HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 430.4 RESOLUTION NO. 430.4
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SARATO6A
ADOPTIN6 THE SAFETY ELEHENT OF THE 6ENERAL PLAN
WHEREAS. the City of Saratoga has prepared a revised Safety Element of
the General Plan which addresses the protection of the community from any
unreasonable risks associated with fire. geological activity and initabili-.
ties, flooding, combinations of the hazards, and the ability of manmade
struc~:~res is withstand these conditions, pursuant to State Government Code
5-'B53~2; and
WHEREAS, a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant
to the provisions of CEQA, with the determination that the project wii1
not have a significant effect on the environment; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission considered this Safety Element at
noticed public hearings and recommended its approval and adoption by the
City Council~ and
WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed and considered the staff report,
minutes of proceedings conducted by the Planning Commission relating to the
Element, and the written and oral testimony presented to the Council
regarding the ELement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Saratoga, at
meeting of September 18. 1~87, by a vote of 4-0 with council member Moyles
absent, d~d resolve as fol)ows:
The City Council found the revised Safety Element
to be consistent with the goals and policies set
forth Ln the 6onetel Plan, and that the general
community welfare and good planning practice are
served by the Element.
2. The City Council found that the Safety Element will
not have a significant effect on the environment
and adopted the Negative Declaration.
3. The City Council approved 6PA-B?-O1. adopting the
revised Safety EXamant of the General Plan.
RESOLUTION NO. 430.4 - Cont.
The above and ?oregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Saratoga held on the ?th day of
October, tSB?, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Anderson, Clevenger, Hlava, Moyles, and Mayor Peterson
NOES:.,? None
8BSENT: None
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk ,"':.~"
SAFETY ELEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENT~
PURPOSE AND GO~t OF SAFETY ELEMENT I
H~ZARD IDENTIFIC~T. ION I
HAZARDS OF LAND INSTABILITY 2
General Geology and Physical Characteristics
Begtechnical Terrain Units and Related Hazards
Map 1: Gagtechnical Terrain Units
Landslides and Slope Instability
Nap 2: Relative Beglogic Stability
Nap 3: Landslide and Flood Areas
Soil Creep and Expansive Soils
SEISMIC HAZARDS 8
Identification of Active and Potentially Active Faults
Map 4: General Plan Geologic Hazard Overlays
Ground Shaking
Surface Rupture
Ground Failure
Seismically Induced Flooding and Dam Inundation
Structural Hazards Related to Seismic Activity
Other Potential Hazards Related to Seismic Activity
FLOOD HAZARDS 14
Historical Data on Flooding in Area
Identification of Areas Subject to Flooding
Flood Controls and Land Oevelopment Review
Flood Control and Emergency Services
FIRE HAZARDS 19
Fire Protection in Saratoga
Assessment of Fire Risk in Wildland Areas
Map S: Areas of Extreme Fire Hazard
AsGessment of Fire Risk in Urban Areas
Hazardous Materials Storage and Disposal
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ANO DISASTER PLANNING 24
Emergency Plan Purpose and Organization
Emergency Evacuation Plan
Map G: Evacuation Routes
IMPAC! I~ENTIFIGATIDN
LAND USE IMPACTS
TRANSPORTATION ROUTE IMPACTS
UTILITY IMPACTS
EMERGENCY RELATED FACILITIES
GOALS, POLICIES AND IMPLEMENT~.T.IQN PROGR.A~S
~NALYSIS OF EXISTING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
City Development Controls and S%andards
General Plan Elements
Specific Plans
Northwestern Hillsides Specific Plan
Sphere of Influence Special Plan
Emergency Plan
ISSUE IDENTIFICATION AND PROPOSED GOALS, POLICIES AND 5G
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS
~pPENDIX A: Glossary 44
6PPENDI× B: Northwestern Hillside Specific Plan (Summary) 45
~PPENOIX C: Sphere of Influence Special Plan <Summary) 49
~P~NOIX ~.: Existing Safety/Seismic Safety Element (Summary) 51
PURPOSE AND 60AL OF SAFETY ELEffiENT
The Safety Element is a mandatory element of the General Plan
required by SB 5St, an act which became law on February 25, )971.
Originally addressed in two separate elements of the General Plan, the
Safety Element and the Seismic Safety Element are combined into one
element, the Safety Element, under California Government Code Article
E-BE302 (t98B).
The purpose of the Safety Element of the General Plan is to protect
the community from any unreasonable risks associated with fire, geological
activity and instabilities, fIooding, combinations of these hazards, and
the ability of manmade structures to withstand these conditions. The
element also addresses dangers which might result from poor emergency
service, difficult access, and Iack Df preparedness or public information.
Existing emergency services are assessed and criteria for types and
intensities of land use in undeveloped areas ere recommended.
1
HA~GRD IDENTIFICATION
The identification of hazards thai affect the City is the initial
step in the safety planning process. It is also the most important stage
in this process since inaccurate hazard identification and the formulation
of inadequate safety land use policies could result in unnecessary loss of
life, injury, and property damage.
The natural hazards that have affected Saratoga in the past and
those that may affect it in the future can be identified with a high
degree of accuracy. Geologic, flood and fire hazards have all caused
considerable damage within the community in the past, while recent
earthquakes have been minimal in their damaging effects. Although the
future extent of natural hazards is unknown, in all probability the future
will include the same types of hazards as have occurred in the past.
~ccurate hazard identification is an accounting of historical information
to be used as the basis for the evaluation of the future and the risks
involved in relation to current and proposed land uses.
H~ZARDS OF L~ND INSTABILITY
The physical and geologic characteristics of Saratoga have the
potential to produce 9eologic related problems for land development. Land
development in areas of 9eO1DQlC instability can subject life and property
to hazards caused by both seismic and non-seismic conditions. Many hazards
occur when property is developed in ways which are unsuitable to geologic
conditions in the area. When structures or roads are built on geologically
unstable land, such ms landslide areas or unstable slopes and soils, there
is a definite risk to the community.
Geologic hazards are unavoidable In California. However, some
geologic conditions represent greater hazards than others. Faulting and
unstable bedrock present great risks, while surface instabilities can often
be engineered to make construction safe. When unstable soil combines with
steep slope, development can be hazardous and the environment is endangered
by potential landslides. Recognizing and delineating the geotechnical
hazards which could result in injuries, property damage, and economic or
social dislocations is an important function of the city planning process
to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the community.
The background 9eotechnical data for the Safety Element Df the City
of Saratoga's General Plan is contained in the Saratoga Gagtechnical
Report ()g?i}; the Ground Movement Potential Maps and Geologic Hazard'
Analysis of the Upper Calabazas Creek Watershed and of the Congress
Springs Study ~rea by William Cotton and Associates (1580); and also in the
Geologic Hazards Analysis of the Lower Saratoga Hillside Area by Terratech
(1985), Included here is a summation of that data, and additional
gagtechnical information which has been compiled from MOre recent site
specific geotechnical investigations.
General Gaolcoy and Physical Characteristics
Topography: The topography of Saratoga includes the low-lying
relatively flat valley floor and the northwestern foothills. Outside the
city limits, but within Saratoga's Sphere of Influence, are the Castle Rock
portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains. These mountains are very rugged,
comprised of steep canyons and sharp to rounded ridge tops.
Ue9etetion: The mountain areas in the Sphere of Influence have
a solid cover of vegetation. Hardwood trees of oak and madtone are
abundant in this area, as well as redwood and douglas fir. The canyon
floors near streams are covered with sycamore, eider and maple trees. Much
of the area is densely covered ~ith chaparral, with only a few areas
covered with gras5.
Geology: The dominant geologic feature within Saratoge's Sphere
of influence is the San ~ndreas fault zone, bisecting the mountainous
portion of the terrain. The fault zone determines the geology and
topography of the area by separating two different rock assemblages and
their associated erosional characteristics. The fault zone is composed of a
comptex system of fault traces and fractured rock.
The rock formations to the east of the San ~ndreas fault are
composed of sandstone, shale, volcanic rocks, some diebase and gabbro and
also large shear zone areas. The mountain area is separated from the flat
area within the city limits by the Santa Clara Formation, composed of
unconsolidated to semi-consolidated gravel, sand and clay.
The valley floor of Saratoga is comprised of several alluvial fan
deposits from the creeks and streams flowing from the mountainous area,
The alluvium is composed of unconsolidated particles consisting of clay,
silt, sand and 9ravel. This is Class I and II agricultural soil and is
considered fertile by the United States Conservation Service.
GeotechDi~al Terra~n....Un~ts and Related HaZards
There are large areas of the City and its Sphere of Influence which
have fimilar bedrock and soil charaQteristics. These areas of similar
9eotechnical characteristics are designated 9eotechnical terrain units.
There are five such terrain units in Saratoga and its Sphere of Influence
(Terrain Unit Map, Map 1): San ~ndrea~ Rift (I>, Foothills (II>, Saratoga
Mountain (III>, Skyline (IU), and Ualley Floor (U>.
The following conclusions can be made based Dn an evaluation of the
9eotechnical data for each terrain unit:
1. Terrain Unit I cannot supp6rt urban residential development but can
support very limited rural residential development in accordance with site
specific 9eotechnical studies. The Santa Clara County General Plan states
that specific hazard areas within this terrain unit must be placed in
Sphere of Influence, City of Saraloga
_GEOTECHNICAL TERRAIN UNITS ll" .....
smo. a,,:,.p,,,. 1. ... ..,~ ',~"..!x x'\-~x~ x ,,. ; :''
'~~,f~ """':"',... ,!Z""""'.,,! ,/,
' "'~' """'" '.'-.~-. ~" ......."'r'
~,,,~,~'.,.., , \ '-,,
,-._..../~.\---""'~v?:..-..-~-.....?~.
· '.:...·\ :"'n '
. - '.......... ' '~..~..
~ ,......'..,.
o__~__~_4.,~. "'--......
., · ""'~'~,~: "'..... ".....
I ~ ,% ...... _,..'1
GEOTECIINICAL HAZARD EVALUATION AND RECO~-~MENDATIONS FOR SARATOGA TERRAIN UNITS
KEY FOR MAP I ;
TERRAIN UNIT
San Andreds
Fault zone Foothills Bollman Skyllne
Valley 'Floor
I II Ill IV
V
NATURAL SEISMIC HAZARDS
Possibility of Surface Rupture Definite Limited Limited Limited
Unllke
Ground Shaking Intensity:,
Magnitude 6 - San Andreds. VI VI VI V
VX
Magnitude 8.3 I San Andreds X VIII - IX IX IX
VIII -
Ground Failure Probability:
Landslides High High High Medium
Low
Subsidence Low Low N/A N/A
Medium
Liquefaction N/A N/A N/A N/A
Medium
Ground Lurching Low Low N/A N/A
Low
Flooding Possible N/A N/A N/A
Local'
%
Structural Hazards Very High High High to Moderate
High
" Moderate
RECOMMENDATIONS
Geotechnical Terrain Unit's Ability to
Support Urban Residential Development No Controlled No No
Yes
Geotechnical Terrain Unit's Ability to
Support Rural Residential Development No Yes Yes Yes
N/A
Geological Investigation Required
N/A Yes Yes Yes N/A
Soils Investigation Required
N/A Yes Yes Yes Yes
Source:. Fugro, Inc. for Williams & Mocine
Geotechnical Report (1974)
permanent open space.
2. Terrain Unit II can support both controlled urban residential
development and rural residential developmen~ in accordance w~th
specific geological and aoils investigations.
3. Terrain Unit III cannot support urban residential development but can
support rural residential development in accordance with site-specific
geological and 5Oils investigations.
4. Terrain Unit IV cannot support urban residential deveIopMent but
can support rural residential development in accordance with site-specific
geological and soils investigations.
S. Terrain Unit V can support urban residential development.
Geological investigation is not necessary, but soil analyses should be
required.
~dditional data on each terrain unit is available in the
Gagtechnical Background Report. This data i5 supplemented by the Geology
and Soils section of the Northwestern Hillside Specific Plan (adopted in
1981).
~andsl~deS and Slope......Ipstability
81though most landslides are natural occurrences, sOMe damaging
landslides are the result of human carelessness or haphazard construction.
When construction is allowed in areas where landslides exist or where
landslide susceptibility is hi9h, the potential for substantial property
loss and human endanger~ent increase. The potential public costs for the
repair of roads and utilities or disaster relief make it imperative that
the city restrict development in 9eologically hazardous areas.
Most sloping land has some potential for landsliding. Slope
stability is affected by several interrelated factors such as steephess of
slope, weak unconsolidated soil units or formations with a high clay
content, water saturation, vegetation removal, and seismic activity.
Usually a combination of several factors will bring the hillside to the
verge of failure, and a single factor such as heavy rainfall or an
earthquake will be the catalyst responsible for initiating slope failure.
The development of sites where these condition5 exist May also trigger
landslide activity.
A major portion of the City of Saratoga is underlain by a geologic
stability zone, designated on the Relative Geologic Stability Map (NaB 2)
by the letter "P." This type of geologic unit is moderately stable when.
dry, but moderately unstable when saturated. Within the city boundaries,
landslides are most likely to occur where silt and clay have been orsdad
along the stream channels traversin9 the City.
The geologic zone designa{ed by the letter 'S" on Map 2 contains
rock formations conducive to abundant landslides. This geologic unit lie~
west of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, passes through a portion of the
Northwestern Hillsides Residential District, and continues past Big Basin
Sphere of influence, City of Saratoga """""'-----------F"'~,,.,,
RELATIVE GEOLOGIC STABILITY [
map 2 . ,
·
· P
....
H
p
l'
I % /
O I 2 3 4000' e_t, ,,,,,,
NOVIMIIR 1~73 ~ F '
IWlLLIAMS & MOC;INE :
Source: Fugro, ~nc.
-
Geotechnical Report (19 ·
RELATIVE CEOLOGIC STABILITY - I'U~P KEY
Increasing MAP 2
Stability Geologic Description Characteristics
Hesslye, well consolidated hard sandstone, Stable when dry. Landslides or rock fall may
/ ~ D conglomerate, arglllite, and volcanic rocks
(Ks, Kym Kdg). occur in fractured rocks when saturated with
---------- water.
