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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-27 - ORDINANCES - MC 13-115 ZONE CHANGE 13-008 (2)' ORDINANCE NO. 14-04 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, TO APPROVE MASTER CASE 13-115 CONSISTING OF ZONE CHANGE 13-008 AND SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 13-002 (ZONING AMENDMENT) AMENDING THE DOWNTOWN NEWHALL SPECIFIC PLAN. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HERBY 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 City of Santa Clarita periodically prepares updates to the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan; C. On August 12, 2013, the City of Santa Clarita (the "Applicant") initiated an application (Master Case 13-115, Specific Plan Amendment (Zoning Amendment) 13-002 and Zone Change 13-008) to amend the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan (DNSP) (the "Project') to reformat the DNSP to a standard size, rename the plan and update the document including a clean-up of grammar, spelling, and numbering in the DNSP, as well as addressing changes to A -frame signs, outdoor displays of merchandise, changing the land use/zoning designation on 28 parcels, adding glossary definitions, and updating references to the recently adopted Unified Development Code. A complete copy of the proposed amendments is incorporated to this ordinance as "Exhibit A"; D. The amendments proposed at this time have been created in response to issues identified upon implementing the DNSP, as well as from community residents and business owners within the DNSP area; E. On June 19, July 17, and August 21, 2013, staff met with the Old Town Newhall Association and requested suggestions regarding potential amendments to the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan; F. On October 14, 2013, staff met with the Downtown Newhall Ad Hoc Committee to discuss the proposed amendments and to receive feedback; G. On October 30, 2013, City staff sent notices to the 28 land owners whose property zoning ' designations were proposed to be changed as part of this project; H. On December 2, 2013, staff conducted a community workshop at the Old Town Newhall Library and received comments on the proposed amendments. At the workshop, members of the public also suggested other changes to be included in the 2014 DNSP amendments; , I. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on this project commencing on February 18, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, and after hearing public testimony continued the public hearing to a date certain on March 4, 2014; J. At the March 4, 2014, hearing described above, the Planning Commission considered the staff report, staff presentation, and public testimony on the proposal and in a unanimous 5-0 vote approved Resolution P14-01, recommending the City Council adopt a Negative Declaration and approve Master Case 13-115; K. On May 13, 2014, the City Council held a duly -noticed public hearing in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The public hearing was advertised in The Signal newspaper on April 22, 2014. The public hearing was held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m.; L. On May 13, 2014, by separate resolution, the City Council adopted the Negative Declaration prepared for the project in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act; M. At the City Council meeting of May 13, 2014, the City Council conducted a first reading of this ordinance, 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, closed the public hearing, conducted a first reading of an ordinance and passed the ordinance to a second reading; and N. 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. 13-115 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. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR ZONE CHANGE 13-008 AND SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 13-002 (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 and zone changes are contained entirely within the existing Downtown Newhall Specific Plan area, which is called out on the City's General Plan map. The amendments and zone ' changes are also consistent because they encourage economic development of the Old Town Newhall area, while preserving a single-family neighborhood. `A IB. 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 zone changes proposed would not change the character or nature of commercial or residential areas and 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; and Nothing contained in the proposed amendments or zone changes 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 existing residential and commercial areas. 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; and 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 Downtown Newhall Specific Plan. The proposed zone changes would ensure that the streets that serve the residential area in the vicinity of Race Street and Park Street will remain residential in nature, and that they would not have to accommodate industrial traffic. The Downtown Newhall Specific Plan 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 or zone change would increase the need for fire or police protection services, nor would the amendments increase demand for utilities. SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS FOR ZONE CHANGE 13-008. 