HomeMy WebLinkAbout2. PLN-14-00254 - 10734 paramount (Centerpointe)STAFF REPORT
PLANNING DIVISION
DATE: JUNE 3, 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-14-00254 (TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 73340, SITE PLAN
REVIEW, AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION) – A REQUEST
TO CONSTRUCT AN 117 UNIT TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT
LOCATION: 10734 PARAMOUNT BLVD
ZONING: DDSP (DOWNTOWN DOWNEY SPECIFIC PLAN)
REPORT SUMMARY
KB Home (hereinafter “applicant’) is proposing to subdivide a 6.52-acre project site to construct
a new 117 unit townhome development. The townhomes will be three stories and will include
an enclosed two-car garage. In addition, the applicant will provide 69 open parking spaces and
several outdoor amenities. Based on the analysis contained in this report and the attached
Initial Study of Environmental Impacts, staff is recommending the Planning Commission adopt
the following titled resolution:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DOWNEY ADOPTING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND
APPROVING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 73340 AND A SITE PLAN
REVIEW (PLN-14-00254), THEREBY ALLOWING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
117 UNIT TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT
10734 PARAMOUNT BLVD, ZONED DDSP (DOWNTOWN DOWNEY
SPECIFIC PLAN).
BACKGROUND
The project is generally located on the east side of Paramount Blvd between 5th St. and 7th St. It
is within the Downtown Downey Specific Plan and has a General Plan Land Use Designation of
Mixed Use. The site is currently vacant, but previously was improved with multiple medical
offices buildings (Gallatin Medical). The 6.52-acre site has three development areas with Parrot
Ave. and Buell St. trisecting the site. The development areas are as follows:
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Lot A – This is the largest development area of the project. Parcel A is an irregular shaped
area that is bounded by Paramount Blvd on the west, 5th Street on the south, 7th Street
on the north, and Parrot Ave on the east. Parcel A is 241,756 square feet and was
previously improved with three medical office buildings and surface parking. However,
the buildings have been demolished and the site currently sits vacant.
Lot B – Parcel B is located on the east side of Parrot Ave and extends from 5th St. to Buell St. It
is a rectangular shaped parcel that is 27,138 square feet. The parcel was previously
used as a surface parking lot.
Lot C – This 15,011 square foot rectangular shaped lot is on the east side of Parrot, north of
Buell St. It was previously used as a surface parking lot.
Development Areas
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View of property from Paramount and 5th
The surrounding area primarily consists of residential properties, with exception of the
properties that front Paramount Blvd. East of Paramount Blvd is predominantly multi-family
complexes, with a few single family homes intertwined. West of Paramount Blvd. is exclusively
single family homes. With respect to the properties that front Paramount Blvd., there is a variety
of professional and medical offices, churches, and a couple of multi-family complexes.
On December 16, 2014, the applicant submitted a request for the Tentative Tract Map and Site
Plan Review to allow the project. As part of the application review, staff initiated a peer review
of the proposed architecture with ‘Studio One Eleven’, an architecture, landscape, and urban
design studio within the world renowned architectural firm ‘Perkowitz and Ruth’. A detailed
discussion of the peer review is contained later in this report.
On April 21, 2015, the applicant submitted the remaining information needed to process the
request to the City. Accordingly, staff deemed the application complete on May 13, 2015.
In accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, a notice of the
intent to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration was posted at the Los Angeles County
Recorder’s Office on May 14, 2015. Additionally, the notice of the pending public hearing was
published in the Downey Patriot and mailed to all property owners within 500’ of the subject site
on May 14, 2015.
DISCUSSION
Project Description
The proposed Tentative Tract Map and Site Plan Review allow the construction of a 117 unit
townhome development to be called “Centerpointe.” There are a total of 29 buildings: 25
buildings on Lot ‘A’, three buildings on Lot ‘B’, and one building on Lot ‘C’. The primary project
entry is through a driveway on Lot ‘A’ from Paramount Blvd. The entry will be enhanced with
pavers, flanked with accent trees (Ornamental Pear), and back dropped with a large tree
(Magnolia) and park space. Additional access to Lot ‘A’ will be provided on 7th St. and Parrot
Ave. Lot ‘B’ is accessible from Parrot Ave. and Buell St; while Lot ‘C’ is accessible from Parrot
Ave. All streets in the development are 26’ wide to meet Fire Department access requirements.
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There are 17 parcels that currently make up the three development areas. Tentative Tract Map
No. 73340 will subdivide the site into 120 individual lots. The proposal is for 117 residential lots
and three common lots. This approach means that owners will not only own their building, but
the underlying land as well. The three common lots incorporate all of the driveways, parks,
landscape areas, and open parking spaces.
The applicant is proposing to have three, four, or five units per building. The townhomes have a
three story configuration with sizes that range from 2,176 square feet up to 2,717 square feet.
The typical layout of the floor plans includes a two-car garage and den (or optional bedroom) on
the first floor, living space (kitchen/great room) on the second floor, and bedrooms on the third
floor. Specifically, the applicant is proposing the following three floor plans:
Plan Living Area Garage Total Bedrooms Bathrooms Option
1 1,753 s.f. 423 s.f. 2,176 s.f. 2 2.5 3 bed/3.5 bath
2 1,868 s.f. 429 s.f. 2,297 s.f. 3 2.5 4 bed/3.5 bath
3 2,215 s.f. 502 s.f. 2,717 s.f. 4 3.5 N/A
The applicant is including common open space through the project to benefit the residents.
Amenities within this open space include: covered picnic/bbq area, open play lawn area,
covered seating areas, tot lot, dog use areas (with artificial turf), and paved walking paths to
connect all portions of the site.
