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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2010-114RESOLUTION NO. 2010-114 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO PORTIONS OF THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION; ECONOMIC; PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES; ENVIRONMENTAL; AND IMPLEMENTATION ELEMENTS, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED TEXT, MAPS AND TABLES INVOLVING THE BAYFRONT PLANNING AREA WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista and the San Diego Unified Port District (Port District), in a collaborative effort with the community began working on a comprehensive Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan (Proposed Project) in 2002; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista's current General Plan was last comprehensively updated in December 2005 (General Plan Update); and WHEREAS, the Bayfront Planning Area was not changed as part of the General Plan Update in 2005, due to ongoing work on the Proposed Project; and WHEREAS, the azea of land which is the subject of this Resolution, contains all lands within the boundaries of the General Plan's Bayfront Planning Area as diagrammatically depicted on the proposed General Plan Land Use Diagram presented as Exhibit A, attached hereto and commonly known as the Bayfront Planning Area (Project Site); and WHEREAS, on or about 2004, the City of Chula Vista initiated an Amendment to the City's General Plan, and for the purpose of general description consists of approximately 780 acres of the 2,620 acre Bayfront Planning Area located west of Interstate 5, south of the Sweetwater Channel, east of the San Diego Bay, and north of Palomaz Street; and WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendments for the Bayfront Planning Area involve portions of the Land Use and Transportation; Economic; Public Facilities and Services; Environmental; and Implementation Elements, including associated text, maps and tables; and WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendment for the Bayfront Planning Area aze contained in a document entitled "General Plan Amendment Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, May 2010" (General Plan Amendment) (attached in the staff report as Attachment 10 and on file at the Office of the City Clerk); and WHEREAS, as more fully described in the subject staff report, the subject Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Project Description, and the General Plan Amendment document themselves (on file with the City Clerk's Office), the overall amendments proposed to the General Plan generally include the addition of a new Bayfront Area Planning Area Plan consisting of Goals, Objectives and Policies that are consistent with the format and content of other Area Plans in the General Plan; the addition of one new Residential Bayfront High land use designation; the deletion of three land use designations; the deletion of the "Mid-Bayfront Specific Plan" reference consistent with the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan nomenclature; miscellaneous revisions to the circulation roadway network that enhances multi-modal choices and public access for the subject azea; and preservation of natural open space at the fringe of the subject azea; and Resolution No. 2010-114 Page 2 WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendment for the Bayfront Planning Area is consistent with the Proposed Project; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code section's 65090 and 65353, the Planning Commission and the Chula Vista Redevelopment Corporation (CVRC) held a duly noticed public hearing on the General Plan Amendment on May 18, 2010, and recommended that the City Council adopt the Resolution approving the General Plan Amendment; and WHEREAS, the proceedings and all evidence introduced before the Planning Commission and the CVRC at the public hearing on the proposed General Amendment held on May 18, 2010, and the minutes and resolutions resulting there from, aze hereby incorporated into the record subsequent to these proceedings; and WHEREAS, these documents, along with any documents submitted to the decision makers, and all documents specified in Public Resources Code Section 21167.6, as well as those specified in the accompanying CEQA findings, shall comprise the entire record of the proceedings for any California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) claims; and WHEREAS, the City Clerk set the time and place for the hearing on the Proposed Project and notices of said hearings, together with its purposes given by its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City and the mailing to property owners within 1000 feet of the exterior boundazies of the property, at least ten days prior to the hearing; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code section 65090, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on May 18, 2010, on the subject General Plan Amendment. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby finds and determines as follows: I. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION Pursuant to Section ] 5096 (f) and (i) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, after having taken into account both oral and written testimony at the subject public hearing and after having utilized its independent judgment the City Council has considered the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) SCH No. 2005081077 as prepazed by the San Diego Unified Port District and determined that the Final EIR was adequately prepared pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. The City Council has also made the requisite CEQA Findings of Fact pursuant to Section 15096 (h) of the CEQA Guidelines, adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Proposed Project all of which is on file at the Office of the City Clerk and in the Development Services Department located at 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Resolution No. 2010-114 Page 3 II. GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY The City Council hereby finds and determines that the General Plan, as amended, is internally consistent and shall remain internally consistent following amendments thereof by this Resolution. III. