General Plan

April 26, 2018 City Council Meeting

On April 26, 2018, the City Council considered the recommendation forwarded by the Planning Commission to approve the updated General Plan and the Land Use Map with certain edits to the document and amending the land use designation for Gateway Park as Passive-Recreation.

The City Council continued the public hearing to a future date to allow Staff to incorporate comments and concerns received from the public and City Council.

• Staff Report
• P.C. Resolution Number 2018-12 (PDF)
• Public Notice and Environmental Document (MND) (PDF)
• Draft General Plan (PDF)
  • Acknowledgements - Page 2
  • Table of Contents – Page 4
  • Introduction – Page 7
  • Acronyms and Abbreviations – Page 16
  • Definitions – Page 20
  • Circulation Element – Page 26
  • Conservation and Open Space Element – Page 55
  • Environmental Justice Element – Page 103
  • Fiscal Element – Page 113
  • Land Use Element – Page 129
  • Noise Element - Page 162
  • Safety Element – Page 178
  • Visual Resources Element – Page 226
• Draft General Plan Document With Track Changes (PDF)

The proposed General Plan Land Use Map includes the Eastview area, all City Council approved land use changes since 1975 and Commission approved changes to date.

• Draft General Plan Land Use Map (PDF)
• Existing 1975 Land Use Map (PDF)
• List of City Council Approved Land Use Changes since 1975 (PDF)
• Proposed Land Use Changes Approved by the Planning Commission (PDF)

On July 25, 2017, the Planning Commission will review the updated Traffic, Noise, and Air Quality/Green House Gas technical studies that were prepared by the City's consultant, Environmental Science Associates (ESA). Should the Planning Commission accept the technical studies, the data will be used to update the City's General Plan and prepare the related environmental document.

Traffic Study (PDF) (accepted by Traffic Safety Committee on June 5, 2017)

Noise and Vibration Technical Report (PDF)

Air Quality Technical Report (PDF)

Greenhouse Gas Technical Report (PDF)

August 2, 2016 - City Council Executes a Contract with Environmental Science Associates

On August 2, 2016, the City Council voted to execute a professional services agreement with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to prepare technical studies (traffic, noise, air quality) for the General Plan Update project. ESA will begin the work once local schools are back in session (September) to collect data for the traffic impact analysis, followed by the air quality and noise impact analyses. Staff anticipates ESA to complete the work by early 2017.

Staff Report (PDF) presented to City Council on August 2, 2016

May 10, 2016 Meeting - Received and Filed an Update 
The Planning Commission received and filed an update on the progress of the General Plan Update. A Request for Proposal to update the technical studies (traffic, noise, and air quality) was issued in February and selected Environmental Science Associates to complete the work. Staff will be asking the City Council to consider entering into a service agreement with ESA at a future City Council meeting.

Minutes (page 18, item number 4)
Staff Report (scroll down to item number 4)

January 26, 2016 Meeting - Continued to a Future Unspecified Date

On January 26, 2016, the Planning Commission voted to continue the public hearing to a future unspecified date to allow Staff additional time to update the General Plan document for legal compliance.

Minutes(page 2, item number 3)
Staff Report(scroll down to item number 3)

Continued - Proposed Negative Declaration for a Final Draft General Plan Document & Land Use Map

On November 10th, the Planning Commission cancelled the November 24th public hearing and this item was continued to December 8th.

The Planning Commission continued the public hearing to January 26, 2016, to allow additional time for the City Attorney to review the draft General Plan Update and related Negative Declaration.

• Minutes (page 2, item number 3)
• Staff Report (scroll down to item number 3)

Continued - Proposed Negative Declaration for a Final Draft General Plan Document & Land Use Map

On September 22, 2015, the Planning Commission at Staff's request, continued the public hearing to November 24th to allow additional time for an outside consultant to complete technical edits to the draft General Plan document and allow the City Attorney to review said document, including the related environmental document.

• Video of the public hearing
• Staff Report

Continued - Proposed Negative Declaration for a Final Draft of the General Plan Document and Land Use Map

On August 11, 2015, the Planning Commission considered a Final Draft of the General Plan Document, Land Use Map and associated environmental document. and continued the public hearing to September 22nd at Staff's request to allow an outside firm to perform technical editing of the draft document before presenting the final version for consideration.

• Minutes
• Staff Report (PDF)

Planning Commission Conceptually Approves a Draft Version of the General Plan Document and Associated General Plan Land Use Map

The final draft of the General Plan document includes additional updates to the August 27, 2013 Commission approved version.

