HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/1994, C-3 - MORRO'S PLAN �Illy�lyp�l Ilpl�ry�lll MEETING DATE:
II �II�I"'ul u ► city of San WI S OBISPO 1216/94
= COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER:
FROM: J hn Dunn, City Administrative Officer
By: Paul LeSage, Parks & Recreation Director
SUBJECT: Morro's Plan
CAO RECOMMENDATION
By motion, authorize the appropriation of $7,000 for the City's contribution to the
Morro's Plan from the Open Space Acquisition/Parkland Fund.
DISCUSSION
The County of San Luis Obispo intends to develop a master plan for the preservation
of the Morro's. It is estimated that the plan will take three years to complete at a
cost to the County of $61,000. To date the County has received commitments to
assist in the funding from the Sierra Club ($2,000) and the Coastal Conservancy
($7,000). The County request from .the City is for $7,000. A similar request has
been made to the City of Morro Bay. County staff has indicated that the city
contribution will be used primarily for mapping necessary to the project.
The project itself will be completed in-house by County staff, with assistance from an
advisory committee on which the Parks & Recreation Director will sit. Completion of
a Morro's Master Plan will insure the preservation of a valuable natural resource, most
of which is within the City's open space green belt.
CONCURRENCES
Preservation of the Morro's is consistent with the approved Open Space Element of
the City's General Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the City's contribution to the Morro's Plan is from the Open Space
Acquisition/Parkland Fund. By participating in the study the City may be able to
assure the preservation of a significant area within the green belt without an actual
land purchase.
ATTACHMENT
Work Program for the Morros
c-3-
WORK PROGRAM
FOR THE
MORROS PLAN
Prepared by:
The County of San Luis Obispo,
Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services
August 15, 1994
Work Program for the Morros Plan
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Project Description 1
Background 1
Morros Plan Purpose 2
Study Area Z
Other Studies in the Project Area 3
Workscope 6
Preliminary Schedule 10
Estimated Yearly Expenses & Revenues 11
Summary of Estimated Hours and Costs 13
FIGURES
Page
Primary Study Area 4
Secondary Study Area 5
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Work Program for the Morros Plan
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The following is a work program for a Morros Plan. It is anticipated the Plan will take three years
to complete at a County cost of approximately $73,000. The work program includes as a component
an Advisory Committee. This Committee would develop the Morros Plan, providing public
participation and community input. To augment community participation; the Plan incorporates
numerous public hearings, including hearings with the Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo City
Councils. Local hearings would allow each jurisdiction direct input on the Morros Plan, recognizing
that the Morros are a significant resource in each of these cities. It should be noted a quicker
process (less than three years) is possible; however, such a process would not allow the same degree
of public involvement.
There is support for a Morros Plan. On September 14, 1993, the County Board of Supervisors
passed a resolution acknowledging the importance of the Morros as a County resource and the need
for a Morros Plan. About the same time, the cities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo (SLO) passed
similar resolutions. To show their support for the completion of a Morros Plan. money has.been
donated by the Sierra Club, the City of SLO and the California Coastal Conservancy. ' It is
anticipated that during the planning process additional monies will be available from grants and other
sources.
A Morros Plan is timely. An approved Morros Plan would not only clarify County policy in this
area. but would also make it more likely that grants or other monies could be obtained for Morros'
protection. Without such a plan it will be more difficult to guarantee the future of this spectacular
resource.
Background
The Morros are a string of extinct volcanic peaks commonly known as the. Seven Sisters. This
system of peaks. running in an east-west direction from the City of San Luis Obispo to the seashore
town of Morro Bay, constitutes one of the County's most unique and scenic resources. The peaks
range in altitude from Bishop Peak at 1546 feet to Morro Rock at 578 feet. The Morros generally
form a divide between three major watersheds, and a scenic backdrop and corridor for San Luis
Obispo, Morro Bay and Los Osos.