RhYthmically-bedded sequences of hard sand- Moderately stable when dry. Alternating hard
stone, theft, or limestone alternating with and soft units result in differential weather-
H soft shale or thin argiilite (Kssh, KshSm ing and erosion. Rapid erosion of soft units
may undermine hard units and result in land-
sliding or hard units. Landslidlng also llke-
ly where bedding inclined downslope.
Massive semi-consolidated to poorly consoil- Moderately stable when dry; moderately unstable
L dated sandstone and mudstone; water table When water saturated. Landslidlng host likely
generally deep below ground surface (Eb,
Hv). where bedding incline dotvnslope or where hard
units are undermined by rapid erosion of local
soft units.
Unconsolidated to semi-consolldated gravel, Roderarely stable when dry, moderately unsEab|e
p sand, silt, and clay; water table may be when water saturated. Landsllding most likely
near ground surface (Qtsc,,Qg, Qoal, Qyf). along steep margins of stream channels eroded
into unlts~ and in silt and clay-rich parts of
__ units.
Rock units of various types which glve rise Unstable when wet. Instability increases with
to abundant landslides (Osl, Hi, sz). increased water content and increased slope.
S Includes shattered and sheared rocks along Landslldlng common and most prominent along
faults.
steep margins of deep stream channels.
Unconsolidated surficlal deposits thicker Unstable when wet. Instability increases with
than 2 feet; often water-bearing; includes increased water content and increased slope.
W landslide debris, soil, and undifferentiated
colluvlum.
Source: Pugro, Inc. for Willjams & Mocine
Geotechnical Rep.ort (1974)
Way. The zone is also present within the Sphere of Influence, along the
Clty's northwestern boundary and crossing Bohlman Road. Landslides and
unstable slopes are prevalent in this area, and can create hazards within
the city limits as the slide debris and rock moves down the incline toward
the City's valley floor.
Landslides and slope instability are the major non-seismic geologic
hazards in Saratoga. Althou9h most of the hillside areas in the city
experience these hazards to some degree, the most severe risks are found in
the vicinity of the Congress Springs area and the upper Calabazas Creek
watershed. The Congress Springs Study area, investigated for geologic
hazards by William Cotton and Associates in 1980, is located in the hillside
region west of Saratoga and south of Congress Springs Road. It is in the
geologic zone labeled "S." Access to the northern part of the area is
provided by Pierce, Toll Gate, and Congress Springs Roads. The southern
par% is served by the narrow hillside roadways of Bohlman, Belnap,
Kittridge, Quickerr, On Orbit, and Apollo Roads. One-third of the land in
this study area is within the city limits. The present land use consists
of hillside residential and watershed areas.
The northern portion of the Congress Springs area is traversed by
the potentially active 8errcoal fault. which has contributed to deformation
and fracture of the bedrock in the vicinity. It also lies within a mile of
the San Andteas fault! the proximity of these two fault systems has
produced unstable slope conditions. Large landslide deposits blanket the
underlying bedrock throughout much of the hillside region, and
approximately S0~ of the hillside contains landslide debris.
The most geologically unstable area of the city lies in the Congress
Springs area. An extensive section of several active landslides is shown
on Map 3, Landslide Locations and Areas of Floodin9. The upper portion
of the section includes the hilly region south of Congress Springs Road,
part of the natural channel of Saratoga Creek, a section of the Congress
Springs Road alignment, and a considerable amount of the low foothills
located north of the road. Slope movements have been noted in this region
for over 50 years. The Congress Springs Road surface has been significantly
deformed and elevated about 14 feet since 1S~1 when the present alignment
was constructed. Extensive structural damage has been experienced by all
man-made structures within or sou~h of this region.
Active landsliding can also be traced across Belnap, Bohlman and On
Orbit Roads and private driveways at a number of locations within the
Congress Springs and the Lower Saratoga Hillside areas. Santa Clara County
has surveyed a short section of 8ohlman Road below the intersection of On
Orbit Drive and found it to be moving at a rate of 2.7 to 3.G inches per
year. This is considered an extremely high risk area for future
development. even in those areas which appear to be stable at the present-
time. The equilibrium of even the most stable ground within this hillside
could be destroyed by the advent of road construction. irrigation,
alters%ion of natural drainage, or the introduction of septic tank
effluent. Rapid failure of these s-lopes could cause considerable property
damage, personal injury or loss of'life.
The other highly unstable geologic units within Saratoga and its
Sphere of Influence are those designated with the letter "W" on Map 2.
Sphere of Influence, City of Saraloga
LANDSLIDE AND FLOOD AREAS J' ' t
map,3 I /
i" ! I
i
:,. =, .-."-/
NOVEMIER 19~3
updatec:l 1987
(:;eo~,echn~.ca'l ~e~po~:~, (19'74)
LANDSLIDE AND FLOOD AREAS
MAP KEY
Map 3
_ HODERN LANDSLIDES - Landstide scar and landst ide debris
o generally visible; not eroded; boundaries
approximately located.
.~r ' OLD LANDSLIDE OR LANDSLIDE COMPLEX - Locations of
j, boundaries uncertain; no visible fresh landslide
%%,, scars; may be partly eroded; hummocky topography,
ANCIENT STREAM CHANNELS - Colluvium filled,
BOUNDARY OF AREAS OF FLOODING - APPROXIHATE - Based on I00 year flood.
Note: The area of flooding in the mountain
units is approximately I0 feet above the creek bottom,
New Landslides Source: Preliminary Assessment
of Store Damage: Winter
1982-1983 (Cotton & Assoc
1983)
Geologic Sources: Congress
Springs Study (Cotton,198e]
Calabazas Creek Watershed
Stud~ (Cotton, 1981)
Terratech Geotechical
Study of Lower Saratoga
Hillsides (1985.)
Fugro, Inc., Geotechnical Report
for Williams & Mocine
(1974)
This designation includes all landslides shown on Map 3 which are
considered extremely unstable, particulariy when saturated. The upper
Calabazas Creek watershed is located in this hillside region west cf
Saratoga. and extends into the unincorporated area. Primary access to the
area is provided by Congress Springs Road to the south, and Pierce and Mr.
Eden Roads to the northwest. Part of the watershed is underlain by
geologic unit "S," and part by unit "W." Although the majority of the land
is underlain by relatively stable ground, the stability of large portions
of the hitlside is undermined by 1andslide deposits and unstable soils.
The most extensive occurrence of landslide deposits is in the central
portion of the watershed located north and south of the Mr. Eden Road-
Pierce Road intersection. Forty-percent o? the total land area in the Mr.
Eden-Pierce Road vicinity is covered by landslide deposits. Isolated
landslides are common in this area. as are large landslide complexes which
cover entire hillslopes. Examples of these large slide deposits are those
on Pike Road and on the 6arrod FarMs property. Within the same general
area, the Quarry Road slide adjacent to the Calabazas Creek has moved part
of the roadbed into the creek.
To prevent potential geologic hazards from occurring in areas of
slope instability and unstable soils, Saratoga requires that detailed
Dectechnical investigations be made for all land use proposals in the
Northwestern Hillsides Residential District (NHR), the northwestern
hillside area of Saratoga end adjacent Santa Clara County lands (refer to
map in Appendix B), and in the Hillside Conservation Residential District
(HC-RO) in accordance with Section lS-)3.050 and 15-14.05~ of the City
Code.
Saratoge's Sphere of Influence is within Santa Clare County's
jurisdiction and development review area. Saratoga's Sphere of influence
is defined as that area outside the City's incorporated boundary, but
designated by the Santa Clara County Loc~l Agency Format/on Commission as
the unincorporated area most likely to be influenced and annexed by the
City at some future date (refer to map in Appendix C). The County has
adopted e Geologic Hazard zoning district where deveZopment is restricted
due to large area-wide landslides. The County has established specific
guidelines for the review of development proposals in this district to aid
in identifing areas of land instability, and to require that appropriate
conditions be met by developers. This zoning designation has been applied
to the major slide area at Congress Springs Road, shown on Map 3.
Sqi~ Cree~ and Expan)ive Soils
Soil creep and expansive soils are most prevalent in the western
hillside regions of the city. Soil creep is the slow. downslope movement
of near-surface materials. The rate of soil creep is a function of slope'
angle, soil thickness and texture. It can be regarded as a continuous
process, and May cause retaining walls, foundations and paved roads to fail
over a period of time unaccompanied by any obvious signs of slope failure.
Soil creep should not have a prohibitive effect on land use, but should
atert the City to require appropriate geotechnical investigations to
evaluate conditions and to impose engineering solutions to mitigate
problems.
B
Expansive soils contain high Oroportions of clay end alternately
absorb and release large amounts of water during wet and dry cycles. When
structures are built on expansive soil, foundations may rise each
season, resulting in cracked foundations, distorted frameworks, and warped
windows and doors. These adverse effects can be eliminated by recognition
of the condition. proper site development and foundation design. ~ll
applications for ~ite development and building permits should be
accompanied by soil reports in those areas where expansive soils exist.
SEISMIC HAZARDS
The identification of earthquake hazards in Saratoga requires a
description of potentially active faults within the area and also a
description of the secondary effects of earthquake activity, caused by the
sudden movement of blocks of the earth's crust along a fault line. These
secondary effects constitute potential hazards to the populated area and
consist of: 1) ground shaking, 2) surface rupture or ground displacement
along fault traces. 5) ground failure, and 4) seismically induced water
inundation. Hazards increase in areas where seismic activity is combined
with the potential for flooding. poor soil drainage, unstable surficial
soil and steep slope. fire hazard, and deteriorated structures, end can
result in extensive property damage, personal injury or death.
Identification of Active and Potentially Active Faults
The San Andreas Fault is the only known "active" fault in the vicinity
of Saratoga. For planning purposes, an "active" fault is one which has
experienced displacement within the last 11,000 years, and can be expected
to move again within the next 100 years. The proximity of the fault, which
traverses the City's Sphere of Influence along the ridge of the Santa Cruz
Mountains, subjects the hillside region to the probability of severe
lateral displacement and ground shaking should an earthquake occur. This
area is identified on Map 4, General Plan Geologic Hazard Overlay Map, as
the San Andteas Rift.
There are two "potentially active*' faults within the city limits and
lying on the alluvial plain. A "potentially active' fault is one that has
moved within the last 2 million to 11,000 years, and because it is judged
to be capable of ground rupture or shaking, poses an unacceptable risk to a
proposed structure. While the San Andteas Fault has a significant history
of seismic activity, the Betfocal and Shannon Faults are considered
"potentially active" because there is no reliable evidence of recent
displacement along either fault. The 8errocal Fault belongs to the Sargent
Fault zone, a complex system of interconnecting faults extending northwest
between the San Andteas and the Calaveras Faults (Map 4>. The fault trace
crosses Congress Springs Road and continues into the Southeastern portion
of the Sphere of Influence. The Shannon Fault, part of the Monte Vista
Fault system, closely parallels the proposed State Highway 85 corridor from
Raghart Creek (Cupertino> in the north, crossing Saratoga Avenue, and
continuing to the Almaden Expressway in the southeast portion of San Jose,
Although there is a remote chance that ground rupture could occur on either-
of these fault traces in the future, it is more likely to occur on the Sen
~ndreas Fautt.
In compliance with State legislation (Alquist-Priolo Geologic Hazard
Zones ~ct>. the California Division of Mines and Geology has established
Special Studies Zones along faults considered to be active or potentially
active. When development for human occupancy is proposed within these
zones, special studies relating to seismic hazards are required and must be
S A R A'i'OG A .~.,,..o. ,A,~LT__ .:__, L....7
end the 1
SPHERE OF' INFLUENCE I ,
map 4 I.
pault Line ,~ ~AuLT ~ ~"
Geo~o, ie ~,t l: ; ~ .::..:: :<;: ~.: ::.l
Zone -" ~ !
~:~
7--/7"/~ SAN ANDREAS ~
SHANNON
Special Study FAULT
FAULT
Zone
~ SARATOGA SPHERE OF %
/
· ,-
~ ~0,,~ " SAN .md~]I:)REAS
· ., frO. ., .
· '$~"' ~ ' ·' ' ' ''
Sources: 'Santa Clara County Geologic
NOV[~m[, lt13 ' ~': ~'
HaZards Map, County of Santa
"' 0GA; 'SP
Clara (1978)
P/ILLIAM! & MOCIN[ h
~&,{C~O~tt&,N~NC ,
Ground Movement Potential Mals
~"'~"'"'~"'~'~'~ /
of Upper Calabazas Creek
~'~.-' ..
watershed, Cotton & Assoc.1980
Ground Movement Potential Mals
of the Congress Springs Study+
Area, Cotton & Assoco 1980
submitted to the City or County Geologist for review. At the present time,
the San Andross Fault is the only area within the City and its Sphere of
Influence that the State has designated as a Special Studies Zone (Map 4).
Ground Movement Potential Maps and Geologic Hazards Analyses of the
Northwestern Hillsides region in Saratoga have been prepared by WilIiam
Cotton and Associates. Geologic end Ground Movement Potential Maps of the
Lower Saratoga Hillside Area , supplemented by a Boologic Hazards ~nalysis,
have been prepared for the City by Terratech. These documents indicate the
general location of areas of potential hazards. This information generally
informs the public about potential seismic or ground movement hazards, but
is not intended to replace the necessary geotechnical studies for
individual sites, particularly in the Northwestern Hillside ~rea, prior to
development.
~round Shakinq
The most widespread effect of an earthquake is ground shaking, or
the movement of the earth's surface in response to seismic activity~ this
often is the greatest cause of physical damage. Structures of all types,
including buildings and utility facilities, may suffer severe damage or
collapse if not properly designed to withstand the intensity of the shaking.
The major threat to persons in both the City of Saratoga and its
Sphere of !nfluence is structural failure of buildings or failure of slopes
due to shaking. Because of the steep slopes and network of fauXt lines in
the hillside areas closest to the San Andteas Rift Zone, it is essential to
enforce strict earthquake construction and soil engineering standards in
order to select the most stable building sites, and to compensate for soil
instabilities through the use of approved engineering and construction
techniques.