• Staff's PowerPoint Presentation (PPTX)
• Staff Report and Late Correspondence
• Proposed General Plan Document (PDF)
• Proposed General Plan Document with Track Changes (PDF)

The associated General Plan land use map includes the Eastview area, all City Council approved land use changes since 1975 and Commission approved changes to date.

• Proposed Land Use Map (PDF)
• Existing 1975 Land Use Map (PDF)
• List of City Council Approved Land Use Changes since 1975 (PDF)
• Proposed Land Use Changes Approved by the Planning Commission (PDF)

Planning Commission Approves Land Use Change for Eastview Single-Family Residential Areas

The Planning Commission voted 7-0, approving a proposed General Plan land use change for the Eastview Single-Family Residential areas from 'Residential 2 to 4 du/ac' to 'Residential 4 to 6 du/ac' to match the existing zoning designation.

• Minutes
• Staff Report (PDF)

Planning Commission Approves the "Draft" Text of the Climate Change Discussion

The Planning Commission voted 7-0, approving with amendments, the sub-committee's (Commissioners Cruikshank and James) recommended revisions, to the Open Space/Conservation Element and Safety Element pertaining to climate change.

• Minutes
• Staff Report (PDF)

Planning Commission Agrees Not to Change the Land Use Designation for 3778 Coolheights Drive

The Planning Commission voted 6-0 (Commissioner Gerstner absent), agreeing not to change the General Plan land use designation for 3778 Coolheights Drive from Residential (1 to 2 du/ac) to Natural/Environment Hazard.

• Minutes
• Staff Report (PDF)

Planning Commission Approves Draft Text for General Plan Update
At their August 27, 2013 meeting, the Planning Commission completed their review of Staff's proposed changes to the Draft "Table of Contents", "Introduction", "Conservation and Open Space Element", "Land Use Element", "Circulation Element", "Visual Resources Element", "Safety Element", "Housing and Social Services Element", "Noise Element", "Fiscal Element" and "Glossary". At the meeting, the Commission approved the text for all of these sections.

Please access the most up to date Draft documents below that have been approved by the Planning Commission:

• Table of Contents (PDF)
• Introduction Section (PDF)
• 1 – Conservation and Open Space Element (PDF)
• 2 – Land Use Element (PDF)
• 3 – Circulation Element (PDF)
• 4 – Visual Resources Element (PDF)
• 5 – Safety Element (PDF)
• 6 – Housing and Social Services Element (PDF)
• 7 – Noise Element (PDF)
• 8 – Fiscal Element (PDF)
• Glossary (PDF)

As the Draft Text has been completed, Staff will now be working on a few more Land Use Map changes, in addition to developing text, goals and policies to address Climate Change issues as required by State Law. These items, in addition to any other necessary changes to the Draft approved text, will be reviewed by the Planning Commission through future public hearings prior to incorporation into the Draft document. Once these additional updates are completed, Staff will prepare the required environmental analysis as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Upon completion of the CEQA analysis, the Draft Update and CEQA analysis will be brought back to the Commission during a public hearing for final review and decision (recommendation to the City Council). The City Council will then consider and adopt the entirety of the document including the environmental analysis in one or more future public hearings.

Proposed Revisions to the Draft General Plan Update Document

At the July 23, 2013 Planning Commission Meeting, the Commission reviewed Staff's proposed changes to the Draft "Table of Contents", "Introduction", "Conservation and Open Space Element", "Land Use Element" and the "Circulation Element". At the meeting, the Commission accepted Staff's proposed revisions with modifications, and requested that Staff make additional minor modifications. The Commission then continued the General Plan Update item to the August 27, 2013 meeting so that the Commission could review the remainder of the General Plan.

Since the July 23rd meeting, Staff has revised the Draft documents (noted above) to incorporate the Commission's action on July 23rd. Please select the following links to access the revised documents:

• Table of Contents (PDF)
• Introduction Section (PDF)
• 1 — Conservation and Open Space Element (PDF)
• 2 — Land Use Element (PDF)
• 3 — Circulation Element (PDF)

As shown in the attached documents, via Comment Boxes, there are a few additional items that Staff would like to review with the Commission at the August 27th meeting. At the August 27th meeting, Staff will recommend that the Commission review those remaining items first so that this first set of documents (noted above) can be completed prior to the Commission providing comment on the remainder of the Elements (Visual Resources, Safety, Housing and Social Services, Noise, Fiscal, Glossary), which can be accessed below.

Staff is making the documents noted above available ahead of the August 27th meeting to allow the Commissioners and the public additional time to review the revised documents.

