HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a - Zoning and Subdivision Code Update. GQsLIFORN
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A.6ust 5, 1903
V
DATE: July 21, 2015
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
STAFF REPORT
Development Services Department
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF CONTINUING WITH WORK ON PORTIONS OF
THE ZONING AND SUBDIVISION CODE UPDATE PROJECT
Recommendation: Provide Direction
SUMMARY
At the July 7, 2015, meeting, the City Council voted to bring back a discussion item
concerning the potential continuation of work on the commercial and industrial portions
of the Zoning and Subdivision Code Update Project (Zoning Update). Previous to this,
the City Council had put a stay on work on the Zoning Update until litigation filed against
the City (Save the Highlands v. The City of Arcadia) was resolved. It is recommended
that the City Council provide direction on continuing with work on this project and set the
parameters for such work.
BACKGROUND
The City Council has approved an overall budget of $160,000 to provide a
comprehensive update of the Zoning and Subdivision sections of the Municipal Code
(Zoning and Subdivision Code). A general summary of the scope of work is to
modernize many of the commercial and mixed -use zones throughout the City, review
and modify both commercial and residential development standards as needed,
eliminate and /or modify antiquated development standards, create a more user - friendly
format, group the development - related regulations together and align them with their
applicable section, modernize parking standards, streamline and rethink administrative
processes, and conduct an overall "clean -up." Importantly, this update will greatly assist
applicants, residents, and the Planning Division in providing clear and consistent
development standards, and an efficient, workable land use process.
On June 3, 2014, the City Council authorized a contract with MIG, Inc. to complete this
work. The project was initiated in July 2014 and continued into the first portion of 2015.
On May 5, 2015, the City Council voted to put the Zoning Update work in abeyance until
such time as the Save the Highlands v. The City of Arcadia lawsuit was resolved.
Professional Services Agreement with MIG, Inc.
June 3, 2014
Page 2 of 3
On June 16, 2015, the City Council affirmed this decision to leave the project in
abeyance. At the July 7 meeting, during Council comments, on a show of hands, the
City Council agreed to place an item on the July 21, 2015, agenda to consider whether
or not to continue with work on the commercial and industrial portions of the Zoning
Update project.
DISCUSSION
The commercial and industrial portions of the Zoning Update project represent a
significant portion of the work. Some of the key components of this work include
changes and updates to the zoning throughout Arcadia's commercial corridors,
comprehensive parking review and updates, changes to Downtown Arcadia zoning
requirements, review and potential modifications to the industrially -zoned area north of
Downtown Arcadia, mixed -use zoning modifications as necessary, building height and
massing standards for commercial zones, and many other elements.
It is assumed that completion of these portions of the Zoning Update would also include
other elements of the existing contract with MIG, Inc., such as re- formatting the Code
and making it more user friendly, modernization of land uses and permitted uses
throughout the City, simplification of administrative processes and public hearing
processes for various items, modernization of the Subdivision Code, and other "clean
up" items.
Per City Council direction, the portions of the Zoning Update work that would not go
forward at this point is any change related to residential zoning. This would include
single - family zoning districts such as R -0 and R -1, and multi - family zoning districts such
as R -2 and R -3. These portions of the Zoning Update would remain as is under the
current stay, until such time as the Save the Highlands v. The City of Arcadia lawsuit
has been resolved.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA ") considers the adoption of or
amendments to the Zoning and Subdivision Codes and Zoning Map a "project," and
environmental review will be required. Because the updated Codes will implement land
use policy from the recent General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report ( "FEIR "), an
Addendum to the FEIR will be prepared. As a cost saving measure, the City's planning
staff will process these documents at the conclusion of the project.
Professional Services Agreement with MIG, Inc.
June 3, 2014
Page 3 of 3
FISCAL IMPACT
A budget of $80,000 was adopted in Fiscal Year 2013 -14 for this project and an
additional $80,000 was budgeted in Fiscal Year 2014 -15, for a total budget of $160,000.
Approximately $103,000 had been expended prior to the stay placed on the project by
the City Council. The remainder of the budget is available to be expended as work is
completed by the consultant. Funding will remain in the budget to complete the
residential portion of the project should the City Council wish to complete that portion of
the work at a later date.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council provide direction on whether to continue with
work on the Zoning and Subdivision Code Update, and set the parameters for such
work.
Approved_
Dorninio Lazzare�t�
City Manager