According to of the California State Division of Mines and Geology,
over 100 small to moderate tremors were felt in the Santa Cruz Mountains
area over the past GO years, with 14 events having epicenters located
within Saratoga's Sphere of Influence. Hence, there is a high probability
that a strong earthquake will occur in the near future in the vicinity of
the City,
Gut?ace Ruoture
Surface rupture, or a break in the ground's surface and the
associated displacement caused by the movement of a fault, is directly
correlated to earthquake magnitude~ earthquakes having a magnitude of
or greater are required for such events to occur. During the 1908 San
Francisco earthquake (magnitude 8.3), 9round rupture occurred along
miles of the San Andteas Fault, with a 20-foot offset occurring near the
epicenter in Marin County.
It is generally not economically feasible to design and build
foundations of structures across faults, especially those subject to 9round
displacement or surface rupture. In addition to regional investigations
necessary to the basic understanding of faults and their histories,
detailed site investigations are needed prior to the approval of
construction in any suspected or potentially'active fault zone.
Utilities, roads, and other linear features are particularly
vulnerable to damage resulting from ground displacement. Little rural
residential development has taken place within the San ~ndreas Fault zone
in Saratoga'$ Sphere of Influence, so the present risk of structural damage
due to fault rupture is minimal. However, utility facilities such as
gas and electric lines traverse the fault zone and may be subject to damage
from surface rugtufa.
GrOund. Fa...ilUre
Ground failure is a secondary effect of earthquake shaking that can
be potentially dangerous and damaging. It includes landslides, rockfalls,
subsidence, liquefaction~ and ground lurching in areas not actually
ruptured by a fault. ~11 of these activities involve the displacement of
ground surface due to loss of strength or failure of the underlying
materials during earthquake shaking. Existing moisture conditions and
groundwater levels play an important role in the assessment of the
potential for 9round failure, as do soil type and slope instability.
The San ~ndreas Rift Zone <Terrain Unit I, Map 4) and the
Northwestern Foothills <Terrain Unit II> are estimated to have a high
probability of landslide potential should an earthquake occur, while the
probability of subsidence and ground lurching in these areas is low.
The Bohlman area <Terrain Unit III) is known for unstable slopes
and is considered to have a high potential for seismically induced
landslides, The Skyline area (Terrain Unit IV) has a medium or moderate
probability of landslide occurrence, but this region is sparsely populated.
The Ualley 'floor (Terrain Unit U}, the most populated area of
Saratoga, is relatively flat but is traversed by several creeks. While
this area may not experience landslides or ground lurching should an
earthquake occur, there is a moderate probability that subsidence and/or
liquefaction would take place due to the loosely compacted alluvium soil.
Seismic~)ly. Induced Flopdinq and Dam..,!q~nd~ion
Shou!d a dam fail during an earthquake, the released water could
cause flooding downstream. The resulting damage is dependent on the rate
of water released and the volume of water in the reservoir. Failure of a
dam can either be caused by ground displacement along a fault trace, ground
shaking, or overtopping of the dam by e large landslide splash wave.
The Lake Ranch reservoir in Saratoga's Sphere of Influence is the
most likely reservoir to be affected by seismic activity. Operated by the
San Jose ~ater Company, the reservoir is located in a saddle-shaped
depression near the southern portion of Sanborn Road, and was created by
the construction of a small earthen dam at each end. Both dams are
traversed by the San ~ndreas Fault, and both withstood the ISOB earthquake.
However, it i5 estimated that if an earthquake occurs which either
ruptures the dams or creates reservoir seiches (seismic waves), the volume
of water (10S million gallons when full) released would be comparable to
the flooding hazard from a 100 year flood. The southeasterly flow of the
reservoir storage would impact areas outside of the City's Sphere of
Influence near the Santa Cruz County line, while the northeasterly flow
would flood areas along quito Creek.
Other flooding hazards resulting from the secondary effects of
seismic activity could occur if landslides are activated and advance into
creekbeds. On Big Basin Way, near the San Jose Water Company's Saratoga
filter plant, a slide could conceivably block both the road and Saratoga
Creek during an earthquake. This area has experienced movement in the
past, and has required periodic maintenance and the construction of
expensive drainage facilities at the site.
StrUctural. Hazardq ReIat~d to Seismic Activity
The majority of homes in the City of Saratoga are single-story,
post-1950 wood frame structures which tend to fare well during earthquakes
because of the flexibility of building material. However. recently. the
number of tWO-StOry homes being built exceeds thai of single-story homes,
particularly in hillside areas, The low density of development in recent
housing tracts is also an advantage during an earthquake because it allows
clearance around buildings for sway and falling debris,
Fortunately, few elevated structures in excess of two Dr three
stories in height have been built in Saratoga or its Sphere of Influence~
the few that do exist were constructed according to modern codes which
include seismic safety requirements. While it is impossible to guarantee
the safety of any structure, a clearly defined and conscientiously enforced
program of structural reinforcement will greatly reduce injury and loss of
life. The establishment of appropriate setbacks to prohibit development
near or on fault lines is another precaution which can be used to minimize
structural damage.
Many commonly used building components, such as nonreinforced stone
or brick chimneys and nonreinforced masonry, are particularly susceptible
to ground shaking. Among newly constructed buildings, particularly those
for commercial use, small steel frame buildings are generally considered
the safest. while nonreinforced masonry and tilt-up structures are
regarded as posing a greater risk. Because Saratoga is predominantly a
residential community, it does not have a vast number of nonreinforced
masonry or tilt-up structures. At the present time, there are no tilt-up
structures in the City, but it is estimated that 50X of the structures in
the Yillage area along Big Basin Way are of nonreinforced masonry. This
type of construction should be avoided since it is estimated that the
damage to this type of structure is two or three times greater than that
which would occur with a wood-frame building. In areas with intense ground
shaking during the Sen Fernando earthquake of IS?1, there was a 20X loss
rate to tilt-up structures, with the roof to wall connections showing
particular stress.
State law requires municipalities to inventory potentially hazardous
masonry buildings and (o file the inventory with the Seismic Safety
11
Commission. However, the State has not allocated funding to assist local
agencies in implementing this program.
Other Potential Hazards R~la~..~d to Seismi,c,
Public and quasi-public facilities such as utility systems may be at
risk from the secondary e~fects of seismic activity. In the aftermath of a
major earthquake, facilities of particular importance such as water tanks,
pipelines including gas, water and sewer, electrical and communications
systems, and roads, bridges and freeways are regarded as the "lifelines" of
the community for the provision of emergency services. Many of these
utilities unavoidably cross hazardous areas, and could be disrupted and
seriously impaired in the event of an earthquake. Water distribution,
sewage disposal, and gas systems are particularly vulnerable. Disruption
of these systems after an earthquake will be dependent not only upon the
location and magnitude of the earthquake and specific site conditions, but
also on the condition of %he lines, pumps, and plant facilities. Water
pumps require electricity units to operate, and hence the system could fail
at many points. Gas distribution lines crossing seismically hazardous
areas or large gasoline storage tanks located in areas of poor soil
conditions could rupture, and the gas be ignited. The areas of the City
and its Sphere of Influence where utilities are most likely to be disturbed
are the San Andteas Ri~% Zone and the Bohlman Road area.
Several safety measures have been used by ~he City to reduce the
risk of utility syste~ breakdown during an earthquake: stand-by power
sources are provided to all computerized controls and monitors~ loss of
power will automatically shut off water~ and sewage lines have been
embedded several ~ee~ lower than the water lines. Water comes to Saratoga
from four different locations operated by SJWC: Saratoga Creek, Los Ga~os
Creek impounding dams, 12S wells in the North Central District, and fro~
the SCU~D Rinconada Treatment Plan~. ~hile it is unlikely tha~ all sources
would be shut of~ simultaneously, a limited reserve of replacement
equipment might delay the restoration of service. After an earthquake
or disaster, SJ~C will i~nplement its own emergency operating plan ~o serve
Saratoga.
The problem of water supply in the hillsides and the Sphere of
influence could become acute during an earthquake. In the summer, when
streams are dry, dependence on private sources might be inadequate for
emergency needs. There are several small reservoirs, two 10,0~8 9allon
redwood storage tanks often used by the Forestry Division, occasional
wells, and the Lake Ranch Reservoir which, under properly organized
distribution, could provide for emergency needs.
Oamage to roadways, freeways and bridges can be expected during a
major earthquake. However, recently constructed reinforced concrete
bridges and overpasses are considered to be more resilient to earthquake
movemen% %hen older bridges and overpasses. Several bridges in the City
would be subject to failure during seismic activity because they were not
constructed according to current engineering standards. These facilities
are also in areas of high 9roundwater levels and unstable creekbeds:
Springer Avenue at Big Basin Way, Fourth Street near B1g Basin Way,
Sarahills Road near Pierce Road, and Chalet Clothile Drive near Pierce
"t?
Road. The only airport in the Bay 8tea'expected to be operational
following an earthquake is San 3ose International Airport. All other
airports in the bey region are built on bay mud which tends to liquefy
during seismic activity.
One of the greatest problems following an earthquake is the
provision of emergency care for the injured at major hospitals and health
care facilities. Same hospital~ may not be operational after a major
earthquake, especially if they are located near the San Andteas Fault. If
a major earthquake causes the City io become i~olated from the rest of the
Santa Clara Ualley, Los Gatos-Saratoga Hospital on Pollard Road ~n Los
Gatos ~outd be the ~ost accessible health care facitit~ for the Pestdents
of Saratoga. Good Samaritan Hospital, ~hite in close proximity to the
City, could be inaccessible if free~ays and overpasses are not usahie. The
nine schDDlf in the City ~ould be used as Emergenc~ Operations Centers for
public information, and have been designed according to the strict State
seismic safety requirements of the Field Act (1933). Blue Hills E1ementar~
School is located neap the Shannon Fault~ the ~tructural soundness of thi~
structure should be evaluated, and if any hazards ~hi~h cannDt be mittDated
exist, abandonment of the building should be considered. It is recommended
that future invoiuntary occupancy type structures in Saratoga~ such as
~choots and hospitals, not be located in areas of poor land stability, and
shoyld be designed to mitigate any seismic hazards associated ~ith their
sites.
FLO00 H~Z~RDS
Historically, the occurrence of flooding has been a benefit to
agricultural soil, wildlife, and the general ecological balance of a
community. Flooding becomes a natural hazard when the flow of water
threatens life and damages Oersonal property. Damages from flooding
increase in proportion to the growth Df urban development and as
subdivisions locate on potential flood sites.
Floods are primarily caused by excessive surface runoff resulting
from intense or heavy rainfall, or from the failure of flood control or
water supply structures such as levees or reservoirs. When prolonged
rainfall exceeds the absorption rate of the soil or the water storage
capacity of the watershed, the excess must flow downstream. Although it is
impossible to prevent excessive rainfall that causes major floods, it is
possible to develop methods and policies for the management of areas
subject to flooding, and for the protection of life and property. Through
the use of hydrolo9ic data in conjunction with regularDry and flood
proofing measures, proper land use planning can be effective in the control
of flooding and its possible adverse affects.
Historical Data on Floodinq.i.n Area
All surface water originating in or passing through Saratoga
ultimately discharges into San Francisco Bay. Runoff is collected in the
City's underground storm drainage system, which discharges into the creeks
throughout the City. Three major drainage basins lie within the City, and
all drain from south to north. From east to west, these basin~ are the San
Tomes AquinD, SaratOga, and Calabazas Creeks. Wildcat, Uasona, and Sobey
Creeks are tributaries within the San Tomes Creek drainage system, while
Prospect and Rodeo Creeks are tributaries of Calabazas Creek. San ToMes
Aquino and Calabazas Creeks discharge into the Guadelupe Sicugh near the
Bay, with Saratoga Creek joining San Tomes Aquino north of the City.
Information on flooding of the creeks during the years 1889 through
1973 reveals that the Saratoga area experienced 14 flDods of varying
severity. Flooding in the early years was often viewed as an asset rather
than a liability. since the need for water to irrigate agricultural crops
outweighed the damage done by floodwater. As development increased over the
years, damage became a more important consideration as population growth
and the completion of water retention facilities in the area combined to
alter the pattern of potential flooding.
The severity of floods in relation to urban development varies from
year to year. The most serious floods in Saratoga occurred in 191~, 1955,
1S58, t983, and the winter of 1982-83. The City was hit most severely
during the floods of 1958. The Santa Clara Valley Water District has made
progress in improving the channels since that date whenever funds were
available; as a result, flood damage has been reduced over She years.
During an average year, residents of the area are subject to minor
flooding, but most potential hazards are nDW being corrected through
conditions of approval for tentative subdivision maps.
The most recent major flooding in Saratoga occurred during the heavy
rains of the winter of )B82-83. Much of the property damage resulting from
the high intensity and long duration of the rains during that winter was
due to slope faiture, triggered by over-saturation of the ground and/or by
rising groundwater level. Although the resulting landslides were confined
primarily to private property, some public roads and utilities in the upper
Calabazas Creek watershed and the Congress Springs study area also
experienced ground failure. On Michaels Drive, where several stides
occurredo a water line belonging to San Jose Water Works was broken. At
Kittridge and Bchlman Roads, a landslide extended into the road alignment,
disrupting gas and water lines. Curbs and concrete gutters buckted on
Sarahills Orive as slope movement caused compression cracking of the road
surface.
~dentification of Areas S.~b.ject ~.~ Floodiqq
Several creek areas in Saratoga have been identified as specific
flood hazard areas (Map 3>. Saratoga Creek has the most extensive
floodplain in width and length. It begins above Prospect Avenue and
follows Saratoga 8venus where it joins Big Basin Way. The widest portion
of the floodplain is south of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. The
flood hazard in this area is expected to diminish when drainage facilities
are constructed in conjunction with the development of the State Highway 85
transportation corridor.
As tributaries of the San Tomes Aquino Creek basin, Wildcat, Vasona=
and San Tomas Aquino Creeks also are subject to the 100-year flood hazard.
Recent improvements to these creek channels have greatly reduced the
potential for flood damage in adjacent areas. Further improvements will
also be made during.the construction of the transportation corridor.
Calabazas Creek has an extremely wide 10~-year floodplain from
Prospect Road extending almost to Wardell Road, between Saratoga-Sunnyvale
Road and Arroyo de Arguelie, where the watershed branches out in a westward
direction. Although much of the terrain lying within the upper Calabazas
Creek watershed is characterized by steep hillsides, heavy rainfall during
past years has saturated unstabte slopes and caused the 9roundwater level
to rise, triggering landslides of mud and debris into the creek channels.