As part of the submittal, the applicant has included a site lighting/illumination plan. Site lighting
in multi-family residential project is more complicated than a commercial project. The applicant
needs to design exterior lights to meet safety expectations, but ensure light levels are low
enough to avoid creating a glare impact on the residents. Private streets are illuminated via
lights attached to the rear of the buildings, which reflect enough light to meet this goal.
Walkways and parks are also illuminated via building light reflection; however, as an added
safety measure, bollard lights are provided along all walkways. It is staff’s opinion that the
proposed lighting plan is a balanced approach to site lighting.
Development Standards
As previously noted, the project is within the Downtown Downey Specific Plan. The street
setbacks within the Specific Plan vary throughout the site. For instance, Paramount Blvd and
7th Street have a maximum setback of 18”; whereas the minimum setbacks on Parrot Avenue
ranges from 8’ to 15’. Staff has reviewed the proposal and has determined that it complies with
all the setback requirements.
The parking requirement for multi-family ownership unit projects in downtown is 1.7 parking
spaces per unit, which means the applicant needs to provide a minimum of 199 parking spaces.
This parking is not required to be within an enclosed garage, but rather just needs to be
provided on-site. The Specific Plan does require on-site guest parking, as it is designed to have
guest parking utilize public parking and street parking. Staff acknowledges that this site is on
the boundary of Downtown Downey; accordingly, staff worked with the applicant to m aximize
the on-site parking. Each unit will have a two-car enclosed garage and there are 69 open
parking spaces distributed on the site. It should be noted that the 303 parking spaces provided
not only exceeds the parking requirements for Downtown Downey, but also exceeds the
standard requirement for any multi-family residential in the City (293 spaces would be required).
To ensure that available parking is maximized on the site, staff is recommending conditions of
approval to require all garages be kept open for parking, parking in the open spaces be limited
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to 72 hours, open spaces be marked as guest parking, and that the open spaces are not
assigned.
The remaining development standards within the specific plan are in the following table:
Standard Requirement Site
Lot Size 10,000 s.f. 282,847 s.f.
FAR 2.0 1.03
Height 4 stories/50’ 3 stories/40’
Lot Coverage 60% 38.2%
Minimum Unit Size 1,000 s.f. ≥ 1,753 s.f.
Landscaping n/a 70,579 s.f.
Building separation n/a ≥ 14’
Architecture
The proposed architecture for the project is contemporary with the use of horizontal and vertical
rectangular patterns integrated into the building. The patterns are achieved with a combination
of building articulation, reveal lines, and widow design. A combination of stucco and lap siding
helps further define façade articulation. A hip roof with composition shingles is being used on all
the buildings. To blend in the roof with the façade design, tower elements extend above the
eave lines. On the front elevations of the corner units smooth stucco will be applied adjacent to
the windows to mimic a wrap around appearance. Additional articulation is being provided with
the use of metal awnings with a wire mesh inset that will project a patterned shadow onto the
building. Finally, the applicant is proposing all units facing Paramount Blvd to have a stoop
entry with a low wall, which in staff’s opinion enhances the streetscape. Additionally, staff is
recommending a condition of approval that extends these stoop entries to the units facing 5th
Street and 7th Street to enhance those streetscapes.
Architectural Rendering
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To avoid repetitiveness in the architecture throughout the site, the applicant has proposed two
elevations schemes (see below). Scheme A uses the lap siding on the lower elements and
stucco on the towers; whereas, Scheme B uses more stucco on lower elements and
incorporates the lap siding on the towers. In addition to the elevation schemes, the applicant is
proposing three color palettes for the buildings (see below). When taken into consideration with
the three building types (three-, four-, and five-plex), the applicant will provide 18 distinctive
finishes. It is staff’s opinion that this approach will allow for a characteristic feel throughout the
site without architectural monotony.
Elevation Schemes
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Color Palettes
As previously noted, staff conducted an architectural peer review on the proposal. Studio One
Eleven reviewed the architectural plans, and landscape design. The peer review resulted in the
following changes to the plans:
• The original monolithic architectural design was eliminated,
• Over-sized cornices were removed from the tower elements,
• The wrap around window effect on corner units was added,
• The addition of the low walls for the stoop entries were added,
• The metal awnings were changed from solid inserts to mesh inserts to provide the
shadow effect,
• The project entry on Paramount was enhanced, which included elimination of some
parking spaces that were visible from Paramount Blvd,
• The walkways on site were aligned better to be consistent with the architecture, and
• Additional seating areas were added to the common open space.
Upon completion of the changes to the plans, both staff and Studio One Eleven are pleased
with the architectural style. It is staff’s opinion that the project will provide an aesthetically
pleasing streetscape and serve as enrichment to the area.
Landscape
The proposed landscape plan includes over 70,000 s.f. of landscape, which is 25% of the site.
Landscaping consists of the setback areas, common open space, play lawns, along walkways,
and throughout the open parking areas. A variety of tree sizes are being proposed, which
includes 187 15-gallon trees, 239 24”-box trees, 16 36”-box trees, and 11 48”-box trees. It is
important to note that these sizes indicate the container the trees come in and trees will reach
mature height in a few years. In addition to the trees, the applicant will plant approximately
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8,500 shrubs and 19,000 s.f. of ground cover. Artificial grass
will be used in the dog areas and tot lot only.
An important aspect of any landscape plan is how it
complements the building architecture. The applicant’s
proposal includes a variety of tree species in various
capacities. Multi-trunk and theme trees provide large
canopies to shade walkways and parking areas. Accent
trees are featured at project entries and corners to provide a
focal point. Ground covers have been selected and grouped
to provide additional color and texture to the project. Turf
has been limited to the play lawn areas. A detailed
breakdown of the plant palette is included (to right). As with
the building architect, the landscape plan was reviewed
during the peer review process, at the conclusion of which it
was found the proposed landscape plan is consistent with
the proposed building architecture and site layout.
