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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm Reports 2003/11/05 AGENDA WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 5, 2003 Council Chambers Chula Vista, CA CAll TO ORDER Workshop Topic: 1. General Plan Update Status and Overview of land Use Concepts to be evaluated. The following public hearing items are being continued to the regular Planning Commission of November 12, 2003. A. PUBLIC HEARING: Conditional Use Permit to allow an 850 square foot accessory dwelling unit behind an existing 1,509 square foot single-family residence at 194 Date Street. B. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 04-14 and ZAV 03-04; Conditional Use Permit to allow the construction and operation of a 12,000 sf church multi- purpose facility at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church located at 1603 & 1611 Fresno Avenue and 337 Tremont Street. ADJOURNMENT: To a regular Planning Commission meeting on November 12, 2003 COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT The City of Chula Vista, in complying with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), requests individuals who require special accommodations to access, attend, and/or participate in a City meeting, activity, or service, request such accommodations at least forty-eight hours in advance for meetings, and five days for scheduled services and activities. Please contact Diana Vargas lor specific information at (619) 691-5101 or Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TOO) at 585-5647. California Relay Service is also available for the hearing impaired. AGENDA WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 5,2003 Council Chambers Chula Vista, CA CALL TO ORDER Workshop Topic: 1. General Plan Update Status and Overview of land Use Concepts to be evaluated. ADJOURNMENT: To a regular Planning Commission meeting on November 12, 2003 COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT The City of Chula Vista, in complying with the American with Disabiiities Act (ADA), requests individuals who require special accommodations to access, attend, and/or participate in a City meeting, activity, or service, request such accommodations at least forty-eight hours in advance for meetings, and five days for scheduled services and activities. Please contact Diana Vargas for specific information at (619) 691-5101 or Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) at 585-5647. California Relay Service is also available for the hearing impaired. PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP AGENDA STATEMENT Item No: 1 Meeting Date: 11/5/03 ITEM TITLE: REPORT; General Plan Update Status and Overview of Land Use Concepts to be Evaluated Since the last General Plan Update (GPU) status report, staff has received community input from the Town Hal1 II meeting in June 2003 regarding broad land use concepts, and has worked with RBF Consulting to refine that input into more distinct concept proposa1s within each of the three major planning subareas. Staff and select consultants have also completed, and reviewed with the GPU citizen committees, the numerous Areawide Studies assessing existing conditions and identifying related planning issues and policy implications. This report summarizes the outcomes of these activities, and provides an opportunity to update the Planning Commission as the City enters the next phase of the GPU program which involves review and testing of the concepts, the preparation of alternatives, and the preparation of plan objectives and policies. RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission accept the report, and provide any comment as to forthcoming work. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDA nON: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: Tonight's report and presentation are structured to cover the following four topics: . Overview of the purpose of the General Plan Update, and its strategic relationship to other active and pending major projects and programs. . Progress of the GPU effort and upcoming activities. . Overview of key Planning Issues and P01icy Implications identified through the Areawide (background) Studies, which the GPU will need to address. . Overview of the Land Use and Transportation Concepts to be initially tested. The subsequent text of this report is intended to provide a brief summary of each topic, which will bc further elaborated upon by staff s oral and slide presentation. General Plan Update purpose and strategic rclationships to other active and pending major projects and programs - The General Plan Update (GPU) provides a unique, periodic opportunity to comprehensively re- establish the long-term vision for the City with the community, and to re-tool the framework of Page 2, Item No.: Meeting Date: 11/5/03 policies and programs that will shape and guide overall grow1h and development activities toward that vision. General Plans are typically revisited every 10+ years in order to review the city's future course considering both internal and external changes. This GPU for Chula Vista comes at a particularly important time as the City positions itself to address internal changes sun'ounding the revitalization and redevelopment of western Chula Vista and the bayfront, as well as to changes in regional grow1h and development patterns which have resulted in an expanded role and stature for Chula Vista. The beginnings of this change in direction are taking form through a number of active or pending planning and program initiatives arising from Council's adoption of 5 Strategic Themes. Following are some of the most notable among thcse: . Economic Development Strategy . City Image Campaign . I -5 Corridor Study . Broadway Revitalization Strategy . Urban Core Specific Plan . Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan . WCV Parks Master Plan . Transit First Program . MSCP . Sustainable Development . Historic Preservation The above programs/plans and others all fall within the framework of the City's General Plan. The goa1s and policies of the General Plan are what tie them all together. Once the updated General Plan is approved both the development community and the community at large can be assured that future development will be consistent with the policies contained within. Progress of the GPU effort and upcoming activities - As highlighted in the last GPU status report in June 2003, the GPU program is comprised of four phases. As summarized below, Phases One & Two are completed, and we are currently in Phase Three, which will continue through the end of December 2003. Phase Four involves the preparation of final General Plan documents and the forma1 public review, hearings and adoption process, which will begin in November and continue through June 2004. Completed Phases: Phase One included the initial Town Hall meeting in April 2002, the Visioneering Program conducted from May-September 2002, and concluded with the establishment of the four GPU Citizen Committees in October 2002. A Preliminary Issues Page 3, Item No.: Meeting Date: 11/5/03 Report based on the Visioneering Program inputs was published in November 2002. Phase Two included the review of these issues with the citizen committees, the development of a Draft Vision & Goals Report (May 2003) previously presented to the Planning Commission, and the completion of the 27 "Areawide Studies" presenting background conditions spanning numerous topics from infrastructure and services, to demography, to environmental baseline conditions. Each Areawide Study identified "planning issues and policy implications" for the GPU to address, and which collectively provide the framework and direction for deve10ping GP objectives and policies, and refining alternatives. An overview of these issues and implications is presented in another section in this report. Current Phase: Phase Three is focused on draft Plan Alternatives and Policy Deve10pment, and got underway with the Town Hall meeting on June 21, 2003, at Bonita Vista High School. The Town Hall meeting was attended by approximately 150 people, and staff received feedback on a broad range of potential land use concepts within each of the three major p1anning subareas; Northwest, Southwest and East/Otay Ranch. As many areas of the City arc considered to be stable, and are not be recommended for any General Plan change, the proposed land use conccpts focused on specific "opportunity areas" where changes are most appropriate and/or likely to occur. Using the outcomes of the Town Hall, along with previous inputs from the citizen committees and the public, statr has been working with RBF Consulting to asscmble three, more distinct land use and transportation concepts within each of three major planning subareas (northwest, southwest, and eastlOtay Ranch). These Concept Plans (briefly described in a separate section in this report) will now be initially tested against evaluation criteria for the purpose of providing comparative information to assist the public and the City in further review and refinement, and the preparation of the proposed GP alternatives. Upcoming Activities: The Concept Plans and the results of the initia1 testing will be presented to the public at a series of community meetings to be held in November. One meeting wi1\ be held in each major planning subareas (Northwest, Southwest and East/Otay Ranch), and are currently schcduled for November 15, 17 and 19. Staff is working with RBF Consulting on the interactive workshop format, and the preparation and advance distribution of a "newsletter" publication that will notice the meetings, profiJe issues facing the City, and discuss how General Plan alternatives could respond. Staff will also be working (thru the Public Information Office) with local news media to stimulate public interest and awareness. During November, statr will then use the input from these meetings to develop proposed alternatives, and a draft preferred alternative for review with the citizen committees and the Planning Commission and City Council in December. Beginning in October and continuing into January, staff will also be working with the citizen committees in the preparation of draft General Plan Elements. Page 4, Item No.: Meeting Date: 11/5/03 Overview of Key Planning Issues and Policy Implications - As mentioned earlier, the GPU staff and consulting team have completed, and reviewed with the citizen committees 27 Areawide Studies. The Studies provide background information and an assessment of existing and forecasted conditions to serve as a technical foundation for the GPU. As part of this technical foundation, each of the Studies