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Home My WebLink AboutPC 2021-13PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2021-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR, CALIFORNIA, FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF PROPERTY FROM THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO ACCOMMODATE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO THE 57/60 CONFLUENCE PROJECT IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65402(A). A. RECITALS (i) WHEREAS, on April 18, 1989, the City of Diamond Bar was established as a duly organized municipal corporation of the State of California; (ii) WHEREAS, on July 25, 1995, the City of Diamond Bar adopted its General Plan incorporating all State mandated elements; (iii) WHEREAS, on December 17, 2019, the City of Diamond Bar adopted its Comprehensive General Plan Update incorporating all State mandated elements; (iv) WHEREAS, the 57160 Confluence Project was created in collaboration with Caltrans, the cities of Industry and Diamond Bar, which is a three-phase program of improvements consisting of ramp and interchange reconfigurations as well as the addition of lanes to improve congestion and minimize accidents; (v) WHEREAS, a portion of the Diamond Bar Golf Course property owned by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and the slope areas on the west and east side of Grand Avenue owned by the City of Industry must be transferred to San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to complete the freeway improvements for Phase Ill of the 57/60 Confluence Project; (vi) WHEREAS, the area of the Diamond Bar Golf Course to be transferred for the 57/60 Confluence Project is approximately 9.13 acres and the area of the slopes on either side of Grand Avenue is approximately 0.207 acres, as shown in the attached Exhibits A; (vii) WHEREAS, upon completion of the freeway improvements, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments will convey both County and City properties to the State of California Department of Transportation; (viii) WHEREAS, Section 65402(a) of the Government Code of the State of California requires that no street shall be acquired by dedication or otherwise for street, square, park or other public purposes until the location, purpose and extent has been submitted to and reported upon by the planning agency of the City as to conformity with adopted General Plan or part thereof; and (ix) WHEREAS, on August, 24, 2021, at a regularly scheduled meeting, the Planning Commission, considered the matter of the proposed transfer of property from the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation to accommodate freeway improvements related to the 57/60 Confluence Project to be in conformance with the Diamond Bar General Plan, and concluded said review prior to the adoption of this Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: 1. The Planning Commission hereby specifically finds that all of the facts set forth in the Recitals, Part A, of this Resolution are true and correct. 2. The Planning Commission hereby finds that the proposed transfer of property is in conformance with the adopted General Plan of the City of Diamond Bar as follows: Circulation Element (a) Goal CR-G-7 states: Ensure smooth traffic flows by maintaining or improving traffic levels of service (LOS) that balance operational efficiency, technological and economic feasibility, and safety. The Project will support an operational flexibility to the two merged freeways and improve LOS in the 57160 Confluence from an F" to a "C" or better. (b) Goal CR-G-9 states: Create and maintain programs for funding transportation improvements, with fair and equitable sharing of transportation improvement costs. Phase 111 is the construction of $256 million freeway improvements and is fully funded with a $217 million grant from the State of California and a $30M grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFA) program. (c) Policy CR-P-7 states: Maintain roadway design standards to manage vehicle speeds and traffic volumes, updating them as needed. The Project will provide an improvement to the freeway by relieving congestion and minimize accidents. (d) Policy CR-P-18 states: Prioritize and phase improvements through the City's Capital Improvements Program process as development proceeds, given the extended time frame of General Plan implementation. The 57160 Confluence Project is a three-phase program of improvements consisting of ramp and interchange reconfigurations as well as the addition of auxiliary collector/distributor and bypass lanes to significantly reduce the weaving and the resulting congestion and accidents. Phase Ill of the Project includes reconstructing the Grand Avenue overcrossing, reconfiguring the ramps at Grand Avenue, extending a through lane on northbound SR-57, constructing an eastbound SR-60 bypass off ramp to Grand Avenue and constructing an eastbound bypass connector from Grand Avenue to SR-60. (e) Policy CR-P-26 states: As opportunities arise, coordinate with other jurisdictions, including neighboring cities, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, and Caltrans, on improvements to street segments common to the City of Diamond Bar and other jurisdictions. The City is working in collaboration with the City of Industry and Caltrans to improve traffic operations and safety on SR-57 and SR-60 at the Grand Avenue interchange. 2 PC Resolution No. 2021-13 (f) Policy CR-P-29 states: Solicit State and Federal funds to improve area freeways and local streets. The $256 million project will be constructed in three phases with a combination of local, county and federal funding sources. 3. The Planning Commission hereby finds that the property transfer is covered by the "common sense exemption" from CEQA [CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)], which states, "(w)here it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA." 4. Based on the findings and conclusions set forth above, this Resolution shall serve as the Planning Commission's finding regarding the General Plan conformity of the proposed transfer of property from the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and City of Industry to accommodate freeway improvements related to the 57/60 Confluence Project, as required by California Government Code Section 65402(a). The Planning Commission shall: (a) Certify as to the adoption of this Resolution; and (b) Forthwith transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to Lee Barocas, Planning and Development Agency, County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, 1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Building A-9 West, 3rd Floor - Unit #40, Alhambra, California 91803, and Joshua Nelson, PE, Director of Public Works/City Engineer, 15625 E. Stafford Street, City of Industry, CA 91744, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 24TH DAY OF AUGUST 2021, BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR. William Rawlings, Chairpe son I, Greg Gubman, Planning Commission Secretary, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly introduced, passed, and adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Diamond Bar, at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 24th day of August, 2021, by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners: Barlas, Mok, Wolfe, VC/Garg, Chair/Rawlings NOES: Commissioners: None ABSENT: Commissioners: None ABSTAIN: Commissioners: None ATTEST: Greg Gubman, ecretary PC Resolution No. 2021-13