Please contact the project manager, Deputy Community Development Director, Gregory Pfost, at (310) 544-5228 or email Gregory Pfost if you have any questions.

Review of "Hazard" ("Hillside") areas as part of General Plan Update

As part of the City's ongoing General Plan Update, Staff is working on updating the City's Land Use Map. This effort includes an update to the "Hazard" Land Use Designation which typically consists of canyon areas, extreme slope areas over 35% in gradient and known landslide areas on private properties. Based upon the commentary and discussion during the August 28th and September 25th, 2012 Planning Commission meetings, the Planning Commission previously directed Staff to move forward with all of the City Geologist's recommended changes to the existing "Hazard" areas, as well as recommended changing the name of the Land Use Designation from "Hazard" to "Open-Space Hillside."

Per the Planning Commission's direction, Staff began the review process by mailing notices of the pending changes to 260 property owners located in the eastern part of the City (i.e. Eastview and Miraleste). Public hearings before the Planning Commission began on December 11, 2012 and were continued to January 22, 2013 in order to address issues and concerns raised by the Planning Commission. At the January 22nd meeting the Planning Commission approved to move forward with adjusting the hazard boundary lines as recommended by the City Geologist, but for only properties where the hazard land use area would decrease. As this decision was different than the Planning Commission's prior direction, the Commission directed Staff to schedule a new public hearing to confirm that this new direction would apply to the remainder of properties in the City.

At the publicly noticed February 26, 2013 Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission considered their previous direction and new direction, and based upon public comments and discussions with Staff, the Planning Commission agreed to pursue option 3A for the purpose of updating the General Plan hazard land use designation. Option 3A is as follows: "Move forward with adjusting the Hazard boundary lines as recommended by the City Geologist for only those properties where the Hazard land use area decreases. Additionally, change the name of the zoning designation for hillside areas to 'Open-Space Hillside' instead of its current 'Hazard' designation. By doing so, the landslide moratorium area and other known landslide areas in the City would retain the 'Open-Space Hazard' designation. A subsequent Zone Change and Zoning Code Amendment would be required to establish a new Zoning District of Open-Space Hillside." Due to this change in direction, Staff will be presenting the specific proposed changes to the remaining properties with a Hazard designation wherein the City Geologist recommends a reduction in Hazard area to the Planning Commission in separate duly noticed public meeting hearings. Notices will be sent to affected property owners where the hazard land use area decreases prior to the public hearing in which their property will be reviewed. The notice will provide a specific map in order to assist property owners with understanding the proposed changes affecting their property. Upon receiving this notice, property owners will have a 15-day comment period in which to write to Staff any concerns or questions regarding the proposed changes, and all affected property owners will have the opportunity to speak at the noticed public hearing. All decisions rendered by the Planning Commission during these public hearings are recommendations to the City Council which, along with other updates to the General Plan, will ultimately be forwarded to the City Council for final review and adoption.

The following documents provide additional background regarding the review of the "Hazard" areas for your reference:

• A Revised Draft General Plan Land Use Map (PDF) indicating the adjustments to the OH land use areas where the OH on a property is being decreased and there are no increases to the OH areas.
• The February 26, 2013 Staff Report presented to the Planning Commission, which provides a discussion of the possible options for addressing adjustments to the OH area. 
• The January 22, 2013 Staff Report presented to the Planning Commission, which discussed questions and issues raised during the December 11, 2012 Planning Commission public hearing. 
• The December 11, 2012 Staff Report (PDF) presented to the Planning Commission, which provided a discussion of the specific changes proposed to 260 properties located on the eastern side of the City.
• The September 25th Staff Report (PDF) presented to the Planning Commission, which provides additional information regarding the proposed new "Open-Space Hillside" Land Use Designation, as well as a comparison of existing and proposed land use restrictions.
• The August 28th Staff Report (PDF) presented to the Planning Commission, which presented several options for the Planning Commission to consider regarding the proposed changes and background regarding the purpose of the "Hazard" Land Use Designation.
• The City Geologist's Evaluation Report (PDF), which describes his review criteria as well as his justification for the adjustments to the Hazard boundary lines Citywide. Please note that the City Geologist's recommended changes reference a marked up City Zoning Map that has been divided into 34 Sheets that can be individually accessed through the Evaluation Report.
• A grid map (PDF) showing the division of the City into the 34 sheets referenced by the City Geologist's Evaluation Report. This map is another tool that can be used to view the City Geologist's recommendations for each individual sheet. Please select the numbered square for your neighborhood in order to take a closer look at his recommended changes to the Open-Space Hazard Boundary line. In some areas, neighborhoods may be broken up onto different sheets.
• A Draft General Plan Land Use Map (PDF) that contains the totality of the City Geologist 's proposed Hazard Area adjustments. The map shows the existing Hazard areas (indicated in a maroon color) as well as a graphic representation of the Geologist's proposed adjustments to the Hazard areas (indicated in a red cross-hatch graphic).