contains a "Planning Issues and Policy Implications" section identifying initial conclusions as to the bearing of the Study's information on the GPU. Copies of the Areawide Studies are available to the public through the Planning and Building Department, and are referenced as part of the GPU portion of the City's website. Attachment I provides a summary list of some of the key items identified by the Studies, and has been divided into the following five (5) subject categories: Land Use and Commwlity Character Economic Development/Fiscal Public Facilities and Services Traffic and Transportation Environmental Staif will be using these the issues and implications as a partial basis for continuing work with the committees to develop land use and transportation alternatives, as well as draft objectives and policies tor the various General Plan Elements. It should also be noted that on November II, staff will be providing an update to Council on western Chula Vista planning activities and project eftorts. While not specifically focused on the GPU, that report will provide an opportunity to further highlight and discuss some of the key issues identified in the GPU studies. Overview of Land Use and Transportation Concepts- Pursuant to State law, General Plan updates are required to consider a range of alternatives for the community's future. This process allows the community to explore the potential outcomes and effects of different approaches to attaining the desired vision. The process typically starts Witll a range of ideas and concepts that are refined into final alternatives, and ultimately, a preferred altcrnative that is presented as the proposed, updated General Plan. At the Town Hall II meeting on June 21, 2003, the GPU team presented a broad range of potential development concepts within generalized "opportunity areas" where future growth and dcvclopment changes would be most logically directed, or would be most likely to occur. Those concepts were based on previous inputs, the "visioneering" progranl, and the Draft Vision and Page 5, Item No.: Meeting Date: 11/5/03 Goals report prepared through the four citizen committees. The public was asked to indicate whether the concepts reflected a valid range of considerations for future evaluation, and what their personal likes or dislikes were among the concepts. With minor exceptions, the public generally found the range of concepts to be valid, and offered numerous comments about particular likes and dislikes. A copy of the Town Hall II Summary Report is provided as Attachment 2. Using the outcomes of Town Hall II, along with earlier public and other inputs, staff has been working with RBF Consulting to prepare more distinct Land Use Concepts that can be quantified for the purposes of initial testing. A range of three (3) Concepts (A, B, C) has been prepared for each of the three major planning subareas (northwest, southwest, and east/Otay Ranch) for the purposes of review. Each of the major subareas has been broken down into sub-districts for presenting the proposals. Staffs oral and slide presentation will provide a brief overview of concepts A, Band C within each of the major subareas. The Concepts do not represent a range of intensity from least to most, but rather are assembled to reflect varying options in the locations, combinations and arrangement of uses. All the Concepts consider smart growth principles previously discussed with the Planning Commission and CityCouncil, and take into consideration of existing and future transit networks, and the need to better integrate land uses, transit and pedestrian friendliness. The Concepts are intended to reflect a range of options to be evaluated to identify their initial viability and related effects. As noted earlier in the report, the Concepts will be reviewed with the public in a series of three community meetings set for November 15. 17 and 19. At those meetings, the public will be able to discuss the Concepts with the GPU staff and consulting team, make suggestions for refining them, and indicate their particular preferences among the Concepts with respect to the various sub- districts. The purpose of presenting the Concepts tonight is to brief the Planning Commission on what will be presented to the public in November, and allow the Commission the opportunity to indicate to staff if the breadth of the Land Use Concepts is sufficient for the purposes of conducting initial tests. For example, sufficient breadth could include such considerations as to whether, across the Concepts, proposed land uses reflect densities and intensities envisioned for the revitalization and redevelopment of the downtown area, if desired future employment lands have been addressed, and/or whether the range ofresidential proposals affords desired future housing opportunities. The Commission is not being asked at this time to comparatively discuss the Concepts, indicate preferences, or to take any specific action on them. Rather, the Commission should indicate to stafl if there is any land use concept in any area that is desired to be considered, but has not heen included in any of the Concepts. StatI' will be returning to the Planning Commission and City Council in December with the outcomes of the initial testing and the public review meetings, in order to receive input as to proposed GP