The mitigation measures (discussed below) require all of the
landscaping be drought tolerant, except the turf areas. The
exception was incorporated since most drought tolerant
grasses go dormant during the winter and the play areas
would turn brown. All of the proposed plants were reviewed
against the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species
(WUCOLS) list. It was found that all of the proposed plant
species have low to medium water needs, thus making them
drought tolerant.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
In accordance with the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), staff has prepared an
Initial Study for Environmental Impacts (attached) on the
proposed project. During this analysis staff looked at potential impacts from air quality, traffic,
noise, and geology among others. It was found that the project could have a potential
significant impact on noise and utilities & service systems, unless impacts are mitigated.
Noise
The primary source of noise impacts are generated during the construction phase of the project.
This is due to the allowable construction hours in the City of Downey (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
seven days a week). Even though this noise impact is temporary in nature, it is possible to
mitigate the impacts to a level that is considered to be less than significant by limiting the
allowable hours of construction. In accordance with the Initial Study, the following mitigation
measure is being recommended to address impacts to noise:
NOI01: Construction shall be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday;
and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays. There shall be no construction activity on
Sundays.
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Utilities & Service Systems
With the ongoing drought in California and upcoming water reductions, a potential significant
impact was identified to water resources. In order to mitigate potential impacts, the applicant
should reduce usage and increase water conservation on site. As such, the recommended
mitigation measure is:
UTL01: All toilets, faucets, showerheads within the units shall be WaterSense labeled.
UTL02: All landscape shall be drought tolerant, with exception to areas that are
designated for turf, as noted on the approved landscape plan.
UTL03: Irrigation shall be done through drip, bubbler, or subsurface dripline only. The
control vales shall be WaterSense certified and shall have rain gauges.
Air Quality
Even though no significant impacts were found to air quality, the Initial Study identified
additional mitigation measures that should be included with the project. This includes the
following:
AIR01: During construction, the applicant shall comply with all BMP’s contained in
SCAQMD's Rule 403 for fugitive dust control.
AIR02: The project shall adhere to the requirements of SCAQMD Rule 1403 (Asbestos
Emissions for Demolition / Renovation Activities).
AIR03: Water all active construction areas at least twice daily.
AIR04: Cover all haul trucks or maintain at least two feet of freeboard.
AIR05: Pave or apply water four times daily to all unpaved parking or staging areas.
AIR06: Sweep or wash any site access points within 30 minutes of any visible dirt
deposition on any public roadway.
AIR07: Cover or water twice daily any on-site stockpiles of debris, dirt or other dusty
material.
AIR08: Suspend all operations on any unpaved surface if winds exceed 25 mph.
AIR09: Hydroseed or otherwise stabilize any cleared area which is to remain inactive for
more than 96 hours after clearing is completed.
AIR10: Require 90-day low-NOX tune-ups for off-road equipment.
AIR11: Limit allowable idling to 10 minutes for trucks and heavy equipment.
AIR12: Limit individual construction sites to less than 10 acres for extended, continuous
construction.
AIR13: Encourage carpooling for construction workers.
AIR14: Wet down or cover dirt hauled off-site.
AIR15: Encourage receipt of materials during non-peak traffic hour.
Greenhouse Gases
No significant impact was found on the generation of greenhouse gases; however, the project
will increase electricity demand in the future. Conservation requirements can prevent impacts in
the future, as such the following mitigation measures are being recommended:
GHG01: All appliances shall be Energy Star Certified.
GHG02: Homes shall be prewired for solar energy and developer shall make an option for
solar to be included with each home.
GHG03: All paint, carpet, and cabinets shall have a low VOC content.
GHG04: All installation shall be formaldehyde free.
GHG05: Exterior lighting shall be LED.
GHG06: Information shall be provided to buyers on retail and eating establishments within
walking distance.
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Transportation/Traffic
As part of the environmental review for the project, the City had a traffic impact analysis
prepared. Although the project will not result in a significant increase in the level of service
(LOS) to any of the studied intersection, the City will be conducting intersection improvement
projects on Paramount Blvd at 3rd, 5th, and 7th Streets. Accordingly, the traffic study
recommends the applicant pay a fair share payment to these intersections. The mitigation
measure reads as follows:
TRF01: The developer shall pay the following fair-share contribution towards intersection
improvement projects: Paramount @ 7th = 9.5%, Paramount @ 5th = 13.6%, and
Paramount @ 3rd = 8.6%.
With the implementation of these mitigation measures, it is staff’s belief that the project will not
have a significant effect on the environment. All of the proposed mitigation measures have
been included in the conditions of approval, giving them the force of law. As such, staff is
recommending the Planning Commission adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration.
FINDINGS
Tentative Tract Map
A. That the proposed map is consistent with the General Plan.
The Tentative Tract Map proposes the construction of 117 units on the site. In an overall
review of the General Plan, it is staff’s opinion that the proposed 117 unit development is
consistent with all of the policies, programs, and goals contained therein. More
specifically, it is a goal of the General Plan (1.3) to, "Address changes in land use and
zoning trends.” The subject site was formerly improved with medical offices, which have
been demolished and the site now sits vacant. In 2010, the City of Downey rezoned the
property from C-P (Commercial Professional) to Downtown Downey Specific Plan, with
the intention of a residential project being constructed on the site. This change in land
use trend is supported by the applicant’s request for a residential development on the
site, thus making it consistent with the aforementioned goal. Furthermore, it is an
objective of the City’s Housing Element (Program 5) to increase the overall housing
stock within the City. This includes providing sufficient housing to meet the City’s share
of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Allowing the proposed project to
be constructed will result in a 117 unit increase to the City’s housing inventory. For
these reasons, staff is of the opinion that approval of the Tentative Tract Map is
consistent with all other goals, policies, programs, and land uses of applicable elements
of the General Plan.
