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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-28 - ORDINANCES - APPROVE MASTER CASE 16-206 (2)ORDINANCE NO. 17-04 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING MASTER CASE 16-206, CONSISTING OF SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 16-002 (ZONING AMENDMENT), AMENDING THE OLD TOWN NEWHALL SPECIFIC PLAN THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. FINDINGS OF FACT. The City Council does hereby make the following findings of fact: A. The City of Santa Clarita General Plan requires the implementation of the City of Santa Clarita Unified Development Code (UDC) to be in compliance with the Government Code of the State of California; B. The Old Town Newhall Specific Plan was adopted in December 2005, to create a development plan to revitalize Old Town Newhall by encouraging development and redevelopment on Main Street and throughout the plan area; C. The City of Santa Clarita periodically prepares updates to the Old Town Newhall Specific Plan; D. On October 25, 2016, the City of Santa Clarita (Applicant) initiated an application (Master Case 16-206, consisting of Specific Plan Amendment 16-002 (Zoning Amendment)) to amend the Old Town Newhall Specific Plan (ONSP) (Project) to update the ONSP to reflect City of Santa Clarita City Council (Council) direction to make permanent the provisions in an Urgency Ordinance adopted on April 26, 2016 (Ordinance No. 16-07), and extended on May 24, 2016 (Ordinance No. 16-09), as well as incorporating minor revisions to the plan for purposes of clarification. A complete copy of the proposed amendments is incorporated by reference to this ordinance as Exhibit A; E. The amendments proposed at this time have been created in response to City Council direction and issues identified upon implementing the ONSP, as well as from the existing community within the ONSP area; F. Staff met with the Old Town Newhall Association on November 16, 2016, and requested feedback and suggestions from business owners; G. On November 21, 2016, staff met with the Downtown Newhall Ad Hoc Committee to discuss the proposed amendments and to receive direction; H. Staff conducted a community workshop at the Old Town Newhall Library on December 5, 2016. During the workshop, staff received comments and suggestions from the public as to what they would like to see in the 2017 ONSP amendments; I. The Project application was deemed complete on December 9, 2016; J. The proposed amendments are consistent with and further implement the Goals and Policies of the City of Santa Clarita General Plan; K. The Planning Commission held a duly -noticed public hearing on this project commencing on January 18, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, California; L. At the public hearing described above, the Planning Commission considered the staff report, staff presentation, and public testimony on the proposal and in a unanimous 4-0 vote, approved Resolution P 17-03, recommending the City Council adopt a Negative Declaration and approve Master Case 16-206; M. The documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the Planning Commission was based is the Master Case No. 16-206 project file which is located in the Community Development Department, specifically in the custody of the Director of Community Development; N. On February 28, 2017, the City Council conducted a duly -noticed public hearing in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The public hearing was advertised in The Signal newspaper on February 7, 2017. The public hearing was held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m.; O. At the City Council meeting of February 28, 2017, the City Council received a staff presentation summarizing the proposed project, opened the public hearing, received public testimony regarding the project, received further staff comment and answers to questions, and closed the public hearing; P. The City Council conducted a first reading of an ordinance for the ONSP amendments and passed the ordinance to a second reading on March 14, 2017; Q. At the second reading of the Ordinance on March 14, 2017, a member of the public spoke on the item. The City Council revisited the item, and after discussion directed staff to revise the amendments to remove the civic designation for the south parking structure on the zoning map from privately owned property and to revise the definition of the Specialty Retail Store category to reflect the original staff recommendation from February 28, 2017. Based on these changes, Council conducted a first reading of an ordinance for the ONSP amendments and passed the ordinance to a second reading scheduled for March 28, 2017; R. The documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the City Council is based is the Master Case No. 16-206 project file which is located in the Community Development Department, the file record being specifically in the custody of the Director of Community Development. SECTION 2. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings, the City Council hereby finds as follows: A. An Initial Study and a Negative Declaration for this project have been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Exhibit B); B. The Initial Study has been circulated for review and comment by affected governmental agencies and the public, and all comments received, if any, have been considered. The Negative Declaration was posted and advertised on December 27, 2016, in accordance with CEQA. The public review period was open from December 27, 2016, through January 18, 2017; C. There is no substantial evidence the Project will have a significant effect on the environment. The Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment of the City of Santa Clarita; D. The documents and other material which constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the City Council is made is the Master Case 16-206 project file located within the Community Development Department and is in the custody of the Director of Community Development; E. The necessary Native American Tribal Consultation, required by Assembly Bill 52 as part of the CEQA process, concluded on November 10, 2016, prior to the release of the Initial Study for public comment; and F. The City Council, based upon the findings set forth above, hereby finds the Negative Declaration for this project has been prepared in compliance with CEQA. SECTION 3. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 16-002 (ZONING AMENDMENT. Based on the above findings of facts, recitals, and the entire record, including, without limitation, oral and written testimony and other evidence received at the public hearings, reports and other transmittals from City staff to the City Council, and upon studies and investigations made by the City Council, the City Council finds as follows: A. The proposal is consistent with the General Plan. The Project is consistent with the General Plan because the proposed amendments are contained entirely within the existing ONSP area, which is called out on the City's General Plan map. The amendments are also consistent because they encourage economic development of the Old Town Newhall area while encouraging a pedestrian - oriented Main Street environment within the Urban Center zone. B. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone, and complies with all other applicable provisions of the UDC. The amendments contain minor changes to the existing specific plan text and development code. The proposed changes would better define the types of ground -floor businesses that are allowed on Main Street, and would not change the character or nature of commercial or residential areas. The proposed amendments would allow the established land use patterns to continue, thus supporting the provisions of the specific plan document. C. The proposal will not endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public convenience, health, interest, safety, or general welfare, or be materially detrimental or injurious to the improvements, persons, property, or uses in the vicinity and zone in which the property is located. Nothing contained in the proposed amendments would endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public because the changes represent minor updates to the development code, glossary revisions, and would preserve the existing Main Street environment in the Urban Center zone. D. The proposal is physically suitable for the site. The factors related to the proposal's physical suitability for the site shall include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. The design, location, shape, size, and operating characteristics are suitable for the proposed use; 2. The highways or streets that provide access to the site are of sufficient width and are improved as necessary to carry the kind and quantity of traffic such proposal would generate; 3. Public protection service (e.g., Fire protection, Sheriff protection, etc.) are readily available; 4. The provision of utilities (e.g. potable water, schools, solid waste collection and disposal, storm drainage, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal, etc.) is adequate to serve the site. The proposal is physically suitable for the site in terms of location, shape, size, and operating characteristics. The proposed amendments are minor and do not change the scope or goals of the ONSP. The proposed amendments would not change or impact existing traffic patterns, and would encourage pedestrian -oriented uses on Main Street. The ONSP area is currently served by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, both of which provide adequate service levels. The Project area is likewise served by all applicable utilities. Nothing in the proposed amendments would increase the need for fire or police protection services or increase demand for utilities. SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS_ FOR SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 16- 002 (ZONING AMENDMENT. Based on the above findings of facts, recitals, and the entire record, including, without limitation, oral and written testimony and other evidence received at the public hearings, reports and other transmittals from City staff to the City Council, and upon studies and investigations made by the City Council, the City Council finds as follows for Specific Plan Amendment 16-002 (Zoning Amendment) in accordance with UDC Section 17.2 8.1201 A. The amendment is consistent with the adjacent area, if applicable; and B. The amendment is consistent with the principles of the General Plan; Specific Plan Amendment 16-002 (Zoning Amendment) is consistent with the land uses and businesses within the ONSP area, and consistent with Policy 1.2.1 of the General Plan Land Use Element, which states "In Newhall, provide opportunities for new business and housing by implementing the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan, provide incentives to promote infill development and re -use of underutilized sites..." The proposed amendments reflect City Council direction to encourage active pedestrian and art/entertainment uses on Main Street, clarify certain elements of the specific plan, add definitions to the plan's glossary, make the plan more consistent with the UDC, and reflect input from business owners and local residents. C. Approval of the amendment will be in the interest of public health, convenience, safety, and general welfare, and in conformity with good zoning practice; Specific Plan Amendment 16-002 (Zoning Amendment) reflects City Council direction to encourage arts and entertainment uses on Main Street, supporting the substantial investment the City has made in the area. Therefore, the proposed Specific Plan Amendment supports the interest of public health, convenience, safety, and general welfare of the Newhall community, while implementing good zoning practice. D. The amendment is consistent with other applicable provisions of this code; and E. The amendment is necessary to implement the General Plan and/or that the pubic convenience, the general welfare, or good zoning practice justifies such action. Specific Plan Amendment 16-002 (Zoning Amendment) is consistent with the applicable provisions of the ONSP and the UDC because the proposed text amendments would standardize language between the two documents and make the ONSP more internally consistent. The proposed text amendments reflect City Council direction to establish an Arts and Entertainment District in Old Town Newhall, and clearly state which land uses are permitted on Main Street that encourage pedestrian traffic. All land use categories listed in the expanded Regulating Plan (Permitted Use Charts) are defined in the plan, and the changes would incorporate suggestions made by Newhall residents and business owners. Therefore, the amendments would promote the general welfare and public convenience in Newhall, and would constitute good zoning practice. SECTION 5. The City Council hereby adopts the Negative Declaration (Exhibit B) prepared for the Project, and approves the amendments to the Old Town Newhall Specific Plan (Exhibit A). SECTION 6. If any portion of this Ordinance is held to be invalid, that portion shall be stricken and severed, and the remaining portions shall be unaffected and remain in full force and effect. SECTION 7. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days from its passage and adoption. SECTION 8. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law. 1 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 28th day of March, 2017. MAYOR - ATTEST: CITE' CLERK STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance 17-04 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 14th day of March, 2017. That thereafter, said Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 28th day of March 2017, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Kellar, McLean, Miranda, Smyth NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None RECUSED: COUNCILMEMBERS: Weste ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806). U/1/11 " CITY CLERK 1 "EXHIBIT A" OF ORDINANCE 17-04 SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 16-002 (ZONING AMENDMENT) INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 1 "EXHIBIT B" OF ORDINANCE 17-04 NEGATIVE DECLARATION/INITIAL STUDY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 1 1