Since the flooding in 1983, extensive cleaning of the Calabazas Creek
basin near Comer Drive has been performed annually to dislodge accumulated
debris which impedes the flow of the drainage basin.
There are no Federal flood control facilities on stream channels in
the City of Saratoga. However, private parties have contributed toward the
development of drainage facilities which have reduced flood damages over
the years. These improvements have consisted of bridge and culvert
construction, but, in many cases, have proven inadequate in containing the
100-year flood flow.
The future risk of hazard from flooding is most likely to occur in
areas which have been subject to flooding during the past 180 years on
record. Residential development should not be permitted in designated
floodplains unless it has been previously approved by the Santa Clara
Valley Water District <SCUWD), or only if the structures are adequately
protected by raising the first habitable floor at least one foot above
base floodline level.
The principal lend use in the floodplains within the City is low to
medium density residential, with limited areas designated as agricu]tural,
open space, or commercial use. Uses which do not subject human life to
danger, such as orchards or wildlife preserves. can be permitted in the
floodplains. Existing development in the floodplain can be further
protected through the use of levees or engineering methods which increase
stream capacity.
Flood Controls and Land Oevelopmen.t Review
The City of Saratoga is a participant in the National Flood Insurance
Program operated by the Federal Insurance Administration of the Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUO). The purpose of the program is to
provide insurance coverage to property owners against losses due to
flooding, and to require that local governments take eli actions possible
to control development in a manner which minimizes the risk of flood
damage. Under the program, the City must adopt land use and development
controls to assure that new structures are reasonably safe from flooding,
Within the identified flood hazard area which the federal program
designates. these controls require that new structures use flood-resistant
materials, be adequately anchored, have first floors elevated above the
level of the 1X base floodplain. and be placed outside of designated
floodways. The 1X base floodplain is that area where there is a one
percent chance of a flood occurring within any given year. This area is
often called the 100-year flood zone, which signifies the reoccurrence
interval or long-term average period between floods of a specific
magnitude. The City must also apply floodplain zoning to designated
floodways and develop a FloodplainManagement Ordinance under this program.
Without flood protection, many types of land uses, particularly
housing. are not appropriate within floodable areas. However, flood
protection facilities are not economically justifiable, even though an area
is a known floodplain, unless they service valuable land uses such as
housing. Historically, land development has come first and flood
protection has been provided after flood damage to property has occurred.
The use of flood hazard information in the advance planning of land uses is
essential in order to provide the framework for zoning administration and
the land development review process.
Saratoga has an extensive review procedure in conjunction with the
Santa Clara Ualley Water District which addresses flooding potential and
the impact on development. The Flood Plain Management Act (Cobey-A1quist
Act 1SBS) introduced the concept of reserving from future development areas
along stream channels for flood prevention projects. In Saratoga, land
development proposals adjacent to a floodplain or creek must be reviewed by
SCUWD, which makes recommendations for possible flood prevention measures.
SCUWD usually requires the dedication of an easement along natural
watercoursef or channels under its jurisdiction for the purpose of
maintaining the channel or for the future construction of channel
improvements. The Water gistriot may also recommend other measures for the
mitigation of flood hazards, such as grading of the site and elevation of
the structure above the anticipated flooding level. ~ drainage plan is
required by the City at the time of preliminary map submittal to ensure
that runoff is drained away from structures. The City engineering
department has the responsibility for Saratoga's drainage facilities, and
operates in conjunction with the Water District when areas of
responsibility overlap.
Flood Control and Emeraencv Service~
Since floodin9 causes both damage to Vroperty and a severe health
hazard to those in the community, it is important to have plans for
emergency services in the event of flooding. These preventative measures
also contribute toward the eligibility to receive FedereI funds for future
flood control projects.
6 community's eligibility for Federal funds requires a statewide
e×penditure of $S million on disaster prevention during the preceding 12
months. SCVWD takes and encourages all other utilities and service
providers to take all preventative actions necessary to protect the public
safety during periods of emergency, and has created the position of Public
Information Officer to prepare news releases to inform the news media and
Emergency Center Staff of any pending danger and the progress of emergency
actions. The SCVWD plan includes a hierarchy of responsible officials and
contacts in the event of an emergency. San Jose Water Company, which
services the City's water system, has a detailed plan for emergency
operations. Their emergency committee will educate the public on how to
respond in the event of a disaster.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District has established an emergency
operations center at the district office in San Jose to gather and
disseminate information, to evaluate potential and e×isting flood and
earthquake conditions, and to advise local communities of corrective
measures as necessary. The SCVWD coordinates actions when dual
responsibility is involved, end operates as e liaison to County, State and
Federal offices of emergency functions. SCVWD is "on alert" from October
1st to May 1st in order to monitor flood and emergency conditions. During
flood emergencies, 24 operational bases will be established throughout the
County for emergency response. Saratoga's contact base is at the Rinconada
Treatment Plant near More Avenue in Los Gatos.
Isolation of an area by flooded roads can prevent evacuation and
access by medical, fire, and police personnel. During periods of heavy
rainfall, many bridges and roads which cross stream channels may be
inundated by the swiftly moving water. Bridges over the lower portion of
Saratoga Creek near the Village are particularly vulnerable to flood
damage, making major public roads inaccessible. Residents must then use
private, substandard roads for access~ should they become completely
isolated from the City, only the Division of Forestry would be able to
offer air access. The response time for the provision of this service is
greater in the winter ~onths because the division's hillside substation
near ~lma ~venue in Los BarDs is unmanned during that season. 8ohlman Road
and On Orbit Orive are predicted to be isolated in the event of hea,vy
rainfall, as the high groundwater table rises and the geologic instability
of the surrounding slopes triggers landslides. During periods of high
intensity rainfall, City maintenance crews patrol the entire City with
attention being paid to those areas having a history of flooding. The
purpose of this type of petrol is to help prevent damage to private
property during severe s~orms.
FIRE HAZRRDS
Because most fires are started by people, either intentionally or
through carelessness, the places of greatest concern ?or fire prevention
are where people live, recreate, drive or work. Once started, a fire can
quickly blaze out of control when weather and physica~ site conditions are
amenable. In addition to the direct hazards to people and property,
indirect damages and economic losses which fire may cause such as erosion
and siltorion of dams and flood control channels, increased flood hazard,
damage to watersheds, the potential for mud slides, and losses to scenic
and recreational values may also occur.
Development in areas of fire hazard should be guided by prevention
requirements such as fire resistant building construction and materials,
adequate space between structures, available water supply, fire resistant
plant materials, quality of year-round fire-fighting service, available
evacuation routes, access routes level enough for fire equipment use, and
firebreaks and their maintenance in brush areas,
Rcces5 is a key component of fire hazard prevention, since fire
fighting equipment must be a~le to reach the fire and people living in or
visiting the areas subject to the hazard must be able to escape in the
event of a fire, Private roads, particularly in the hillside areas, are
less liltely to meet access and maintenance standards than public roads.
The most effective method for avoiding fire risk in hazardous areas is the
regulation of housing development and the provision of alternate access
routes for eattied deadend roads. Hillside roads in the County's
jurisdictional area, such as Redhill Road and Bohlman Road, clearly fail to
meet City road construction standard5 and do not provide any alternative
means of acce55,
Although fir~ protection services in the City and the Sphere of
Influence are considered adequate for most emergencies, they may prove
inadequate in the event of an earthquake. Fires associated with an
earthquake are often scattered and spread rapidly due to an impaired water
system. In such cases, Saratoga's current level of fire services would be
inadequate and water unavailabie if reservoirs are ruptured or streams
obstructed. During minor emergencies, mutual aid agreements might provide
assistance from adjacent communities, but major emergencies, such as large
scale fires, would require additional assistance and resources from the
County and State.
Fire Protection in Saratoq8
The City of Saratoga is served by the Saratoga Firs District and the
Central Fire District of Santa Clara County, each serving approximately
of the City'5 jurisdictional area. The Central Fire Protection District was
established in 1947 by Santa Clara County, and i5 managed by the County
Board of Supervisors. The Saratoga Fire District was originally run by a
group of citizen volunteers which organized in 192~; it was reorganized in
t981 as a Fire District under the State law with three elected
19
commissioners. While Saratoga has never been completely devastated by a
fire, several spectacular blazes occurred during its early history before
the turn of the century, such as the fire at Nactay's tannery and grist
mill, the pasteboard mill fire, and also the fire at the Saratoga paper
mill. The Congress Springs Hotel fire, which completely demolished the
structure, occurred in iSOB. Since the 1920's, the increase in the level
of firefighting skill and the greatly improved firefighting equipment have
prevented many fires in the City from becoming disasters.
The Saratoga Fire District has one station located at the corner of
SaratoGa Avenue and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. The Central Fire District has
two Saratoga stations, one located on Cox Avenue and the other on Saratoga-
Los Satos Road, which atso serves portions of Los Gatos. 811 area fire
departments cooperate in mutual aid agreements which loosen the strict
adherence to district boundaries when adjacent communities are in need.
San Jose ~ater Company is a private water supply company which
services the City of Saratoga and much of Santa Clara County. The City's
water supply is considered adequate for fire-fighting, originating from
four sources: t25 ~ells in the north Central district, Saratoga Creek, Los
Gatos Creek Impounding Dam, and purchased treated water from the Santa
Clara Ualley Water District Rinconada Treatment Plant. The Subdivision
Ordinance requires a peakload water supply of 1,000 gallons of water per
minute for two hours for all housing development. San Jose ~ater Company is
limited in the areas it can serve since higher site elevations decrease the
36 pound minimum pressure which must be maintained in order to provide
1.000 gallons per minute. This factor has caused a severe problem in
providing adequate fire protection in the Northwestern Hillsides
Residential District, where several of the existing homes do not meet the
City requirement.
The City adopted a map ~n 1SS1 designating certain areas of the City
as hazardous fire areas, which are defined as those areas densely covered
with grass, grain, brush or forest and so situated or inaccessible that
control of fire o~iginating on the land would present an abncrmally
difficult task. The hazardous fire areas of the City are shown on Nap E:
Areas of Extreme Fire Hazard. This classification encompasses the
Northwestern Hillsides area of the City and extends to the Lower Hillsides
in the southwestern portion of the City.
Special building regulations have been established for the hazardous
fire areas, including the requirement for fire retardant roofs and the
installation of an electronic fire detection system (Early ~arning Fire
Alar~n System) in all new homes or existing homes expanded by more than
fifty percent. The Early Warning Fire 81arm System consists of heat and
smoke detectors placed throughout the structure which, when activated, wilt
transmit a signal directly to a receiver panel in the Saratoga Fire
District station. The fire district will then receive the earliest
possible warning of fires, decreasing response time to remote areas and
thus reducing the possibility of death, injury and property damage.
Saratoga has adopted the 1985 Editions of the Uniform Building Code
and the Uniform Fire Code, with modifications recommended by the Central
Fire District and the Saratoga Fire District. These modifications reflect
local conditions such as the existence of hazardous fire areas, larger
20
~ARATOGA
'end the I
SPHERE OF' INFLUENCE !
:OX AVE. ,
map 5 !, ~ ['i
AREAS OF EXTREME FIRE HAZARDS
Areas of Extreme Fire f""J '
Hazards I ALLENDALE AVE.
SARATOGA SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
homes and garage sizes, and restricted access and traffic circulation in
the hillside areas having steep topography and heavy combustible
vegetation. One of the requirements implemented with the adoption of the
198S Uniform Building Code was for the installation of an automatic
sprinkler system in any new garage or carport having a capacity to
accommodate three or more automobiles.
The requirement for installation of the Early Warning Fire Alarm
System has been expanded beyond the hazardous fire areas to include the
following types of structures, wherever located within the City:
1) all new residences over 5,000 square feet,
2> existing residences which are being expanded to increase the
total square footage to greater than 5,000 square feet,
3) all new multi-family dwellings, hotels, motels, institutional
facilities, nursing homes and other structures containing
multiple sleeping units, or any such existing structures which
are expanded by 50X or more in gross floor area, and
4) new or expanded commercial structures, when required by the Fire
Chief.
Assessment of Fire Risk in Wildland Areas
The Northwestern Hillsides Residential District (NHR> and the
hillsides in the lower portion of the City (HC-RD) south of Big Basin Way
and Saratoga-Los Gates Road, including small portions of the adjacent
unincorporated area, are both classified by the State Public Resources Code
and City ordinance as "hazardous fire areas." Significant slopes, fire-
loading vegetation, weather, or any combination of these conditions creates
the potential for the loss of life and property due to fire. Because of
this potential, special fire protection measures and planning are necessary
before development occurs.
The Northwestern Hillsides. Residential District is characterized by
native brush, 9ras~lands and trees which are subject to wildfire, an
uncontrollable brush fire fueled by this vegetation. While the low density
of housing in the hillside area minimizes the potential danger to humans
and structures, there is a danger that fire in one structure will start a
wildfire which could consume an entire hillside. Special efforts have been
made by the City to require anti-fire buffer areas and sufficient clearance
around each house by landscaping with non-hazardous, drought resistant
vegetation. The minimum setbacks in this area are 30 feet in the front
yard, 20 feet in the side yards and a minimum of 20 feet in the rear.
8cress and parking for emergency vehicles and delays in response
time are the major public safety concerns in this area. Public street
right-of-ways in hillside areas are required to have a pavement width of 2B
feet, while the minimum width for a private access drive is 18 feet.
Emergency vehicles such as fire trucks require a radius of a minimum of 32
feet on a cul-de-sac turnaround.
The fire hazard in Saratoga's Sphere of Influence outside the City
limits is considerably higher than in the City and its incorporated
hillsides. Forest Service ranger units, located at Saratoga Summit and
Stevens Creek Reservoir, are equipped to provide coverage for wildland
21
fires only and not structure fires, during the summer months. The major
problems contributing to adverse Fire fighting conditions in the Sphere are
areas of steep slope, lack of adequate water supply, intense vegetative cover
access routes, The Sphere is covered during the winter months by the two
fire districts in Saratoga, but structure fire fighting equipment in this
area is subject to local emergency conditions and may not be available at
all.