B. That the site is physically suitable for the type and density of development.
The subject site is a 6.52 acre parcel, which exceeds the 10,000 square foot minimum
lot size. Based on the size of the parcel, under the Specific Plan, the applicant could
construct up to 260 units; whereas he is only proposing 117 units. It is staff’s opinion
that the overall site plan has been designed to accommodate the units, as well as
sufficient parking, landscaping, and open space, all of which exceed the development
standards for the Downtown Downey Specific Plan. Based on this, staff believes that
the subject site is adequate to accommodate the proposed development.
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C. That the design of the subdivision or type of improvements is not likely to cause
serious public health problems.
The proposed subdivision is to allow a 117 unit townhouse development. As part of the
site design, the applicant is including active open space area (tot lot and play lawns) and
open space for passive uses (walking paths and barbecue areas). It is staff’s opinion
that these amenities will encourage residents of the community to spend more time
outdoors and live a more active lifestyle. Furthermore, the development of the
townhomes will eliminate the vacant lot on the site, which is an eyesore and can create
negative impact on the adjoining apartment residents. For these reasons, staff believes
that approval of townhome will not cause serious public health problems.
D. That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements will not conflict
with easements, acquired by the public at large, for access through or use of
property within the proposed subdivision.
As part of the review of the application, an extensive record research was completed.
Additionally, the application submitted a preliminary title report with their application.
Although several easements have been found, they are mostly for utility access only. All
of the easements will be protected in place and will not be altered by the construction of
the project.
E. That the design of the subdivision or the proposed improvements is not likely to
cause substantial environmental damage or substantially and avoidably injure
wildlife or their habitat.
The subject site is currently vacant with only has limited vegetation. There are no known
areas within the City that host wildlife or their habitat, most particularly species identified
as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species. Notwithstanding this, an initial study
of environmental impact was prepared pursuant to the requirements of CEQA for the
project. Based upon the analysis contained in the initial study, staff is of the opinion that
the any impacts caused by the project can be mitigated below a level of significance.
The mitigation measures have been incorporated in the recommended conditions of
approval. As such, it is staff’s opinion that the proposed project will not impact the
environment or wildlife resources.
Site Plan Review
A. The site plan is consistent with the goals and policies embodied in the General
Plan and other applicable plans and policies adopted by the Council.
The proposed Site Plan Review is to support the construction of 117 units on the site. In
an overall review of the General Plan, it is staff’s opinion that the proposed 117 unit
development is consistent with all of the policies, programs, and goals contained therein.
More specifically, it is a goal of the General Plan (1.3) to, "Address changes in land use
and zoning trends.” The subject site was formally improved with medical offices, which
have been demolished and the site now sits vacant. In 2010, the City of Downey
rezoned the property from C-P (Commercial Professional) to Downtown Downey
Specific Plan, with the intention of a residential project being constructed on the site.
This change in land use trend is supported by the applicant’s request for a residential
development on the site, thus making it consistent with the aforementioned goal.
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Furthermore, it is an objective of the City’s Housing Element (Program 5) to increase the
overall housing stock within the City. This includes providing sufficient housing to meet
the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). By allowing the
proposed project to be constructed, there will be a 117 unit increase to the City’s
housing inventory. For these reasons, staff is of the opinion that approval of the Site
Plan Review is consistent with all other goals, policies, programs, and land uses of
applicable elements of the General Plan.
B. The proposed development is in accordance with the purposes and objectives of
Article IX and the zone in which the site is located.
Article IX of the Municipal Code provides zoning regulations for the development and
use of private property. In this case, the subject site is located within the Downtown
Downey Specific Plan, which contains all of the zoning regulations for the area. It is the
intent of the Downtown Downey Specific Plan to encourage development of property in a
pedestrian oriented scale. This type of development will allow people to live, work, and
seek entertainment opportunities without the need to drive. To maintain the pedestrian
oriented scale, the proposed development includes locating buildings close to the
streets, providing stoop entries, and limiting the buildings to no more than five units in
length. Additionally, the design of the site includes several walking paths that will
encourage residents to walk from their units to the on-site amenities. It is staff’s opinion
that the applicant has designed the community in a manner that accomplishes all of the
goals of the General Plan and Specific Plan, while avoiding significant impacts to the
neighboring properties by utilizing proper site design, good architecture, and providing
active community open spaces.
C. The proposed development's site plan and its design features, including
architecture and landscaping, will integrate harmoniously and enhance the
character and design of the site, the immediate neighborhood, and the
surrounding areas of the City.
The proposed architectural style is contemporary. To avoid an architectural monotony,
the applicant has proposed two elevation schemes and three color palettes, which will
enhance the character of the project and integrate it harmoniously into the surrounding
area. Additionally, the applicant has proposed an extensive landscape palette that will
further enhance the project’s appearance. It is staff’s opinion that the combination of
architectural style and proposed landscaping, will serve to enhance the site and provide
an aesthetic enhancement to the entire area, since it is an overall upgrade to the
property and augments the quality of the streetscape.
D. The site plan and location of the buildings, parking areas, signs, landscaping,
luminaries, and other site features indicate that proper consideration has been
given to both the functional aspects of the site development, such as automobile
and pedestrian circulation, and the visual effects of the development from the
view of the public streets.
