HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2010-01-11 #QAGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: January 11, 2010
TO, Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: David Carmany, City Manager
FROM: Mark Persico, AICP, Director of Development Services
Lee Whittenberg, Development Services Project Consultant
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT REGARDING ZONING CODE AND
ZONING MAP AMENDMENT PROCESS (TITLE 11)
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
Provide feedback to Staff and authorize Staff to proceed with public review and
public hearing process for adoption of the 2010 Comprehensive Update to the
City's Zoning Code (Title 11 of the Seal Beach Municipal Code) and the Zoning
Map.
BACKGROUND:
Seal Beach last completed a comprehensive revision to the Zoning Code in
1974. The Zoning Code, which controls buildings and uses Citywide, needs to be
comprehensively overhauled to reflect current best practices. In 2002 the City
Council directed staff to "re- codify" the entire Municipal Code to:
❑ Make the Code a "user- friendly" document;
❑ Eliminate outdated or superseded provisions; and
❑ Amend the Code to be consistent with applicable laws adopted after the last
re- codification.
In December 2004 the City Council adopted a new, re- codified Municipal Code,
and left a placeholder for the future Title 11 (Zoning).
Project Overview - 2010 Comprehensive Update to the City's Zoning Code,
Title 11:
Several unsuccessful attempts have been made in the past to revise Title 11.
But beginning in late 2009 the City began the process of further refining the
zoning code to address concerns expressed over the previous three years. Over
the last several months the Consultant and Staff have met with representatives of
Save Our Seal Beach, Seal Beach for Two Stories, and the Seal Beach Chamber
Agenda Item Q
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of Commerce. At this point we believe appropriate steps have been taken to
address their concerns to the best of our ability. We do recognize and admit,
however, that not all parties can be satisfied.
Summary Overview of Proposed Changes to Zoning Code:
Based upon City Council direction, Staff has streamlined the Zoning Code and
the development review process in particular. Since a large portion of the City is
located within the Coastal Zone (the entire, area of the community between
Westminster Avenue and the Pacific Ocean) the Coastal Commission adds an
additional layer of review and expense for development project approvals.,
Accordingly, Title 11 includes significant procedural and development regulation
standards that do not currently exist in the Zoning Code. Such standards are
designed to accommodate the changing needs of the community over the past
35 years. For instance, the new Title 11 includes an "Administrative Use Permit"
approval process that would allow the Director of Development Services to
review and approve several types of discretionary land use approvals that are
currently reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. Having the
Director approve certain entitlements rather than the Planning Commission
significantly reduces the length of time between application submittal and
approval, and the costs associated with an application. In some cases the
resulting time savings can be in the range of several months. There are other
changes developed to respond to the evolving needs of the community.
The current draft 2010 version of Title 11 does not propose any significant
amendments to the basic lot size, density and building intensity, setback, lot
coverage, height, parking, and sign regulations that were proposed during the
previous versions. Likewise, there are no significant changes to allowable and
discretionary uses between the 2010 version and previous versions.
Below is a summary of the suggested revisions to the 2010 version of Title 11:
❑ Provide a table in Section 11.2.05, Base District Regulations, Residential
Districts, to indicate the actual allowable lot coverage permitted by current
setback standards for the more standard lot sizes in "Old Town ";
❑ Elimination of "Floor Area Ratio" standards for all Zoning Districts except for
the current floor area ratio standards for the LC -RMD district, which is located
on Seal Beach Boulevard between Electric Avenue and Pacific Coast
Highway;
❑ Provision for a "Notification of Director Determination" for Director
determinations that do not require an Administrative Use Permit; and
❑ Clarification of what constitutes a "Community Social Service Facility."
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Proposed Public Review Process:
Staff is proposing a "Public Review" process which will include the following
major components:
❑ Availability of 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update on the City's web -
page;
❑ Availability of 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update at libraries within
the City;
❑ Residential neighborhood meetings;
❑ Business community meetings;
❑ Preparation of a "FAQ's" worksheet — Frequently Asked Questions;
❑ Information flyers in water billings; and
❑ Information display advertising in the Sun newspaper.
Below is an overview of the proposed Public Review process:
Availability of 2010 Comprehensive Update of the Zoning Code on the
City's web -page
The 2010 Comprehensive Update of the Zoning Code would be placed on the
City's web -page in both "clean" and "annotated' versions. The "annotated'
version provides comments highlighting new items proposed, existing provisions
of the current Chapter 28 Zoning Code that are to be retained, and other
explanatory comments.
The documents will be available in a "PDF" format, which will provide the public
an opportunity to download and email questions or concerns to Staff.
Additionally, the public can call or write letters with their concerns. Staff will make
a concerted effort to address all comments and concerns we receive.