In terms of natural resources, the Morros contain important biological habitat (including wetlands),
archaeologic, geologic and scenic resources. The various elevations of the peaks have unique
vegetative and geologic characteristics. The lower basin areas are mostly grazing lands composed
of non-native grasses. At middle elevations, vegetation may include chamise and other hard
chaparral, and at higher elevations, vegetation may consist of mixed evergreen woodlands.
t The Sierra Club has donated 32,000, the City of SLO 55.000 to 57,000, and the California Coastal Conservancy
510,000 to 515.000 for resource studies.
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Work Program for the Morros Plan
The Morros are generally zoned Agriculture under the County's General Plan. County combining
designations designate the Morros' upper regions as Sensitive Resource Area, Geologic Study Area,
and Scenic lands.' Adopted County plans recommend protection of the Morros. The 1972 Open
Space Plan states the Morro Peaks should be acquired as scenic landmarks, with a continuous trail
linking San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. The 1992 Natural Areas Plan calls for native habitat
restoration, preservation, environmental education, and passive recreation restricted to those lands
open to public use.
Morros Plan Purpose
The Plan's purpose is long-tern protection of the Morros. As can be noted in the Workscope, it is
the Advisory Committee that will determine what areas should be protected and preservation
mechanisms. It is likely the Plan will recommend various protection mechanisms for key areas,
including some acquisitions, easements, transfer of development credits, and the use of regulation.
Consistent with County Parks' policy, land will be acquired by working with willing sellers, not by
using eminent domain. It is intended the Final Morros Plan serve as a policy document, guiding
stewardship, development and land use in the study area. The policies and standards contained in
the Final Morros Plan may eventually be adopted as part of the County's Agriculture and Open
Space Element, the San Luis Obispo Area Plan Update, the Estero Plan Update, and the County's
Park and Recreation Element Update.
Study Area
As part .of the Morros Work Plan a preliminary primary and secondary study area have been
identified. The primary study area' proposed under this work plan would include a section around
Islay Hill (located near the City of SLO's southeast perimeter) and the area extending westerly from
the San Luis Obispo City Limits (near Cerro San Luis) to the ocean. Except for the Islay Hill, Black
Hill and Morro Rock sections, the study area's boundaries are generally the City of SLO's City Limit
line on the east, Highway 1 to the north, Los Osos Valley Road and Tum Road to the south, and
South Bay Boulevard to the west (see Figure 1). The peaks included in the primary study area are:
Cerro San Luis, Bishop Peak, Chumash Peak, Cerro Romualdo, Hollister Peak, Cerro Cabrillo, Black
Hill, Morro Rock, and Islay Hill. Morro Rock, Black Hill and major portions of Islay Hill, Bishop
Peak and Cerro Cabrillo are presently in public ownership.
The secondary study area would extend north from Highway I and south from Los Osos Valley
Road to the perimeter of the Estero and San Luis Obispo Planning Area Lines (see Figure 2). The
secondary study area is included to (a) provide for critical interface areas or important connections
between the Morros and surrounding lands (such as wildlife, agricultural and recreational
connections), and (b) to establish coordination between the Morros planning area and adjoining
properties.
Z It is noted in the County's 1972 Open Space Plan that scenic lands are defined as land possessing outstanding
scenic qualities worthy of preservation and land subject to undesirable physical changes if one or more elements of the
environment is destroyed or altered.
3 Within this document the primary study area is referenced as the study area.
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Work Program for the Morros Plan
Other Studies In the Project Area
There are plans and studies presently being conducted in the Morros' area. The County's Planning
and Building Department is currently updating the San Luis Obispo Area and Estero Area Plans.
These two documents are part of the County's General Plan, and together would cover significant
portions of the Morros primary and sedbndary study area. The County Planning and Building
Department is also currently developing a Transfer of Development Credit program (TDC).
Information obtained for the general plan updates and the TDC research will be used for the Morros
Plan.
The San Luis Obispo Land Conservancy is managing the Los Osos/Baywood Greenbelt and
Conservation Plan. The purpose of this plan is to protect a number of sensitive species and visual
resources in the area surrounding the communities of Baywood and Los Osos. As planned, the
Morros Plan would augment the Conservancy's study by (a) extending the visual study over the
remaining sections of the Morros, and (b) sharing biological data. The San Luis Obispo Land
Conservancy and the County would share data and coordinate policies and programs.