8ssessment of Fire Ri~k ~n Urban ~reas
The fire hazards in the flat urbanized areas of Saratoga are
relatively low. ~lthough these areas are higher in density than the
hillside areas, excessive combustible natural vegetation is not present.
The City's Weed ~batement ordinance and unlimited trash pickup service have
been effective in controlling a large portion of the combustible vegetation
and trash in the City's urban area. Response time of fire protection
services is only a few minutes to any of the City's densely populated
neighborhoods, and the peakload water supply requirement of 1,000 gallons
of water per minute for two hours is more than adequate for these areas.
Summer fires pose the greatest threat to residential areas in the
City, particularly during periods of high temperatures and extremely dry
vegetation, Tract homes with wood shake shingles are especially suscep-
tible to the rapid spread of any fire which may start during seasonal dry
spells, and are a major concern to the fire districts. The future adoption
of standards For fire retardant roof materials and residential sprinklers
for all areas of the City should be considered.
8 substantial portion of the new single-family dwellings being
constructed in the City are much larger than the older existing homes~ they
are typically in excess of five thousand square feet which includes an
attached three-car garage. Because of the size of these dwellings, a fire
may be more difficult to extinguish and, therefore, potentially cause more
damage than would normally occur. This is one of several reasons which
lead to the requirement that the Early ~arning Fire Alarm System be
installed in all new or expanded single-family dwellings with a floor area
exceeding five thousand square feet, and a domestic sprinkler system must
be installed in all three car garages.
H~ardous Haterial~ Stor~qe and DiSposAl.
When compared to adjacent communities, Saratoga does not have a
significant problem with hazardous materials storage and handling. No
major chemical handlers are located in the City since such operations are
severely limited by existing regulations. The storage, use and disposal of
hazardous materials is limited to the six gas stations located in the City,
and typically consists of anti-freeze= brake fluid= motor oil and gasoline.
Generally, when hazardous Materials are present in Saratoga they-
are being transported thro_~ the City rather than to a location within
the City limits. The main transportation routes For these materials are
Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Highway 9~ any spit1 which may occur along this
corridor would be responded to by ~he local fire districts with the clean-
up operation being the responsibility of the State Department of
Transportation.
22
A major concern to the City when a hazardous chemical spill occurs
is the possibility of surface and groundwater contamination. Floodplains
and creeks lie in close proximity to the primary transportation routes and
can become contaminated quickly between the ~ime a spill occurs and ~he
clean-up process begins. A spill occurred in 1985 a~ Big Basin Way and
Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, with several thousand gallons of gasoline leaking
into Saratoga Creek from a ruptured tank on a gasoline tanker truck.
Several businesses and homeowners were forced to evacuate, and access roads
were closed for several hours.
Saratoga enacted a Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance in 1~85
<Chapter 8 of the City Code) ~o pro%act "health, life, resources, and
property through prevention and control of unauthorized discharges of
hazardous materials." The ordinance includes regulations governing
administration and enforcement of the code which is performed by the
County, the list of specific materials covered, containment standards, and
preparation of hazardous materials management plans. Any person, fir~, or
corporation which stores any hazardous material for which a permit is
required must file a Hazardous Materials Management Plan {HMMP> for County
approval and public record, demonstrating safe storage and handling of
hazardous materials, The HMMP must include 9onerat information about the
faciliiy, an eRergency response contact, a facility storage map, a hazar-
dous materials inventory statement, a monitoring program, recordkeeping
forms %o be used as a log for routine inspections, and a description of
emergency equipment available on-site. Due to the complexity of the new
State laws concerning ~he s~orage and transportation of hazardous
materials, the Central Fire District has hired a full-time chemis~, rather
than training a fire fighter, to monitor and enforce the ne~ laws.
2~
EMER6ENCY PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER PLANNINS
Effective safety planning involves both the development of
regulations to prevent and/or mitigate hazard~ and the preparation of plans
to deal with emergencies should they arise. While prevention is the most
effective end cautious method of protecting the public and property from
imminent danger, the City must be prepared if an unpredictable disaster
should strike. It is the responsibility of each city to prepare a local
emergency preparedness plan to be reviewed end updated every four years and
approved by the State Office of Emergency Services. Updating the plan on
schedule maintains the ci~y's eligibility for Federal Emergency Nanegement
~gency (FEN~) funded programs.
The City Code assert5 the obligation of the City to protect the life
and property of Saratoga residents, and supports the policy of mutual aid
and coordination uith the County emergency operational area. Expenditures
are authorized for the protection and benefit of residents and their
property. The City has defined an emergency as:
The actual or threatened e×istence of conditions of disaster or of
extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City
caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm,
epidemic, riot, earthquake, or other conditions resulting from war or
imminent threat of war, which conditions are or are likely to be
beyond the control of services, personnel, equipment, and facilities
of the City, requiring the combined forces of other political
subdivisions to combat.
Through the California Emergency Services ~c~ of 1970, the California
Office of Emergency Service provides the basis for local emergency
preparedness. The Office of Emergency Services is responsible for
preparing the California State Emer9ency Plan and for coordinating and
supporting emergency services conducted by local governments. The
responsibility for immediate response to an emergency, such as fires,
landslides, earthquakes or ric~s, rests with local 9overnment agencies and
segments of ~he private sector, with support services provided by other
jurisdictions and/or S~ete and Federal agencies. In accordance with their
normal operating procedures, the initial response to an emergency is to be
made by ~he City~s Fire, Law Enforcement, Nedical or Naintenance <Public
Works) districts or departments
~.~ArqenqyPlan Purpose ~n.~ Orqani~e~..n
The purpose of the Sare~oga's Emergency Plan is to provide for-
effective emergency management within the City, using existing
organizations and resources to the maximum extent possible. The objectives
of the plan are:
1) To minimize the effects of emergency or disaster occurring as a result of
any hazard, natural or manmade,
2) To enhance the respDnse to emergencies in a timely, coordinated manner.
3) To assis{ recovery from a disaster rapidly and at lowest possible cost
to residents,
4> To facilitate preparedness for dealing with the mitigation, response and
recovery actions inherent in the objectives above.
The City's Emergency Plan details the assignment of authority and
procedures to be followed during emergencies. The present plan was adopted
in January 1988, and is currently being revised to be consistent with
recent changes in State law. Saratoga's City Code authorizes the creation
of a disaster council which consists of the Mayor and Council at the time
the disaster occurs, The Council has the authority to develop and
recommend disaster-related plans, policies, ordinances and regulations, and
to implement all aspects of the plan. The City Hanager functions as the
Director of Emergency Services, assuming the direction and control of
emergency operations, and the requisitioning of materials and labor. The
emergency organization under the director consists of all officers and
employees of the City, those volunteers enrolled to aid during an
emergency, and any others, who by agreement or operation of law, can be
charged with emergency duties.
The Plan is organized into five parts: Part One, the ~asic Plan,
deals with matters of concept, organization, direction, and control~ Part
Two, Emergency Response Services, focuses on those services which respond
initially to emergency calls and would be immediately required to respond
when an official emergency is declaredi Part Three, Resource Management
Services, encompasses those activities which may or may not be required
depending on the nature and scope of the emergencyl Part Four, the Staff
Services section, is designed to describe key staff assistance required by
the Director of Emergency Services for effective management of an
emergency; Part Five, the Emergency Operating Center <EOC>, describes
details of organization and functioning of the EOC. The objectives,
concepts, and applicable doctrine of the State and Santa Clara County
emergency plans are automatically incorporated into Saratoga's plan, and
should be used in conjunction when local emergencies extend into and effect
adjacent communities.
Emerqenc¥ Evacuation Plan
Another facet of the City's responsibility in emergency preparedness
is the development of evacuation plans which will readily and effectively
relocate residents from hazardous areas to locations of greater safety. ~n
integral part of evacuation planning is the identification Df evacuation
routes and places of assembly. Map 8, Evacuation Routes, illustrates the
direction of movement on local collector and arterial streets and the-
designated evacuation routes that should be followed in order to promote
safe and efficient evacuation of residents. Proposed places of assembly
are chosen for their ability to accomodate significant numbers of people,
their relative location to the arterial and collector streets, and their
overall geographic Iocation in relation to population concentrations. Roads
which serve as collector streets are Fruitvale ~venue, Big Basin Way, and
Pierce Road. These collectors feed into the higher capacity arterial
streets such as Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, Quito Road, Saratoga 8venus,
SARATOGA
and the
SPHERE OF' INFLUENCE
map 6 r
EVACUATION ROUTES
~ SARATOGA SPN~R~ OF IN~UENCE
l 9 .0
11
April 1987 ~GA CITY LIMI~
~J Assembly 5~ tes
1; P~ospect H~gh
~ · .
~ s~¢o,a~y n.¢~ o~ ~,,e~/~ FJ 3. Argonaut Elem.
A ~er:ency Operating Centers ~ ~ ~. INFLUENCEi 4. Foothill Elem.
· , ~vo ..... I 5. Saratoga High
~] 6. City Hall
'~ S~e~TOGA S~HE, E ~ 7. West Valley College
~Direction of Movement ~ ' 8. Redwood Junior High
~ / 9 Int Order of Odd Fellows
mj %YIIIIAAI~ A ~IOClN!
K, ~ ~;, ~ v . Home.
................................. 10. Marshal 1 Lane E1 em.
11. Saratoga Fire Dist. Stat
' 12. Saratoga Elem.
Saratoga-Los 6atos Road, and Prospect Road.
The Evacuation Route map shows that the majority of the City's
evacuation routes are located in the area between Prospect Avenue and
Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and gusto Road, where
the population is of a higher density than in hillside areas. Depending on
the nature of the disaster, some access roads in the hillside areas may be
closed or impeded, creating the necessity for residents to evacuate from
the area along substandard emergency access roads or by helicopter.
Places of assembly, or congregate care centers, to be opened in the
event of a disaster are shown on Map S and are designated as "primary
places of assembly" or "secondary places of assembly." The primary places
of assembly are Saratoga High (Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Herriman
~venue), West ~alley College (Fruitvale ~venue and ~llendate Avenue), and
the Odd Fellows Home (Fruitvale Avenue and San Marcos Road). The Odd
Fellows Home, although limited in space and occupancy load, is important as
an emergency shelter due to the availability of medical care. Secondary
places of assembly consist of the remaining seven elementary, junior high
and high schools in the City. Saratoga's designated emergency operating
centers are also shown on the map. The primary center is located adjacent
to City Hall in the Senior Wing of the Community Center, with the secondary
center at the Saratoga Fire Oistrict station at Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and
Saratoga Avenue. In addition to these faoilities, Saratoga is also served
by Santa Clara County Emergency Welfare Service Center VIIl, located at ?00
Gale Drive in Campbell.
1HPACT I~NTIF~C~T..I.0~
Identification of geologic, seismic, flood and fire hazards
affecting Saratoga is the first step in estimating the potential safety
risks to people and property. The determination of conflict areas and the
impact resulting from the identified hazards ia the next step in defining
those areas of the city at highest risk. 8y the use of a map which overlays
the hazard areas on the City (Map 4), potential impacts to people and
property can be identified and used as a basis for safety planning policy
formulation.
LAND USE IMPACTS
8 major portion of the city of Saratoga is underlain by a geologic
staOility zone, and resembles a relatively flat valley floor. The land use
in ibis area is predominantly residential of varying density, and is not
considered to be geologically hazard prone. However, the potentially
active Shannon Fault lies in this area of the City~ parallel to the
proposed Highway 8S Corridor. Although no recent movement is evident along
the fault trace; the most likely secondary effects of an earthquake in this
area would be ground subsidence or liquefaction due to the many creekbeds
and alluvium soil present in the area.
Commercial land use is concentrated in the Village area, along
Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, and sporadically along Saratoga Avenue. Some
commercial properties in the Village have experienced problems related to a
high groundwater table and above-ground seepage caused by underground
creeks and mineral springs. but no substantial damage has occurred due to
geologic hazards.
The most geologically unstable areas in Saratoga, the upper
Calabazas Creek watershed and the Congress Springs study area, are
predominantly low density residential. Some portions of the Congress
Springs area within Saratoga's urban service area are unincorporated and
under County jurisdiction. The zoning of the southern section of BohlMan
Road. Quickerr Road and On Orbit Drive is regulated by the County, with
many roads and homes on land considered too unstable for such uses. These
roadways will require continual maintenance and could face possible
catastrophic failure due to massive landsliding or fault movement along the
potentially active 8errocal fault. The geologic and environmental
constraints related to seismic hazards in this area make the development
potential of vacant parcels doubtful. The County's slope-density zoning
allows from approximately 2.S to 10 acres per dwelling unit; however. the'
subdivision off On Orbit Orive was developed according to flatland
standards during the early lg?O's. The City's slope-density zoning allows
from approximately ~ ~o S acres per dwelling.
The Northwestern Hillsides Residential District lies within the
upper Calabazas Creek watershed and is another region of Saratoga subject
27
to geologic hazards. The most unstable Dortion of the watershed is located
north and south of the Mr. Eden Road-Pierce Road intersection. Landslide
movement has occurred at several residential sites in this section of the
hillside, particularly along Pike Road and Sara Hills Drive. Recent losses
in this area attributed to landslide movement have shown that even those
structures built with deep pier and grade beam-type foundations may be
damaged or destroyed if the active slip surfaces lie below the depth of
foundation penetration, The presence of percolatiDn from underground
natural springs in this area has also contributed to the instability of
these slopes.
The terrain unit designated as the San 6ndreas Rift on Map I is
traversed by the San AndPeas Fault. It is considered seismically unstable
end subject to intense ground shaking and surface rupture. Development in
this region of the Sphere of Influence is sparse, and the area should be
considered only for open space preservation in the future rather than urban
development.
TRANSPORTATION ROUTE IMPACTS
Major transportation routes such as highways and arterial streets
link the neighborhoods of the city and provide essential access both into
and out of hazard prone areas. The mobility of public safety officials and
emergency personnel is vital in emergency situations. Because evacuation
relies upon passable and safe roads, transportation routes are a key
concern in safety planning.
