HomeMy WebLinkAbout4. PLN-13-00048 - Firestone-ParamountSTAFF REPORT
DATE:
MARCH 6, 2013
TO:
PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM:
BRIAN SAEKI, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DAVID BLUMENTHAL, SENIOR PLANNER
SUBJECT: PLN-13-00048 (GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY) – A REQUEST TO FIND
THAT THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11205 PARAMOUNT
BLVD, 8001 FIRESTONE BLVD, AND 8008 FIRESTONE BLVD BY THE CITY
OF DOWNEY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.
LOCATION:
11205 PARAMOUNT BLVD (AIN 6247-001- 017), 8001 FIRESTONE BLVD (AIN
6251-040-008), AND 8008 FIRESTONE BLVD (AIN 6255-001-013)
ZONING:
C-2 (GENERAL COMMERCIAL) FOR 11205 PARAMOUNT BLVD & DDSP
(DOWNTOWN DOWNEY SPECIFIC PLAN) FOR 8001 & 8008 FIRESTONE
BLVD.
REPORT SUMMARY
The City of Downey is preparing to embark on the Firestone Blvd Street Improvement Project,
which will include needed enhancements to the intersection of Firestone Blvd and Paramount Blvd.
In order to complete these improvements, the City needs to purchase portions of several lots.
However, prior to making the purchase, State law requires the Planning Commission find said
purchases are consistent with the General Plan. Based on the analysis contained in this report,
staff is recommending 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 11205 PARAMOUNT BLVD, 8001 FIRESTONE BLVD, AND 8008
FIRESTONE BLVD BY THE CITY OF DOWNEY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
GENERAL PLAN.
BACKGROUND
The City of Downey has undertaken a project (the Firestone Blvd Street Improvement 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 various enhancements at the intersection of Firestone Blvd and Paramount Blvd to improve
turn movements between the two arterials and improve the level of service at the junction.
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.
PLANNING DIVISION
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
On December 5, 2012, the Planning Commission adopted a finding that the acquisition of the entire
property located at 7966 Firestone Blvd (AIN 6247-001-001) is consistent with the General Plan.
This property was the first of the acquisitions needed to complete the intersection improvements.
DISCUSSION
The proposed improvements at the intersection in clude providing two left turn lanes in each
direction of travel and a new right turn lane for eastbound Firestone Blvd to southbound
Paramount Blvd. Additionally, wider radiuses will be provided at each corner to allow for easier
movement of trucks turning at the intersection. In order to construct the necessary turn-lanes
and a proper turn radius for truck movements through the intersection, the City of Downey is
proposing to purchase the following properties (refer to the attached Property Acquisitions Map
for detailed areas) :
1) 29 square feet from 11205 Paramount Blvd (AIN 6247-001-017)
2) 1,341 square feet from 8008 Firestone Blvd (AIN 6255-001-013)
3) 230 square feet from 8001 Firestone Blvd (AIN 6251-040-008)
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 sites in
order to accommodate proper turn movement and to increase the level of service at the
intersection. Furthermore, staff feels that purchasing just a small portion of the lots will not impact
on-site parking or the existing uses of the sites. For these reasons, staff believes that the Planning
Commission can find that the purchase of aforementioned properties is consistent with the General
Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
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
General Plan Consistency Finding (PLN-13-00048)
March 6, 2013 - Page 2
Exhibits
Loc ation
Ae rial Photograph
General Plan Consistency Finding (PLN-13-00048)
March 6, 2013 - Page 3
500’ Radius
Zoning
General Plan Consistency Finding (PLN-13-00048)
March 6, 2013 - Page 4
RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADOPTING A FINDING THAT THE PURCHA SE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11205
PARAMOUNT BLVD, 8001 FIRESTONE BLVD, AND 8008 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, several improvements at the intersection of Firestone Blvd and Paramount
Blvd to enhance traffic flow and the level of service at the intersection; and,
WHEREAS
, the existing right-of-way has an insufficient width to accommodate the
proposed improvements, so the City of Downey wi shes to purchase the following property: 1) 29
square feet from 11205 Paramount Blvd (AIN 6247-001-017); 2) 1,341 square feet from 8008
Firestone Blvd (AIN 6255-001-013); and 3) 230 square feet from 8001 Firestone Blvd (AIN
6251-040-008).
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 11205 Paramount Blvd (AIN 6247-001-017); 8008 Firestone
Blvd (AIN 6255-001-013); and 8001 Firestone Blvd (AIN 6251-040-008) is in conformance to the
City’s adopted General Plan. The proposed improvements will allow for the enhanced traffic
flow and improved level of service at the inte rsection. 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 6 day of March, 2013.
Louis Morales, 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 6 day of March,
2013, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONER:
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
City Planning Commission
General Plan Consistency (PLN-13-00048)
March 6, 2013 - Page 2
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
General Plan Consistency (PLN-13-00048)
March 6, 2013 - Page 3