West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

HCP would include mitigation measures for the entire areas of the two specific plans as well asfor the effects of the expansion of State Highway 138 to a four-lane road. As the specific plansand the State highway project were initiated and evaluated independently from the West MojavePlan, mitigations would be applied outside of the parameters of the Plan, in accordance with theHCP and the indivisual environmental documentation for each project.3.1.3.10 City of LancasterThe City of Lancaster is located in the Antelope Valley region of Los Angeles Countyalong Highway 14. Urbanized development in the city is concentrated in the central area ofLancaster and in the area surrounding the Quartz Hill community. The approval of large-scaledevelopments in the eastern and western portions of the city has “set the stage for thedevelopment of several isolated nodes.” The General Plan notes, “There is a considerableamount of undeveloped land between these development nodes and the urbanized areas of theCity.” These undeveloped lands are generally divided into 2.5 and 5.0-acre parcels, a landpattern that makes infill difficult. An area of mixed land uses is found in South Lancaster. Ruralresidential communities are found in the outlying areas of the city. (City of Lancaster GeneralPlan at page VIII-2.)The general plan specifies a range of residential land use densities from NonurbanResidential (up to 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres) to High Density Residential (15.1 to 30.0dwelling units per acre). Land use goals include establishing a variety of land uses which furtherLancaster’s transition from a suburb of Los Angeles to a community with a full range of urbanand community services; managing growth to create a comprehensive urban structure;encouraging infill development; protecting rural areas from urban encroachment; creating anaesthetically pleasing environment; and promoting a regional perspective in land use decisions.(Id. at pages VIII-5 through 38.)The City of Lancaster General Plan (at page II-20) establishes an objective pertinent tobiological resources to “Identify, preserve and maintain important biological systems within thestudy area, and educate the general public about these resources, which include the Joshua Tree –California Juniper Woodlands, areas that support endangered or sensitive species, and othernatural areas of regional significance.” Policies call for comprehensive management ofprograms for significant biological resources; cooperation with others in the development of theWest Mojave Plan; the initiation of area wide studies to identify sensitive biological resources;protection of Prime Desert Woodlands through acquisition or other means; establishing standardsfor the development of property in Prime Desert Woodlands; and the preservation of significantdesert wash areas and open space lands in and around the Poppy Preserve (Id. at pages II-20through 27). There is one wash area (Little Rock Creek Wash) within the City limits, and it isdesignated Open Space.The City is establishing a Joshua Tree Woodland Preserve. Forty acres have beenacquired for the preserve, and 45 additional acres are being purchased. This area would serve asan educational outreach facility. It is not currently known what species are found at the Preserve.In 1991, the City passed Ordinance 577, which established fees for removal of native vegetationwithin defined Vegetative Management Areas. The fees collected under this ordinance are usedChapter 3 3-25