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 Zone Change 13-008 in accordance with Unified Development Code Section 17.28.120.H: A. That modified conditions warrant a revision in the zoning map as it pertains to the area under consideration: Since the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan (DNSP) was adopted in 2005, the economic climate has changed significantly. In addition to the substantially different economic conditions, other changes to the Old Town Newhall vicinity include the creation of Main Street, the completion of the Old Town Newhall Library, streetscape installation, the construction of a new roundabout, and a new community identity: "Old Town Newhall' versus "Downtown Newhall." In light of these changes, and with eight years of experience working with the specific plan, staff evaluated the DNSP zoning map/regulating plan to determine if changes were needed. As a result of this effort, staff identified 26 parcels within the DNSP where the existing zoning was inconsistent with past, present, and likely future land use. Two additional parcels were identified that had more than one zoning designation: a commercial zone covered one portion of the property while an industrial zone covered another. Based on the changed economic conditions, the , completion of major infrastructure projects, and the identification of zoning that is inconsistent with established commercial and residential areas, a revision to the DNSP zoning map/regulating plan, as comprised by Zone Change 13-008, is warranted. B. That a need for the proposed zone classification exists within such area: Staff has identified 28 parcels that need to be rezoned to better reflect historic, existing, and likely future land uses, as well as to preserve established neighborhoods, promote future commercial development, and ensure that zoning boundaries respect parcel lines. The need for the changes and the specific parcels affected are listed below: Walnut Street/Chestnut Street Area There are 12 parcels in the northwest vicinity of the specific plan area that are proposed to be rezoned from Urban General 2, a primarily residential zoning designation, to Corridor, a primarily commercial zoning designation. The parcels are located in an area generally bounded 9th Street, Walnut Street, Lyons Avenue, and Newhall Avenue. The affected Assessor Parcel Numbers are: 2831-007-031, 2831-008-003, 2831-008-004, 2831 -008-009,2831-008-010,2831-008-011,2831-008-032,2831-008-038, 2831-008-049, 2831-008-054, 2831-008-055, and 2831-008-056. The area is characterized by developed commercial buildings and parking lots. County Assessor data indicates six housing units in the area on four individual parcels. The zone change is needed because the parcels are located in a commercial area and are primarily used for ' commercial purposes but have a zoning designation that favors residential uses. The change will make the underlying zoning consistent with the predominant land uses in the 4 ' area and will better accommodate development by ensuring that all the parcels in this cohesive, well-defined commercial area cavy the same zoning designation. The zone change will also remove split zoning on one parcel where a portion of the property is zoned commercial while another portion is zoned residential. East Newhall Area There are 13 parcels in the southeast vicinity of the specific plan area that are proposed to be rezoned from Creative District, a primarily industrial/business park zone, to Urban General 1, a single-family residential zone. The parcels are fully developed with single family homes and are located on Park Street and Race Street, immediately north of the existing Caltrans maintenance yard. The affected Assessor Parcel Numbers are: 2831 -025-001,2831-025-012,2831-025-013,2831-025-014,2831-025-015, 2831 -025-016,2831-025-017,2831-025-018,2831-025-019,2831-025-020, 2831-025-021, 2831-025-022, and 2831-025-023. The zone change is needed because the parcels are in an established single-family neighborhood, one of the oldest residential areas in the Santa Clarita Valley. Existing zoning would allow commercial and industrial uses to locate into the neighborhood potentially introducing incompatible land uses directly adjacent to single family homes. The neighborhood does not have the infrastructure to accommodate such development and commercial projects would substantially change the residential character of the area. Furthermore, the residential lots in the neighborhood are not large enough to accommodate commercial or business park development. A viable commercial project would require the consolidation of multiple lots resulting in substantial and significant impacts to the single-family neighborhood. The change will make the underlying zoning consistent with the existing residential land use and will preclude incompatible land uses from being introduced into the neighborhood, thereby protecting the health, safety, and welfare of local residents. Newhall Avenue Commercial Parcels Three commercial parcels on Newhall Avenue in the vicinity of Pine Street, south of the Metrolink right-of-way, are proposed to be rezoned. Assessor Parcel Number 2827-002-028 is a commercial parcel that was inadvertently zoned Open Space when the DNSP was adopted in 2005. The parcel has historically been used for commercial purposes, is situated at the entrance to an industrial area, is adjacent to a key arterial highway, and backs up to the Metrolink right-of-way. The parcel is graded and included a commercial building that was destroyed in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The parcel contains no habitat or environmental resources and is currently used for temporary, intermittent commercial uses. The parcel is proposed to be rezoned Corridor, which is the same zoning as adjacent commercial properties. The two remaining parcels, Assessor Parcel Numbers 2827-002-043 and 2833-014-900, are split zoned. The portion of the parcels fronting Newhall Avenue is zoned Corridor, a commercial zone, while the rear portion of each parcel is zoned Creative District, an ' industrial/business park zone. The proposed change would rezone both parcels entirely to Corridor, taking advantage of their frontage along Newhall Avenue. The change will make the zoning boundaries congruent to existing lot lines and will simplify future development applications and permitting requests. ' C. That the particular property under consideration is a proper location for said zone classification within such area i. That placement of the proposed zone at such location will be in the interest of public health, safety and general welfare, and in conformity with good zoning practice; and Zone Change 13-008 would correct oversights in the 2005 zoning map and assign proper zoning to 28 parcels in the Newhall community that reflect historical, existing, and likely future land uses. The proposed changes are being made in the interest of public health and safety in that a single-family residential neighborhood would be preserved