HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-05-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - GEN PLAN UPDATE (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE: May 8, 1990
SUBJECT: General Plan
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AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented Ey:
Lynn M. Harris
DEPARTMENT: Community Development * -��Gg�
BACKGROUND
This report has been prepared for City Council as an update and status report of
the General Plan program and to receive direction, from City Council on the next
phases of the process. This report addresses and is organized as follows: 1)
Consultant Services; 2) General Plan Advisory Committee Progress; 3) Public
Participation; and 4) Budget Status.
Consultant Services
Following the termination of the City's first general plan consultant in April,
1989, the consulting firm of Michael Brandman Associates (MBA) was retained in
June, 1989, to prepare the City's first General Plan. The major components are
as follows:
• Background Reports
• Goals and Policies Report
• Land Use Map
• Twelve General Plan Elements
• Community Meetings and Public Hearings
• Master Environmental Impact Report
• Implementation Program
• Unified Development Ordinance
General Plan Advisory Committee Progress
The General Plan Advisory Committee was appointed by City Council in December,
1988, and began meetings in January, 1989. Pursuant to Council Resolution No.
88-133, the GPAC is charged with the responsiblity to comment and make
recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council on the draft General
Plan Elements (including the Land Use Map) prior to adoption. The three primary
components of the General Plan which are within the GPAC's responsiblity and
their current status are as follows:
• Goals and Policies - A recommendationgiffowl
the Goals and
Policies Report from GPAC is expected g on May 9, 1990.
Agenda Item:_
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• Land Use Map - The draft Land Use Map is almost complete. GPAC is awaiting
traffic, infrastructure and economic implications ("reality testing") of the
draft map in order to further refine and finalize the draft plan. Numerous
meetings have been held on the Land Use Map since three concept plans were
developed by GPAC in November, 1989.
• General Plan Elements - Other than Goals and Policies, Background and
constraints information, General Plan Elements have not been submitted by
MBA to GPAC for review.
The above status is in contrast to the original work schedule which estimated
the completion of major milestones by GPAC in January -February, 1990, and
anticipated plan completion and adoption by July, 1990. Some of the reasons for
the delay in the general plan schedule include:
• Work product delays from the consultant.
• Staffing levels and changes in the Community Development Department.
• GPAC involvement in more current issues versus long-term advance planning
visions. This is partially the result of the open public participation
format of GPAC meetings and the ability of property owners and developers to
submit projects and parcel specific comments to the GPAC for consideration.
• Size of the GPAC (23 members), the length of both general and
specific/detailed comments, and GPAC requests for special reports and
presentations from MBA and staff versus a review and comment format.
If the preferred Land Use Map and draft General Plan Elements have not been
accepted by GPAC and forwarded to Planning Commission by approximately
mid -Summer, the Planning Commission and City Council hearing process may be
impacted by the holiday season and, hence, General Plan adoption may not be
possible until approximately Spring, 1990.
Public Participation
Staff places a high importance on public participation in the general planning
effort, however, current planning -related items are beginning to consume more
GPAC, consultant and staff time, and appear to be re -focusing the GPAC from its
long-term advance planning mission. For example, the City Council recently
asked the GPAC to apply a General Plan Designation on the Santa Catarina site;
last week the City and GPAC received a request by a local developer to address
the committee regarding three projects located within the County area at the
GPAC's next meeting on May 9, 1990.
In an effort to assist the GPAC in its mission while achieving greater public
participation, a revised schedule has been drafted to emphasize.early public
forums on the draft Land Use Map, so that the GPAC can proceed with the
completion of the various General Plan Elements with less interruption (schedule
attached). The near-term goal of the schedule is to complete a draft Land Use
Map and preliminary draft Land Use Element with GPAC in order to begin public
forums and receive public input on the preliminary plan during the month of
June. The forums would begin after a joint Planning Commission/City Council
session is held to acquaint these bodies with the information to be presented.
The public forums, as proposed in the schedule, would be located and focused on
the planned proposals for the various communities of Saugus, Canyon Country,
Newhall and Valencia. The intent of the forums is to:
• Increase public awareness, involvement and input.
