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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-27 - ORDINANCES - MC 13-096 APPR SOLEDAD CORRIDR (2)' ORDINANCE NO. 15-01 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, TO APPROVE MASTER CASE 13-096 CONSISTING OF ZONE CHANGE 13-004 APPROVING THE SOLEDAD CANYON ROAD CORRIDOR 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. On September 3, 2013, the City of Santa Clarita (the "Applicant") initiated an application (Master Case 13-096 and Zone Change 13-004) to create the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan (SCRCP) (the "Project") to 1) create a clear identity for the commercial core of Canyon Country and serve as a document that will facilitate community enhancement into the future; 2) create development ' standards that are consistent with the existing policies while providing flexibility in building placement, architectural standards, and sign standards that encourage property owners to propose projects that result in an enhanced visual aesthetic. A complete copy of the proposed Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan is incorporated to this ordinance as "Exhibit A;" C. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan has been created in response to comments consistently received from the community identifying a desire for improved development throughout the Soledad Canyon Road planning area; D. On June 14, 2011, the City Council adopted the Santa Clarita General Plan by adoption of Resolution No. 11-63. The General Plan provides a vision that will guide future development in the City of Santa Clarita through a set of goals, objectives, and policies; E. On July 9, 2013, the City Council adopted the City's first corridor plan for the Lyons Avenue Corridor, by adoption of Ordinance No. 13-11; F. Following adoption of the Lyons Avenue Corridor Plan in July 2013, the City of Santa Clarita (the "Applicant" or "City") initiated the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan (the "project" or "SCRCP"); ' G. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor planning area is located within the City of Santa Clarita in the County of Los Angeles on Soledad Canyon Road, west of Solamint Road and east of the Santa Clara River near Camp Plenty Road; H. The City of Santa Clarita's proposed project consists of Zone Change (ZC) 13- ' 004 to update the zoning map to ensure consistency with the General Plan; I. The City Council Development Subcommittee held a duly -noticed meeting on October 7, 2014, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The meeting was held at City Hall, Orchard Room, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita; J. The Planning Commission held a duly -noticed public hearing on November 18, 2014, in accordance with the City's noticing requirements. The project was advertised in The Signal newspaper on October 28, 2014. The hearing was held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m.; K. At the November 18, 2014, 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 P14-18, recommending the City Council adopt a Negative Declaration and approve Master Case 13-096; L. On January 13, 2015, 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 December 23, 2014. The public hearing was held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m.; ' M. At the City Council meeting of January 13, 2015, 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; 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. 13-096 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 13-004. 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 Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan carries out a number of General Plan policies and ' objectives. Specifically, the Land Use Element of the General Plan dictates that the City work to promote business development that upgrades and revitalizes ' older commercial corridors in a manner that reflects each community's character, architecture and history. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan provides incentives for property and business owners to invest in upgrading and revitalizing older commercial centers. The proposed plan is also consistent with Land Use Policy 2.1.2 by promoting healthy, walkable communities. This is achieved by providing and appropriate mix of residential and service uses in proximity to one another. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan further implements the General Plan by applying distinctive community character guidelines to the planning area through the use of frontage types, building types, and architectural styles. B. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone and complies with all other applicable provisions of the UDC; The zone change proposed would not change the character or nature of commercial development within the plan area or adjacent residential areas and would allow the established land use patterns to continue, thus supporting the provisions of the UDC. 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 Soledad Corridor Plan would endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public because the plan document does not result in the disturbance of land or the physical development of any property and would be consistent with the provisions of the UDC and General Plan. 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; I4. 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 Soledad Corridor Plan is a zoning document that does not supersede but rather enacts the provisions of the General Plan. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan does not propose land uses that would generate traffic volumes in excess of that anticipated in the General plan and further does not propose changes to the existing highways or streets that provide access to sites throughout the planning area. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor 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 zone change would increase the need for fire or police protection services, nor would the plan increase demand for utilities. SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS FOR ZONE CHANGE 13-004. 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 13-004 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 I area under consideration; B. That a need for the proposed zone classification exists within such area; 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 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 zone change. The General Plan envisions Corridor Plans for certain commercial areas of the City, including the Soledad Canyon Road corridor. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan establishes development standards that would guide future development and does not include a proposal for physical development. The need for the proposed zone classification is demonstrated by the lack of a cohesive aesthetic quality and instances of functional obsolescence throughout the planning ' area. The plan would serve the interest of the health, safety and general welfare of the public by promoting business development and revitalizing older commercial centers that provide for healthy and walkable communities. The ' project is consistent with the General Plan because it would carry out a number of General Plan policies and objectives. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan further implements the General Plan by applying distinctive community character guidelines to the planning area through the use of frontage types, building types, and architectural styles. Further, the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan area is currently adequately served by applicable emergency services, utilities and the proposed zone change would not increase the demand for these services. SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS FOR ZONE CHANGE 13-004. 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 13-004, in accordance with Unified Development Code Section17.28.120.I: A. The amendment is consistent.with the adjacent area, if applicable; B. The amendment is consistent with the principles of the General Plan; 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; ' 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 pubic convenience, the general welfare or good zoning practice justifies such action. The proposed Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan creates a zoning document for the affected planning area and implements all provisions of the General Plan and would therefore be consistent with the areas adjacent to the plan area. The project is consistent with the General Plan because it would carry out a number of General Plan policies and objectives. The Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan further implements the general plan by applying distinctive community character guidelines to the planning area through the use of frontage types, building types, and architectural styles. Further, the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan area is currently adequately served by applicable emergency services, utilities and the proposed zone change would not increase the demand for these services. The plan would serve the interest of the health, safety and general welfare of the public by promoting business development and revitalizing older commercial centers that provide for healthy and walkable communities. The proposed Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan creates development standards that would enact the provisions of the General Plan and affect the aesthetic quality of the planning area upon the approval of a project that is consistent with the development standards detailed within the code. Those standards do not address existing roadways, street medians, USMP and/or SUSMP requirements, ' stormwater runoff requirements, fire access requirements, California Building Code requirements, or subdivision requirements and therefore would be consistent with all other provisions of the UDC. The Land Use Element of the General Plan ' dictates that the City work to promote business development that upgrades and revitalizes older commercial corridors in a manner that reflects each community's character, architecture, and history. The approval of the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan would result in a document that would guide development into the future in a manner that is consistent with the intent of the General Plan and would therefore be justified by serving the general welfare of the public and serve as good zoning practice. SECTION 5. The City Council conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance approving the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan to reformat the plan to 1) create a clear identity for the commercial core of Canyon Country and serve as a document that will facilitate community enhancement into the future; and 2) create development standards that are consistent with the existing policies while providing flexibility in building placement, architectural standards and sign standards that encourage property owners to propose projects that result in an enhanced visual aesthetic. A complete copy of the proposed Soledad Canyon Road Corridor Plan is incorporated to this ordinance as "Exhibit A." SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days from its passage and adoption. SECTION 7. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and. I shall cause the same to be published as required by law. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of January 2015. ATTEST: CITY STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Kevin Tonoian, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance 15-01 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 13th day of January 2015. That ' thereafter, said Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 27th day of January 2015, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Weste, Acosta, Kellar, McLean NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boydston 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). "EXHIBIT A" OF ORDINANCE 15-01 ZONE CHANGE 13-004 INCORPORATED BY