Availability of 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update at libraries within
the City
The 2010 Comprehensive Update would also be placed at each library within the
City in both "clean" and "annotated' versions. Members of the public can call or
write letters to Staff with their concerns. Staff will make a concerted effort to
address all comments and concerns we receive.
Residential neighborhood meetings
Staff is proposing an extensive series of neighborhood meetings tailored to meet
the specific concerns of each neighborhood. Below is the suggested schedule:
❑ March 1, 2010, 7 PM : Old Town Residential Neighborhood — City Hall
Council Chamber.
❑ March 2, 2010, 7 PM : Surfside Neighborhood - City Hall Council
Chamber.
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❑ March 9, 2010, 7 PM : College Park East and College Park West
Neighborhoods — North Seal Beach Community Center.
❑ March 10, 2010, 7 PM : Leisure World Neighborhoods — Clubhouse _.
❑ March 24, 2010, 7 PM : Marina Hill /Coves Neighborhoods — City Hall
Council Chamber.
❑ March 29, 2010, 7 PM : Old Town Neighborhood — City Hall Council
Chamber.
❑ March 30, 2010, 7 PM : College Park East and College Park West
Neighborhoods — North Seal Beach Community Center.
❑ March 31, 2010, 7 PM : Old Town Neighborhood — City Hall Council
Chamber.
Business community meetings:
Staff is also proposing a series of meetings with the business community. These
meetings will similarly be tailored to address the specific concerns of each
commercial neighborhood. Below is the suggested schedule:
❑ March 3, 2010, 7 PM : Old Town Business Area — City Hall Council
Chamber.
❑ March 15, 2010, 7 PM : Old Ranch Towne Center and Shops at Rossmoor
Business Areas — North Seal Beach Community Center.
❑ March 16, 2010, 7 PM : Old Town Business Area — City Hall Council
Chamber.
❑ March 23, 2010, 7 PM : Seal Beach Center and Seal Beach Village
Business Areas — City Hall Council Chamber.
Information flyers in water billings:
Staff is recommending a series of "Information inserts" be placed in the water
billing statements informing residents and business owners of the above
meetings along with some general background information on the major
components of the 2010 Comprehensive Update of the Zoning Code and the
adoption process.
As envisioned the inserts will address some or all of the following topics:
❑ Neighborhood and business community meting schedule;
❑ Seal Beach's 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update — Keeping Up
with What's Going On;
❑ Seal Beach's 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update - What It Means
to Me — Frequently Asked Questions; and
❑ Seal Beach's 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update — Zoning
Glossary.
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These information inserts will provide brief summaries of the indicated topics
along with information on how to contact Staff.
Staff anticipates the following schedule for distributing information:
❑ January 17, 2010 — College Park West and Surfside;
❑ January 29, 2010 — College Park East;
❑ February 6, 2010 — Old Town
❑ February 12, 2010 — Old Town
❑ February 19, 2010 — Old Ranch Town Center and Homes /Lampson
Commercial /Heron Pointe /Boeing /Pacific Gateway
❑ February 23, 2010 — College Park East
❑ March 10, 2010 — Marina Hill /Coves /Bridgeport
❑ March 17, 2010 — Commercial and Marina Hill
Information display advertising in the Sun newspaper:
Staff is also recommending that a series of "information" display advertising also
be provided in the Sun Newspaper. As envisioned by Staff, a series of full -page
or half -page information display advertising would begin on February 18, 2010,
and would continue on a weekly basis through March 25, 2010. These
information display advertisings would address some or all of the following topics:
❑ Seal Beach's 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update — Keeping Up
with What's Going On;
❑ Seal Beach's 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update - What It Means
to Me — Frequently Asked Questions;
❑ Seal Beach's 2010 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update — Zoning
Glossary; and
❑ Information on how to provide feedback and contact Staff.
Formal City Council and Planning Commission Public Hearings:
Based on the above schedule it is anticipated that Planning Commission public
hearings will begin in May 2010. City Council public hearings will follow in late
spring or early summer.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This item has not been budgeted for in the current budget. Staff estimates that
the cost of the above outreach program could cost $20,000 to $25,000 for
mailing, printing, publication, advertising, and consulting services. Staff will be
seeking a formal budget amendment in the near future.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Provide feedback to Staff and authorize Staff to proceed with public review and
public hearing process for adoption of the 2010 Comprehensive Update to the
City's Zoning Code (Title
Map.
SUBMITTED BY:
NOTED AND APPROVED:
Mark Persico David Carman
Director of Development Services City Manager
e Whiftenberg
Development Services Project onsultant
11 of the Seal Beach Municipal Code) and the Zoning