Review of the Active and Passive Recreational Areas as Part of the General Plan Update

In July 2011, when Staff presented the Commission with all of the Updated General Plan Elements in one combined document with additional proposed text revisions by Staff to help it read better and comment boxes to address specific issues, within the "updated" Conservation and Open Space Element, Staff identified an issue pertaining to the "Active" and "Passive" Recreational areas within the City.

In an attempt to address the "Active"/"Passive" issue, within the July 26, 2011 Planning Commission Staff Report, Staff proposed an alternative for the Commission's consideration. Basically, because Staff felt that there was some unclarity related to the definitions of "Active" and "Passive", and that some Parks today have uses that seem to fall within both the "Active" and "Passive" definitions and thus not fitting exactly into one particular category, Staff proposed an alternative that would remove the "Active" and "Passive" designations and simply change the land use designation to "Park". After the July 26th Staff Report was released to the public, the City received many email comments expressing concern regarding Staff's draft recommendation to remove the "Active" and "Passive" designations. Additionally, on August 8, 2011, Staff met with approximately 20 members of the public regarding this issue. At the meeting, the public asked questions of Staff, and expressed their extreme opposition and displeasure with Staff's draft text that would eliminate the "Active" and "Passive" designations.

Realizing that this is a very important issue to the community, on July 26, 2011, the Commission continued the public hearing until such time as Staff has had an opportunity to meet with members of the public and provide at least 30 days notice to the public that this item will be brought back to the Planning Commission.

Staff is now prepared to bring this issue back to the Planning Commission for discussion at their public meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. A Draft Staff Report (PDF) has been prepared that provides a Background and Discussion on the issues along with a Staff recommendation, which in part recommends keeping the "Active" and "Passive" Park designations. Based on comments received from the public, a final Staff Report will be prepared and presented to the Commission as part of the regular agenda packet that will go out the week prior to the September 11th meeting. September 11, 2012 - Review of the Active and Passive Recreational Areas as Part of the General Plan Update

June 14, 2012 Update

Below is a status report as of June 14, 2012 of each of the "Draft" elements and land use map:

• Introduction Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • Planning Commission approved the Sub-committee revised "Draft" at their December 8, 2009 meeting.
• Housing and Social Services Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • Planning Commission approved the "Draft" on December 8, 2009.
  • City Council adopted the "Final" on January 19, 2010.
  • State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified the "Final" on March 24, 2010. To view a copy of the "Final" Housing Element, please click here.
  • The completed General Plan will not include the entire Housing Element that was certified by HCD as the Housing Element is a technical document. Instead the completed General Plan will have an insert that references the Housing Element. However, along with the Housing Element insert (PDF), this section of the General Plan also includes Goals and Policies related to Social Services, including Senior Services. The "Draft" text of this insert, titled Housing and Social Services, was approved by Planning Commission at their January 11, 2011 meeting.
• Conservation and Open Space Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • Planning Commission approved the "Draft" Conservation and Open Space Element on May 25, 2010
• Safety Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • Planning Commission approved the "Draft" Safety Element on June 8, 2010.
• Fiscal Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • The Planning Commission approved the "Draft" Fiscal Element at their July 27, 2010 meeting.
• Land Use Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • The Planning Commission approved the "Draft" at their July 27, 2010 meeting.
• Circulation Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • "Draft" Traffic Study (PDF) has been completed and has been reviewed by the Traffic Safety Commission at their July 26, 2010 meeting. To view a copy of the "Draft" Traffic Study, please click here.
  • The "Draft" Circulation Element was approved by the Traffic Safety Commission at their September 13, 2010 meeting.
  • The Planning Commission approved the "Draft" Circulation Element at their January 11, 2011 meeting.
• Visual Resources Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • Planning Commission approved the "Draft" Visual Resources Element at their September 28, 2010 meeting.
• Noise Element (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • Planning Commission approved the "Draft" Noise Element on November 9, 2010.
• Proposed General Plan Land Use Map Changes (PDF) ("Draft"):
  • Over the past year, the Planning Commission has also reviewed and approved various "Draft" changes to the General Plan Land Use Map.