V.

GROWTH INDUCEMENT

A. INTRODUCTION

Section 15126 (d) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, as amended, requires a
discussion of the ways in which a project could foster economic or population growth, or the construction
of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment. Such a discussion
should also include projects that would remove obstacles to population growth, and the characteristics of
a project, which may encourage and/or facilitate other activities that, either individually or cumulatively,
could significantly affect the environment. CEQA emphasizes that growth in an area should not be
considered beneficial, detrimental or of little significance to the environment. The purpose of this
discussion is to evaluate the growth-inducing potential and impact of the proposed project.

B. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park is located immediately to the north of the project site. Chatsworth
Oak Park is located to the south followed by the Chatsworth Reservoir. Everything to the east of the
project site is suburban development with primarily residential and commercial uses and to the west of
the project site is open space in Ventura County. The nearest related project would subdivide the
property into 19 single-family lots and would retain an existing single-family residence. This related
project is located at 9861 Andora Avenue, approximately 0.4 mile to the northeast of the project site.

C. GROWTH-INDUCING POTENTIAL

In general terms, a project may foster spatial, economic, or population growth in a geographic area if it
meets any one of the criteria that are identified below.

 The project removes an impediment to growth (e.g., the establishment of an essential public
service, or the provision of new access to an area).

 The project results in the urbanization of land in a remote location (leapfrog development).

 Economic expansion or growth occurs in an area in response to the project (e.g., changes in
revenue base, employment expansion, etc.).

 The project establishes a precedent setting action (e.g., a change in zoning or general plan
amendment approval).

Should a project meet any one of these criteria, it may be considered growth inducing under CEQA. An
evaluation of the proposed project in relation to these growth-inducing criteria is provided in this section.

Los Angeles Department of City Planning V-1 Andora Avenue Subdivision – Tentative Tract No. 53426
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1. Removal of an Impediment to Growth

Growth in an area may result from the removal of physical impediments or restrictions to growth. In this
context, physical growth impediments may include nonexistent or inadequate access to an area or the
lack of essential public services (e.g., water service). The following discussion evaluates the effects of the
proposed project with respect to this criterion.

In general terms, the project site is located within the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan area.
Specifically, the proposed project would be located on approximately 91 gross (85.98 net) acres in the
northwestern portion of the City of Los Angeles just north of Valley Circle Boulevard in the community
of Chatsworth. Although no improvements are currently located on the project site, existing
developments to the north (one house), south, and east of the project site have resulted in construction of
roads, provision of gas, electricity, drainage ways and other urban improvements in the immediate site
vicinity.

As discussed in Section IV.I, Public Services, and Section IV.K, Public Utilities, according to service
providers the existing infrastructure serving the project area can be expanded to accommodate buildout
of the proposed project. Development of the proposed project would involve new connections that would
be linked to the existing network of such facilities and amenities. However, no new service lines
(e.g., water, storm drain, electricity, telephone, etc.) other than those required to serve the project site
would be constructed. Therefore, the project would not induce growth beyond project boundaries, and
the growth-inducing potential of project implementation is minimal. Additionally, following project
buildout, there would be no vacant land available for new development. The project site is surrounded
by existing residential development to the north, west, and east, and a reservoir to the south. Access to
the site would be provided by private streets that would not connect to Ventura County. No current
physical impediments to growth exist to prevent this development; as such, implementation of the
proposed project would not result in the removal of impediments to growth.

2. Urbanization of Land in Remote Locations (Leapfrog Development)

Development can be considered growth inducing when it is not contiguous to existing urban
development and “leaps” over open space areas. The proposed project is currently undeveloped and
within the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan area of the City of Los Angeles. Development of
the proposed 45 new single-family residential units would be linked to the existing Chatsworth-Porter
Ranch Community through the extension of Andora Avenue via a private street, thereby introducing
new development into an area that has not been previously developed. The Chatsworth-Porter Ranch
Community Plan designates Minimum Density development solely for the area immediately north of the

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 V. Growth Inducement

subject property. (The Eagle’s Nest project proposes 18 additional homes.) The area to the southwest is
designated as Open Space and the area to the west in also designated as Open Space in the Ventura
County General Plan. The area north of the Eagle’s Nest property is now owned by the Santa Suzanna
State Historic Park and may not be developed for residential uses. Additionally, it should be noted that,
in an effort to eliminate future development, this project proposes to dedicate approximately 38 acres of
land as permanent open space along the site’s northern and southern borders.

3. Economic Growth

The proposed project would result in the development of 45 new single-family residential units, an
equestrian trail, and open space within the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan area. Although the
project is not commercial, and so would not increase employment in the area, it would result in an
increase in population of the area. It is expected that the project would result in the addition of
approximately 119 new residents to the existing population.

As discussed in Section IV.G, Land Use, the project’s addition of approximately 119 persons would be
consistent with the forecasts and planned growth for the area. The proposed project’s population
generation would, therefore, not result in an increase in population over expected levels, or that which
has been officially planned for the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan area. It should be noted,
however, that the proposed project would result in a temporary increase in construction-related job
opportunities in the local area. Potential employees are anticipated to be pooled from the existing labor
force in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Based on the above, the project is not considered growth
inducing under economic growth.

4. Precedent Setting Action

As discussed in Section III, Project Description, the project applicant is seeking the following:

 Approval of the Tentative Tract Map No. 53426;

 Approval of a zone change from A2-1 and A1-1 to RE40-1-H–K by Case No. APCNV-2004-7308-
ZC; and

 Other approvals as necessary.

Although a zone change would be proposed as part of the proposed project, it is consistent with the
adopted General Plan. The decision to allow development of land on or near the proposed project site is
at the discretion of the City Council and the City’s Planning Commission. If the proposed project were to
be approved, its approval would not necessarily mean that other development approvals in the area
would follow. It should also be noted that as part of an effort to eliminate future development in the
Los Angeles Department of City Planning V-3 Andora Avenue Subdivision – Tentative Tract No. 53426
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 V. Growth Inducement

immediate project area, this project is proposing to dedicate approximately 38 acres as permanent open
space along the northern and southern borders of the project site. The potential for further growth in the
area is limited to only the above mentioned 19-unit development (Eagle’s Nest). As such, the project does
not have the potential to be considered growth inducing.

Los Angeles Department of City Planning V-4 Andora Avenue Subdivision – Tentative Tract No. 53426
Impact Sciences, Inc. (0947.002) Subsequent Draft EIR
February 2010