Many of the roads in the hillside areas of Saratoga are narrow and
traverse areas of questionable stability. Congress Springs Road is
continually moving, as are parts of Bohlman end Pierce Roads. The cost of
maintaining these. roads to acceptable standards is high. Roadbeds are
often destroyed by active landsliding into creekbeds, and creeks must be
channelled to prevent the reoccurance of damage.
The Bohlman Road area is especially prone to landsliding during the
winter months when the soil becomes saturated. Road closure due to an
active landslide et the intersection of Norton Road and 8ohlman Road would
completely isolate the southern portion of Bohlman Road, Betnap, Mittridge,
Quickerr, and the subdivision on On Orbit Drive. Due to the potential
movement of the hillside in this region and deformation of roadbeds, the
development of emergency access roads and cost of their maintenance is
prohibitive. Should a landslide occur, the only method of emergency
access to this area would be by air, requiring the assistance of the
Department of Forestry.
Saratoga Creek has the most extensive floodplain in width and length,
following the course of Saratoga ~venue from Prospect Road to Big Basin
Way. Isolation of ~he lower portion of this area by ftooded roads or
bridges crossing the creek chennei could prevent evacuation and access by
medical, fire and polioe personnel.
UTILITY IMPAnTS
Utility facilities, roads, and other linear structures are
particularly vulnerable to damage from seismic activity. Utility system5
for water and gas distribution, and sewage disposal are easily disrupted by
intense ground shaking and geologic instabilities. and many of these
facilities currently cross the San Andreas Fault zone or the Bohlman Road
area. Since ~hese regions are the most likely portions of the City to be
isolated from emergency services if a disaster should occur, special
consideration should be given to the design and location of these utility
and roadway networks, and the supporting emergency backup systems.
Slope failure from over-saturation of the soil has occurred in the
past in the upper Calabazas Creek watershed area, rupturing water and gas
lines and disrupting service for long periods of time. This area of the
City has historically been sparsely populated, consisting of low density
residential development. However, as more development occurs in this
region and more expensive homes are built, more people and property will be
endangered if caution is not taken in the site analysis stage oF
development r~view.
Water and gas lines can be ruptured by the disposition of debris or
the force of floodwaters during periods of heavy rainfall. Contamination
of domestic water supplies is another hazard attributed to pipeline
rupture. Septic tank systems are unable to function when the ground
becomes over-saturated, and have the potential to pollute flood ~aters.
Several hillside developments. along Pierce and Pike Road5 and the south
portion of 8ohlman, Kittridge and Norton Roads, are not served by sanitary
sewer lines but are connected to septic tank systems. The developments also
tend to be geologically unstable areas subjec~ to slope failure, increasing
the risk of water supply contamination during floods.
EMERGENCY RELATED FGCILITIES
During times of emergency, certain structures throughout the City are
of prime importance to the safety and welfare of those who live in the
community. These facilities are used to coordinate emergency relief
operations and to give medical care and shelter to those affected by the
emergency situation. The safety o[ these critical buildings and their
occupants during times of natural hazards is of paramount importance to the
operation of a successful emergency response plan.
Critical structures such as emergency operation centers, hospitals,
fire and police stations are often located in areas prone to natural
hazards and should receive high priority for building inspections if they-
were not built according to current safety standards. The Saratoga Fire
District Station and the County Sheriff's Office are located at the
intersectlion of Saratoga ~venue and Saratoga-Sunnyvale ~oad, and lie within
the floodplain of Saratoga Creek.' The City's main Emergency Operation
Center, City Hall, is located on Fruitvale Avenue at ~llendale, just
outside Wildcat Creek's 100-year floodway. Los 6atos-Saratoga Community
Hospital on Pollard Road in Los 6arcs ( 2 miles from Quits Road) is the
most accessible hospital to Sara~ogoans in the event of an emergency. ~
2.q
floodplain lies just east of the facility and follows the alignment of the
Los Gatos portion of Highway 17. Since the'Oounty's Emergency Plan makes
the assumption that freeways will be unusable and overpasses closed in the
event of an earthquake or flood, other valley hospitals may be inaccessible
to City residents. If this assumption is correct, the City's evacuation
plan will be ineffective. Because of this, it is imperative that a strong
individual emergency preparedness program be initiated so that City
residents can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, or until remote
area5 of the County are accessible to emer9ency crews.
Another consideration which could adversely effect the City's
evacuation plan is that of conflicting policies by surrounding
jurisdictions and the resulting impacts. Two cities adjacent to Saratoga,
Los Gatos and Monte Sereno, have substantial areas of unstable hillsides
covered with dense vegetation. ~ccordin9 to the Los Gatos General Plan,
hillside building and site designs are regulated by ordinance, and
excessive accumulation of vegetation that could trigger a fire is strictly
monitored and controlled. The City also restricts development along
single-lane access roads, and emergency access routes must be provided for
remote development sites. These policies complement Saratoga's approach to
safety planning and emergency preparedness. However, policies of the City
of Monte Sereno could have major impacts on the effectiveness of Saratoga's
emer9ency plan. One of Monte Sereno's development policies is to encourage
limited neighborhood access with looped streets and cul-de-sacs to prevent
thorough traffic and reduce crime, even to the extent that the
administration of emergency services might be hindered. Neighborhoods may
request a reduction in vehicular access routes if they feel such a=measure
would preserve the quality of life in their area. The risk of fire in the
steep heavily vegetated hillsides south of Highway 9 is high, and reducing
the number of emergency access routes could delay the response of police,
fire, ambulance and paramedic services, increasing the likelihood of fire
spreading to the hillsides of adjacent communities.
In the event oF an earthquake or major disaster, residents of Los
Gatos and Monte Sereno would share two major evacuation routes with those
living in Saratoga. Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and many Saratoga residents
would evacuate along qui~o Road and Highway g (Saratoga-Los Gatos Road>.
These roads are heavily congested during normal commute hours, and would
exceed their maximSum traffic capacity during an emergency evacuation. It
would be beneficial to all three communities to develop an effective inter-
city emergency evacuation plan.
60ALS, POLICIES..ANO IMPLE~E~TA.I~ON PROGRAMS
The purpose of the Safety Element is to establish policies designed
to achieve the goal of reduclng risks from natural hazards. The steps used
in the process of establishing pollcles are: 1) identification of problems
or hazards, and 2) the development of solutions or policies. Thus far, the
hazards have been defined and mapped, and the potential impacts have been
identified. This chapter will focus on the development of solutions.
The City of Saratoga already has adopted many policies and programs
which address safety and seismic safety issues. These policies can be
separated into four categories: City development standards, General Plan
Elements, Specific Plane, and the Emergency Plan. It is important to
analyze these existing policies first for the purpose of identifying areas
of policy strength, policy weakness, and policy voids. When combined with
the issues identified in previous chapters of this Element, this analysis
will lead to recommendations on how the goals, policies and implementation
programs in the City's existing Safety/Seismic Safety Element can be
improved and strengthened.
ANALYSIS OF EXISTIN6 POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
~y pevelopmen~ Controls.and $~endard~
The majority of development standards for the City of Saratoga are
located in the City Code. Chapter 14 contains subdivision regulations;
those ~ections which specifically address safety issues include Article
14-25, Design Requirements (design standards and dedication of streets,
public service easements, and watercourses) and Article 14-3~, Improvement
Plans (storm water drainage, water provision, and sewer improvement plans).
Chapter iS of the Code contains zoning regulations; those sections which
pertain to safety issues include Article 15-13, Hillside Conservation
Residential District and Article 15-%4, Northwestern Hillside Residential
District (maximum site density, particulariy for sloped sites), and Article
~5-G5, Nonconforming Uses and Structures (unsafe buildings, and general
standards for nuisance abatement and public safety).
The City has also adopted the most recent edition of the Uniform
Building Code (UBC) which contains general construction safety regulations'
and specific seismic safety standards. Chapter 1B of the City Code
contains additional building regulations addressing site drainage
requirements, structural reinforcement, fire retardant construction, and
automatic sprinklers for certain garages in hazardous fire areas~ these
regulations serve as modifications to UBC reflecting local conditions.
31
The Early Warning Fire 81arm System is another important safety
policy which was authorized through a General Plan amendment to the Safety
Element in 1984, and then implemented through the subdivision, zoning,
and building regulations.
Ground Movement Potential Maps of the Upper Calabazas Creek, the
Congress Springs Study Area, and the Lower Saratoga Hillside Area have been
adopted as Article IB-B5 of the Building Regulations, along with
restrictions and requirements for development in certain areas based on
designations of slope stability depicted on the maps. In those areas
designated as having extreme potential for ground movement, further
professional analysis must be obtained certifying that the site is safely
developable. If deemed necessary by the City Geoiogist, precautionary
measures must then be undertaken as a condition of development.
~neral Plan Elements
It is the purpose of the Safety Element to reduce risk from natural
hazards. This element, however, is not the only element containing'goals
and policies designed to make Saratoga a safer place in which to live.
Five other General Plan elements, as follows, contain policies intended to
reduce danger to people and property from nature1 hazards <the number in
parentheses refers to the goal, policy or implementation measure from the
specified General Plan element):
Land Use Element
The City shall use the design review process to assure that new
construction and major additions thereto are compatible with the site
and the adjacent surroundings~ (5.0>
Relate new development and its land uses to presently planned street
capacities so as to avoid excessive noise, traffZc, and public safety
hazards. If it is determined that existing streets need to be
improved to accomodate a project, such improvements shall be in place
or bonded for prior issuance of building permits.
Circulation and Scenic Highway Element
Traffic impacts that could create excessive noise, safety hazards, and
air pollution shall be mitigated. The City shall use the standards
established by the State of California and in effect on February 14,
1983, to determine what constitutes excessive noise, safety hazards,
and air pollution until the City adopts its own standards or more
restrictive standards are adopted by the State. (10.01
Open Space Element
Use open space to protect human life and property from such hazards as
wildfires, earthquake destruction, landslides and flooding. (2.01
Continue enforcement of existing flood control regulations. This will
supplement the Flood Plain Nap which is part of the General Plan.
Conservation Element
Preserve the quality of the natural environment and the character of
the City through appropriate regulation of site development. (~.0)
Na×imum impervious coverage limits used by the City shall be evaluated
and, if necessary, revised to ensure that runoff due to new
development will not create flooding or erosion impacts.
Housing Element
The City shall mitigate the danger of earthquake damage by enforcing
strict earthquake construction and soil engineering standards,
selecting the most stable ereas ~or development. and by having
developers compensate for soil instabilities by approved engineering
and construction techniques. <3.1)
Development shall be designed to retain the natural topographic
features of the lend to the me×imum extent possible. <~.2>
~ny development in areas subject to natural hazards shall be designed
to protec~ the environment, inhabitants and general public. In areas
where personal injury, property damage, or damage to streets and
utilities could occur, development sha~l be prohibited. unless the
potential hazards can be Mitigated or avoided through engineering or
construction techniques.
Specif.ic plans
In addition to the basic Elements, the City's General Plan
includes two specific plans, The Northwestern Hillside Specific Plan and
the Sphere of Influence Special Plan. ~hich address specific safety and
seismic issues for those areas of the City.
Northwestern Hillside Specific Plan
The Northwestern Hillside Specific Plan was adopted by the City of
Saratoga to implement Neesure "A" which ~es passed in 1~80. The purpose
of the plan is to reduce danger to the northwestern hillside community
(approximately 2,100 acres) and its envlronmen~ from geologic hazards
through the implementa'cion of goals, policies, end programs specifically
addressing the following issues: geology and soils. hydrology and
flooding, fire hazards, water provision, fire/emergency services, site and
storm drainage, environmental resource management, and community
development. Residential density in the NHR District is one uni~ per acre,
which may be further reduced by use of a slope/density formula. This
formula has also been applied to the HCRO District, so that vitually all of
the hillside areas ~n Saratoga are restricted to very low-density
development. Because of its length and level of detail, the ptan'e summary
of goals, policies and implementation programs is located in Appendix B of
this Element.
Sphere of Influence Special Plan
Saratoga adopted the Sphere of Influence Plan as a Special 8rea
Plan in 1974 to assist in the formulation of policies leading to an
appropriate balance of conservation and development in the area. The plan
was designed to guide future City decisions relating to annexation,
development and public safety in the City's Sphere of Influence, which is
that area outside the City's incorporated boundary designated by LSFCO
(Local ~gency Formation Commission) as the unincorporated area most likely
to be influenced by/or annexed to the City at some future date. This area
encompasses approximately 9,480 acres of hillside land under the
jurisdiction of Santa Clara County, with the City having secondary review
authority. Like the Northwestern Hillside Plan, the sphere plan is long
and detailed, and its summary of goals and policies ls located in Appendix
0 of this Element, The plan has not been amended since its adoption in
1974.
Emerqency elan
In order for the City to be eligible for disaster-related financial
assistance, it must update its tore1 emergency plan every four years and
assess its adequacy. However, even though the City adopted its plan in
1986, it already requires revision because of recent changes in State law.
The 198G plan romaine incomplete with six sections of Part Four (Staff
Services), such as the "Disaster Analysis Section," still unfinished. This
section is a vital component of emergency preparedness planning and the
anticipation of mitigation, response, and recovery actions inherent to the
plan's effectiveness. The potential for various emergency situations must
be addressed in order to prepare for the necessary response and action.
Although the pian adequately addresses organization, management and general
response services during times of disaster, specific directions related to
the assessment of past and potential hazards are needed; this section
should be completed and be consistent with this Element. An Evacuation
Route map, detailing specific arterie1 and collector streets, and emergency
shelters or congregate care facilities should also be included in %his
section of the plan.
Part Three of the Emergency Plan, Resource Management Services, has
not been prepared. This part deals with procuremort service, health
service, transportation service, manpower service, and construction and
housing service required, depending on the nature and scope of the
emergency. This is essential information for emergency staff members who
must provide support to the public,
Saratoga's geographical location is not conducive to total County
disaster-related support, and could be isolated from other communities and
outside agencies during the first 24 to 48 hours following a regional
disaster such as an earthquake. Emergency training exercises, held at
least once a year and sponsored by the County, test the Oity's current
emergency ptan and efficiency level for immediate response to a disaster.
However, the conduct of emergency planning should not be left only to the
employees of the City, but should include individual preparedness on the
~4
part of citizens through an active emergency preparedness education
program.