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FINDINGS /APPROVAL 1. Proposed General Plan Amendment: The proposed General Plan Amendment as contained in Exhibit B, and generally listed below is in conformity with the provisions of the City of Chula Vista General Plan. a. 1. Land use acreage adjustments; 2. Deletion of three General Plan land use designations; 3. New General Plan land use designations; 4. Deletion of the Mid-Bayfront Specific Plan reference; 5. Revised Bayfront Area Plan that introduces new General Plan Objectives and Policies; and 6. Revisions to text, tables, maps, and graphics. 2. Conforms with General Plan Fundamental Principles: The proposed General Plan Amendment land use changes listed above aze based on the over-azching principles, and Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the General Plan, as described in Section 7.0 of the adopted Land Use and Transportation Element. The primary principles and goals against which the Bayfront Area Plan is framed include the following: • A Balance of Land Uses: The Bayfront Area Plan land uses include entertainment, retail, cultural, residential, office, pazks and natural open spaces that are balanced. ^ Urban Design and Form: The Bayfront Area Plan contains policies that stipulate high quality architecture and landscape architecture within the Bayfront. Compatible Land Use and Edge Transitions: The Bayfront Area Plan contains policies that address compatibility between higher intensity uses at the core and transition to lower intensity uses at the edge, including the interface between development and sensitive natural resources at the fringe. • Enhancing Community Image: The primary goal of the Bayfront Area Plan is to enhance Chula Vista's waterfront image by establishing the Bayfront as a focal point via high quality development, multi-modal transportation, and water-oriented recreational amenities. • Re¢ional Cooperation and Coordination: The Bayfront Area Plan stipulates ongoing efforts between the City, Port District, including Federal and State Agencies to ensure its success. Resolution No. 2010-114 Page 4 3. The proposed land uses within the Bayfront Planning Area that aze balanced and cohesive: The Bavfront Area planned land uses are balanced and cohesive that would result in an attractive Bavfront as awater-oriented focal point for Chula Vista. • Balanced: The General Plan Amendment includes a balanced mix of land uses in the Bayfront Planning Area. Lower intensity uses are proposed at the periphery such as pazks and maritime recreational facilities. More intense uses such as a Convention Center, Hotels, High density residential and Commercial aze located within the core. The proposed types and location of land uses aze intended to foster a dynamic plan that distinguishes the Bayfront as a first class bayfront. • Cohesive: The General Plan Amendment proposes cohesive land uses within the Bayfront amongst the three Subareas, including a new Bayfront High Residential land use designation as described below: ^ Sweetwater: This northerly portion is envisioned to have a mixture of employment uses, visitor-serving hotels and restaurants located in proximity to Interstate 5 that aze sensitive to the surrounding natural environment. These uses integrate the existing views of the Bay and the Sweetwater Mazsh Wildlife Refuge, including linkages to the Bayshore Bikeway, Chula Vista Greenbelt trail system, and the Urban Core. It is intended as the lowest intensity of uses, and encourages development activities that minimize impacts to surrounding environmentally sensitive lands. ^ Harbor: This central azea is envisioned to have a major conference center, cultural facilities, offices, hotels, high-rise residential, shops and restaurants, piers, and a central promenade. It is intended as the focal point and core of the Bayfront with the highest intensity of uses. The General Plan Amendment stipulates that new development should reinforce its identity as the City's Bayfront focal point. The Bayfront High Residential designation allows 65 to 110 dwelling units per acre, and accommodates a housing type that is chazacteristic of the higher-rise residential uses in the Bayfront Planning Area's Hazbor District. Ancillary commercial uses aze allowed within this designation to create vitality and pedestrian orientation at the street level. ^ Otav: This southerly portion is envisioned to provide employment via a business pazk and minor visitor-serving commercial uses adjacent to Interstate 5. Other employment includes energy and utility-oriented industrial uses. Aregional- serving recreational vehicle park and passive parkland provides nature-oriented visitor attraction near San Diego Bay. It is proposed as the medium intensity of uses, and encourages development activities that provide employment, recreational and visitor-serving uses. Resolution No. 2010-114 Page 5 Balances and Preserves Environmental Resources: The Bayfront Planning Area contains sensitive biological resources, including the Sweetwater Marsh Wildlife Refuge. Environmental preservation and resource management is important to minimize development impacts to these resources. Recreational uses such as boating, promenades and bicycle paths, and passive parks are proposed at the fringes of the site that interface with sensitive resources. These recreational uses take advantage of the natural beauty and provide amenities to serve residents and visitors. The Plan reinforces the importance of the preservation of existing sensitive resources at the fringe, and provides guidance for future development to be complimentary and harmonious with the natural beauty and setting of the Bayfront. Balance: The General Plan Amendment prescribes the creation of parks and recreational opportunities that protect the natural beauty of the Bay and improve access for residents and visitors to these amenities, and the balance between development and recreational uses with the natural environment of the Bayfront. • Preserve: The General Plan Amendment stipulates the conservation of natural open space within the Bayfront Planning Area, and encourages development activities within the Sweetwater Subarea that minimizes impacts to sensitive lands adjacent to the Sweetwater Wildlife Refuge. 