HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.PLN-12-00292 - 7966 Firestone BlvdSTAFF REPORT
DATE:
DECEMBER 5, 2012
TO:
PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM:
BRIAN SAEKI, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DIRECTOR
DAVID BLUMENTHAL, SENIOR PLANNER
SUBJECT: PLN-12-00292 - (GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY) – A REQUEST TO FIND
THAT THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7966 FIRESTONE BLVD
BY THE CITY OF DOWNEY IS CONS ISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.
CEQA
Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State of California Code of Regulations, staff has found
that this request is not subject to CEQA since finding that a purchase of a property is consistent
with the General Plan does not have the potential to create an environmental impact. Impacts
from the project will be analyzed with the approval of the Firestone Blvd Improvement Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the following titled resolution:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADOPTING A
FINDING THAT THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7966 FIRESTONE BLVD BY
THE CITY OF DOWNEY IS CONSIS TENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.
SITE LOCATION
796 6 Firestone Blvd
PLANNING DIVISION
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
BACKGROUND
The City of Downey has under-taken a project to improve traffic flow on Firestone Blvd. This
project includes prohibiting parking on Firestone Blvd, providing new landscaping to soften the
appearance of the street, and to conduct various traffic flow improvements (signal synchronization,
standardized lane striping, etc). Part of the work will include providing a right turn lane for
eastbound traffic on Firestone Blvd onto southbound Paramount Blvd. The existing Firestone Blvd
right-of-way is not wide enough to provide the right turn lane; as such, the City of Downey is
proposing to purchase the property at 7966 Firestone Blvd to accommodate the right turn lane.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65402(a), the City of Downey may not acquire or dispose of
property, unless the Planning Commission finds that such acquisition or disposition is consistent
with the General Plan.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS
The subject site is located on the southwest corner of Paramount Blvd and Firestone Blvd. It is a
14,467 s.f. irregular shaped lot that is currently improved with three commercial buildings. Due to
the existing shape of the lot, there is little parking available to the businesses that occupy the
building.
It is a policy of the General Plan (2.1.1) to “Maintain a street system that provides safe and efficient
movement of people and goods.” This policy is implemented, in part, by Programs 2.1.1.5 &
2.1.1.6, which state:
2.1.1.5 – Widen street rights-of-way as necessary and consistent with providing an
adequate level of service.
2.1.1.6 – Encourage appropriate turn lanes and other operational improvement at major
arterial intersections identifies as congested.
The intent of the Firestone Blvd Street Improvement Project is to increase capacity of Firestone
Blvd and ease traffic flow. It is staff’s opinion that it is necessary to purchase the subject site in
order to accommodate the right turn lane and to increase the level of service at the intersection.
Furthermore, staff feels that purchasing just a small portion of the lot will exacerbate existing
parking issues on the site, thus requiring the City to purchase the entire non-conforming lot. For
these reasons, staff believes that the Planning Commission can find that the purchase of property
at 7966 Firestone Blvd is consistent with the General Plan.
H:\Community Development\Blumenthal\Proje cts\Firestone_7966\Staff Report_2012-12-5.doc
General Plan Consistency (PLN-12-00292) – 7966 Firestone Blvd
December 5, 2012 - Page 2
Exhibit ‘A’ – Aerial Photograph
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Subject Site
General Plan Consistency (PLN-12-00292) – 7966 Firestone Blvd
December 5, 2012 - Page 3
RESOLUTION NO. ____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADOPTING A FINDING THAT THE PURCHA SE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7966
FIRESTONE BLVD BY THE CITY OF DOWNEY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
GENERAL PLAN
WHEREAS
, the City of Downey General Plan (Vision 2025) was adopted on January 25,
2005; and,
WHEREAS
, the State of California Government Code Section 65402, requires the City of
Downey shall not acquire, use, or dispose of any real property until the use of the property has
been found in conformance with the City’s General Plan; and,
WHEREAS
, it is a policy of the General Plan (2.1.1) to “Maintain a street system that
provides safe and efficient movement of people and goods;” and,
WHEREAS
, the City of Downey is embarking on the Firestone Boulevard Street
Improvement Project to improve traffic flow along Firestone Boulevard. This project includes,
among other things, providing a right turn lane for eastbound traffic on Firestone Blvd onto
southbound Paramount Blvd to improve the level of service at the intersection; and,
WHEREAS
, the existing right-of-way has an insufficient width to accommodate the right
turn lane, so the City of Downey wishes to purchase property at 7966 Firestone Blvd (AIN 6247-
001-001) to accommodate the proposed roadway improvements.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1 .
The Planning Commission does hereby find and determine the proposed
purchase of real property located at 7966 Firestone Blvd (AIN 6247-001-001) is in conformance
to the City’s adopted General Plan. The proposed im provements will allow for the right turn lane
from eastbound traffic on Firestone Blvd onto southbound Paramount Blvd to improve the level
of service at the intersection. These improvements will assist in maintaining the street system
that provides safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
SECTION 2 .
The Secretary shall certify the adoption of this Resolution.
th
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 5 day of December, 2012
Michael Murray, Chairman
City Planning Commission
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution adopted by the Planning
th
Commission of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 5 day of
December, 2012 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Theresa Donahue, Secretary
City Planning Commission
General Plan Consistency (PLN -12-00292) – 7966 Firestone Blvd
December 5, 2012 - Page 2
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
Exhibit ‘A”
Plat Map
General Plan Consistency (PLN -12-00292) – 7966 Firestone Blvd
December 5, 2012 - Page 3