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Home My WebLink About5. PLN-15-00057 - Lakewood & TelegraphSTAFF REPORT PLANNING DIVISION DATE: APRIL 15, 2015 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION SUBMITTED BY: ALDO E. SCHINDLER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REVIEWED BY: WILLIAM E. DAVIS, CITY PLANNER PREPARED BY: DAVID BLUMENTHAL, SENIOR PLANNER SUBJECT: PLN-15-00057 (GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY) – A REQUEST TO FIND THAT THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF LAKEWOOD BLVD AND TELEGRAPH RD BY THE CITY OF DOWNEY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN. LOCATION: MULTIPLE PARCELS ON EAST SIDE OF LAKEWOOD BLVD, SOUTH OF TELEGRAPH RD ZONING: C-2 (GENERAL COMMERCIAL) REPORT SUMMARY The City of Downey is embarking on a partnership with the City of Pico Rivera on the Lakewood Blvd/Rosemead Blvd and Telegraph Rd intersection improvement project. In order to complete these improvements, the City of Downey needs to purchase portions of four lots on the east side of Lakewood Blvd to accommodate a wider right-of-way. Prior to making the purchase, State law requires that the Planning Commission adopt a finding that said purchases are consistent with the City’s 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 THE CORNER OF LAKEWOOD BLVD AND TELEGRAPH RD BY THE CITY OF DOWNEY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN. BACKGROUND The City of Downey is partnering with the City of Pico Rivera (the City of Downey is the lead agency) to undertake a project that will improve the level of service at the Lakewood Blvd/Rosemead Blvd and Telegraph Rd intersection. Government Code Section 65402(a) states that the City of Downey may not acquire or dispose of property, unless the Planning Commission first finds that such acquisition or disposition is consistent with the adopted General Plan. Agenda Page 1 General Plan Consistency – PLN-15-00057 April 15, 2015 - Page 2 DISCUSSION Upon completion of the Lakewood Blvd/Rosemead Blvd and Telegraph Rd project, the intersection will have improved cross traffic flow, enhanced turn movements, and overall improvement to the level of service. Among the various improvements, northbound Lakewood Blvd will be expanded from three lanes (2 through and 1 left turn) to three though lanes, two left turn lanes, and one right turn lane. Most of the improvements will occur within the existing right- of-way; however, in order to accommodate the right-turn lane, the City of Downey is proposing to purchase the following properties (refer to the attached Property Acquisitions Map for detailed areas). Address AIN Amount of Acquisition 9000 Telegraph Rd 6388-001-005 676 s.f. 9000 Telegraph Rd 6388-001-004 390 s.f. No Address 6388-001-003 372 S.f. 8836 Lakewood Blvd 6388-001-002 135 s.f. Total Acquisition 1,575 s.f. As previously noted in this report, the Planning Commission is required to adopt a finding that the acquisition of property is consistent with the City’s General Plan. In reviewing the General Plan staff notes that 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 improvement project is to improve the level of service at the intersection by increasing capacity, thus easing traffic flow. It is staff’s opinion that it is necessary to purchase the subject sites in order to complete the project and to achieve the goals of improving traffic. 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 Lakewood Blvd/Rosemead Blvd and Telegraph Rd Intersection Improvement Plan. EXHIBITS A. Draft Resolution B. Aerial Photograph C. Property Acquisition Map Agenda Page 2 RESOLUTION NO. _______ A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADOPTING A FINDING THAT THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF LAKEWOOD BLVD AND TELEGRAPH RD 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 a project to improve the level of service at Lakewood Blvd and Telegraph Rd which will include various enhancements at the intersection to improve turn movements and the cross traffic flow; and, WHEREAS, the existing right-of-way has an insufficient width to accommodate the proposed improvements, so the City of Downey wishes to purchase the following property: Address AIN Amount of Acquisition 9000 Telegraph Rd 6388-001-005 676 s.f. 9000 Telegraph Rd 6388-001-004 390 s.f. No Address 6388-001-003 372 S.f. 8836 Lakewood Blvd 6388-001-002 135 s.f. Total Acquisition 1,575 s.f. 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 as noted in the above table and Exhibit ‘A’ of this resolution 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 intersection. These improvements will assist in maintaining the street system that provides safe and efficient movement of people and goods. Agenda Page 3 Resolution No. ___________ Downey Planning Commission General Plan Consistency – PLN-15-00057 April 15, 2015 - Page 2 SECTION 2. The Secretary shall certify the adoption of this Resolution. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of April, 2015. Hector Lujan, Chairman City Planning Commission I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 15th ay of April, 2015, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Mary Cavanagh, Secretary City Planning Commission Agenda Page 4 Resolution No. ___________ Downey Planning Commission General Plan Consistency – PLN-15-00057 April 15, 2015 - Page 3 Exhibit ‘A’ Proposed Acquisitions Agenda Page 5 Agenda Page 6 Agenda Page 7