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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2010-092RESOLUTION NO. 2010-092 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING A COUNCIL POLICY RELATED TO THE PUBLIC PARTICPATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS WHEREAS, in Februazy 2009, the Development Services Department initiated a review of the City's development processes to determine what improvements could be made to reduce redundancy, administrative costs and processing timelines while not sacrificing opportunities for early and often public input and review. The effort is referred to as the Process Improvements Program (Project); and WHEREAS, a staff committee was convened to identify a series of short and long term issues that needed to be addressed to improve the development review process; and WHEREAS, in the spring of 2009, a 25 member Development Services Oversight Committee (Oversight Committee), comprised of developers, business owners, community organizations, engineers, azchitects, and contractors was formed to work with staff in identifying additional azeas that needed improvement and assist in developing workable solutions; and WHEREAS, in September 2009 and October 2009, draft code amendments were presented to the Oversight Committee to obtain feedback on some of the major elements of the proposed process improvements that had been drafted to date; and WHEREAS, on November 12, 2009, a joint workshop with the Planning Commission and Chula Visa Redevelopment Corporation was held to review and obtain feedback on some of the major elements of the proposed process improvements that had been drafted to date and initial ideas regarding improvements to public participation: the feedback of which has been incorporated into the draft Municipal Code amendments; and WHEREAS, on January 13, 2010, staff presented to the Oversight Committee a draft comprehensive approach for Public Participation as it relates to the development review, and obtained input from the Oversight Committee; and WHEREAS, on February 11, 2010, staff presented to the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation the draft comprehensive approach for Public Participation as it relates to the development review process, and in particulaz to redevelopment azeas, which currently use the Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC) as the venue for public input; and obtained input from the Boazd; and WHEREAS, on Februazy 18, 2010, the Oversight Committee recommended, with full consensus, that staff proceed with the draft recommendations for the first phase of Process Improvements Program, which include a comprehensive citywide approach to public participation as well as other process improvement measures including but not limited to delegating decision levels on permits; consolidating hearings for projects with multiple permits; streamlining the appeal process; modifying pazking and non-conforming uses/structures regulations; and reducing review authority redundancies between the Planning Commission and CVRC; and Resolution No. 2010-092 Page 2 WHEREAS, on Mazch 4, 2010, staff provided, as an information item to the RAC, the draft comprehensive approach for Public Participation as it relates to the development review process, and in particular to redevelopment areas, which currently use the RAC as the venue for public input. The RAC supported the comprehensive approach for Public Participation as it relates to the development review; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary; and WHEREAS, a hearing time and place was set by the Planning Commission for consideration of the Project and notice of said hearing, together with its purpose, was given by its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City, at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing to consider said Project at the time and place as advertised, namely March 24, 2010 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Avenue, and said hearing was thereafter closed. WHEREAS, the Planning Commission voted 6-0-0-1 to recommend that the City of Chula Vista City Council approve an ordinance amending vazious sections of the Chula Vista Municipal Code Title 19 for the purpose of process improvements; and supported other process improvements including those related to the proposed new Council Policy which would implement a comprehensive approach for Public Participation as it relates to the development review process; and WHEREAS, a heazing time and place was set by the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation for consideration of the Project and notice of said heazing, together with its purpose, was given by its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City, at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing; and WHEREAS, the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation held a duly noticed public hearing to consider said Project at the time and place as advertised, namely March 25, 2010 at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Avenue, and said hearing was thereafter closed; and WHEREAS, the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation voted 6-0-0-1 to recommend that the City of Chula Vista City Council approve an ordinance amending various sections of the Chula Vista Municipal Code Title 19 for the purpose of process improvements; and supported other process improvements including those related to the proposed new Council Policy which would implement a comprehensive approach for Public Participation as it relates to the development review process. Resolution No. 2010-092 Page 3 NOVJ, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Chula Vista City Council hereby adopts the new Council Policy -Public Participation Program (Exhibit A) to implement a comprehensive approach for Public Participation as it relates to the development review process. Presented by Approved as to form by a ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~.. / -r '' ~ ~G Gar albe , P.E., AICP Bart iesfeld Deputy C~ y Manager/Development Services City Attorney Director PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, California, this 20th day of April 2010 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Bensoussan, Castaneda, Ramirez, Thompson and Cox NAYS: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ATTEST: Donna R Norris, CMC, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CITY OF CHULA VISTA " ~ CherylCheryl Co~ayor I, Donna R. Norris, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2010-092 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 20th day of Apri12010. Executed this 20th day of Apri12010. Donna R. Norris, CMC, City Clerk Resolution No. 2010-092 F:nin~t o Public Participation ADOPTED BY: AMENDED BY: Resolution No. COUNCIL POLICY CITY OF CHULA VISTA of resolution) POLICY EFFECTIVE NUMBER DATE PAGE 1 OF 3 