and incompatible commercial/industrial land uses would be precluded from locating next to homes. The changes also conform to good zoning practice and are in the interest of the community's general welfare because the new zoning designations would reflect the commercial nature of the developed commercial area in the vicinity of Walnut and Chestnut Streets, would correct an oversight in the 2005 zoning map that designated a commercial parcel on a major arterial as open space, and would simplify the permitting and development process for two other parcels currently overlain with two zoning designations (commercial and industrial). ii. That the proposed zone change is consistent with the adopted General Plan for the area unless a General Plan amendment is filed concurrently and approved with said I zone change. The proposed zone changes are consistent with the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan and Policy 1.2.1 of the General Plan Land Use Element that 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, and continue to plan for the future development of North Newhall." The proposed zone changes will provide clarity for development and redevelopment within the DNSP area by assigning zoning to parcels that is consistent with the existing and likely future land use. Furthermore, the proposed zone changes are intended to create opportunities for new and existing businesses while preserving an established single-family neighborhood. SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS FOR SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 13-002 (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 13-002 (Zoning Amendment) in accordance with Unified Development Code Section 17.28.120.I: A. The amendment is consistent with the adjacent area, if applicable: ' 0 ' B. The amendment is consistent with the principles of the General Plan; Specific Plan Amendment 13-002 (Zoning Amendment) is consistent with the land uses and businesses within the DNSP 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 clarify certain elements of the specific plan and add definitions to the plan's glossary, make the plan more consistent with the recently updated Unified Development Code, and reflect input from business owners in terms of signage, outdoor displays of merchandise, land uses, and other issues. 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 13-002 (Zoning Amendment) includes text amendments that relate back to the Unified Development Code, that clarify land use categories and definitions, and that support commercial uses in developed commercial areas and residential uses in established neighborhoods. Therefore, the proposed specific plan amendment supports the interest of public health, convenience, safety, and general welfare of the Newhall community, while conforming with good zoning practice. I 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. Specific Plan Amendment 13-002 (Zoning Amendment) is consistent with the applicable provisions of the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan and the Unified Development Code because the proposed text amendments would standardize language between the two documents and make the DNSP more internally consistent. The proposed text amendments and zoning map revisions are necessary because they will make the underlying zoning consistent with existing and historical land use, and will simplify and clarify the text of the DNSP document. All land use categories listed in the plan would be defined in the plan, the plan would be updated with the latest UDC references, and the changes would incorporate suggestions made by Newhall residents and business owners. The improved DNSP document would also acknowledge and reflect the emerging identity of Old Town Newhall. Therefore, the amendments would promote the general welfare and public convenience in Newhall, and would constitute good zoning practice. SECTION 5. The proposed amendments to the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan identified in Master Case 13-115 (Zone Change 13-008 and Specific Plan Amendment 13-002 (Zoning Amendment)) are consistent with the City of Santa Clarita General Plan. bl SECTION 6. The City Council conducted a second reading and adopted an ordinance ' approving an amendment to the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan to reformat the plan to a standard size, rename the plan and update the document including a clean-up of grammar, spelling, and numbering, as well as addressing changes to A -frame signs, outdoor displays of merchandise, changing the land use/zoning designation on 28 parcels, adding glossary definitions, updating references to the recently adopted Unified Development Code, and modifying language in Chapters 1-3 to reflect current conditions. A complete copy of the proposed amendments is incorporated by reference as "Exhibit A". SECTION 7. The proposed amendments to the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan as revised in "Exhibit A" are hereby approved. SECTION 8. That 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 9. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days from its passage and adoption. SECTION 10. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law. u 1:1 ' PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of May 2014. L5;; YOR � &J ATTEST: CI CLE DATE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) ' I, Armine Chaparyan, Interim City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance 14-04 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 13th day of May 2014. That thereafter, said Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 27th day of May 2014, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: McLean, Boydston, Kellar, Acosta NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None RECUSED COUNCILMEMBERS: Weste ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance 14-04 and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806). 1 '/)W� INTE-RIM CITY CL 0 "EXHIBIT A" OF ORDINANCE 14-04 ZONE CHANGE 13-008 AND SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 13-002 (ZONING AMENDMENT) INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 10