1 EXHIBIT 4
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY ANALYSIS FOR PHASE
I IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELLWOOD MESA
MONARCH BUTTERFLY HABITAT MANAGEMENT
PLAN
The Project is consistent with the Goleta General Plan/Land Use Plan (GP/LUP) as follows:
Land Use Element
The proposed project and uses are consistent with the guiding principles and goals of Chapter 2, Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan. The proposal is in compliance with the Land Use Plan Map (LU 1.1, Figure 2 -1) land use designation of Open Space/Passive Recreation. The scope of work for habitat enhancements and providing public access and passive recreational opportunities are allowed uses and consistent with the designation.
With respect to LU 1.7 and LU 1.8, the project is appropriate and will meet highest and best standards for environmental compliance and protection of environmental resources , while offering neighborhood compatibility with surrounding areas for this habitat enhancement project. Pursuant to LU 1.13, adequate infrastructure and services are available to serve the Project.
Policies LU 6.1 (Table 4) and LU 6.2 prescribe a use category and standards intended for open space and passive recreation due to the presence of significant environmental values, wildlife habitats, significant views, and other open space values on the project site. The project meets each of the standards which includes maintaining the land in a natura l condition to protect and conserve sensitive habitats, allowing for habitat restorations, and improvements to allow the continuation of passive public recreation such as trails, beach access and public viewing areas.
The entire site is subject to Policy LU 9.4 which includes specific development standards for the Santa Barbara Shores Park and Sperling Preserve parcels (Site 4). The site is subject to a deed restriction that requires the use of the property to be restricted in perpetuity to only passive recreational activities and habitat protection. The project as proposed is consistent with each of the criteria (a-f) of Policy LU 9.4 given it is purpose is specifically, in part, to preserve and protect the property’s sensitive habitats and preserve and improve access and use by the public. Habitat enhancements are specifically designed to preserve Monarch overwintering and roosting sites and other sensitive habitats. Trail improvements have been designed to maintain the natural, low -impact appearance of t he existing trails with surfaces limited to native soils. Additionally, landscaping and habitat restoration (other than Eucalyptus trees) will be limited to native species design to maintain the natural appearance of area and will not obstruct views to either the ocean or mountains. Pursuant to LU 1.13, adequate infrastructure and services are available to serve the Project.
Therefore, the Project is consistent with the City’s General Plan Land Use Element.
City Council Resolution 23- ____ Exhibit 4
Phase I Implementation of the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan General Plan Consistency
2 Open Space Element
The proposed project and uses are consistent with the guiding principles and goals of Chapter 3, Open Space Element of the City’s General Plan. Given the scope and nature of the proposed project elements (Implementation of Phase I of the MBHMP), the project is inherently consistent wi th the goals of preserving open space, coastal access, and recreation.
Through enhancements to the existing trails , open space, and habitats within the Ellwood Mesa Open Space-Sperling Preserve, the project fulfils the goal of Policies OS 1.3 and OS
2.3 for preserving existing access and recreation. Similarly, Policy OS 2.8 prescribes standards for the management of existing vertical accessways to the shoreline. The project as proposed is consistent with these applicable standards to protect habitat resources and reduce impacts to ESHAs by limiting access to existing trails and improving creek crossings to minimize impacts to riparian resources.
Regarding Policies OS 3.3 and OS3.4 related to signage for coastal access and coastal access amenities, the project enhancements proposed to provide trail markers, interpretive signage, benches, and appropriate coastal access signs at appropriate entrances to the open space have been designed to be compatible with sensitive environmental resources and the visual c haracter of the area. Additionally, Policy OS 4.5 requires trails in and adjacent to riparian areas to be constructed in a manner which minimizes removal of riparian vegetation and limits the number of creek crossings. The proposed footbridge will replace the existing informal creek crossing within the creek and instead span the creek channel in order to allow revegetation of the creek channel with native riparian species and provide for uninterrupted flows , thereby minimizing creek crossing and disturbance to the riparian habitat.
Policy OS 5 specifically addresses the Ellwood -Devereux and Sperling Preserve and provides specific guidance for the management of coastal access and coastal -dependent passive recreation in a manner consistent with the protection and enhancement of the site’s environmentally sensitive habitat area and other environmental and scenic resources. The project as proposed is expressly intended to implement this policy and has been developed in accordance with each of the sub-policies and guiding principles.
