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Home My WebLink About2011-11-08 - ORDINANCES - MC 11 117 MOVIE RANCH OVERLAY (2)ORDINANCE NO. I 1-20 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA APPROVING MASTER CASE 11-117, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 11-002, TO AMEND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO INCLUDE A MOVIE RANCH OVERLAY ZONE (MOZ) AS SHOWN ON THE MAP ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT "B" AND ADOPTING THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION PREPARED FOR THE PROJECT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA DOES 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 periodically prepares updates to the Unified Development Code; b. On July 12, 2011, the City Council approved two Pre -Annexation Agreements for the Sable Ranch/Rancho Maria and Rancho Deluxe movie ranches. In exchange for the movie ranch property owners supporting the City's efforts to annex the 686.16 acres associated with the South Sand Canyon Annexation, one of the deal points requires the City to propose an amendment to the UDC for the creation of the Movie Ranch Overlay Zone; C. On August 18, 2011, the City of Santa Clarita (the "Applicant") initiated an application (Master Case 11-117, UDC 11-002)'to amend the UDC to include Section 17.16.115 Movie Ranch Overlay Zone (MOZ) (the "Project") to create an overlay zone that would provide provisions for the existing filming operations within the MOZ, as well as to include provisions for the expansion of filming uses and structures within the MOZ. The proposed amendments are attached to this resolution as Exhibit "A". The proposed MOZ map is attached as Exhibit "B"; d. Filming has been an integral part of the Santa Clarita Valley, including its history as the home to William S. Hart, now owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Division; e. Filming ranches and studios are located throughout the City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Clarita Valley as a whole, each of which could qualify for designation under the MOZ; r f. The Project was duly noticed in accordance with the public hearing noticing requirements of the Unified Development Code, and a 1/8th-page advertisement was placed in The Signal Newspaper on October 4, 2011; g. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on this issue on September 20, 2011. This public hearing was held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. At the hearing, the Planning Commission considered the staff presentation, the staff report, the Negative Declaration prepared for the project, and public testimony on the proposal; h. At the public hearing noted above, the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Clarita unanimously adopted Resolution P11-22 recommending that the City Council adopt Unified Development Code Amendment 11-002 -for the creation of the Movie Ranch Overlay Zone and adopting the Negative Declaration prepared for the project; The City Council of the City of Santa Clarita held a duly noticed public hearing on this issue on October 25, 2011. This public hearing was held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. j. At the October 25, 2011 meeting, the City Council considered the staff report, took public testimony, and closed the public hearing. k. All notification requirements pursuant to Sections 65090 and 65091 of the Government Code of the State of California were duly followed. SECTION 2 CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. Based upon the testimony and other evidence received at the hearing, and upon the study and investigation made by the Planning Commission and on its behalf, the City Council further 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); 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 August 30, 2011, in accordance with CEQA. The public review period was open from August 30, 2011, through September 20, 2011; C. There is no substantial evidence that 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 11-117 project file located within the Community Development Department and is in the custody of the Director of Community Development; and 2 1 e. The City Council, based upon the findings set forth above, hereby finds that the Negative Declaration for this project has been prepared in compliance with CEQA. SECTION 3. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT FINDINGS Based upon the testimony and other evidence received at the hearing, and upon the study and investigation made by the Planning Commission and on its behalf, the City Council further finds as follows: a. That the proposed zoning code amendment is consistent with the objectives of this development code, the General Plan, and development policies of the City and forward a recommendation of approval.- Unified pproval. Unified Development Code Amendment 11-002 is consistent with the objectives of the Unified Development Code, development policies of the City, and the General Plan including Objective LU1.2 of Goal 1 of the Land Use Element which seeks to, "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". The creation of the Movie Ranch Overlay Zone (MOZ) will create provisions for the existing filming operations within the MOZ and will further include provisions for the expansion of filming uses and structures if desired in the future. SECTION 4. The City Council hereby introduces and passes to second reading, this Ordinance approving Unified Development Code Amendment 11-002 pertaining to the creation of Section 17.16.115 - Movie Ranch Overlay Zone as shown in the attached Exhibit "A" and the proposed Movie Ranch Overlay Zone Map attached as Exhibit "B". SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law. 3 PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 8th day of November, 2011. L` MAYOR ATTEST: c u CITY CLERK DATE: STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) 1, Sarah P. Gorman, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance 11-20 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 25th day of October, 2011. That thereafter, said Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 8th day of November, 2011, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Weste, Kellar, Ender, Ferry, McLean NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance 11-20 and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806). TY CLERK 2 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) CERTIFICATION OF CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE I, , City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original Ordinance 11-20, adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, CA on November 8, 2011, which is now on file in my office. Witness my hand and seal of the City of Santa Clarita, California, this 8th day of November, 2011. City Clerk By Deputy City Clerk 1 5 Exhibit "A" Section 17.16.115 MOZ — Movie Ranch Overlay Zone. A. Purpose. In an effort to support the continuation of filmmaking and film production, the movie ranch (MOZ) overlay zone designates certain areas within the City whereby filming and related facilities are permitted by right. The designation is intended as a modifier to an underlying zone and would permit location filming and full service motion picture and television filming, including studios and other facilities for production of feature films, television series, commercials, telethons, videos, webisodes, other film/video formats not yet conceived and all related facilities. The movie ranch overlay zone is applied