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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/02/01 Item 2oQ~o~ ~oP° ~~\\J~P ORDINANCE NO. ~~GO~~R ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THREE MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE URBAN CORE SPECIFIC PLAN T0: 1) RECLASSIFY THIRD AVENUE BETWEEN E AND H STREET FROM A FOUR LANE TO A TWO LANE DOWNTOWN PROMENADE; 2) MODIFY THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING STANDARDS FOR THE CORRIDORS DISTRICT; AND 3) ADD OUTDOOR DINING DESIGN GUIDELINES AS AN APPENDIX TO THE URBAN CORE SPECIFIC PLAN Recitals Project Boundaries WHEREAS, the Urban Core Specific Plan (UCSP), which is the subject of this Ordinance, and for the purpose of description is generally located east of I-5, west of Del Mar Avenue, north of L Street, and south of C Street as shown on Exhibit "A". Project Description WHEREAS, the General Plan Update was approved by City Council on December 13, 2005; and WHEREAS, the 2005 General Plan Vision for the Urban Core of the City states that the Urban Core will contain the greatest diversity of public, commercial, civic, financial, cultural, and residential uses emphasizing its role as the hub of the City; and WHEREAS, the 2005 General Plan Vision for the traditional residential neighborhoods that surround the Urban Core states that the attractiveness of living in these azeas will be enhanced by the Urban Core's diversity in character, architectural style, pedestrian-friendly environment and enhanced access to facilities and services; and WHEREAS, the Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan calls for the UCSP, or other zoning regulations, to implement the new land uses and vision for the Urban Core Sub Area identified in the 2005 General Plan; and WHEREAS, the UCSP was adopted by the City Council on April 26, 2007, (Ordinance No. 3070}; and WHEREAS, the UCSP provides pazking standards in the Corridors District for residential uses at 1.5 pazking spaces per unit plus guest parking at 1 space per 10 dwelling units; and 2-1 Ordinance No. ' Page 2 WHEREAS, on January 12, 2010, in response to a request from Crossroads II, the City Council directed staff to assess whether the actual demand for residential parking in mixed use developments is being met in the Corridors District of the UCSP (areas generally south of H Street on Third Avenue and Broadway, and north of E Street on Broadway); and WHEREAS, on February 22, 2010, staff conducted an assessment of an existing mixed use project located on Broadway to determine the parking demand and sufficiency and found that the parking demand was approximately 1.75 spaces per unit; and WHEREAS, based on this assessment, staff recommends modifying the pazking requirements within the Comdors District from the current UCSP standard to the city wide standazd for residential pazking; and WHEREAS, the Third Avenue Streetscape Master Planning process commenced in August 2008, and through the Streetscape master plan process it was recommended that the travel lanes along the segment of Third Avenue between E and H Street be modified from the current two to four lane configtuation to a consistent two lane configuration; and WHEREAS, the new two lane configuration will result in an improved multi-modal design of this segment of Third Avenue with improved traffic circulation; be pedestrian friendly, and incorporate a Class III bike lane, and include greater support of the smart growth design principles envisioned by the 2005 Generai Plan and UCSP; and WHEREAS, a traffic analysis was conducted that modeled the modifications to the lane configurations and concluded that the Third Avenue segment would operate at a Level of Service (LOS) "D" which is established by the 2005 General Plan for Urban Streets; and WHEREAS, a preliminary Master Streetscape Plan was presented in January and February 2010 to outreach to community stakeholder groups including the Northwest Civic Association, Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, Chula Vista Civic Association, Third Avenue Village Association (TAVA) Design Committee and Crossroads II, to provide an overview and to discuss the proposed two-lane configuration and for staff to receive comments; and WHEREAS, the general input from outreach participants were supportive of the Streetscape Master Plan and the traffic lane re-configuration; and WHEREAS, the UCSP provides design standards for development and the Public Realm within the Third Avenue Village District; and WHEREAS, a special pedestrian oriented "cafe" envirorunent for the downtown Village is a stated goal of the UCSP and the outdoor dining design guidelines developed by the Third Avenue Village Association will provide overall standazds for the use of outdoor dining azeas along Third Avenue and adjoining streets; and WHEREAS, by including these guidelines as an appendix to the UCSP, the assurance of quality outdoors dining azeas will characterize the Third Avenue Village; and 2-2 Ordinance No. Page 3 WHEREAS, although Chapter XI of the Final UCSP provides a process for malting Minor Amendments to the UCSP and allows the Director of Development Services to approve minor amendments administratively; and WHEREAS, although Chapter XI of the UCSP allows the Director of Development Services to approve minor amendments administratively, the minor amendments are being presented to the City Council for their consideration due to the extensive community interest shown throughout the Streetscape Master Plan process and the public request made by Crossroads regazding the Corridors District pazking standards; and WHEREAS, the Director of Development Services has determined that the proposed changes to the UCSP aze minor amendments as they would not introduce a new land use designation not contemplated in the Specific Plan; would not change the designation of land uses affecting two acres or more