Regarding Policy OS-5.4, the protection and management of habitat areas as proposed is consistent with each of the policy directives to include a broad, ecosystem approach , to enhance and/or restore degraded habitats, manage the long-term vitality of the eucalyptus groves and the stability of the M onarch butterfly population. In addition, the project, as designed, seeks to accommodate public access in a manner consistent with the protection of sensitive resources through the use of local watershed genetic seed stock to the maximum extent feasible.
Policy 5.5 prescribes specific management policies that shall apply to land owned by the City withing the Ellwood -Devereux Open Space area. The project as designed and proposed is consistent with each of these policies which promotes only permitted uses for passive recreation . The project will not introduce or encourage use or management City Council Resolution 23- ____ Exhibit 4
Phase I Implementation of the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan General Plan Consistency
3 activities otherwise not allowed per Policy 5.5.
Regarding cultural resources and compliance with Open Space (OS) policy 8 (Protection of Native American and Paleontological Resources), the City conducted an AB52 consultation during the develop of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan. A Section 106 Tribal Consultation will be conducted prior to construction. Locations of archaeological resource sites are known to exist in buried context within the project area, and these have been extensively documented. Because the majority of the proposed project does involve significant ground disturbances, the likelihood of disturbing archaeological deposits in the proposed project site is considered low. Nevertheless, there remains a chance that construction activities associated with the proposed project could result in accidentally discovering archaeological resources. Conditions are included to address unanticipated discoveries of cultural resources and archaeological and Native American monitoring during ground disturbing activities. Therefore, the project is consistent with the City’s General Plan Open Space Element.
Conservation Element
The proposed project and uses have been specifically designed to be consistent with the guiding principles and goals of the Conservation Element to preserve and protect Goleta’s environmental resources, including valuable habitat areas. With incorporation of mitigation measures and permit conditions from agencies with direct jurisdiction over the project’s riparian and sensitive habitat areas, the project will protect these resources to the maximum extent feasible.
Policies CE1.6 (a through d) identify allowed uses and buffer setbacks in and adjacent to ESHA. Public accessways and trails are considered resource-dependent uses and may be located within or adjacent to Environmentally Sensitive Habitat areas (ESHA). Policy 1.9 establishes standards for all development in and adjacent to ESHAs. Although the project does not include any structural development (other than footbridges and trail signage), the project has been designed to minimize grading, erosion, siltation of creeks, not introduce any light and glare or noise sources, minimize the need for fuel modificatio n or weed abatement, and conditioned to avoid grading during nesting and rainy seasons.
Policy CE 1.10 specifies certain standards that apply to the management of ESHAs. The project has been designed consistent with these standards to minimize or avoid the use of herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers to the maximum extent feasible . Meanwhile, the project proposes the removal of nonnative invasive plant species and flood control measures are included to provide for effective flood control, and weed abatement and brush clearing is proposed for fire safety purposes that include the use of hand crews and equipment to minimize or avoid impacts to sensitive biological resources.
Similarly, the project is consistent with Polic ies C E 2.2 and 2.3 that also allow for restoration/habitat enhancement, low-impact interpretive and public access signage, and construction and maintenance of foot trails within streamside protection areas. Regarding policies CE 2.5 and 2.6, the project is designed specifically to improve the natural drainage channels with minimal disturbance to the ecosystem. The proposed culvert has been found necessary to improve channel capacity and flows while minimizing the need for vegetation City Council Resolution 23- ____ Exhibit 4
Phase I Implementation of the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan General Plan Consistency
4 removal and disruption of the riparian system.
Regarding Policy CE 4, the project is inherently consistent with and specifically intended to promote the preservation, protection and enhancement of monarch butterfly habitat and the autumnal and winter roost/aggregations sites, and the long-term stability of over-wintering populations. Numerous experts have been consulted and site-specific investigations using the best available methods have been completed in the preparation of the project. The proposed pruning and removal of dead and dying trees and debris, enhancement of public trails and proposed interpretive signage is consistent with this policy.
The project is also consistent with Policies CE 8.2, 8.3 and 9, requiring protection of habitat areas, trees, and mitigation of impacts to native t rees. Through project design, mitigation measures and use of best management practices , the project will also be consistent with CE Policies 10.3, 10.4, 10.6. Therefore, the project is consistent with the Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan.
Safety Element
The proposed project would not result in any significant hazard s to the public or environment. Flood hazards will be minimized through improved channel flows resulting from channel clearing and upgraded culvert designs. Regarding fire hazards, the project is intended to promote and enhance fire safety through the development of a fuel modification plan that will remove the fuel load which presently exists through the removal of dead and dying trees and non-native understory vegetation. Therefore, the project is consistent with the Safety Element of the City’s General Plan.
