beach Boulevard and the eastern city boundary. This route offers a scenic vista of the Old Ranch Country Club golf course, is part of the bike route system, and has few off premise signs.' 6 I ., I I Resolution number 1. Type 'of Roadway (e.g., arterial, local), 2. Significant natural and manmade features. 3. Existing and potential landscape character. 4. Existing and potential development character, 5. Potential to link with the Bicycle Trail System. The roadways selected for designation as local scenic routes include: A, Ocean Avenue from Seal Beach Boulevard to First Street. Travelers along this stretch are presented with a unique ocean vista accented by the pier at the foot of Main Street, At the intersection of Ocean Avenue and First Street, a scenic vista will be incorporated into a park proposed for a portion of the Department of Water and Power property located west of First Street. B, First Street from Ocean Avenue to Marina Drive, This extension links the Seal Beach local scenic route with the Long Beach proposed scenic route. It also coordinates with the Seal Beach bicycle trails system, C. Marina Drive and Electric Avenue. The Marina Drive entrance to the city is marked with a landscaped entryway sign to the south and public landscaped recreation facilities to the north, This route connects with Electric Avenue which is being redeveloped as a greenbelt park. Both Marina Drive and Electric Avenue are part of the bicycle route system of the , city. D, Seal Beach Boulevard from Electric Avenue to Lampson Avenue, , This roadway provides the major link between the coastal and interior portions of the comnlunity. and is part of the City's bicycle route 5 ., Resolution Numbec II IDENTIFICATION OF SCENIC RESOURCES Pacific Coast Highway In the City of Seal Beach, travel along Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) offers many vistas of major scenic resources. Between the southern city limits and Seal Beach Boulevard travelers can view the wildlife and I estuarine features o~ the Seal Beach Wildlife Refuge to the northeast, and Anaheim Bay and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. When atmospheric conditions allow, northwestern bound travelers are provided with a panoramic vista including Catalina Island, the Palos Verdes Hills and the Long Beach downtown skyline~ The Anaheim Bay bridge is recognized as a specific viewpoint because of its elevation which enhances the view of the surrounding natural features. On the other hand, vistas from Pacific Coast Highway between Seal Beach Boulevard and the San Gabriel Flood Control Channel are almost entirely urban and in some cases are marred by off-site advertising, utility lines and the appearance of some of the businesses along the highway, Various measures must be employed by the city to improve the view from the street through a program of scenic controls. These measures are discussed in the implementation section of this element. Local Scenic Routes III The largely urbanized character of Seal Beach limits the variety of topographical and natural features of unique scenic value along local roadways. There are exceptions, however, The following criteria were used in the designation of local roadways in Seal Beach considered to have scenic potential: 4 .. I I Resolution Number I GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Goals It is the intent of this element to protect and enhance the scenic areas traversed by highways. Obj ect i ves 1. To promote the achievement of a "complete highway" which incorporates s~fety, utility, economy, and beauty with the surrounding environment, 2. To maintain and enhance a scenic route as an integral part of the setting through which it passes without imposing undue restrictions on private property or constricting the normal flow of traffic. 3. To serve the open space objectives of recreation. enhancement of life, and management of incompatible development of areas which should be preserved for historic, conservation, or public health and safety purposes, Policies 1. Encourage the development of a system of local scenic routes within the city, to be enjoyed by all residents and visitors. 2, Protect and enhance esthetic resources within corridors of designated scenic highways and local roadways. 3. Establish and maintain urban scenic highways and local roadways to provide access to interesting and esthetic manmade features, historical and cultural sites, and urban open space areas. 4. Develop and apply standards to regulate the quality of development within corridors of designated scenic hi9hways and local roadways. Remove visual pollution from designated scenic highways and local roadway corridors, (e.q., undergrounding utilities, removing billboards, etc.) 6, Require the development and use of esthetic design standards for reconstruction of all designated scenic highways and local roadways, 5. 7. Coordinate the local scenic roadway system wi~h the bicycle trail network. 3 ,.. . I I 'Resolution Number, IV V A diagram indicating the community's scenic highway system. Recommendation of Implementation measures. 2 .' . - Resolution Number. SCENIC HIGHWAY ELEMENT INTRODUCTION The Scenic Highway Element is the initial step leading toward the official designation of a scenic highway, As such, the Element provides the basis for the preparation of specific scenic corridor plans as well as a set of policies to protect and enhance such corridors. Although the emphasis of the scenic highway element is on the designation of state highway routes as "scenic" routes, this does not III preclude local agencies from developing and adopting local scenic routes. Authority Government Code Section 65302(h) requires a scenic highway element of all city and county general plans as follows: "The plan shall include a scenic highway element for the development, establishment, and protection of scenic highways pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Stpeets and HighuJays Code." Procedure The following steps. recommended by the Council of Intergovernmental Relations, were followed in the preparation of this element: I I Goals. objectives and policies to enhance and protect the scenic corridors. II Identification and evaluation of scenic resources in the vicinity of streets and highways, particularly those routes eligible for official, scenic route designation. III Identification of scenic corridors,