DATED: BACKGROUND In February 2009, the Development Services Department launched the Process Improvement Program to review the City's development review process to determine improvements that could streamline it, increase transpazency, improve public access, make it more predictable for applicants and reduce the cost. One goal of the Process Improvement Program was to respond to concerns about the complexity of the City's development process; including the use of two different public input processes for projects that aze either in or out of designated redevelopment project areas. The Process Improvement Program resulted in amendments to the City's Municipal Code* that consolidated project hearings into a single hearing (where previously several hearings had been required) and the delegation of some minor project approvals to the Zoning Administrator. Through the Process Improvement Program it was determined that measures to streamline the process needed to be balanced with the public's ability to provide input on development projects. PURPOSE To ensure that the public has the opportunity to obtain information about development projects and provide input and feedback on projects throughout the review/entitlement process in a consistent citywide process. POLICY The City will use this Community Input Process for all development projects in the City both inside and outside of designated redevelopment project areas. Staff will keep and periodically update an Always Notice list for use in sending out public notices. The Always Notice list will include contact information for Community Organizations, Business Associations and individuals who request receipt of all public notices. Staff will create a mechanism through the City's website for being added to the Always Notice list. A Notice of Application will be sent out to all property owners within 500 feet of a project site within ten (10) days of the application being deemed complete. The notice will include a brief project description, project location, entitlement processes that the project will be required to go through and the name and contact information for the staff project manager. The Notice of Application will also be posted on the City's website. This notification will make concerned members of the public aware of pending applications eazlier on in the development review process. Staff will arrange a Community Meeting for all projects that will have a "Consolidated Hearing"** and any other project requiring a public hearing that results in a significant response from the public to the Notice of Application. [n addition, staff will arrange a Community Meeting for any administrative o..nrnval nrniect that recnl}c in cianifirant recnnnce frnrn the nnhlin to the Nntire n( Annlinatinn Resolution No_ 2010-092 Page 5 COUNCIL POLICY CITY OF CHULA VISTA SUBJECT: Public Participation POLICY EFFECTIVE NUMBER DATE PAGE 20F3 ADOPTED BY: (ResolutionNo.) DATED: AMENDED BY: Resolution No. (date of resolution) Neighbors within 500 feet and interested parties on the "Always List" would be invited to the Community Meeting. The Community Meeting will beheld eazly in the process, after the project application has been deemed complete and the first internal review of the project has been completed. The meeting will be held early enough in the process to allow for public comments to be considered by the applicant and staff and appropriate changes made to the project. while staff will help facilitate the Community Meeting, the Applicant will have the primary role since this is their opportunity to dialogue with potential future neighbors. Staff will provide the applicant with an outline of the presentation components to ensure that the applicant covers all of the important information about the project. Staff administration would be limited to setting meeting locations and being available [o answer questions about the process, policies and regulations affecting the project. No formal staff report will be prepazed. The applicant will be provided with the names and contact numbers for all Community Organizations and Business Associations and will be encouraged to seek their eazly input on projects. Staff will encourage the applicant to have on-going dialogue with the interested Community Organizations and Business Associations throughout the processing of the project. An "Open House" format will be used at the Community Meeting. Afrer the initial presentation of the project by the applicant, "stations" will be set up azound the room to give the community members an opportuniTy to have one on one conversation with the applicant and consulting team about the project. Staff will take notes at the Community Meeting and prepaze a "Record of Meeting" that summarizes the issues and suggestions that were raised at the meeting. At subsequent Design Review Boazd (DRB), Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation (CVRC) or Planning Commission (PC) meetings the members will be advised of the issues raised previously by the community as well as how the applicant addressed the issues. The DRB*** and CVRC will provide an optional Preliminary Review on projects that are complex or that the community has raised concerns about at the Cotnmutrity Meeting. This will give the DRB*** or CVRC the opportunity to raise any early concerns about the project and will provide the public another opportunity to provide input prior to final consideration of the project by the DRB*** or CVRC. The Preliminary Review will be after the Community Meeting but prior to consideration of the project by the DRB*** or CVRC. Preliminary Reviews will be included on the DRB* * * or CVRC agenda. The agenda is posted 72 hours prior to the meeting and sent to everyone on the Alwa s Notice List. Resolution No. 2010-092 Page 6 COUNCIL POLICY CITY OF CHIJLA VISTA SUBJECT: Public Participation POLICY EFFECTIVE NUMBER DATE PAGE 3OF3 ADOPTED BY: (Resolution No.) DATED: AMENDED BY: Resolution No. (daze of resolution) All Zoning Administrator (ZA) decisions will be posted on the City's website. ZA decisions will also be provided to any member of the public who has made a request during the review process to receive it. ZA Notices of Decision will be sent out on the day following the ZA action. * The amendments proposed to the City's Municipal Code as a part of the Process Improvement Program are tentatively scheduled for consideration by the City Council in the Spring of 20] 0. ** A Consolidated Hearing is required when a single development project involves more than one permit or any approval [hat requires consideration by more than one decision making authority. In that case the applications aze consolidated for processing and reviewed by a single decision maker or decision making body. ** * In the case of a consolidated hearing where the PC takes on the role of the DRB, the PC will provide [he optional Preliminary Review for the project.