Visual and Historic Resources Element
Views of the mountains and foothills, open space areas, and the Pacific Ocean and Islands are visible from the various vantage points throughout the project area. However, other than signage and a pedestrian bridge, no above-ground development is proposed and therefore no impacts to visual resources are associated with the project. Regarding Policy VH 4, the Design Review Board has provided conceptual review of the proposed project including input on trail and interpretive sig nage and footbridge which have been designed to consistent with the open space character of the site. No lighting is proposed, and the project will not affect any historical resources. Therefore, the project is consistent with the Visual and Historic Resource Element of the City’s General Plan
The Project will be visible from various points along San Jose Creek, but in a complementary way that will not block open space views, consistent with Visual and Historic Resource (VH) Element 1.5. The project will provide a high level of design as project plans develop, consistent with Policy VH2.4, Public Improvements, as well as VH 2.5 that requires linkage between scenic areas by adjacent public facilities such as parks and trails. The only lighting proposed as part of the project is within the proposed box culvert under SR 217, so no lighting would be visible from adjoining pro perties. Therefore, the project is consistent with Visual and Historic Resources of the City’s General Plan
Noise Element
The proposed project and uses are consistent with the guiding principles and goals of City Council Resolution 23- ____ Exhibit 4
Phase I Implementation of the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan General Plan Consistency
5 Chapter 9.0, Noise Element of the City’s General Plan. The project will not introduce any new excessive noise generating sources to the surrounding community or open space area.
Therefore, the project is consistent with the City’s Noise Element.
Exhibit 5 to City Council Resolution No. 23-
MBHMP Implementation – Phase 1 Conditions of Approval
October 17, 2023
1 EXHIBIT 5
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND “IN- CONCEPT COASTAL
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR THE ELLWOOD MESA OPEN
SPACE MONARCH BUTTERFLY HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN PHASE 1 IMPLEMENTATION. THE PROJECT IS LOCATED ON NINE CITY- OWNED PARCELS(ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBERS 079-210-069, 079-210-024, 079-210-051, 079-210-050, 079-491-016, 079-445-001, 079-395-015, 079-395-016, AND 079- 395-012).”
I
n addition to all applicable provisions of the Title 17 of the Goleta Municipal Code (“GMC”), the City of Goleta (“Applicant” or “Permittee”) agrees to the following conditions for the City’s approval of the Development Plan (hereinafter interchangeably r eferred to as “Project Conditions” or “Conditions of Approval”).
Un
less the contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context, the construction of words and phrases used in these Project Conditions use the definitions set forth in the GMC.
A
UTHORIZATION
1. This Development Plan authorizes implementation of project plans and attached hereto, subject to the Conditions of Approval set forth below, including specified plan sheets and agreements included by reference, as well as all applicable City rules and regulations. The project is approved as stated below.
D
evelopment Plan for Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan MBHMP Phase I Implementation will occur on nine City-owned parcels and multiple Assessor Parcel Numbers (079-210-069, 079-210- 024, 079-210-051, 079-210-050, 079-491-016, 079-445-001, 079-395-015, 079-395-016, and 079- 395-012).
Two types of activities will occur: 1) Habitat re- establishment of the management area. Habitat enhancement will include strategic planting of trees for monarch roosting, specific tree planting to restore wind protection around roosting sites, planting of nectaring vegetation for monarchs and other pollinators, and planting of native vegetation for other wildlife and the overall habitat health of the management area. 2) Public access improvements for the safety of and use by the public. Public access improvements will include the replacement of deteriorated wooden planks that served as a footbridge to cross Devereux Creek at the main aggregation site, replacement of culverts conveying water to and in Devereux Creek, emergency/maintenance road renovation, earthen trail repairs and rerouting, improvements to the two viewing areas at Ellwood Main, and way-finding signage.
2. T
he Applicant/Permittee is responsible for complying with all of the Conditions of Approval contained in this Development Plan.
3. When exhibits and/or written Project Conditions are in conflict, the written Project Conditions shall prevail. The exhibits associated with this permit include the plans.
4. The City will only issue permits for development, including local zoning clearance following Exhibit 5 to City Council Resolution No. 23-
MBHMP Implementation – Phase 1 Conditions of Approval
October 17, 2023
2 issuance of the Coastal Development Permit by the Coastal Commission, when the construction documents (e.g., grading plans, building plans, etc.) are in substantial compliance with approved plans.