Until 198G, annual disaster exercises were conducted in Saratoga by
the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and the local fire districts to
prepare staff for their assignments during an emergency situation.
However, since then the City has participated in only the countywide
exercises. For the annual City-sponsored exercise, a scenario was
established which provided a basis for emergency function and action, with
the planning department staff responsible for maintaining current
information on the City map regarding transportation routes closed or
impeded, areas of major damage, location of medical treatment and
congregate care facilities, limits of the evacuation area, control points,
and exit routes. In order to ensure coordinated and timely emergency
response, the City staff should be aware of their responsibilities, with
practice exercises held annually. The Emergency Plan should also be
reviewed annually for consistency with State law and updated in a timely
Man~er.
35
ISSUE IDENTIFICATION AND PROPOSED GOALS, POLICIES
AND IMPLENENTATION PROGRAMS
In the hazard and impact identification chapters of this element
and in the analysis of existing City safety policies, significant issues
relating to the identified hazards and the City's plans for addressing them
have been raised. These issues, and the recommended goals, policies and
implementation programs to address them, are presented in the following
pages.
Hazards of Land Instability
ISSUE ~: The physical and geologic characteristics of Saratoga have the
potential to produce geologic instability problems for land development.
Hazards occur when property is developed in ways which are unsuitable to
geologic conditions in the area. Areas of particular concern to the City
due to their history of geologic instability are the Upper Calabazas
Watershed, the Congress Springs Study Area, and the Lower Saratoga Hillside
Area.
1.0 (6oal) To protect residents from injuries and minimize property damage
resulting from land instability and geologic hazards in populated areas.
1.1 (Policy) No development shall be permitted in the designated
urban service area without individual site-specific geotechnical
investigations to determine depth of bedrock, soil stability,
location of rift zones and other localized goDtechnical problems.
1.l (Imp) The City Seologist will review proposals involving
sites having potential land instability or geologic hazards, and
will make recommendations accordingly.
1.2 (Policy) Development in areas subject to natural hazards shall
be limited and shall be designed to protect the environment,
inhabitants and general public. In areas which have been proven
to be unsafe, development of slructures for human habitation
shall be prohibited to the MaXimUM extent permitted by law.
1.2 <IMp) Identify any areas of significant natural hazards as
they become known. Development will not be allowed in these
areas unless conditioned %o mitigate such hazards.
1.3 (Policy) Proposals for 6eneral Plan amendments, zone changes,
use permits, variances, building site approvals, and all land
development applications subject to environmental assessment
according to CEQA guidelines shall be reviewed for hazardous
conditions utilizin9 the most current data.
36
~.3 (Imp} Mitigation measures to eliminate potential geologic
hazards identified during the environmental review process will
be required as conditions of development.
S~ismjc Hazards
ISSUE ~2: Seismic activity and its secondary effects such as ground
shaking, surface rupture or ground displacement along fault lines, and
ground failure are potential hazards to the populated areas of the City.
Two "potentially active' faults, the Barfocal and the Shannon, lie within
the City limits, while the "active'' San Andteas Fault traverses the City's
Sphere of Influence.
2.0 (6oal) To protect the residents of the City and surrounding areas from
seismically induced ha:ards.
2.1 (Policy> tn order to mitigate the danger of earthquake damage, the
City shall enforce strict earthquake construction and soil
engineering standards, selecting the most stable areas for
development and requiring developers to compensate for soil
instabilities through approved engineering and construction
techniques.
2.2 (Policy> Critical structures and systems vital to the public
health and safety {water, power and waste disposal systems,
police and fire stations, and communication facilities) shall not
be located in areas of land instability and shalt be designed to
mitigate any seismlc or geologic hazards associated with their
sites.
2.1 & 2.2 (Imp) A series of General Plan reference maps
delineating geotechnical hazards and environmental constraints
is to be maintained and periodically updated as necessary to aid
in the review of development proposals.
(Policy) The City should comply with State statutes regarding the
identification of nonreinforced ~asonry structures.
2.5 (Imp> The City will inventory all nonreinforced masonry
structures in the Village area as State funding for such an
inventory becomes available, and develop a program to help
mitigate structural hazards related to such buildings.
Flood Hazards
ISSUE ~3: Historically, much of the damage to private and public property
during periods of heavy rainfall has been due to slope failure in hillside
areas, induced by over-saturation o~ the soil and/or by rising ground~ater
levels. Flooding and flood induced landsliding can also isolate areas of
the City and hinder %he provision o~ emergency services. Traversing the
City are several creeks having extensive floodplains and watersheds where
the future risk of flooding is great.
~.0 (6oal) To reduce the damage to public and private property resulting
from flooding and flood induced hazards.
5.1 (Policy) The City shall continue to enforce its existing flood
control regulations, and will cooperate with the Santa Clara
Valley Water District when proposed projects will affect
floodways in the City in order to prevent development activities
from aggravating or causing potential flood problems.
5.1 (Imp) 811 proposed projects adjacent to floodways and
floodplains wilt be referred to the Water District for review
and comments.
(Policy) The City shall continue to participate in the National
Flood Insurance Program.
3.2 (Imp) The City will adopt and enforce a Floodplain
Management Ordinance, based on the national Model Floodplain
Management Ordinance to satisfy the requirements of the National
Flood Insurance Program.
Fire H~zar~s
ISSUE ;4: The danger of property damage and loss of life from fire
considered greatest in the hillside areas of Saratoga where dry brush
prevalent and the provision of fire protection services is inadequate.
Even though fire protection services appear adequate for the more densely
populated urbanized areas of the City, summer fires pose a severe threat to
wood-shingled homes which are especially susceptible to the rapid spread of
fire.
4.0 (Goal) To reduce the danger of property damage and loss of life due to
fire in both urban and rural areas of the City.
(Policy) The City shall require the installation of an early
warning fire alarm system in each of the following cases:
(a) 811 new single family dwellings and any existing single
family dwelllng~ which are expanded by fifty percent or more in
floor area. where such new or expanded dwellings are located
within designated hazardous fire area.
(b) All new singte family dwellings havlng a gross floor area in
excess of 5,000 square feet.
<c) Any existing single family dwelling which is expanded by
fifty percent or more in floor area which. after such expansion,
58
will exceed 5,000 square feet in g~oss floor area.
<d) All new multi-family dwellings and other new structures
having multiple sleeping units, such as hotels, motels,
apartments, condominiums or other community housing projects,
townhouses and nursing homes.
<e) any existing multi-family dwelling or other existing
s~ructure having multiple sleeping units such as described in
Paragraph (d) above, which is expanded by fifty percent or more
in gross area.
4.~ (Imp) Implement through continuation of existing subdivision,
zoning and building ~egulations as ~Dntained in the City Code.
4.2 <Policy> The Chief of the fire district having jurisdiction
should be authorized to require the installation of an early
warning fire alarm system in any new commercial structure or
community facility, or exOansion of an existing commercial
structure by fifty percent or more in gross floor area, whenever
the Chief deems such requirement to be necessary or appropriate
on the basis of facts and circumstances in each individual case.
~.2 <Imp) Implement through continuation of existing subdivision,
zoning and building regulations as contained in the City Code.
4.3 (Policy) The City shell encourage all property owners to install
an early warning fire alarm system on a voluntary basis where
such owners are not otherwise required to do so.
4.3 (Imp)Implement by continuation of existing provision in the
building regulations allowing voluntary installation of the
system and publicize the availability of the system for any
property located within the City.
(Policy) The City shall continue to enforce its existing
regulations pertaining to hazardous fire areas, fire retardant
construction and landscaping.
4.~ (Imp) Periodically review subdivision, zoning and building
regulations which pertain to hazardous fire areas to determine if
significant changes are required.
4.4a (Imp) Update map depicting h~zardous fire areas as needed.
4,5 (Policy) The City shall study the need for additional fire
prevention re9ulation5 for the built-up, populated areas of the
City.
4.S (Imp) The City, in cooperation with the local fire
districts, will review and modify, as necessary, existing building
regulations to require Type 8 ~ 8 fire retardant roof materials
in the densely Oopulated flatlands of the City.
~m~rqeDqy.Preparedn~s
ISSUE ~S: Saratoga has developed an emergency plan to provide for
effective emergency response. The development of an effective evacuation
plan to relocate residents from hazardous areas during an emergency is also
the City's responsibility. However, for the plan to operate effectively
during a disas'tar, the plans of the surrounding jurisdictions must be taken
into consideration in order to foresee preventable hazards and impacts on a
regional basis.
5.0 (Goal> To develop and malntain an emergency preparedness plan which
will provide effective response in the event of a natural or manmade
disaster.
5.1 (Policy) The City shall review and update on a regular basis its
plan for emergency preparedness. This plan shall use local
resources and manpower to provide maximum benefit and
protection for the Ci~y's residents.
S.I (Imp) Review and update annually the City's Emergency Plan,
modifying the plan if significant changes are required.
Sections of the plan ~hich are incomplete will be completed in a
timely manner.
5.2 (Policy) The City shall coordinate its plan with local
jurisdictions and regional agencies to anticipate cumulative
impacts during times of disaster.
5.2 (Imp) Review adjacent jurisdictions' plans and resolve areas
of potential conflict.
5.3 (Policy) The City shall encourage all citizens to take
responsibility for ~heir own safety in the event of a disaster.
5.3 (Imp) The City shall publicize and participate in disaster
preparedness exercises, and distribute emergency planning
information to the citizens of Saratoga.
REFERENCES
Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAS). Buildinq Stock and
Earthquake LosS..es: Th~ Saq Francisco Bay Area,Example. 1988.
Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project. "Earthquake
Hazards/Land Use Planning," APA Professional Development
Workshop. Motto Center, Lake Merritt, Oakland: 15 October
19BB.
Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project. Earthq.~ake
Hazard Mitiqation Proqrams at the Community Level, developed
by William Spangle and Associates and the Reitherman Co.
Oakland, CA: 1985.
Say Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project. Effective Use
of Earth Science Iqfqrmation at the LOcal Government Level:
ASummar~ ReDoft. Oakland, CA: June 1985.
State of California, Department of Conservation, Division of
Mines and Geology. Fault-Rupture Hazard Zones in California.
Sacramento, CA: revised 1985.
State of California, Seismic Safety Commission. California At
Risk: Reducinq Earthquake Hazards - t987 to )992.
Sacramento, CA: I September )SBG.
State of California, Seismic Safety Commission. Rehabilitatinq.
HaZardqu~ ...... Masg..Qry...~ild~.D~s: ,A Draft Model Ordinance.
Sacramento, CA: December 1985.
California State Transportation Agency. State Route 85:
Tran. sportq..tion~ CorridOr: ..~nvironmental Impact Statement.
Calftans: September )985.
~illiam COttOn & Associates. Analysi.%....of the Geoloqic Hazards of
the CoqqreSs Sprinqs Study Ar~a. Santa Clara County,
CA: 31 May )977.
~illiam Cotton 5 Associates. P.re~iminary Storm Damaqe Assessment:
Winter t98.2-)983. Sara(oga, CA: )983.
~i111am Cotton & Associates. G~oloqie HaZards Analysis of the
Upper Ca!abazas .Creek ~atershed. Saratoga. CA: 2~ January
[980.
Cunningham, Florence R. S~rat~qa's First Hundred Years, edited by
Frances L. Fox. Saratoga Historical Foundation. Fresno:
Valley Publishers, 1978.
Fugro, Inc. G~ot~Chnical ~tudy:....Sei~m.ic Safety Element for the
City of Saratoqa, prepared for Willjams & Mocine, consultant
to the City of Saratoga. San Francisco, C~: 22 June 1973.
41
Town of Los Gatos. 8~n~ral Plan. Planning Department. Los
Gatos, CA: adopted by Town Council, 1885.
City of Monte Sereno. General .Plan, Planning Department. Monte
Sereno, CA: adopted 11 May 1982.
City of San Jose. The Gen~.~al DIe.n, City of i~n..J. ose,.Calif~.~ia:
Seismic Safety Plan, Planning Department, assisted by
Cooper, Clark and Assoc.; Duncan and Jonesl Rinne and
Paterson; Environmental Assessment Engineering; and William
Ellis and Assoc. September 1974.
City of Santa Cruz. City of Santa Cru7 Genera1 Plan: Seismic
Safety and Sa~.tY..E~.q.men~. Planning Department. Santa Cruz,
CA: July
City of Saratoga. Code ~f the City of Saratoqa. Volumes I ~ II.
Saratoga, CA: adopted tgBB.
City of Saratoga. E~Cqe~cy. Plan, prepared by the Disaster
Council. Saratoga, CA: January 198G.
City of Saratoga. NorthweStern .Hillside Specific Plan, a
specific plan to the City of Saratoga. Saratoga, CA:
adopted by the City Council, 1981.
City of Saratoga. S~here of Influence Special Plan, a special
plan to the City of Saratoga's General Plan. Saratoga, CA:
adopted by the City Council, 1974.
City of Scotia Valley. C.ity..Of.SqOtts Valley. General Plan,
prepared by Environmental Management Consultants. Monterey,
CA: 29 January i98G.
Santa Clara County. G~O~rq!.Rlap ~ Santa Clara County. Planning
Department. Santa Clara County, CA: adopted by the Board of
Supervisors, March iS82.
Santa Clara County. The General Plan. Santa Clara County: .Sei.sm.~C
Safety Plan. Planning Department. Santa Clara County, CA:
adopted by Board o? Supervisors, 12 January ISTG.
Tank, Ronald. Focus on Environmental G~oloqv. London: Oxford
University Press, 197G.
Terratech Geotechnical Services. 6~.o.q..i.~a! Haza~.q Analysis of
the Lower Sararosa Hillside Area. Project 3595, for the City
of Saratoga. Saratoga, CA: December 1985.
Thaxton, Chief Richard K., Central fire Protection District. San
Jose, CA: t7 March 1887.
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the
Federal Insurance Administration, National Flood Insurance
42
Program. Flood Insurance Study. City of Saratoga, Santa
Clara County, CA: July 1978.
United States Department of %he Interior, U.S. Geological
Survey. ~..~ismic. Hazards and Land Use Planni.Oq. Geological
Survey Circular ~90. Washington, O.C,: 1980.