from that shown in the Specific Plan; would not result in changes to the circulation system or other community facility which would materially affect a planning concept detailed in the Specific Plan; would not result in changes or additions to the design guidelines which materially alter the stated intent of the Specific Plan; nor result in new significant, direct adverse environmental impacts not previously considered in the FEIR-06-01; and WHEREAS, a Final Environmental Impact Report (FE1R-06-O1) was prepared and certified for the UCSP on Apri126, 2007; and WHEREAS, the Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The proposed Amendment to the UCSP was evaluated pursuant to FEIR-06-O1 and was found to not result in significant urtmitigated impacts. The Development Services Director has determined that only minor technical changes or additions to FEIR-06-O1 aze necessary and that none of the conditions described in Section 15162 of the State CEQA Guidelines calling for the prepazation of a subsequent document have occurred. Therefore, the Development Services Director has prepazed an Addendum to FEIR-06-O1. Additionally, because the proposed project will be utilizing federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) monies, the Development Services Director has also reviewed the proposal for compliance with the National Envirotmental Policy Act (NEPA) as implemented by the U.S: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Environmental Guidelines. The Development Services Director has determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exclusion (subject to 58.5) pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 24, Section 58.35(a). Thus no further NEPA environmental review is required. Planning Commission Record 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 days prior to the hearing; and 2-3 Ordinance No. Page 4 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on said Project at the time and place as advertised, namely December 22, 2010 at 6p.m. in the Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Avenue, and said hearing was therefore closed; and WHEREAS, the proceedings and all evidence introduced on this application before the Planning Commission at their public hearing held on December 22, 2010, and the minutes and resolution resulting there from, aze hereby incorporated into the record of this proceeding. City Council Record WHEREAS, a duly called and noticed public hearing was held before the City Council on January 18, 201 I on the Addendum to the Final EIR-06-O1 for the Urban Core Specific Plan and Amendments to the Urban Core Specific Plan and to receive the recommendations of the Planning Commission and to heaz public testimony with regard to the same. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby fmd and determine as follows: Section L Environmental Determination That the proposed project was reviewed for compliance with CEQA and that the proposed Amendment to the UCSP was evaluated pursuant to FEIR-06-O1 and was found to not result in significant unmitigated impacts and that only minor technical changes or additions to FEIR-06-01 are necessary and that none of the conditions described in Section 15162 of the State CEQA Guidelines calling for the prepazation of a subsequent document have occurred. The City Council further finds that because none of the conditions described in Section 15162 of the State CEQA Guidelines calling for the prepazation of a subsequent document have occurred an Addendum to FEIR-06-01 may be and is hereby adopted. The City Council further finds that because the proposed project will be utilizing federal Community Development Bloclc Grant (CDBG) monies, the proposed project must also be reviewed for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as implemented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Envirorunental Guidelines and the City Council further finds and determines that the project qualifies far a Categorical Exclusion (subject to 58.5) pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 24, Section 58.35(a) therefore no further NEPA environmental review is required. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the City Council does hereby find and determine as follows: Section II. Findings Finding 1: Changes have occurred in the community since the approval of the original UCSP, which warrant approving the proposed amendment. 2-4 Ordinance No. Page 5 On January 12, 2010, in response to a request from Crossroads II, the City Council directed staff to assess whether the actual demand for residential pazking in mixed-use developments is being met in the Corridors District of the UCSP (aeeas generally south of H Street on Third Avenue and Broadway, and north of E Street on Broadway). The Third Avenue Streetscape Master Planning process commenced in August 2008, and through the streetscape master plan process it was recommended that the travel lanes along the segment of Third Avenue between E and H Street be modified from the current two to four lane configurations to a consistent two-lane configuration. Finding 2: The proposed amendment is consistent with the General Plan for the City of Chula Vista. A special pedestrian oriented "cafe" environment for the downtown Village is a stated goal of the UCSP and the outdoor dining design guidelines developed by the Third Avenue Village Association will provide overall standazds for the use of outdoor dining aeeas along Third Avenue and adjoining streets. By including these guidelines as an appendix to the UCSP, the assurance of quality outdoor dining aeeas will characterize the Third Avenue Village. The new two-lane configuration will result in an improved multi-modal design of this segment of Third Avenue with improved traffic circulation; create a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere, and incorporate a Class III bike lane, and greater support