alternatives to be developed from that review and testing, and a preferred alternativc to become the proposed, updated Gcneral Plan. Completion of the Gcneral P1an documents and the ErR would be based on those alternatives. Attachments I. Summary List of Key Planning Issues & Policy Implications 2. Town Hall II Summary Report J:\Planning\ED\GP Work Programs\PC Status Report II-05-0Jvl.doc Page 6, Item No.: Meeting Date: 11/5/03 SUMMARY OF KEY PLANNING ISSUES/POLICY IMPLICATIONS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE GPU AREAWIDE STUDIES AND OTHER INPUTS- Through preparation of the 27 Areawide Studies (identifying existing conditions and background assessments), as well as inputs from the public and the four citizen committees as part of the early public outreach program, numerous "planning issues and policy implications" were identified for the General Plan Update (GPU) to consider. Following is a summary listing of some of those issues and implications considered to be fundamental, or foundational to the GPU effort. More complete listings and discussions can be tound in the Areawide Studies. LAND USE & COMMUNITY CHARACTER . Better tie the location of housing and employment to existing and future transit stations and corridors. . Strongly support a balanced mix of uses in neighborhood areas, and the location of employment centers to minimize motor vehicle trips. . Establish "mixed use" designations and related provisions. . Encourage land use mixes and design that promote energy efficiency, including mixed use development, site design, building design, pedestrian friendliness, and the integration of alternative modes of travel. . Preserve existing, stable single-family neighborhoods in western Chula Vista. . Retain the "small town" character and charm of Chula Vista while providing opportunities for growth and redevelopment. . Enhance community cohesion between eastern and western CV through complimentary land uses and better, more convenient transportation linkages. . Establish downtown CV (Third Av. and surroundings) as the heart of the City, and the City's primary cultural, entertainment and restaurant district. . Address the future disposition of the South Bay Power Plant site. . Balance development with environmental preservation and public open space protections in the bayfront area. . Preserve and enhance prominent and important viewsheds, particu1arly between WCV and the bay. . Improve the image of Chula Vista along major edges and corridors, and at key gateways, through land use, streetscape and landscape policies and guidelines. lncentivize and prioritize improvements to the most visible and used areas. . Balance historic preservation with the need to revitalize and redevelop areas of WCV through policies and guidelines that address architectural treatments, streetscape design, and consider approaches such as adaptive reuse. . Incorporate p01icies that assist the City in meeting its source reduction, reuse and recycling goals for solid and hazardous waste. . Consider locating "general areas" permissible for the consideration of hazardous waste treatment, storage and/or disposal facilities away from watershed areas, and the possible elimination of the bayfront and SR-54 "general areas". ATTACHMENT 1 Page 1 of 4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT / FISCAL . Expand Chula Vista's employment base to add higher value jobs so residents can earn sufficient wages locally to afford local housing costs, and thereby reduce the need to commute. . Ensure an adequate supply of multi-family and affordable housing to meet the needs of service workers, and to promote a better jobslhousing balance. . Provide sufficient opportunities for retaining and expanding loca1 small businesses in both new development and redevelopment. . Recognize the important role that arts and culture (and related facilities and venues) p1ay in creating catalysts for economic development and revitalization. . Identify and clarify the unique and complimentary roles that our major activity centers (including the bayfront, Chula Vista Center, downtown Third Ave., and the Eastern Urban Center) will play in relation to one another. . Promote the University and educational excellence toward ensuring a well trained and skilled workforce. . Provide for a land use plan that generates sufficient revenues to provide and sustain facilities and services to maintain the quality-ot:life desired by the community. PUBLIC FACILITIES & SERVICES . Emphasize the role of art and culture in establishing the City's socia1 fabric and identity, and provide p01icies to establish an arts and culture district in downtown Chula Vista, and encourage related facilities to locate there. . Provide policies to address future school facility needs in WCV through either the horizontal or vertical expansion of existing sites, or the identification of thc need for new sites. . Carefully evaluate opportwlities for joint use of school sites in terms of shared field/recreation and facility space, and consider policies that would emphasize school sites as neighborhood and community centers. . Consider incorporating policies addressing the provision of sufficient health and human services and facilities, and emphasizing these as a core aspect ofthe community and healthy lifestyles for Chula Vistans. . Address