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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-10 Packet - Special, DowntownAMENDED CITY OF UKIAH DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN COMMITTEE AGENDA Special Meeting CIVIC CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, CA 95482 January 10, 2008 4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL 2. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS The Committee welcomes input from the audience. If there is a matter of business on the agenda that you are interested in, you may address the Committee when this matter is considered. If you wish to speak on a matter that is not on this agenda, you may do so at this time. In order for everyone to be heard, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes per person and not more than ten (10) minutes per subject. The Brown Act regulations do not allow action to be taken on audience comments in which the subject is not listed on the agenda. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Discussion and Direction Concerning the Process and Initial Tasks for the Preparation of a Downtown Specific Plan 4. ADJOURNMENT Please be advised that the City needs to be notified 72 hours in advance of a meeting if any specific accommodations or interpreter services are needed in order for you to attend. The City complies with ADA requirements and will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities upon request. I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda was posted on the bulletin board at the main entrance of the City of Ukiah City Hall, located at 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California, not less than 24 hours prior to the meeting set forth on this agenda. Dated this 7~" day of January, 2008. Linda Brown, City Clerk ITEM N0: 3a DATE: January 10, 2008 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT SU67ECT: Discussion and Direction Concerning the Process and Initial Tasks for the Preparation of a Downtown Specific Plan SUMMARY: On December 7, 2007, the City Council appointed Councilmembers Rodin and Thomas and Vice-Mayor Baldwin to sit on the newly formed Downtown Specific Plan Committee. At the Council's direction, the Planning Commission discussed the matter and appointed Commissioners Pruden and Landis to join the Councilmembers as members of the Committee. The first meeting has been scheduled for January 10, 2008 and this Agenda Summary Report is intended to organize and initiate the discussion for that meeting. Purpose of the Committee: The purpose of the Downtown Specific Plan Committee is to design and guide the process for developing a Downtown Specific Plan. It is meant to constitute the initial Committee and could be expanded in the future to include property owners, the business community, and organizations dedicated to downtown revitalization and enhancement. Initial Discussion Points: The initial discussion points for the Committee could include: 1. Further defining the purpose of the Committee 2. Defining the goals of the project 3. Selecting the area to be included in the plan 4. Developing a public participation and partnership program 5. Defining the scope for the Plan/project 6. Determining Staff participation and possible consultant assistance 7. Discussing the cost and potential funding sources for the project RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss the purpose, role, and tasks of the Downtown Specific Plan Committee and provide direction to Staff. ALTERNATIVE COUNCIL POLICY OPTION: Do not have the discussion and provide alternative direction to Staff. Citizen Advised: Ukiah Main Street and Chamber of Commerce Requested by: City Council Prepared by: Charley Stump, Director of Planning and Community Development Coordinated with: Pat Thompson, Interim City Manager Attachments: 1 -Specific Plan Background Information APPROVEDd` " ~/ t Thompson, Interim City Manager ATTACHMENT NO. 1 C1TY OF UKIAH Department of Planning & Community Development 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, CA 95482 www.cityofukiah.com WHAT IS A SPECIFIC PLAN? A Specific Plan is a tool for the systematic implementation of the general plan. It effectively establishes a link between implementing policies of the general plan and the individual development proposals in a defined area. 2. A Specific Plan may be as general as setting forth broad policy concepts, or as detailed as providing direction to every facet of development from the type, location and intensity of uses to the design and capacity of infrastructure; from the resources used to finance public improvements to the design guidelines of a subdivision. 3. A Specific Plan may encompass an area containing thousands of acres or as small as a single acre. 4. A Specific Plan may be developed in response to a single policy issue, or to address each applicable policy of the general plan. It may also diverge from the issues contained in the general plan into other subjects viewed by the community as being of relevance. WHAT ARE THE CONTENTS OF A SPECIFIC PLAN? 1. To an extent, the range of issues that is contained in a Specific Plan is left to the discretion of the decision-making body. However, all Specific Plans, whether prepared by a general law city or county, must comply with Sections 65450 - 65457 of the Government Code. These provisions require that a Specific Plan be consistent with the adopted general plan of the jurisdiction within which it is located (see Statutes below). 