5. The effectiveness of this Development Plan will be suspended for the time period that any Project Condition is part of a legal action filed in a court of competent jurisdict ion. If any Project Condition is invalidated by a court of law, the Project must be reviewed by the City and substitute conditions may be imposed to validate this Development Plan.
6. I
f any Project Condition is invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Project must be reviewed by the City and substitute conditions may be imposed to validate the Development Plan.
P
RIOR TO PROJECT BIDDING FOR CONSTRUCTION:
7. The Applicant/Permittee shall obtain from the City’s Planning and Environmental Review Director a Zoning Clearance prior to commencement of any uses and/or development authorized by this permit.
8. T
hese Conditions of Approval shall be printed in their entirety on all plans submitted for issuance of any Zoning Clearance or Grading Permit for the project.
9. C
onstruction Timing. Construction activity and equipment maintenance is limited to the hours between 8AM and 5PM Monday through Friday. Exceptions to these may be made for onsite work for good cause at the sole discretion of the Planning and Environmental Review Director. Exceptions to these restrictions for work in the City Right-of-Way may be made for good cause at the sole discretion of the Public Works Director or designee. Any subsequent amendment to the General Plan noise standard upon which these construction hours are based shall supersede the hours stated herein. No construction can occur on State holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving, Labor Day).
The Planning and Environmental Review Director must
monitor compliance with restrictions on construction hours and must promptly investigate and respond to all complaints.
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATIONS/CONDITIONS
The Applicant/Permittee must comply with all mitigation measures identified in the Final MND prepared for the project. A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) was prepared as part of the environmental review of the project. The mitigation measures of the MMRP are incorporated into these conditions of approval by reference. All mitigation measures and conditions of approval must be listed on the plans and specifications for project construction and bidding purposes.
CITY DEPARTMENT CONDITIONS – Planning and Environmental Review Department T
he following standards/requirements are general/on-going and must be complied with by the Permittee and/or successors in interest:
Exhibit 5 to City Council Resolution No. 23-
MBHMP Implementation – Phase 1 Conditions of Approval
October 17, 2023
3 11. The Permittee is responsible for informing all sub- contractors, consultants, engineers, or other business entities providing services related to the project of their responsibilities to comply with these conditions including, without limitation, Title 17 of the GMC. This includes the requirements that a business license be obtained to perform work within the City as well as the City’s construction hour limitations.
12. Before the start of any work on-site, the Permittee must conduct a pre-construction meeting that includes the Permittee, project superintendent, architect, subcontractors, as well as the City Public Works Department and including all elements included in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
13. Any temporary building trailer, commercial coach etc. installed or used in connection with the construction of this project must comply with the requirements of Title 17 Section 17.21.460.
By signing this document, I, , acting on behalf of the City of Goleta, certify that I have read, understand, and agree to the Project Conditions listed in this document.
Public Works Director Date
City of Goleta, Public Works Department
-End of Conditions-
ATTACHMENT 6
MBHMP Presentation
Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of a
Development Plan/Coastal Development
Plan In-Concept for the Phase I
Implementation Plan of the Ellwood
Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat
Management Plan and associated
Addendum under the California
Environmental Quality Act
George Thomson, Parks & Open Space Manager
City Council Public Hearing
October 17, 2023
Development Plan
In Concept Coastal Development Permit Review
Addendum to Initial Study – Mitigated Negative
Declaration
Coastal Commission CDP Review Anticipated Spring
2024
Project Construction Anticipated 2024-2025
Public Hearing for Ellwood Mesa
Butterfly Grove Phase 1 Implementation
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 2
Project Team
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 3
• City Parks and Open Space Division/CIP Division – Project Lead, Community Engagement, Site Stewardship, Grants, Construction Project Delivery
• County Fire Department – Wildfire Risk Reduction
• RRM Design Group - Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture • Rincon Consultants – Biologists, Arborists, Permit Applications and Compliance, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting, Data Management/Visualization
• Althouse & Meade/Creekside Science – Monarch Butterfly Expertise, Habitat Assessments and Enhancement Design, Computer Modelling, Aggregation Site Protections, Adaptive Management • Storrer Environmental – Wildlife Protection, Pre-Construction Wildlife Surveys • LegacyWorks Group – Community Engagement and Outreach, Media Relations, Project Documentation • CalPoly SLO – Eucalyptus Trees