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Work Program for the Morros .:.an —
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Figure 2. A general depiction ofthe Morros secondary study area.(shown in dashed lines).
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Work Program for the Morros Plan
WORKSCOPE
Task 1 - Information Gathering
The Project Manager will coordinate research and mapping for the Morros primary and secondary
study area.
Subtask A - Research
The Project Manager, in conjunction with County Planning and private consultants, will assemble
data for the primary and secondary study areas. Information gathered under this task will be used
by the Advisory Committee to determine Morros area (a) constraints, and (b) necessary protection
mechanisms. Similar information will be gathered for the primary and secondary study areas;
however, data for the secondary study area may be more generalized. Existing data available from
the Estero and San Luis Obispo Area Plan updates and from study area EIRs would be used during
the research and mapping stages. The majority of the Plan's research would be completed in Fiscal
Year 19941995; however, as new issues are raised some additional research would be conducted.
Basic data that would be compiled includes:
• Parcel information (sizes and property ownership),
• Facilities (existing and proposed structures, roadways. and other development),
• Historical occurrences (such as areas previously mined or used for dumping),
• Existing and planned land uses,
• Waterway information (including creeks, wetlands. natural seeps, and vernal pools),
• Wildlife corridors. and
• Geologic and soil characteristics (such as hazards and soil analyses),
Potential research would include:
• Resource studies (such as a visual, archaeological. historical. and biological studies),
• An agricultural study, and
• Other studies determined necessary by the Advisory Committee or environmental review.
Subtask B - ;Mapping
The Project Manager will work with County Planning's mapping staff and Cal Poly's Landscape
Architecture Department to provide study area maps. Mapped information would primarily include
data and information collected under Subtask A above.
Subtask C - Environmental Review
The project manager will coordinate with County Planning Department's Environmental Division
throughout the Plan's development. At the research stage this coordination should insure that
environmental constraints are defined early in the process. The County's Environmental Division
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Work Program for the ivforrob r'lan
would work with the Project Manager, providing technical expertise, in-house studies,° and input
regarding potential impacts and mitigation. Studies (either in-house or consultant) would be
conducted as necessary to determine resources, agricultural issues, and other constraints.
Consultant and in-house studies would only be conducted at the request of the Project Manager.
As an Administrative Draft Morros Plan is completed, an environmental document will be prepared
by the Environmental Division. Since the Morros Plan will provide protection mechanisms for the
Morros' it is anticipated a Negative Declaration (ND) could be completed.
Task 2 - Advisory Committee & Technical Committee
Two committees will work on the Morros Plan: (1) a Morros Advisory Committee, and (2) a Morros
Technical Committee. The Advisory Committee will be a voting committee, with roughly 12 to 17
committee members. The Advisory Committee will be responsible for determining (a) Morros
protection mechanisms, and (b) the content of the Draft Morros Plan. The Technical Committee will
be a non-voting committee having 3 to S members. The Technical Committee's purpose is to attend
Advisory Committee meetings and provide technical information at these meetings. Advisory
Committee meetings will be noticed and open to the public. Minutes from Advisory Committee
meetings will be available to the public and other interested parties.
Subtask A - Anaointments
The Advisory Committee will be appointed by the County's Park and Recreation Commission
(PARC).. Technical Committee members will not be appointed but rather will be requested to serve
as a Technical Committee member. The Project Manager will work with the County's Parks and
Recreation Commission (PARC) to establish Advisory Committee guidelines (such as size,
application format, and rules and procedures).
At a minimum. the following agencies, organizations or persons would be encouraged to participate
as an Advisory Committee member:
- Two Members of the Public •Two Private Land Owners (Within the Study Area)
- City of Morro Bay •Two Public Land Owners (Within the Study Area)
- City of SLO - Two Business Representatives
• Two Park & Recreation Commissioners • Sierra Club
- Agricultural Organization - County Planning Commissioner
At a minimum the following organizations/agencies would be encouraged to serve on the Technical
Committee:
• State Coastal Conservancy • Land Conservancy
• State Parks • County Planning
4 Environmental Division studies would be performed as necessary when expertise is available in-house.
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Work Program for the Mom... Plan
Task 3 - Draft Plan
The Draft Plan would address (at a minimum) areas of the Morros that should be protected and
protection mechanisms. The Advisory Committee would be responsible for developing the Draft
Plan's format, outline, and content with input from the public, the Technical Committee and the
Project Manager.