The site layout has multiple entries on the various street frontages. This allows
consistent forward movement of all vehicles, including trash trucks, moving vans, and
emergency vehicles. Pedestrian circulation is separated from vehicle traffic with the use
of walkways that connect all portions of the site. At points where the pedestrian walkway
crosses a vehicle driveway, pavers are used to notify drivers of the potential crossing. It
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is staff’s opinion that this site layout works best to facilitate vehicle movement while
maximizing pedestrian safety. Accordingly, staff believes that the functional aspects of
the site development, such as automobile and pedestrian circulation, and the visual
effects of the development from the view of the public streets have been properly
considered in this request.
E. The proposed development will improve the community appearance by preventing
extremes of dissimilarity or monotony in new construction or in alterations of
facilities.
In the City of Downey, there are a virtual plethora of architectural styles in the area. The
proposed architectural style is contemporary. To avoid an architectural monotony, the
applicant has proposed two elevation schemes and three color palettes, which will
enhance the character of the project and integrate it harmoniously into the surrounding
area. Additionally, the applicant has proposed an extensive landscape palette that will
further enhance the project’s appearance. This style is not prevalent in the area, but in
staff’s opinion, blends nicely with other architectural styles. Staff is of the opinion that
the proposed architectural style is neither dissimilar nor monotonous from other buildings
in the area and that this project will upgrade the overall appearance of the site and, in
turn, improve the community appearance.
F. The site plan and design considerations shall tend to upgrade property in the
immediate neighborhood and surrounding areas with an accompanying
betterment of conditions affecting the public health, safety, comfort, and welfare.
The proposed residential project is for a 117 townhomes. A review of the area indicates
that a majority of the surrounding properties are residential, with some office space on
Paramount Blvd. It is staff’s opinion that the surrounding area was taken into
consideration in the site design, including the project entry on Paramount Blvd. This
includes elimination of the visible parking spaces from Paramount. Furthermore, this
project will result in an aesthetically pleasing streetscape (in lieu of the vacant lot). This
development, in staff’s opinion, will promote the public health, safety, and welfare of
those who work or reside in the area.
G. The proposed development's site plan and its design features will include graffiti
resistant features and materials in accordance with the requirements of Section
4960 of Chapter 10 of Article IV of this Code.
As part of this project staff is recommending several conditions of approval, which
include the use of graffiti resistant materials in the construction of the building. Should
any graffiti appear on the site, staff has recommended an additional condition of
approval that the applicant have it removed within 48 hours of application. With these
conditions, staff feels that the design features will include be in accordance with Section
4960 of the Municipal Code.
CORRESPONDENCE
As of the date that this report was printed, staff has not received any correspondence regarding
this application.
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CONCLUSION
Based on the analysis contained within this report and the attached initial study, staff is
concluding that the proposed project is consistent with the goals and intent of the General Plan
and Zoning Code. Furthermore, staff is concluding that the architectural style of the buildings
will complement the area and provide a general upgrade to the aesthetic quality of the area.
Based upon the analysis contained in the Initial Study, staff has found that all potential
significant impacts can be mitigated. Finally, as noted above, staff believes that all findings
required for approving a Tentative Tract Map and Site Plan Review can be made in a positive
manner. As such, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt a Mitigated Negative
Declaration and approve the Tentative Tract Map and Site Plan Review (PLN-14-00254),
subject to the recommended conditions of approval.
EXHIBITS
A. Maps
B. Draft Resolution
C. Initial Study for Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impacts
D. Project Plans
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MAPS
Location
Aerial Photograph
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Zoning
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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DOWNEY ADOPTING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND
APPROVING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 73340 AND A SITE PLAN
REVIEW (PLN-14-00254), THEREBY ALLOWING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
117 UNIT TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT
10734 PARAMOUNT BLVD, ZONED DDSP (DOWNTOWN DOWNEY
SPECIFIC PLAN)
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Downey does hereby find,
determine and declare that:
A. On December 16, 2014, the applicant submitted a request for the Tentative Tract Map
and Site Plan Review to allow the construction of 117 townhomes on the site. Due to
missing information on the project plans, staff deemed the application incomplete; and,
B. On April 21, 2015, the applicant submitted the remaining information needed to complete
the application. Accordingly, staff deemed the application complete on May 13, 2015;
and,
C. In accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, a notice
of the intent to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration was posted at the Los Angeles
County Recorder’s Office on May 14, 2015; and,
D. On May 14, 2015, notice of the pending application published in the Downey Patriot and
mailed to all property owners within 500' of the subject site; and,
E. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on June 3, 2015, and after
fully considering all oral and written testimony and facts and opinions offered at the
aforesaid public hearing adopted this resolution.
SECTION 2. The Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares that after
preparing an Initial Study in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act, which found that unless mitigated the project could have a significant environmental
impact. As such the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was circulated for public review
from May 14, 2015 to June 3, 2015. Based on its own independent judgment that the facts
stated in the initial study are true, the Planning Commission hereby adopts a Mitigated Negative
Declaration of Environmental Impacts. Mitigation measures have been included in the
conditions of approval of this resolution.
SECTION 3. Having considered all of the oral and written evidence presented to it at
said public hearings regarding the Tentative Tract Map, the Planning Commission further finds,
determines and declares that:
1. That the proposed map is consistent with the General Plan. The Tentative Tract Map
proposes the construction of 117 units on the site. In an overall review of the General
Plan, the proposed 117 unit development is consistent with all of the policies, programs,
and goals contained therein. More specifically, it is a goal of the General Plan (1.3) to,
Agenda Page 17
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 2
"Address changes in land use and zoning trends.” The subject site was formerly
improved with medical offices, which have been demolished and the site now sits
vacant. In 2010, the City of Downey rezoned the property from C-P (Commercial
Professional) to Downtown Downey Specific Plan, with the intention of a residential
project being constructed on the site. This change in land use trend is supported by the
applicant’s request for a residential development on the site, thus making it consistent
with the aforementioned goal. Furthermore, it is an objective of the City’s Housing
Element (Program 5) to increase the overall housing stock within the City. This includes
providing sufficient housing to meet the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA). Allowing the proposed project to be constructed will result in a
117 unit increase to the City’s housing inventory.
