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HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1972, 03/13) - K-2 - Adoptedr1 L J POLICY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Environment is the total combination of all physical, biological, and cultural factors which influence and determine the biota and the physical surroundings of a community. To coincide with this definition, a city policy is established to preserve and enhance the three basic life support systems of land, air and water. The policies shall establish objectives and guidelines by which the City Council shall promote a safe, healthful, and attractive living environment for the citizens of Newport. Beach. These objectives and guidelines will serve three purposes: 1. As a measuring device for actions of the City Council, its commissions and committees; 2. To encourage and direct the activities of the City staff toward environmentally conscious actions; and 3. To encourage citizens, through leadership, example and various educational and incentive programs, to be active participants in enhancing their own living conditions. The City shall develop an action program by which to implement this policy. LAND ENVIRONMENT The land system consists of all terrestrial features including the shoreline, the biota and man -made physical developments. The City shall direct all land use, development and management plans toward pro- tecting the quality environment of the community and will ensure that all such plans are compatible with existing uses. The City shall develop a continuing program to ensure that all existing uses conform to the environmental standards of the community. To ensure compatibility among existing and future land uses and to maintain a high quality environment, zoning and future growth shall be regulated by the City in accordance with the General Plan now being developed. The General Plan shall set specific limits on future population and dwelling unit densities and the intensity and extent of commercial and industrial development for each individual area within the community. Where necessary, standards of use of natural resources will be established in order to prevent degradation of resources through over- intensive use. K -2 POLICY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - Page Two All plans for the development or use of land resources shall take into consideration such natural physical factors or conditions, as: geologic, soils and seismic con- ditions, beach and soil erosion, landslides, and potential innundation due to storm flooding or tidal action. The tolerance or suitability of each plan shall be assessed as to the type, design and location of any structures of land uses within potentially hazardous areas of the City. The City shall promote an efficient and balanced land transportation system, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and such facilities as are needed to reduce traffic and parking congestion through the community. Further, the City shall act to ensure that the design and location of the transportation system and its support facilities serve to protect and maintain the environmental quality of the community. Designs for various structures and landscaping will each be reviewed from an environ- mental viewpoint in order to insure their compatibility with existing natural and man -made aesthetic features of the City. The City will maintain reasonable standards to ensure the undergrounding of utilities, the preservation or improvement of historic and scenic areas and major open space areas, the extensive use of landscaping, and to minimize any adverse aesthetic impact of advertising signs. The City is opposed to the deliberate harm or destruction of biota, and seeks to insure the continued existence of sufficient populations of living organisms for economic, recreational, aesthetic, scientific and educational purposes. The City opposes the indiscriminate use of chemical products which leave residues harmful to the biota -- such as certain pesticides; herbicides; and industrial, commercial and household products -- and supports legislation regulating their use. A reduction in the volume of solid waste is essential to the maintenance of a high quality environment, therefore the City supports the recycling of materials, a reduction in the consumption of non - recyclable materials, and the proper disposal of all trash, garbage and debris. AIR AND NOISE QUALITY The air environment is our local atmosphere. The objective is to provide air which is free from harmful contaminants, contains no noxious odors, and is visually clear. While major sources of emissions which pollute our air are beyond the immediate control of the City, the City will actively support all other governmental or private agencies in their efforts to regulate and abate noxious and contaminating emissions into the air. The City will also oppose the establishment or expansion of industrial or commercial facilities or operations unless they are free of harmful emissions or exercise the necessary controls to ensure such emissions meet air quality standards. POLICY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - Page Three In order to reduce and control noise from various sources, the City shall establish and enforce noise tolerance standards for the community. The City urges cooperation with neighboring cities whose noise sources affect our citizens and supports legis- lation designed to regulate noise levels. The City specifically opposes any further expansion of facilities and operations at Orange County Airport due to their adverse affect or air and noise quality within Newport Beach. WATER QUALITY The water system of Newport Beach includes the Pacific Ocean, Newport Bay, runoff water, reservoir water (domestic water supply), and the biota of the ocean and bay. Materials which have a detrimental physical, biological, chemical or aesthetic effect upon the quality of water, and which commonly enter our bay and ocean areas, include: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer residues, detergents, fuel, oil from seeps and spills, vessel wastes, and sediments. The City is opposed to the discharge of these materials into the bay and ocean waters from any source, including domestic and recreational sources, and shall insist on and enforce stringent regulations con- trolling such discharges. Because drainage water which enters Newport Bay from the San Diego Creek, other flood control channels, and the storm drains of other cities represents a major pollution problem beyond the immediate control of the City, the City urges the appropriate agencies to monitor, and if necessary, treat or divert these waters and to take all steps to reduce or eliminate excessive sediment flows. The City will regulate its own storm drains accordingly. The City supports the establishment and protection of marine and wildlife preserves which are sufficient to support varied population species and other living organisms for ecological, aesthetic, recreational and educational purposes. The City, further, supports the establishment of an offshore sanctuary prohibiting the drilling for oil within Federal waters in order to protect marine biota, to preserve high aesthetic standards and to prevent degradation of a major recreational asset. The indiscriminate use of fresh water is environmentally damaging in many respects, therefore the City will encourage measures for reduction of fresh water consumption and will support efforts of County agencies to recycle waste water. 0 Adopted - March 13, 1972