Subtask A: Work With Advisory Committee
The Project Manager will coordinate Advisory Committee meetings consistent with the
Committee's rules and procedures, serving as the Committee's staff. As noted in the Workscope's
Preliminary Schedule (see page 8), the Advisory Committee would meet monthly (at a minimum)
during the Administrative Draft and Draft Plan's development. After the Draft Plan is released for
public review the Advisory Committee would continue meeting to maintain Committee involvement
(although potentially less frequently).
Subtask B: Administrative Draft Morros Plan
Based on input and direction from the Advisory Committee an Administrative Draft Morros Plan
(ADMP) will be prepared by the Project Manager. Once the ADMP is completed, the Advisory
and Technical committees would review and provide input on the ADMP.
Subtask C: Public Hearine Draft Morros Plan (Draft Plan)
The Administrative Draft will be revised by the Project Manager (creating a Public Hearing Draft
Morros Plan), based on comments and actions of a majority of the Advisory Committee.
Subtask D: Conving and Distribution
Once the Public Hearing Draft Plan is completed, the document will be sent for binding and
copying. Property owners in the study area and the general public will be noticed the Draft Morros
Plan is available. Copies of the plan will be available at the Cal Poly Library, the City/County
Library, and at the County for review. The Draft Plan will also be available for purchase by
members of the public and those organizations requesting copies. A copy of the Draft Plan will
be made available (at no cost) to:
1. Various State and Local Agencies,
2. City of SLO (City Council and City Administrative Officer),
3: City of Morro Bay (City Council and City Administrative Officer),
4. County Review Bodies & Departments (Morros Advisory Committee, Morros Technical
Committee, PARC, Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, Planning and Building
Department - Environmental Division),
5. Local Advisory Committees (Los Osos Community Advisory Council and Monro Bay Task
Force)
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Work Program for the Morros Plan
Subtask E: Initial Public Hearings
Public hearings will be conducted to obtain input on the Draft Plan. The Project Manager will
attend all hearings and record recommended changes for incorporation into the Final Morros Plan.
Initial Public Hearings on the Draft Plan will be conducted by the following, the:
1. SLO City Council
2. Monro Bay City Council
3. County Park and Recreation Commission
4. County Planning Commission
Subtask F: Morros Plan Adontion
After the Initial Public Hearings are completed, the Advisory Committee will meet to discuss the
comments received on the Draft Plan. The Project Manager, in conjunction with the Advisory and
Technical Committee, will prepare a list of potential changes to the Draft Plan. These changes
should be based on new information and comments received during the Initial Public Hearings.
The Project Manager will then schedule the Draft Plan for County Board of Supervisor's review
and adoption. A resolution for Board adoption will include consideration of the Draft Plan as
written, the Plan's environmental document, comments received (written and oral), and the list of
potential changes. The County Board of Supervisors shall provide final direction regarding the
Morros Plan, indicating what changes shall be incorporated into the Final Morros Plan.
Task 4 - Final Morros Plan (FMP)
The Draft Plan will be revised before and during Board hearings to enable the Board of Supervisors
to adopt a Final Morros Plan.
Subtask A - Revise Draft Plan
The Project Manager will revise the Draft Plan consistent with the Board's direction. As
necessary, new graphics (such as diagrams and maps) will be provided to clarify information.
Subtask B - Coyving & Distribution
Once the Final Plan is completed, the document will be sent for binding and copying. Property
owners in the study area and the general public will be noticed the Final Morros Plan is available.
Copies of the plan will be available at the Cal Poly Library, the City/County Library, and at the
County for review. The Final Plan will also be available for purchase by members of the public
and those organizations requesting copies. A copy of the Final Morros Plan will be made available
(at no cost) to those agencies and persons enumerated in Task 3, Subtask D.
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