of the smart growth design principles envisioned by the 2005 General Plan and UCSP. The general plan vision for the Urban Core is an area containing the greatest diversity of public, commercial, civic, financial, cultural, and residential uses emphasizing its role as the hub of the City. The diverse chazacter, azchitectural style and pedestrian-friendly environment, and easy access to services and facilities will enhance the traditional residential neighborhoods that surround the Urban Core and is consistent with the vision of the City's General Plan for the City's urban core azea. Finding 3: The proposed amendment will result in a benefit to the area within the UCSP. The new two lane configuration will result in an improved multi-modal design of the subject segment of Third Avenue with better traffic circulation; create a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere, and incorporate a Class III bike lane, and better support of the smart growth design principals envisioned by the 2005 General Plan and UCSP. A traffic analysis was conducted that modeled the modifications to the lane configurations and concluded that the subject Third Avenue segment would operate at a Level of Service (LOS) "D" which is established by the 2005 General Plan for Urban Streets. The proposed amendments to the pazking requirements affect only the Corridor Districts, which are areas of the Urban Core that are the furthest away from the center of the Urban Core and are more auto oriented with less accessibility to transit services. 2-5 Ordinance No. Page 6 On February 22, 2010, staff conducted an assessment of an existing mixed-use project located on Broadway to determine the pazking demand and sufficiency and found that the parking demand was approximately 1.75 spaces per unit and based on this assessment, the pazlting requirements within the Corridors District shall be modified from the current UCSP standard to the city wide standazd for residential pazking. The Streetscape Master Plan further enhances the vision by providing an environment commensurate with a "pedestrian friendly" and "pedestrian enjoyable" setting. The Third Avenue Streetscape Master Plan design will change the current two to four lane configuration of Third Avenue between E Street and H Street to a consistent two-lane downtown promenade. The two-lane configuration will support the smart growth design principals envisioned by the 2005 General Plan and the UCSP. The change will provide fora "well-balanced" urban environment. Additionally, these public realm improvements will serve to improve the area's visual quality and act as an investment catalyst for property upgrades and new developments. Draft design guidelines for outdoor dining have been prepazed to maintain a quality appeazance for the "cafe" environment desired for the downtown Village. The guidelines prescribe the standazds for the selection of street furniture, preferred appurtenances and furnishings that would be considered acceptable within the Third Avenue Village azea. Finding 4: The proposed amendment will not result in significant unmitigated impacts The proposed changes to the UCSP aze minor amendments as they would not introduce a new land use designation not contemplated in the Specific Plan; would not change the designation of land uses affecting two acres or more from that shown in the Specific Plan; would not result in changes to the circulation system or other community facility which would materially affect a planning concept detailed in the Specific Plan; would not result in changes or additions to the design guidelines which materially alter the stated intent of the Specific Plan; nor result in new significant, direct adverse environmental impacts not previously considered in the FEIR-06-O1. Finding 5: The proposed amendment will enable the delivery of services and public facilities to the population within the UCSP azea. The multi-modal design of this segment of Third Avenue will result in an improved delivery of services and public facilities to the population; better traffic circulation, create and pedestrian friendly atmosphere, and the incorporation of a Class III bike lane wil[ support better smart growth design principals envisioned by the 2005 General Plan and UCSP. Additionally, the public realm improvements will serve to improve the azea's visual quality thus acting as an investment catalyst for property upgrades and new developments. The change will provide for a "well-balanced" urban environment with improved access to public facilities such as roads and pazks in the project azea. The Outdoor Dining Guidelines will enable the delivery of services'by maintaining a quality appearance for the "cafe" environment desired for the downtown Village. The future population within the Specifc Plan azea will provide restaurant patrons within the Specific Plan 2-6 Ordinance No. Page 7 area an amenity that has become an increasingly popular feature within the southern California area and will ensure that restaurants use the public sidewalk for outdoor dining in a way that is safe for pedestrians and does not present handicap constraints for the visually impaired. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby adopt an ordinance of the City of Chula Vista approving three minor amendments to the Urban Core Specific Plan to: 1) reclassify Third Avenue between E and H Street from a four lane to a two lane downtown promenade; 2) modify the Residential Pazking Standards for the Corridors District; and 3) add Outdoor Dining Design Guidelines as an Appendix to the Urban Core Specific Plan all on file in the Development Services Department and City Clerk's Office. Section III. Effective Date This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force on the thirtieth day from and afrer its second reading. Presented by Gary Halbert, P.E., AICP Assistant City Manager/Director of Development Services 2-7