United Sta~es Oepartment o¢ the In~erior, U.S. Geological Survey
and the Department o~ Housing and Urban Development. Earth
.~ci.enq~. In~or~a!.iOn. i~ Land Use Pl~nO~..nq - GUi.delines ~or
Earth Scien~ist~ and Planners, prepared by William Spangle ~
~ssociates; F. Beach Leighton & ~ssociales; and Baxter,
McDonald & Company. Geological Survey Circular 721.
Arlingion, VA: 1976.
Yictorine, Tom, Systems Projec~ Supervisor, San Jose Water
Company, San Jose, O~: 17 March 1987.
43
~PPENDIX ~
Glos!arv
Ac~.jv~ .Fq.~lt Zone: Fault area which has experienced
displacement during geologic time (within the past 10,000 to
G00.000 years). indicating that further movement might occur.
Eloodnl~i~: The area bordering a stream which becomes flooded
when the stream overflows its channel.
~if~lines: Public facilities and service~ that the
metropolitian population are dependent upon such as
transportation and communication networks, power, gas and
water lines.
Mercalli Scale: ~ scale of earthquake intensity ranging from I
to XII. Based on observable effects at a given place.
Potentially ~ctive Fault Zone: Fault area showing evidence
of surface displacement during Ouarternary time or the last 2
Million years.
Rift Zone: ~ large fault where lateral movement occurs.
Richter Scale: A scale of earthquake magnitude based on the
logarithm <base 10) of the ampitudes of the deflections
created by earthquake waves and recorded by a seismograph.
Rural Residential: Lo~ density single-family residential
development and agricultural uses with compatible conditional
uses. Looat jurisdiction usually provides a minimal level of
service,
Seismic: Pertaining to an earthquake or earth vibration.
including those that are artifically induced.
$phere..of. I.n{..lu~n~e: That area outside the City's incorporated
bDundary, but designated by the Santa Clara County Local
Agency Formation Commission as the unincorporated area most
ilkely to be influenced and annexed by the City in the
future.
Urban Resi,de. qti. A~: Nedium to high density single- and multi-
family residential development and compatible conditional
uses. Local jurisdiction usually provides full array of
urban services.
Ti!t-u~ S~ruc~.~C.e: Concrete w~lls are poured on the ground,
allowed to harden, and then tilted into place.
44
APPENDIX B
Nor.t..hwest. ern Hi~tSide Spec~.~..ic Plan
The Northwestern Hillside Specific Plan ~ae adopted by the
City of Saratoga after the passage o? Measure "A" in IBS1.
The purpose o? the plan is to reduce danger to the hillside
oo~n~nunity and lts environment from geologic hazards. The
specific goals, policies, and programs which address ~a~ety
and seismic ~a?e~y concerns are listed belo~. The
Northwestern Hillsides Residential District Ordinance
(Article 15.~4 of the City Code) wa~ adopted t~ implement
these policies.
GOALS
|. Land use regulation ~hall be based upon natural, flood and
geologic hazards.
G~O..loqV ~.n¢ Soils
POLICIES
%. Geologic hazard~ should be avoided to the ~ullest extent
possible by either correction or dedications of such
areas into open space. In avoiding geologic hazards,
applications proposing ~tructures be located on lands
designated Nd or Mrf or within the specific fault setbacks as
designated by the City Geologist, shall not be approved.
2. Every applicant seeking approval of any construction project
within the Specific Plan Area shall at all ti~es have the
burden of providing, to the satisfaction o~ the City and
its Geologist and other pro~essionat consultants, that
the proposed develop~ent will be constructed in such a
~anner as to be safe ~ro~ known or reasonably predictable
geologic hazards which ~ay cause injury to persons or
property.
5. The Geologic Hazards Analysis or the Upper Catabazas Creek
watershed is a planning document which may require
Modification,
4. No deviations or ~odi~ications of the Map~ shall be permitted
without prior written approval o~ the City Geologist.
S. In locating building sites, preference should be given to
areas designated as 5table.(Sbr. SIs, Sun, Sex) on ~he
Ground Movement Potential Maps. Especially sites on
potentially ~oving ~lopes (P~w, Ps, Pd) and ~oving slopes
(Me) shall not be approved unless geologic and
45
engineering analysis and design provided by %he developer
clearly demonstrate the long-term stability of such sites
to the satisfaction of the City, its Geologist and other
professional consultants.
G. On questionable sites the City Geologist may require slope
stability analysis with the building site and its
immediately surrounding area having a factor of safety
against failure of at least 1.5 or equivalent, in the
event of a designed earthquake of magnitude 8.3 on the San
Andteas Fault. The City Geologist shall review and
approve all proposals to insure con?ormance with this
requirement.
7. The City, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Evergreen
Resource Conservation District and Santa Clara County
should immediately commence proceedings with the
landowners for the stabilization of the abandoned quarry
areas on the Paul Masson Vineyard and Cocciardi
properties as well as other erosion reduction activities.
B. If grading proposed for a project, as specifically approved
by the Planning Commission, City Geologist and City
Engineer, corrects a geologic hazard, then roads,
driveways and structures may be located on such graded
areas as approved.
9. Projects or portions thereof that require a high level of
maintenance activity over the long-term to prevent slope
failures should generally not be approveO ~ince the City's
ability to perform or enforce performance of maintenance
is limited. Project design should principally use
solutions that minimize risk in not affecting public or
private structures in the event of failure.
10. City should continue to strictly enforce its grading
ordinance through the City Geologist and Department of
Inspection Services and control of all work by soils
engineer and geologist on all projects in hillsides.
ACTION PROGRAM
I. Design and/or revise Ordinances to carry out the above
policies for entire Specific Plan Area.
~drolOqy ~nd FlOQdLnq
POLICIES
!. For site specific policies, see Site and Storm Drainage.
2. City Council, Planning Commission and City Staff should
continue all available efforts to secure remedy to
flooding and erosion problems along the main Calabazas
and in already developed areas.
3. Long-term maintenance of natural watercourses of smaller size
than would qualify for Santa Clara Valley Water District
jurisdiction should be by homeowners in tributary area5
using private resources and with City review and approval
of any proposed improvement5 or mainfence.
4. Continue (and expand to include Specific Plan Area) pro-rata
share fees for drainage, insuring that they are large
enough to pay all costs of necessary facilities to
eliminate flooding a% the ~00 year storm level.
S. Recommend continuing support of long-term study of hydrology
of area.
ACTION PROGRAM
I. Work with the Santa Clara Valley Water Oisirict to develop
appropriate procedures for the above policies.
Fire Hazard
POLICIES
1. Encourage landscaping with non-hazardous, drought resistant
vegetation.
ACTION PROGRAM
Recommend landscaping of non-hazardous vegetation at CC&R
stage.
Water
POLICIES
I. Upgrade provisions of water for adequate fire protection in
%he hillsides.
2. Improve supply of water for fire protection for existing
homes by establishing the water improvement project.
ACTION PROGRAM
1. Allow formation of the Water Assessment District.
2. Continue Subdivision Ordinance 'Section which requires i,0~0
gallons per minute of wate~ for any new development prior
to issuance of building permit.
47
E~Ce/~..mer~encV Service~
POLICIES
I. Require wiring for Early Warning Fire Reporting System
adopted by Saratoga Fire District Board with optional
hookup to homeowner,
2, Improve response time for hillside area,
ACTION PROGRAM
1, Adopt Early Warning Fire Reporting System Ordinance,
2, Study need for a Fire Station in the westarm hillside5 and
possibility for Joint ownership between the two fire
districts,
3, Consider specifying roofing requirements <other than wood),
4. Adopt such other measures as are necessary to increase fire
protection in this area.
S~.te ~nd..Stor~ DraiOaqe
POLICIES
1. Developer, through actual improvements and fees, to provide
for installation and maintenace of Storm Drainage System.
2. All ~ajor facilities to be designed to provide for 100 year
storms - local amd minor facilities design provide for 20
year storms,
3, Landscaping and resultant site drainage plan to be approved
with Oesign Review approval of the residence prior to
issuance pf permits,
4, Si!e drainage plans to be approved so as to not impact
adjacent properties,
ACTION PROGRAM
1. Increase improvement criteria and fees if called for in study.
· ' ,,, , '
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Northwear Hlllilde Area
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.-7 Service Area ::::: ""
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: ~MtlS 0 500
feet
6PPENDIX C
Sphere of ~nfluen~e Sp~.~ial Plan
Saratoga adopted the Sphere of Influence Plan as a
Special Area Plan in 1974, pursuant to State Government Code
Title ?, Chapter 3, Article 8, to assist in the formulation
of policies leading to an appropriate balance of conservation
and development in the area. The plan was designed to guide
future City decisions relating to annexation, development and
public safety in the City's Sphere of Influence. Concise
o0jectives and policies regarding environmental hazards are
specified in this plan and include the folioruing:
Ep.vironment.~.~ ~.~ourcp...M~q.aqement
60ALS
1. To preserve open space for a natural rural environment,
health and safety purposes, and for scenic and
recreational uses.
2. To permit uses and densities compatible with the physical
limitations of the land.
3. To preserve the natural environment Df the Santa Cruz
Mountains.
4. Tc insure protection of rare or endangered plant and animal
species.
5. To protect County watersheds and natural waterways from
pollution,
G. To regulate development in order to mitigate its undesirable
effects.
POLICIES
1. In areas of periodic, predictable hazard, such as flood
plains or fauIt zones, apply special zoning to aliow only
compatibIe uses.
2, Poslpone development of areas with an unacceptable level of
environmental risk unless or uat'il the hazards are reduced by
corrective action.
49
Community Development
POLICIES
I. Coordinate the Plan with other plans proposed or in effect in
the Santa Cruz Mountains. Participate in a common
coordinate system for mapping and a data bank for
information retrievat and storage with all four counties
traversed by the Santa Cruz Mountains.
2. Assign uses and densities to the land as an inverse function
of geologic, topographic, seismic, and public health
hazards.
Temporarily restrict development in areas not served by
public services, roads, and schools until adjacent areas
having these services are developed,
4. Regulate and limit the manner of development in the Sphere of
Influence based on slope conservation guidelines, findings of
topography, geology, soils, safety, conservation, public
facilities availability, and access,
S. Withhold public services in areas not suitable for
development.
Periodically review and revise land uses and formulas for
density determination.
7. Consider drainage implications of development on creeks to
reduce erosion. to protect their naturml state and to reduce
flooding at lower elevations.
8. Encourage zoning in conformance with the policies and
objectives of this plan.
9. Developments which are likely to cause or to create hazards
should not be permitted.
10. Measures to correct, reduce and eliminate hazards should be
utilized whenever feasible.
11. Emergency plans should be adopted for evacuation, maintenance
of order, locating and distributing resources, and the
restoration of services and normal activity.
5O
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APPENDIX O
Existinq Safet.y./~..eismic Safety Element
A seismic safety element consisting of an identification and appraisal
of seismic hazards such as susceptibility to surface ruptures from
fau]ting, to ground shaking, to ground failures, or to effects of
seismically induced waves such as tsunamis and seiches, 8 safety element
for the protection of the community from fires and geologic hazard5
includin~ festures necessary for that protection as evacuation routes= peak
water load supply requirements, minimum road widths, clearances around
structures, and geologic hazard mapping in area5 of knowm geologic hazards,
SS/S.1.O Protect residents from injuries and minimize property damage from
earthquakes, flooding, and other natural hazards in populated
SS/S.I.1 The City shall continue to enforce its existing flood
control regulations, and will cooperate with the Santa Clara
Ualley Water District when proposed projects will affect
floodways in their jurisdiction, to prevent development activites
from aggravating or causing potential flood problems.
1.1 (Imp) (The policy i5 specific and does not require an
implementation measure.)
SS/S.t.2 The City shall adopt an ordinance providing a hazardous
fire area overlay zone, which shall reinforce development
regulations concerning fire-retardant construction and
landscaping.
t.2 (Imp) (The policy is specific and does not require an
implementation measure.)
SS/S.2.0 Update regularly the City's Emergency Plan.
SS/S.2.T The City shall prepare, review and update on e regular
basis a plan for emergency or disaster action. This plan shall
use local resources and manpower to provide maximum benefit and
protection for the Ciiy's residents.
2.t (Imp) The City's Emergency Plan shall be reviewed annually and
modified if significant changes are required.
SS/S.3.~ Maximize the protection of residents and property from the
hazards of fire by requiring or promoting the installation of en
early warning fire alarm system consisting of heat and smoke
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detectors capable of transmitting a signal directly to the fire
station.
SS'/S.5.1 The City shall require the installation of an early
warning fire alarm system in each of the following cases:
<a) 811 new single family dwellings and any existing single
family dwellings which are expanded by fifty percent or more in
floor area, where such new or expanded dwellings are located
within designated hazardous fire area.
(b> 811 new single family dwellings having a gross floor area in
excess of 5,000 square feet.
(c> Any existing single family dwelling which is expanded by
fifty percent or more in floor area which, after such expansion,
will exceed 5,000 square feet in gross floor area.
(d) All new multi-family dwellings and other new structures
having multiple sleeping units, such as hotels, motels,
apartments, condominiums or other community housing projects,
townhouses and nursing homes.
(e) Any existing multi-family dwelling or other existing
structure having multiple sleeping units such as described
Paragraph (d) above, which is expanded by fifty percent or more
in gross area.
3.1 (Imp> Implement through amendment of the subdivision, zoning
and building regulations as contained in the City Code.
SS/S.3.2 The Chief of the fire district having jurisdiction
should be authorized to require the installation of an early
warning fire alarm system in any new commercial structure or
community facility, or expansion of an existing commercial
structure by fifty percent or more in gross floor area, whenever
the Chief deems such requirement to be necessary or appropriate
on the basis of facts and circumstances in each individual case.
3.2 <Imp) Implement throu9h amendment of the subdivision, zoning
and building regulations as contained in the City Code.
SS/S.3.3 The City shall encourage all property owners to install
an early warning fire alarm system on a voluntary basis where.
such owners are not otherwise required to do
3.3 (Imp) Implement by including in the building regulations a
provision altowing voluntary installation of the system and
publicize the availability of the system for any property located
within the City.
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