Agenda Item: 14
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: May 28, 2024
SUBJECT: CONTRACT INCREASE AND EXTENSION FOR CONSULTANT TO
PREPARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE
PRINCESSA CROSSROADS PROJECT (MASTER CASE 17-104)
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
PRESENTER: Hai Nguyen
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Authorize an expenditure increase for the contract for the preparation of the Princessa Crossroads Environmental Impact Report (Master Case 17-104) to Psomas from $352,642 to $400,451, and include a contingency in the amount of $60,068, for a total contract amount not to exceed $460,519, and extend the contract for four years.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The Princessa Crossroads project (Master Case 17-104) is a request by SC LandCo Parent LLC, (Applicant) to create a Specific Plan to develop approximately 146 acres in the vicinity of the northeast corner of the future intersection of Golden Valley Road and Via Princessa, just north of Golden Valley High School, as shown on the attached aerial map.
The project was formally submitted on May 26, 2017. An environmental review is required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and was initiated. Based on anticipated impacts associated with the project, the appropriate CEQA document required for the project is an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Since the City does not have the in-house expertise or resources available to complete an EIR, an outside environmental consulting firm is required to complete this task. In January 2018, staff solicited proposals from qualified firms to prepare the Princessa Crossroads EIR.
On April 24, 2018, the City Council awarded the contract to Psomas for a contract amount of $306,646, with a 15% contingency of $45,996, for a total contract amount not to exceed $352,642. Since then, there have been two amendments processed to this contract. The first amendment was processed in 2020 due to project revisions to remove the off-site grading and roadway development and additional tasks associated with revisions to the Notice of Preparation (NOP). The second amendment was processed in 2022 to extend the contract through July 1, 2024.
Since 2017, the applicant has modified the site plan and prepared revised technical studies. The project initially consisted of 680,000 square feet of new commercial space and 925 multifamily residential units. Currently, the project consists of 1.5 million square feet of business park/commercial space and up to 300 multifamily residential units. As part of the project’s grading component, 34 acres of adjacent property owned by the City of Santa Clarita (City) would be graded to create additional park space at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex. The project includes the following requested entitlements: General Plan Amendment and Zone Change to create a Specific Plan for the project site; Tentative Tract Map No. 75026 for the subdivision of land into commercial and residential lots; Conditional Use Permit for grading in excess of 100,000 cubic yards of earth, for development within the Planned Development Overlay Zone, and potentially for residential gating; Development Review Permit for proposed structures and development pads; Hillside Development Review due to the site’s topography; a Ridgeline Alteration Permit for impacts to identified ridgelines within the project boundary; and an Oak Tree Permit to identify and mitigate potential encroachments and impacts to the oak trees. The Princessa Crossroads Specific Plan would create new development standards and residential and commercial densities for the project site that would differ from the site’s current zoning and citywide development standards. A project summary, which includes a land use plan, is attached for reference.
The modified project would require an update to the contract with Psomas (attached). The updated total cost of Psomas’ proposal is $400,451. Given the complexities of the project, staff has included a 15% contingency in the amount of $60,068, for a total contract amount not to exceed $460,519. This is an increase of $107,877 from the 2018 contract. This includes the preparation of the Draft EIR, response to comments, public outreach, a Mitigation Monitoring Plan, and completion of the Final EIR. Psomas anticipates a 14-month process to prepare the EIR. The contingency will allow for additional analysis for unexpected issues that may be identified during the EIR process. The applicant is responsible for all costs associated with the EIR preparation including the additional cost with this proposed amendment. The applicant will deposit the additional funds into a trust account to be maintained by the City. Furthermore, the term of the contract, which is set to expire in July 1, 2024, will be extended for a period of four years.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
All costs associated with the preparation of the Princessa Crossroads project environmental document will be the responsibility of the applicant and funds will be deposited into trust account 102-201147 (EIR Princessa Crossroads). There are no fiscal impacts to the City associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS
Aerial Map
Project Summary and Land Use Plan
Psomas Proposal and Cost 2024 (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)