2. That the site is physically suitable for the type and density of development. The subject
site is a 6.52 acre parcel, which exceeds the 10,000 square foot minimum lot size.
Based on the size of the parcel, under the Specific Plan, the applicant could construct up
to 260 units; whereas he is only proposing 117 units. The overall site plan has been
designed to accommodate the units, as well as sufficient parking, landscaping, and open
space, all of which exceed the development standards for the Downtown Downey
Specific Plan.
3. That the design of the subdivision or type of improvements is not likely to cause serious
public health problems. The proposed subdivision is to allow a 117 unit townhouse
development. As part of the site design, the applicant is including active open space
area (tot lot and play lawns) and open space for passive uses (walking paths and
barbecue areas). These amenities will encourage residents of the community to spend
more time outdoors and live a more active lifestyle. Furthermore, the development of
the townhomes will eliminate the vacant lot on the site, which is an eyesore and can
create negative impact on the adjoining apartment residents.
4. That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements will not conflict with
easements, acquired by the public at large, for access through or use of property within
the proposed subdivision. As part of the review of the application, an extensive record
research was completed. Additionally, the application submitted a preliminary title report
with their application. Although several easements have been found, they are mostly for
utility access only. All of the easements will be protected in place and will not be altered
by the construction of the project.
5. That the design of the subdivision or the proposed improvements is not likely to cause
substantial environmental damage or substantially and avoidably injure wildlife or their
habitat. The subject site is currently vacant with only has limited vegetation. There are
no known areas within the City that host wildlife or their habitat, most particularly species
identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species. Notwithstanding this, an
initial study of environmental impact was prepared pursuant to the requirements of
CEQA for the project. Based upon the analysis contained in the initial study, it is found
that any impacts caused by the project can be mitigated below a level of significance.
The mitigation measures have been incorporated in the recommended conditions of
approval.
SECTION 4. Having considered all of the oral and written evidence presented to it at
said public hearings regarding the Site Plan Review, the Planning Commission further finds,
determines and declares that:
Agenda Page 18
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 3
1. The site plan is consistent with the goals and polices embodied in the General Plan and
other applicable plans and policies adopted by the Council. The Site Plan Review
proposes the construction of 117 units on the site. In an overall review of the General
Plan, the proposed 117 unit development is consistent with all of the policies, programs,
and goals contained therein. More specifically, it is a goal of the General Plan (1.3) to,
"Address changes in land use and zoning trends.” The subject site was formerly
improved with medical offices, which have been demolished and the site now sits
vacant. In 2010, the City of Downey rezoned the property from C-P (Commercial
Professional) to Downtown Downey Specific Plan, with the intention of a residential
project being constructed on the site. This change in land use trend is supported by the
applicant’s request for a residential development on the site, thus making it consistent
with the aforementioned goal. Furthermore, it is an objective of the City’s Housing
Element (Program 5) to increase the overall housing stock within the City. This includes
providing sufficient housing to meet the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA). Allowing the proposed project to be constructed will result in a
117 unit increase to the City’s housing inventory.
2. The proposed development is in accordance with the purposes and objectives of Article
IX and the zone in which the site is located. Article IX of the Municipal Code provides
zoning regulations for the development and use of private property. In this case, the
subject site is located within the Downtown Downey Specific Plan, which contains all of
the zoning regulations for the area. It is the intent of the Downtown Downey Specific
Plan to encourage development of property in a pedestrian oriented scale. This type of
development will allow people to live, work, and seek entertainment opportunities without
the need to drive. To maintain the pedestrian oriented scale, the proposed development
includes locating buildings close to the streets, providing stoop entries, and limiting the
buildings to no more than five units in length. Additionally, the design of the site
includes several walking paths that will encourage residents to walk from their units to
the on-site amenities. The applicant has designed the community in a manner that
accomplishes all of the goals of the General Plan and Specific Plan, while avoiding
significant impacts to the neighboring properties by utilizing proper site design, good
architecture, and providing active community open spaces.
3. The proposed development's site plan and its design features, including architecture and
landscaping, will integrate harmoniously and enhance the character and design of the
site, the immediate neighborhood, and the surrounding areas of the City. The proposed
architectural style is contemporary. To avoid an architectural monotony, the applicant
has proposed two elevation schemes and three color palettes, which will enhance the
character of the project and integrate it harmoniously into the surrounding area.
Additionally, the applicant has proposed an extensive landscape palette that will further
enhance the project’s appearance. The combination of architectural style and proposed
landscaping, will serve to enhance the site and provide an aesthetic enhancement to the
entire area, since it is an overall upgrade to the property and augments the quality of the
streetscape.
4. The site plan and location of the buildings, parking areas, signs, landscaping, luminaries,
and other site features indicate that proper consideration has been given to both the
functional aspects of the site development, such as automobile and pedestrian
circulation, and the visual effects of the development from the view of the public streets.
The site layout has multiple entries on the various street frontages. This allows
consistent forward movement of all vehicles, including trash trucks, moving vans, and
Agenda Page 19
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 4
emergency vehicles. Pedestrian circulation is separated from vehicle traffic with the use
of walkways that connect all portions of the site. At points where the pedestrian walkway
crosses a vehicle driveway, pavers are used to notify drivers of the potential crossing.
This site layout works best to facilitate vehicle movement while maximizing pedestrian
safety. Accordingly, the functional aspects of the site development, such as automobile
and pedestrian circulation, and the visual effects of the development from the view of the
public streets have been properly considered in this request.