long-term water supply, and balance development in accordance with that supply. . Consider existing "deficient" conditions in WCV (e.g. parks, drainage, select SW area street improvements) in addition to the demands created by new growth and development. Promote eqitable facility provision between eastern and western CV, particularly park and recreation facilities. . Develop a funding and financing program for needed infrastructure in We'V. . Consider the effects of potential density and building height increases in WCV and the bayfront on fire service, equipment, facilities/station locations and personne1. ATTACHMENT 1 Page 2 of 4 · Water system improvements needed in WCV to meet increased tire flow demands generated by potential redevelopment and intensification. · Take into consideration the community's long-term energy demands and the reliability of supply. · Ensure the GPU adequately addresses drainage provisions and requirements stemming from the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. · Integrate appropriate content from the existing Child Care Element into a chapter within the new, integrated Public Facilities and Services Element. TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION . Integrate and promote the South Bay Transit First Plan as a foundation of the GP's 1and use and transportation system. · Advocate regional planning and coordination to ensure that Chu1a Vista's transit and roadway system connects to a viable, regional system. · Promote urban mobility concepts that seek to emphasize land use mix, integration and vibrance, pedestrian friendliness and transit orientation over past predominant emphasis on automobile accommodation. . Advocate Transportation Demand Management (TDM) concepts. · Develop a transportation system that better links eastern and western Chula Vista, particularly the major activity and employment centers. · Provide for an integrated network of sidewalks, bike paths and trails to connect neighborhoods and activity centers throughout the City. ENVIRONMENTAL . Ensure preservation of the Planning Areas unique open space features and natural resources. . Ensure protection of the Bay and adjoining resources in thc bayfront area. Provide an integrated open space and trails framework for ongoing bayfront planning actions. . Achieve consistency between the General Plan, the Otay Ranch Resource Management Plan (RMP), and the recently adopted CV MSCP Subarea Plan with regard to land use designations, boundaries, conservation percentages, restoration rcquirements and policy language. . Reconcile the standards and locations for trails within the Greenbelt with the MSCP Subarea Plan. Include trails policies and guidelines within the GP that would lead to the preparation of a citywide Trails Master Plan. . Rcconcile the location/boundaries of the University site on the General Plan with those analyzed in the MSCP Subarea P1an. · Rcconcile GP discussions of public facilities with the discussion of allowable facilities within the Preserve as identitied in the MSCP Subarea Plan. . Reconcile the GP Circulation Element roadways to remove those segments that were explicitly excluded from coverage in the MSCP Subarea Plan. ATTACHMENT 1 Page 3 of 4 · Ensure any proposed alignments/realignments of roadways are consistent with the MSCP Subarea Plan. . Incorporate mineral resources management policies into the GP in conformance with state guidelines. Revise the GP to reflect the restrictions placed on mining / extractive uses (in the Otay River Valley) as identified in the MSCP Subarea Plan. Address any potential inconsistencies or conflicts with SMARA's significant mineral resource designations in Otay Valley. · Provide for adequate, interconnected open space and park1ands in western CV to offset the effects of potential increased density or intensity of development. . Expand upon urban, community-based green infrastructure that is distinct from habitat conservation (e.g. community and pocket parks, canyons, community and roof gardens, vegetated drainage swales, landscaped driveway strips, etc.). . Provide GP goals, objectives and policies to support acquisition or easement dedication of open space within the Greenbelt, and encourage connections with the regional trails system. · Promote and incentivize sustainable deve10pment concepts in the GP through policies related to the C02 Reduction Plan, Energy Action Plan, Water Conservation and Air Quality Improvements Plans. recycling, source reduction, resource conservation. renewable energy sources (solar/wind). and other efforts that have occurred subsequent to the last comprehensive update in 1989. · Establish policies promoting energy efficiency, including the encouragement of potential additional cogeneration facilities in CV. · Consider establishing an "environmental techn010gy" industry overlay near the landfill to promote the location of industries involved in recycling, materials reuse, and other sustainable development related pursuits. . Address the future disposition of the South Bay Power Plant, and potential reuse of all or a portion of the site. . Incorporate appropriate noise standards into the GP which currently does not address noise, along with policies and guidelines regarding land use, traf1ic calming and other techniques to manage noise levels. ATTACHMENT 1 Page 4 of 4