HomeMy WebLinkAbout19523 - RESOLUTIONS - 5/19/1999 RESOLUTION NO. 19523
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS , CALIFORNIA , PROVIDING
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY OF'
RIVERSIDE REGARDING CASE NO. 20,147,
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE RIVERSIDE ,
COUNTY WIND ENERGY ORDINANCE, COUNTY
WIDE, AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A
NEGATIVE DECLARATION.
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WHEREAS, the County of Riverside has submitted for review and comment proposed
amendments to the Riverside County Wind Energy Ordinance, County Wide, with a notice
of intent to adopt a Negative Declaration; and
WHEREAS, the amendments to the County Wind Energy include reductions to the
minimum required wind access, safety and scenic setbacks, modifications to the scenic
design requirements, noise standards, utility interconnection requirements, fire protection
requirements and modifications to the method of measurement and projection of noise from
commercial Wind Energy Conservation Systems (WECS) projects; and
WHEREAS, the Riverside County Planning Commission reviewed the proposed
amendments at their February 17, 1999 public hearing and unanimously recommended
approval to the County of Riverside Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in scheduled to review the '
proposed amendments at their public hearing scheduled for May 25, 1999; and
WHEREAS, the proposed County Wind Energy Ordinance affects properties within the
City of Palm Springs Sphere of Influence and indirectly affects properties within the City
of Palm Springs; and
WHEREAS, the County of Riverside Wind Energy Ordinance currently requires a
minimum scenic setback of 500 or 1000 feet along Interstate 10(dependent upon height of
the individual wind turbines) for all County wind energy projects; and
WHEREAS, the contemplated scenic setback amendment would allow for the ability to
install commercial WECS at a minimum safety setback distance of 1.5 times the overall
height of any individual WECS from Interstate 10, thus potentially resulting in
significantly reduced scenic setbacks along Interstate 10; and
WHEREAS, large portions of Interstate 10, between Highway 111 and Indian Canyon
Drive, remain mostly undeveloped and serve as a predominately unspoiled scenic corridor,
with little or no visual impact on the natural desert surroundings, especially looking
southerly along Interstate 10; and
WHEREAS, since the late 1980's, only limited electric transmission Hines have been
installed and, with the exception of a few new billboards installed on reservation lands of
the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (near the intersection of Highway 111 and
Interstate 10), approximately three billboards exist along this section of Interstate 10, all
of which, in all likelihood, have been in existence prior to 1982, all of which are on the
north side of Interstate 10; and
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WHEREAS, only minimal natural features exist in close proximity to the Interstate 10
frontage for screening,thus creating a potentially significant visual impact to the immediate
area as a result of the proposed scenic setback amendments; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs has established a minimum scenic setback of 1315
feet (1/4 mile) along Interstate 10 between Highway 62 and the Whitewater River (the
Whitewater Grade) and 500 feet on other properties within the City limits adjacent to
Interstate 10 to maintain the scenic quality of the Interstate 10 corridor; and
WHEREAS, given the scenic highway status of Highway 62 and its "gateway" status,
leading to Joshua Tree National Park,the proposed scenic setback requirements could have
a potentially significant visual impact on this scenic corridor; and
WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed the project at its meeting of May 19, 1999, in
order to forward comments to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors prior to their
May 25, 1999 public hearing; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, based upon the foregoing, the City
Council hereby presents comments regarding of Case No. 20.147 to the Riverside County
Board of Supervisors, recommending to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors that
the existing scenic setback requirements along Interstate 10, east and west of Highway 111
within the City's Sphere of Influence and along Highway 62 be maintained consistent with
the provisions currently specified in the County of Riverside Wind Energy Ordinance, for
the reasons contained in the above facts. Comments are on file in the Office of the City
Clerk, as forwarded to the County of Riverside.
ADOPTED this 19 day of May 1999.
' AYES: Members Barnes, Hodges, Oden, Reller-Spurgin and Mayor Kleindienst
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST: CITY OF- LM SPRINGS, LIFORNIA
By
City Clerk C Ci anager
REVIEWED AND APPROVED:-
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