2. Specific Plans must be consistent with any Airport Land Use Plan pursuant to Public Utilities Code §21676. In turn, all subsequent subdivision and development, all public works projects and zoning regulations must be consistent with the Specific Plan. Specific Plans typically contain an Introduction, Vision Statement, Goals, Development Standards, and an Implementation Strategy. Additional topics can be customized into a Specific Plan, such as open space, circulation, development sustainability, etc. WHY PREPARE A SPECIFIC PLAN? The initiation of the Specific Plan process may be motivated by any number of factors including development issues or the efforts of private property owners, elected officials, citizen groups, or the local planning agency. As with a general plan, the authority for adoption of the Specific Plan is vested with the local legislative body pursuant to §65453(a). However, unlike the general plan, which is required to be adopted by resolution (§65356), two options are available for the adoption of a Specific Plan: 1) adoption by resolution, which is designed to be policy driven, or 2) adoption by ordinance, which is regulatory by design. 2 When a Specific Plan is prepared in consultation with affected property owners and local citizens, and adopted by the City Council, it provides a definitive set of rules for the development or redevelopment of a defined area. It is typically more detailed than a zoning code because it can take the forward step of identifying specific developments on specific parcels, specific development standards for those projects, and how those developments would be financed. In the end, the level of certainty for the property owners, community members, decision makers, and developers is higher than that provided by a zoning code. ADVANTAGES OF A SPECIFIC PLAN A thorough Specific Plan can enable planners to effectively implement selected long term general plan objectives in a short time frame. The enabling statutes are flexible, allowing public agencies to create standards for the development of a wide range of projects or solutions to any type of land use issues. 2. The plan may present the land use and design regulations which guide the development of a city center or incorporate land use and zoning regulations, infrastructure plans, and development approval processes for the development of residential, office, commercial and open space uses. 3. The plan may be organized into a concise set of development policies and include land use regulations, a capitol improvement program, or financing program within a single document. 4. A Specific Plan may be used to implement the policies of an optional economic development element of a general plan. Policies of the general plan which are specific to financing infrastructure improvements and extensions, or cost recovery programs may be implemented by matching land uses with supporting public facilities. This is done to assist development engineering departments and developers avoid ineffective or undersized streets, sewers, water lines, and other necessary improvements. In addition, it may directly impose exactions in association with the general plan's capitol improvement policies. 5. The Specific Plan process must provide opportunities for the general public, as well as residents located within planning areas, to assist in the planning of their particular communities. Public involvement helps define the community's vision of future growth and development. 6. Future development proposals may benefit from the foundation created by the Specific Plan. For example, a Program EIR adopted to fulfill the plan's CEQA obligation may streamline the processing of subsequent discretionary projects by obviating the need for additional environmental documentation. The Specific Plan represents a good tool for developing a community "sense of place." A creative and innovative Specific Plan may bridge-the-gap between monotonous urban development and a livable neighborhood. DISADVANTAGES OF A SPECIFIC PLAN 1. The Specific Plan also has disadvantages. These include the time, cost, and obligation of staff resources. To be effective, the plan requires the collection and analysis of significant amounts of detailed data. Since most planning agencies do not have the staff to commit to the preparation process, most plans include the involvement and cost of outside consultants. Similarly, the incorporation of the plan into the day to day planning processes 3 may require the commitment of additional staff time, particularly when the plan establishes regulations which are only applicable to the area affected by the plan. 2. Further, Specific Plans prepared for a single project may become obsolete if the project is not implemented. The result could include the need for extensive revision or repeal. 3. The adoption of a Specific Plan does not vest development by statute, but its entitlements may be defined by development agreements and vesting tentative maps. Specific Plans themselves are dynamic documents and may be subject to change. There are no assurances to residents and project proponents that the plan will not be subject to future revisions. WHAT ARE THE STAUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF A SPECIFIC PLAN? Section 65451 of the Government Code mandates that a Specific Plan contain: (a) A Specific Plan shall include a text and a diagram or diagrams which specify all of the following in detail: (1) The distribution, location, and extent of the uses of land, including open space, within the area covered by the plan. (2) The proposed distribution, location, and extent and intensity of major components of public and private transportation, sewage, water, drainage, solid waste disposal, energy, and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the area covered by the plan and needed to support the land uses described in the plan. (3) Standards and criteria by which development will proceed, and standards for the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable. (4) A program of implementation measures including regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to carry out paragraphs (1), (2), and (b) The Specific Plan shall include a statement of the relationship of the Specific Plan to the general plan. 4