5. The proposed development will improve the community appearance by preventing
extremes of dissimilarity or monotony in new construction or in alterations of facilities. In
the City of Downey, there are a virtual plethora of architectural styles in the area. The
proposed architectural style is contemporary. To avoid an architectural monotony, the
applicant has proposed two elevation schemes and three color palettes, which will
enhance the character of the project and integrate it harmoniously into the surrounding
area. Additionally, the applicant has proposed an extensive landscape palette that will
further enhance the project’s appearance. This style is not prevalent in the area, but
blends nicely with other architectural styles.
6. The site plan and design considerations shall tend to upgrade property in the immediate
neighborhood and surrounding areas with an accompanying betterment of conditions
affecting the public health, safety, comfort, and welfare. The proposed residential
project is for a 117 townhomes. A review of the area indicates that a majority of the
surrounding properties are residential, with some office space on Paramount Blvd. The
surrounding area was taken into consideration in the site design, including the project
entry on Paramount Blvd. This includes elimination of the visible parking spaces from
Paramount. Furthermore, this project will result in an aesthetically pleasing streetscape
(in lieu of the vacant lot). This development, will promote the public health, safety, and
welf are of those who work or reside in the area.
7. The proposed development's site plan and its design features will include graffiti
resistant features and materials in accordance with the requirements of Section 4960 of
Chapter 10 of Article IV of this Code. As part of this approval, several conditions of
approval, which include the use of graffiti resistant materials in the construction of the
building, have been included. Should any graffiti appear on the site, an additional
condition of approval that requires the applicant have it removed within 48 hours of
application. With these conditions, the design features will include be in accordance with
Section 4960 of the Municipal Code.
SECTION 5. Based upon the findings set forth in Sections 1 through 4 of this resolution,
the Planning Commission of the City of Downey hereby adopts a Mitigated Negative Declaration
and approves Tentative Tract Map No. 73340 and a Site Plan Review (PLN-14-00254), subject
to conditions of approval attached hereto as Exhibit A, which are necessary to preserve the
health, safety and general welfare of the community and enable the Planning Commission to
make the findings set forth in the previous sections. The conditions are fair and reasonable for
the accomplishment of these purposes.
Agenda Page 20
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 5
SECTION 6. The Secretary shall certify the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of June, 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 3rd day of June,
2015, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
City Planning Commission
Agenda Page 21
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 6
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION,
TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 73340, AND
SITE PLAN REVIEW (PLN-14-00254)
EXHIBIT A - CONDITIONS
PLANNING
1) The approval of this Site Plan Review and Tentative Tract Map No. 73340 (PLN-14-
00254) allows for the construction of a of 117 unit townhouse development. This
approval also includes all common open space areas and the accessary structures
contained therein.
2) Site Plan Review and Tentative Tract Map No. 73340 (PLN-14-00254) shall not be
construed to mean any waiver of applicable and appropriate zoning regulations, or any
Federal, State, County, and City laws and regulations. Unless otherwise expressly
specified, all other requirements of the City of Downey Municipal Code shall apply.
3) The Owner/Applicant agrees, as a condition of approval of this resolution, to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless, at Applicant's expense, City and City's agents, officers and
employees from and against any claim, action or proceeding commenced within the time
period provided in Government Code Section 66499.37 to attack, review, set aside, void
or annul the approval of this resolution, to challenge the determination made by City
under the California Environmental Quality Act or to challenge the reasonableness,
legality or validity of any condition attached hereto. City shall promptly notify Applicant of
any such claim, action or proceeding to which City receives notice, and City will
cooperate fully with Applicant in the defense thereof. Applicant shall reimburse the City
for any court costs and attorney's fees that the City may be required to pay as a result of
any such claim, action or proceeding. City may, in its sole discretion, participate in the
defense of any such claim, action or proceeding, but such participation shall not relieve
Applicant of the obligations of this condition.
4) The City Planner is authorized to make minor modifications to the approved preliminary
plans or any of the conditions if such modifications shall achieve substantially the same
results as would strict compliance with said plans and conditions.
5) Prior to the issuance of building permits, the Final Tract Map shall be approved by the
City and recorded with the County of Los Angeles.
6) Construction hours shall be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays. There shall be no construction on the site outside of
these hours.
7) All exterior lights on the property shall be LED and shall be directed, positioned, and/or
shielded such that they do not illuminate surrounding properties and the public right-of-
way.
8) Exterior lights shall be un-switched and photo-sensor controlled. Lights shall be on from
dusk until dawn. Porch lights for the individual units shall be excluded from this
condition.
Agenda Page 22
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 7
9) The approved architectural style shall be as noted in the approved plans. Changes to
the facades and/or colors shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Planner.
10) There shall be no roof mounted equipment including, but not limited to, HVAC
equipment. All exterior HVAC equipment shall be ground mounted and screened from
view. No HVAC equipment shall be located between the buildings and the public rights-
of-way. There shall be no window or wall mounted HVAC equipment. This condition
shall not be interpreted to restrict photovoltaic panels mounted to the roof.
11) The proposed project shall consist of 117 residential units within 29 buildings. Buildings
shall be three-, four-, and five-plexes only. There shall be three floor plan types, whose
sizes and configuration shall be as follows:
Plan Living Area Garage Total Bedrooms Bathrooms Option
1 1,753 s.f. 423 s.f. 2,176 s.f. 2 2.5 3 bed/3.5 bath
2 1,868 s.f. 429 s.f. 2,297 s.f. 3 2.5 4 bed/3.5 bath
3 2,215 s.f. 502 s.f. 2,717 s.f. 4 3.5 N/A
12) All buildings and walls shall be finished with graffiti resistant materials. Prior to the
issuance of building permits, the applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
City Planner, that the finished materials will comply with this requirement.