• Confirm the major concepts of the preliminary plan work.
• Yield a plan which is most responsive to the needs and desires of the
community at large.
• Provide time for GPAC to focus upon and finalize the General Plan Elements.
Budget Status
The total contract with MBA for all components of the project is $549,745.
Approximately $275,000, or half of the budgeted amount, has been paid to the
consultant: The City has been billed for $505,000 (91.8% of the contracted
amount) and is currently reviewing the two most recent invoices which total
$132,330. In addition, approximately $55,000 is currently being withheld
pending receipt of major work products.
The general plan contract and scope of work anticipated and budgeted for 26
meetings of the General Plan Advisory Committee. The Committee has now met with
MBA a total of 28 meetings. As budgeted, the cost of a GPAC meeting averages
approximately $1,540.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In an effort to stimulate the process, increase public opportunity for comment,
and produce a quality, comprehensive General Plan within reasonable time limits
and budget, the following is recommended:
1. That Council review and adopt the attached draft General Plan schedule. In
so doing, this action will affirm and provide direction to staff to set up
and begin notification of public forums; provide direction to GPAC to
finalize recommendations on two of the primary general plan components
consisting of Goals and Policies and a draft Land Use Map by the end of May;
provide direction to GPAC to complete its recommendation on the Land Use Map
and draft Elements in July, 1990; and target the beginning of public
hearings for July and August, 1990.
2. Establish a date for a joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting to
discuss the General Plan, the preliminary Goals and Policies, and provide
direction to staff.
3. Direct staff to work with MBA in refining processes and work products
outlined in the contract in order to ensure full consultant availability and
participation in the work effort without any budget increases.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft General Plan Schedule.
*RAFT GENERAL PLAN SCHEDUL•
April 25, 1990
Legal Mandate: Section 65360 of the California Government Code states as
follows: "The legislative body of a newly incorporated city or newly formed
county shall adopt a general plan within 30 months following incorporation or
formation." Santa Clarita's due date is June 15, 1990.
DATE ACTIVITY RESPONSIBILITY
4/25/90 Present'revised-schedule to GPAC. GPAC
Review and make determination on special
land use map study areas.
5/8/90 Present revised schedule to City Council, schedule Staff/Council
study session for Goals and Policies Report. ir-f7-
5/9/90 Accept Preliminary Goals and Policies Report. GPAC
Continue review'and determination on special land use
study areas and complete preferred General Plan map.
5/15/90 Present revised schedule to Planning Commission.
5/23/90' Presentation of land use map "reality test"
by Economic Research Associates (ERA) and
Kunzman Associates (traffic consultant).
5/30/90 Discuss and begin decision-making and direction
on General Plan map reality test results.
Distribute Preliminary Draft Land Use Element.
Week of Overview of presentations for public forums to
6/4/90 City Council. Distribute preliminary draft
Land Use Element.
6/11/90 Public forum for the Saugus portion of the plan
(Mon) in Saugus.
6/14/90 Public forum for the Canyon Country portion of
(Thurs) the plan in Canyon Country.
6/18/90 Public forum for the Newhall portion of the plan
(Mon) in Newhall.
6/21/90 Public forum for the Valencia portion of the plan
(Thurs). in Valencia.
6/27/90 Complete discussion on General Plan map, test
results and public forum input. Provide direction
to consultant and staff (i.e. down scale the map to
avoid certain impacts; phase the plan to avoid certain
impacts; accept the land use map as proposed; and/or
a combination of these three).
PC/Staff
ERA/GPAC
Kunzman
GPAC
Council/Staff
MBA
Staff/MBA/
GPAC reps.
Staff/MBA/
GPAC reps.
Staff/MBA/
GPAC reps.
Staff/MBA/
GPAC reps.
GPAC
7/11/90 Present final draft land use map (per GPAC direction GPAC/MBA
on 6/27/90 and results of public forums) to GPAC for
recommendation to Planning Commission and City Council.
Distribute preliminary draft elements.
7/90 Begin Planning Commission public hearings. PC/Staff/MBA
8/90 Schedule City Council public hearings.
Council/Staff
MBA
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