5. Accommodates and Enhances Multi-modal mobility that promote public access to the Bayfront: Improved access to the Bayfront is necessary for efficient ingress and egress, and enhances public access to the Bayfront. The proposed roadways are intended to be a multi-modal (i.e. vehicular, transit, pedestrian, bicycle) circulation system that provides safe public access to the waterfront. The multi-modal circulation system allows for a variety of transportation choices that link the Bayfront, both internally and with the surrounding area. • The General Plan Amendment prescribes the provision of a multi-modal system that will accommodate public access to the Bayfront, including the proposed roadways that would enhance public access to the Bayfront. • The General Plan Amendment stipulates the establishment of linkages between the Bayfront Planning Area and the Northwest Planning Area for pedestrians, bicycles and transit. • The General Plan Amendment stipulates the establishment of roadways in the Bayfront Planning Area that respond to conditions within a more urbanized environment that are pedestrian-oriented, and facilitate multi-modal design elements and amenities. • The General Plan Amendment stipulates increase mobility for residents and visitors within the Bayfront Planning Area. Resolution No. 2010-114 Page 6 6. The General Plan Amendment is consistent with and embraces the themes of the General Plan: The Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan's land use pattern is consistent with the proposed General Plan Amendment framework, and adoption will create consistent vision and provisions for the Bayfront development. The General Plan Amendment embraces the themes espoused by the adopted General Plan, such as: ^ Strong Community Character and Image: The Bayfront is envisioned as a first class Bayfront that is awater-oriented focal point for the City, and distinguished as a potential location for high-rise development; ^ Healthy and Sustainable Economy: The balanced mix of uses provides a broad range of business, employment, and housing opportunities that support and improve the ability for residents to live and work locally; Strong and Safe Neighborhoods: Anew Bayfront with its unique character that encourages pedestrian-oriented "human-scale" interaction, accessibility to parks and recreation facilities, and provision of cultural amenities contributes to the diversity of Chula Vista's mix of neighborhoods; • Droved Mobilitv: The proposed circulation routes that allow for multi-modal choices (walking, bicycling, transit, shuttle service, and automobile) will improve and enhance public access to the Bayfront; ^ Healthy and Sustainable Environment: By establishing the development footprint which respects and preserves sensitive resources at the fringe, the Bayfront promotes a sustainable and healthy land use pattern; ^ High Quality Community Services: The Bayfront will have new parks and a new fire station that ensures a high level of public services and amenities to serve future residents; and • Shapin¢ the Future Through the Present and Past: The Bayfront Area Plan represents the input of the citizens of Chula Vista through an extensive public participation process, and when implemented will provide Chula Vista with a unique sense of place at its waterfront. The General Plan Amendment is also consistent with the existing Goals, Objectives and Policies of the adopted General Plan. IV. APPROVED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT CONTENT The amendments to the Chula Vista General Plan hereby adopted pursuant to section V below by the City Council, consist of the following documents listed below included in the record of proceedings, and on file in the City Clerk's Office: The proposed General Plan Land Use Diagram as depicted on Exhibit A, pertaining to the Bayfront Planning Area; 2. General Plan Proposed revisions as contained in Exhibit B, pertaining to the Bayfront Planning Area. Resolution No. 2010-114 Page 7 V. ADOPTION OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT In light of the findings above, the General Plan Amendment (attached in the staff report as Attachment 10 and on file at the Office of the City Clerk) incorporated herein by this reference is hereby approved and adopted. Presented by ary albe , P. ., AIC Deputy Ci Manager/Development Services Director Approved as to form by z B . Miesfe City Attome PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, Califomia, this 18th day of May 2010 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Bensoussan, Castaneda, Ramirez, Thompson and Cox NAYS: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ~~1~.a1L- Cheryl Co May r ATTEST: u a IC ~/1' o~1j<A Donna R. Norris, CMC, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CITY OF CHULA VISTA I, Donna R. Norris, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2010-114 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 18th day of May 2010. Executed this 18th day of May 2010. ~ ,~~~ Donna R. Norris, CMC, City Clerk Resolution No. 2010-114 Page 8 ~ur~ ~~ CHULA VISfA BAYFRONT I GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT CHUTA VIAA Proposed General Plan Land Use Diagram .- t • ~- --_ _ - - -- ~ ~ d a -. -~ .' - ... :.~ Y.. ~ _ . ~_ ~ ~ _ _ L ~_ _ _ • E San Dlegp ~ gaY 1 f f PROPOSED BAYFRONT GENERAL PLAN LAND USE & MENT [IRCU ~ FTGURES 127 ( LEDEND ~ Bayfront H(gh Residential _) Professional & ORCe Comme¢ial Vlsl[or ® Mixed Use Cammerdai Limttetl Industnal .,_ ~ ~ _ ~ ~- General Industrial 'm F~=~ Public 6 Ouasi -Public _ 4+,~a ~' r~~ ~ ® Parks & Recreation ation R A i ~ ~- ' • '"~ - ~~ ~ ve ewe Open Spar$ ct ' ~ . ' O n 5 ce Pe Pa ~+ .~~ ~''G`~~~ ~'+~~~'~"~ ~'' Open 6pece Preserve ~~ 't~-~..~y~ Major Street (6 Lane) ~:~a :?f ~~+r~ ~ Major Street (4 Lane) -f n ~~ class I Conector Other Roa0.s ~/ Greenbelt Trail System Not b Scale Exhibit A