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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-08 - ORDINANCES - NEGDEC MC 20 043 (2)ORDINANCE NO.20-10 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION PREPARED FOR THE PROJECT AND APPROVING MASTER CASE 20-043, CONSISTING OF UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 20-001 AND SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 20-001 (ZONING AMENDMENT), AMENDING THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, LYONS AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN, SOLEDAD CANYON ROAD CORRIDOR PLAN, AND THE OLD TOWN NEWHALL SPECIFIC PLAN AS SHOWN IN EXHIBITS A, B, C, AND D 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 (City) periodically prepares updates to the Unified Development Code (UDC) including the Lyons Avenue Corridor Plan (LCP), Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan (SCP), and Old Town Newhall Specific Plan (ONSP); B. The UDC and ONSP were last updated in November 2019; C. The LCP and SCP have not been updated since their adoption in 2013 and 2015, respectively; D. On March 12, 2020, the City initiated Master Case 20-043, consisting of UDC 20-001 for the update of the UDC code sections, the LCP, and SCP, and Specific Plan Amendment (SPA) 20-001 to update the ONSP; E. The proposed amendments are incorporated by reference as Unified Development Code Amendments, Lyons Avenue Corridor Plan Amendments, Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan Amendments, and Old Town Newhall Specific Plan Amendments; F. The proposed amendments are minor in scope, reflect recent legislation and current planning trends, and clarify code language to keep the planning documents relevant and easy to read and use; G. On September 1, 2020, staff met with the City Council Development Committee to discuss the proposed amendments and to receive feedback; H. The application was deemed complete on September 3, 2020; I. The project was duly noticed in accordance with the public hearing noticing requirements of the UDC and a 1/81h-page advertisement was placed in The Signal Newspaper on September 15, 2020; Page 1 of 7 The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on this issue commencing on October 6, 2020, at or after 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, California; K. At the hearing, the Planning Commission considered a staff presentation, the staff report, public testimony on the proposed amendments, and the Negative Declaration prepared for the project, and in a 5-0 vote, recommended the City Council adopt the Negative Declaration and approve Master Case 20-043 and its associated entitlements; L. The project was duly noticed in accordance with the public hearing noticing requirements of the UDC and a 1/8`h-page advertisement was placed in The Signal Newspaper on November 3, 2020; M. The City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on this issue commencing on November 24, 2020, at or after 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, California; and N. At the hearing, the City Council considered a staff presentation, the staff report, public testimony on the proposed amendments, and the Negative Declaration prepared for the proj ect. 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 the project have been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); B. The Initial Study was 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 September 15, 2020, in accordance with CEQA. The public review period was open from September 15, 2020, through October 6, 2020; 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 Planning Commission is made is the Master Case 20-043 project file, located within the Community Development Department and in the custody of the Director of Community Development; E. The necessary Native American Tribal Consultation required by Assembly Bill 52 and Senate Bill 18 concluded on April 30, 2020, and no comments were received; 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. Page 2 of 7 SECTION 3. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR MASTER CASE NO.20-043. Based on the foregoing facts and findings for Master Case No. 20-043, the City Council hereby finds as follows: A. The proposal is consistent with the General Plan; The project is consistent with the General Plan's objectives, policies, and procedures. The proposed amendments will assist the City in implementing the General Plan by creating consistent planning documents, updating code sections to reflect recent changes in state law, codifying Director's Policies for escape rooms and parking structure vertical clearance, and by making certain code sections easier to understand. The amendments support the continued revitalization of Old Town Newhall, the Lyons Avenue Corridor, the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor, and the City in general. B. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone and complies with all other applicable provisions of this code; The UDC amendments do not require a consistency finding with the existing development code because the project would amend the UDC in general, along with the LCP, SCP, and ONSP. While no consistency finding is required, the proposed amendments would not change development densities or the City's zoning map, and the changes are considered to be minor in nature, making the amendments consistent with these aspects of the development code. 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; and Nothing contained in the proposed amendments would endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public. The proposed amendments consist of minor updates to the UDC, LCP, SCP, and ONSP, and are intended to update the planning documents to reflect recent laws, development trends, and to clarify portions of the code where there are inconsistencies or ambiguity. D. The proposal is physically suitable for the site. The factors related to the proposal's physical suitabilityfor 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; Page 3 of 7 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 amendments are minor and do not change the scope or goals of the various planning documents or the City's General Plan. No development is proposed or would be approved by the amendments. Any future development that may occur under the revised amendments would require development review and environmental analysis at the time the projects are submitted. The City currently receives adequate service from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 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 UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 