• UC Santa Barbara – Habitat Stewardship Implementation, Volunteer Program, Adaptive Management
In Memoriam
Daniel E. Meade, PhD
February 1, 1954 - November 26, 2022
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 4
2011-19: Community Process: Management Plan,
Emergency Tree Removal
2019: City Council adopted Monarch Butterfly Habitat
Management Plan
2020: Coastal Conservancy Grant Work Plan Developed
2021-Ongoing: Various Emergency Tree Work Projects
2022-Ongoing: Focused Wildfire Risk Reduction
2020-2023: Site Analysis, Environmental Constraints
Mapping, Phase 1 Implementation Plan Development
Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan
Timeline
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 5
Habitat Enhancements
Public Safety
Infrastructure Renewal
Recreation Amenities
Maintenance
Ellwood Mesa Stewardship
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 6
One-Time Projects vs. Ongoing Stewardship Activities
Stewardship Programs
Trash, Trails, Emergencies
Encampments & High Fire Ordinance
FireSafe Communities
Education
Mapping
Collaborations & Emerging Programs
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 7
Emergency Tree Removals &
Fire Risk Reduction
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 8
Goleta Butterfly Grove
Project Area – Phase 1
60-acres
Includes 5 of the 8 historic
butterfly aggregation sites
Implements 20 of 22 programs
outlined in the MBHMP
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 9
Habitat Improvements
Public Safety and Access
Ellwood Mesa Stewardship &
Community Participation
Major Project Elements
MBHMP Phase 1 Implementation
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 10
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 11
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 12
Althouse and Meade, Inc. & Creekside Science
Using Drones & Lasers to See the Butterfly
Grove—now and into the future
Drone collected LiDAR
and multispectral data
about forest structure to
inform
recommendations
Provides detailed
information about the
health of forest and wind
protection for monarchs
October 11, 2023
Althouse and Meade, Inc. & Creekside Science
Identifying Dead Wood
NV5 identified standing stems,
including dead stems
Helpful for further analysis and
to understand the scope of
dieback at Ellwood
Estimated total of 40,000
square yards of dead tree
material
900+ dump trucks
October 11, 2023
Dead Downed Stems
All Classified Stems
Standing Dead Stems
Living Stems
Althouse and Meade, Inc. & Creekside Science
Simulating Wind Conditions
Quality of wind protection
is important to
overwintering habitat
Wind simulations were
conducted to test current
and future conditions at
Ellwood Main
Trees were digitally
“planted” and allow to grow
to maturity
Iterations of wind modeling
informed recommendations
Mature
Existing Conditions
Althouse and Meade, Inc. & Creekside Science
Testing Planting Designs
Used wind models to
test planting ideas in
an idealized
environment
Double Row design is
used to reinforce edges
along canopy
boundaries
Used widely in our
restoration
recommendations
Tree Planting Plan
Wind simulations, along with other
analyses led to our recommended
planting plan
Goal is to restore wind protection to
historical levels or better
Hexagons are used to estimate
number of trees based on our
recommended spacing
These locations are only for
guidance, specific planting locations
will be determined in the field
PLANTING PLAN ZONES
IRRIGATION PLAN
Mainline Buried Under Existing Trails
Lateral Lines Temporary
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 21
Trail, Viewing Area, and
Boardwalk Improvements
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 22
Public Access, Authorized Vehicle Access, & Drainage Structures
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 23
Public Access, Authorized Vehicle Access, & Drainage Structures
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 24
Public Access, Authorized Vehicle Access, & Drainage Structures
Biological Resources Assessment
Wildlife Management Plan
Nesting Bird Management Plan
Mitigation Monitoring & Reporting Program
Sensitive Resource Identification & Protection
Plans
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 25
Since MBHMP Adoption, more detailed design on:
Irrigation, Temporary Water Meter Upsizing,
Emergency/Maintenance Road Renovation, Viewing
Area Repair/Improvement
Analysis conclusion = no new or more severe
environmental impacts
Extensive Monitoring Mitigation & Reporting Program
CEQA IS-MND ADDENDUM SUMMARY
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 26
A. Conduct a public hearing to take verbal and written testimony; B. Adopt Resolution No. 23-____ entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Adopting an Addendum to the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Pursuant to Section 15164 of the State CEQA Guidelines and Approving the Development Plan and In-Concept Coastal Development Permit for the Phase I Implementation Plan of the Ellwood Mesa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan.”
C. Authorize submittal of a Coastal Development Permit application to the California Coastal Commission.
Recommendations
October 17, 2023 City Council Public Hearing 27