Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

Green Valley CSD - Concept Draft

This Concept Draft is intended to highlight and summarize the community’s intent for an updated Community Standards District (CSD), and was initially drafted in working meeting discussions with the CSD Working Group in April 2018.

This document is being shared with the public to collect feedback and identify further discussion points, alternatives or areas of concern. This document will also be shared internally within the County. Further follow-up discussions with the CSD Working Group may be necessary to discuss changes or comments from the public or County’s review. The CSD ordinance language will be drafted based on this Concept Draft document and the comments received.

CONCEPT DRAFT

STREET IMPROVEMENTSThe community does not want sidewalks or concrete, and would rather see walking areas remain as dirt. They like the rural feel of the town, and that is taken away when a road is improved with a sidewalk. Narrow streets are better than wide ones, and the inverted shoulder is the preferred design style for roads. With many commuters passing through, it’s important to keep streets safe.

STREET LIGHTINGThe night sky should be able to be seen at night. The community doesn’t want street lights to make the area look more like the city. The existing Rural Outdoor Lighting standards would suffice for them.

Courtesy of Eric Ritchey. Flickr.

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Green Valley CSD - Concept Draft

UTILITIESThe community does not want utilities to be visible. There are some present now that are visible, but they would like any future utilities to be placed underground. Where someone requests a utilities to be put aboveground, they would like a discretionary process to review it.

COMMERCIAL OPERATIONSThe CSD Working Group does not want a 24 hour business, like a gas station. They want the town to be quiet at night and everything to close down. When a business is not open, the lights should be turned off as well. Having 24 hour businesses might entice more commuters to come through their town.

COMMERCIAL SIGNAGEThe community does not want to see a proliferation of commercial signs along roads. Temporary signs that are present along roadways should be removed.

Signage that sticks out and grabs people’s attention, like roof signs or large freestanding signs, should also not be allowed. Signage should be simple and fitting with the rustic character of the community.

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGNS (BILLBOARDS)Outdoor advertising signs (in other words, billboards, or advertisements for commercial businesses not on the same lot as the business) should not be allowed in the community.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGBusiness, including all business signs, should not be illuminated outside business hours. Lighting should be designed to prevent any light trespass to neighbors.

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Green Valley CSD - Concept Draft

HILLSIDE MANAGEMENTMinimize Impacts to viewsheds by controlling how structures are designed when in a hillside area.

SIGNIFICANT RIDGELINESInclude protections for significant ridgelines that allow for some mechanical equipment near the ridges, depending on the purpose of the equipment.

GRADINGGrading on a property should not affect native vegetation, water runoff, or the look and feel of the natural terrain. Building pads should be limited on a lot so that the land is not disturbed much.

LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENTThe community is worried about flooding and drainage issues. They do not want any development that will negatively affect water drainage or cause flooding problems in the community.

NATIVE VEGETATIONThe community values certain types of native vegetation such as sage

bushes and chaparral, or manzanita, cottonwood, pine, and oak trees.

Tree of Heaven should not be encouraged and no protections offered to

them, as they are devastating to other vegetation nearby. Protections for

trees and native vegetation should apply throughout the CSD to all properties,

not just to new development.

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Green Valley CSD - Concept Draft

LAND DIVISIONSThe CSD Committee does not want any more development in Green Valley. It does not want any more subdivisions. However, where land is subdivided, it should not be less than 5 acres with some minimum lot design standards in place to make sure the lots are wide enough to make sure the homes are not close together. New subdivisions should not include private streets or limit access. Standards for larger front yards should be in place for new subdivisions, and not apply to existing homes. Lot line adjustments, where lines move in between properties, is acceptable.

COMMERCIAL ZONESThe community does not want commercial buildings to cover a large portion of the property, and buildings should be set back from neighboring residences. They do not want structures with many businesses, or many businesses on one property as it creates a “commercial strip-mall” feel.

MODIFICATION PROCEDURESEveryone should be notified of any request to modify the standards a specific project within the CSD, unless it’s a small project that does not affect the entire community. Depending on the type of change, the notification radius can be adjusted so that those people that might be affected can have a say in the change.

For more information, please visit: bit.ly/AVCSDsUpdate

TRAILSThe CSD Working Group would like to see every new subdivision include trail easements called out in the Antelope Valley Area Plan.

08/09/18