20-001 AND SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 20-001 (ZONING AMENDMENT). Based upon the foregoing facts and findings for UDC 20-001 and SPA 20-001 (Zoning Amendment), the City Council hereby finds as follows: A. The amendment is consistent with the adjacent area, if applicable; B. The amendment is consistent with the principles of the General Plan; The proposed amendments are consistent with the adjacent area and consistent with the principles of the General Plan. The proposed amendments would not alter the General Plan Land Use Map or Zoning Map, nor would the proposed amendments change development densities or population projections for the City. The proposed amendments consist of routine updates to the UDC, LCP, SCP, and ONSP, and are intended to increase consistency amongst the documents, reflect new legislation, and to revise certain code sections to be clearer, easier to read, and easier to interpret. Specifically, the proposed amendments would implement the following objectives and policies of the General Plan: Objective LU 1.2: Maintain the distinctive community character of villages and neighborhoods throughout the planning area by establishing uses, densities, and design guidelines appropriate to the particular needs and goals of each area... Policy LU 1.2.1: 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, and continue to plan for the future development of North Newhall. Objective LU4.3: Enhance older commercial and industrial areas. Policy LU 4.1.4: Promote economic opportunityfor all segments of the community, including small businesses and new businesses. Page 4 of 7 Policy LU 4.3.4: Promote business development that upgrades and revitalizes older commercial corridors, including Lyons Avenue, Railroad Avenue/Newhall Avenue, Main Street and Soledad Canyon Road, in a manner that reflects reach area's character, architecture, and history. The proposed amendments are consistent with the objectives and policies listed above because they would provide updated planning documents that are internally consistent, easier to read, and provide clearer direction than the existing code documents. The proposed amendments support the character of the City's neighborhoods, including Old Town Newhall, Lyons Avenue, and Soledad Canyon Road, and promote economic opportunities by providing development standards that are easier to understand and that provide a clear review process. 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; UDC 20-001 and SPA 20-001 (Zoning Amendment) support the public health, ' convenience, safety, and general welfare of the community. They are in conformity with good zoning practice because the proposed amendments would standardize planning language and development standards across the planning documents, updating certain sections to reflect new legislation, implement Director's Policies on parking structure vertical clearance height and escape rooms, clarify certain code sections for readability and ease of use, and add new land use categories that support existing and future businesses. D. The amendment is consistent with other applicable provisions of this code; and E. Is necessary to implement the General Plan and/or that the public convenience, the general welfare or good zoning practice justifies such action. Unified Development Code Amendment 20-001 and Specific Plan Amendment 20-001 (Zoning Amendment) are consistent with the applicable provisions of the UDC, LCP, SCP, and ONSP because the proposed revisions would standardize language between the documents and make the documents more consistent with each other. Therefore, the amendments would promote the general welfare and public convenience, and would constitute good zoning practice. SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL OLD TOWN NEWHALL SPECIFIC PLAN FINDINGS FOR SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 20-001 (ZONING AMENDMENT). Based upon the foregoing facts and findings for SPA 20-001 (Zoning Amendment), the City Council hereby finds as follows: ONSPI: That the proposed use or project is consistent with the Old Town Newhall Specific Plan; and ONSP2: That the proposed use or project meets the development requirements for the zone within which it is located including parking, architecture, and ground floor uses. The proposed amendments are consistent with the ONSP. The amendments would Page 5 of 7 add a new land use category for Accessory Beer and Wine Sales (on -site consumption) that would support the arts and entertainment uses envisioned by the plan. Other changes include clarification of existing development standards and the development review process, minor text revisions to the zoning descriptions of the Urban General 2 zone, Corridor zone, and Urban Center zone, adoption of standardized outdoor space and recreational facility requirements, and the updating of the ONSP glossary to reflect new definitions and updated UDC section references. As the revisions to the ONSP are minor and do not substantially change the development vision of the ONSP, therefore, the proposed amendments to the ONSP are consistent with the findings listed above. SECTION 6. Based upon the staff report, including the materials considered by and the recommendations made by the Planning Commission, the testimony at the public hearing, and the findings as set forth in this ordinance, the City Council hereby adopts the Negative Declaration prepared for the project and approves Master Case 20-043, consisting of Unified Development Code Amendment 20-001 and Specific Plan Amendment 20-001 (Zoning Amendment), amending the Unified Development Code, Lyons Avenue Corridor Plan, Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan, and the Old Town Newhall Specific Plan, as shown in Exhibits A, B, C, and D. SECTION 7. 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 8. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days from its passage and adoption. SECTION 9. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 81h day of Decemljer, 2020. ATTEST: C T CLERK �w DATE YOR Page 6 of 7 1 STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CITY OF SANTA CLARITA I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 20-10 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on November 24, 2020. That thereafter, said Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 8th day of December 2020, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Smyth, McLean, Weste, Gibbs, Miranda NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the forgoing is the original of Ordinance No. 20-10 and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806). CITY CLERK Page 7 of 7