to areas appropriate for motion picture and television filming, including sound stages, studios and related media support'facilities consisting of a minimum of fifty (50) contiguous acres. Where applied, the movie ranch overlay (MOZ) zone is intended to allow for ongoing and/or location filming on-site, permitted by right, subject to Film Office review. B. Permitted Uses. All uses shall be subject to the requirements of the base zone, with the exception of film production activities which shall be subject to the requirements of this section. The following uses shall be permitted where the symbol ."P" appears; subject to a conditional use permit where the symbol "C" appears; and prohibited where the symbol "X" appears. Movie and Film Production Uses 1. Movie Ranch P Full service motion picture and television studios including facilities for production of feature films, television series, commercials, telethons, videos, webisodes, other film/video formats not yet conceived, and all related facilities for motion picture and television studios. Filmmaking activities may take place both indoors or outdoors within the Movie Ranch. 2. Sound Stages and other related film making P structures 3. Office space and limited commercial retail P sales, incidental to the primary movie ranch use 4. Temporary film sets P 5. Incidental temporary community activities P Page 1 of 4 and social events 6. Parking lots P 7. Accessory retail sales during filming P operations 8. Wireless communications facilities as C provided in Section 17.17.040(N) P = Permitted, C = Conditional Use Permit C. Incidental Uses. Parking- areas and temporary structures constructed as part of a production set shall be permitted by right, provided that the structures comply with applicable building, fire and other life safety regulations and do not interfere with required building setbacks. 1. Permanent Sound Stage Structures. Up to two (2) new sound stages at a combined maximum square footage of 40,000 square feet shall be permitted by right. All permanent structures shall be subject to Development Review process and must be set back a minimum of 100 feet from off-site residential uses. All permanent structures must comply with applicable building, fire and other life safety regulations. Any sound stage structures proposed outside of these parameters will require a Conditional Use Permit. 2. Permanent Office Structures. Up to a maximum of 10,000 square footage of office space shall be permitted by right. All permanent structures shall be subject to Development Review process and must be set back a minimum of 100 feet from off- site residential uses. All permanent structures must comply with applicable building, fire and other life safety regulations. Any office structures proposed outside of these parameters will require a Conditional Use Permit. 3. Special Events. Special events shall be permitted by right between the hours of 7:00 a.m, and 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7:00 a.rn. to 12:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, subject to review of the site, parking and traffic plan. Events outside of these parameters will require a Temporary Use Permit which may be approved at the discretion of the Director of Community Development. 4. Commercial Uses. Incidental commercial uses to filming operations and the surrounding uses shall be permitted consistent with the requirements of the Community Commercial zone where two highways identified in the City's General Plan intersect, provided that the commercial use does not exceed three (3) acres in size and are not within one (1) mile of another commercial use. D. Property Development Standards. The following regulations shall apply to the site of a movie ranch in addition to the regulations of the underlying zone. Additional regulations Page 2 of 4 may be specified as conditions of approval through the conditional use permit and/or development review process. 1. Minimum Lot Size. 50 contiguous acres 2. Film Office Review. Filming activities are permitted by right in the movie ranch overlay as described below, subject to review of Film Office and via the Movie Ranch Filming Permit process. The Film Office will coordinate review of each filming activity with Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and other agencies as necessary. 3. Setbacks from Residential Uses for Primary Film Activity. Minimum of 500 feet between primary film activity and off-site residential uses shall be maintained. Primary filming activities include filming, location of generators, base camp, catering and other more intrusive activities. Filming activities outside of these parameters may be subject to neighborhood notification of adjacent property owners at the discretion of the Film Office. 4. Setbacks from Residential Uses for Secondary Film Activity. Minimum of 100 feet between secondary film activity and off-site residential uses shall be maintained. Secondary filming activities include parking and other non -intrusive activities. Filming activities outside of these parameters may be subject to neighborhood notification of adjacent property owners at the discretion of the Film Office. 5. Hours of Filming. Filming indoors within sound stages and/or filming more than 500 feet from off-site residential uses is permitted by right 24 hours a day. Filming less than 500 feet from off-site residential uses is permitted by right between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Filming outside of these parameters may be subject to neighborhood notification of adjacent property owners at the discretion of the Film Office. 6. Height Limit. No permanent structure within the MOZ overlay zone shall exceed a height of 56 feet without approval of a conditional use permit. Temporary structures, such as film sets, shall be exempt from this height limitation. 7. Lighting. All permanent and temporary light sources shall be shielded from streets or adjoining properties. Temporary lighting incidental to film activity is permitted by right between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Lighting outside of these parameters may be may be approved at the discretion of the Film Office. 8. Noise. Filming with special effects and/or excessive noise incidental to film activity is permitted by right between hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Special effects and/or excessive noise, as determined by the Film Office, outside of these parameters may be approved at the discretion of the Film Office. 9. Fencing. Permanent privacy fencing shall be exempt from height limitations, subject to architectural review and provided that the structures comply with applicable building, fire Page 3 of 4 1 1 and other life safety regulations and may require screening with landscaping where visible from the public right-of-way. 10. Helicopters. Helicopter landings incidental to film activity are permitted by right between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. provided that the helicopter activity complies with applicable FAA, fire and other life safety regulations. Helicopter landings outside of these parameters may be may be approved at the discretion of the Film Office. E. Pre -Existing Uses. A movie ranch use legally established as of the effective date of this code under the provisions of either the City of Santa Clarita or the County of Los Angeles, shall be deemed to be a pre-existing legal use and may be continued in perpetuity or as otherwise specified in this Section. F. Expiration. 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