13) Any graffiti applied to the site shall be removed within 48 hours.
14) The applicant shall comply with the art in public places requirements set forth in Downey
Municipal Code 8950 et seq. This shall include payment of all required fees prior to the
issuance of building permits. Should the applicant exercise their right to install public art
on site, the public art application (including payment of all deposits) shall be submitted
prior to the issuance of building permits.
15) Drought tolerant landscaping shall be used in all landscape areas of the site, except for
the paly area as noted on the approved landscape plan. All landscape shall be installed
and permanently maintained as approved by the Planning Commission. Synthetic turf is
not permitted, except in the dog areas, as noted on the approved landscape plan.
16) All above grade back-flow preventers, check valves, and transformers shall be painted
green and screened from view from the public right-of-way.
17) All mitigation measures, as established by the Mitigated Negative Declaration, shall be
complied with at all times. This shall include:
Air Quality
AIR01: During construction, the applicant shall comply with all BMP’s
contained in SCAQMD's Rule 403 for fugitive dust control.
AIR02: The project shall adhere to the requirements of SCAQMD Rule 1403
(Asbestos Emissions for Demolition / Renovation Activities).
AIR03: Water all active construction areas at least twice daily.
AIR04: Cover all haul trucks or maintain at least two feet of freeboard.
AIR05: Pave or apply water four times daily to all unpaved parking or staging
areas.
AIR06: Sweep or wash any site access points within 30 minutes of any visible
Agenda Page 23
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 8
dirt deposition on any public roadway.
AIR07: Cover or water twice daily any on-site stockpiles of debris, dirt or other
dusty material.
AIR08: Suspend all operations on any unpaved surface if winds exceed 25
mph.
AIR09: Hydroseed or otherwise stabilize any cleared area which is to remain
inactive for more than 96 hours after clearing is completed.
AIR10: Require 90-day low-NOX tune-ups for off-road equipment.
AIR11: Limit allowable idling to 10 minutes for trucks and heavy equipment.
AIR12: Limit individual construction sites to less than 10 acres for extended,
continuous construction.
AIR13: Encourage carpooling for construction workers.
AIR14: Wet down or cover dirt hauled off-site.
AIR15: Encourage receipt of materials during non-peak traffic hour.
Greenhouse Gases
GHG01: All appliances shall be Energy Star Certified.
GHG02: Homes shall be prewired for solar energy and developer shall make an
option for solar to be included with each home.
GHG03: All paint, carpet, and cabinets shall have a low VOC content.
GHG04: All installation shall be formaldehyde free.
GHG05: Exterior lighting shall be LED.
GHG06: Information shall be provided to buyers on retail and eating
establishments within walking distance.
Noise
NOI01: Construction shall be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday; and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays. There shall be no
construction activity on Sundays.
Transportation/Traffic
TRF01: The developer shall pay the following fair-share contribution towards
intersection improvement projects: Paramount @ 7th = 9.5%,
Paramount @ 5th = 13.6%, and Paramount @ 3rd = 8.6%.
Utilities and Service Systems
UTL01: All toilets, faucets, showerheads within the units shall be WaterSense
labeled.
UTL02: All landscape shall be drought tolerant, with exception to areas that are
designated for turf, as noted on the approved landscape plan.
UTL03: Irrigation shall be done through drip, bubbler, or subsurface dripline
only. The control vales shall be WaterSense certified and shall have
rain gauges.
18) The maximum height of all accessory structures (cabana, trellis covers over the
walkways, and the like shall not exceed 12’.
19) All interior property lines (i.e. adjoining the project site and other sites) shall have a 7’ tall
block wall. The walls shall be either stucco or decorative block wall, as approved by the
City Planner. There shall be no walls or fences between the units and the public right of
way (this does not include walls on the stoops and landings).
Agenda Page 24
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 9
20) All open parking spaces shall be limited to 72-hour parking only and be duly marked.
Open parking spaces shall not be assigned.
21) Prior to the final of building permits, the applicant shall record CC&R’s on the property to
govern the maintenance, repair, and improvement of all common areas. This shall
include, but may not be limited to, the landscaping, all utilities, exterior of buildings,
exterior lighting, internal streets and walkways, and pool area. Additionally, the CC&R’s
shall require the following:
a) All trash receptacles to be stored in the garages of the units (except during pick
up day),
b) Require all garages be maintained in a manner to accommodate two vehicles at
all times,
c) Require all guest parking spaces be duly marked and not assigned to the
residents,
d) Shall prohibit parking anywhere on the site, except in the garages and marked
guest parking spaces.
CC&R’s shall run with the land and shall not expire. Prior to the recording of the
CC&R’s, the applicant shall submit the CC&R’s to the City Attorney for review and
approval. A copy of the recorded CC&R’s shall be provided to the City Planner to be
included with the project file.
22) All project entries shall have an enhanced paving (pavers or stamped color concrete).
The City Planner shall review and approval final enhanced paving prior to installation.
23) All attic venting shall be architecturally consistent with the buildings, as determined by
the City Planner. Dormer vents and/or turbine vents shall not be permitted.
24) Prior to the recording of the Final Tract Map, the applicant shall pay all Park in-lieu fees,
as required by Municipal Code Section 9931.8.
25) There shall be no gates across any of the driveways.
1.
26) Bags and trash reciprocals for animal waste shall be provided in all pet areas.
2.
27) All pet areas designated to be “off leash” shall be enclosed with a fence. The fence size
and type shall be approved by the City Planner.
3.
28) All units that face Paramount Blvd., 5th St., or 7th St. shall have a stoop entry with a solid
wing wall as noted in the approved architectural plans.
BUILDING
29) All construction shall comply with the most recent version of the California Building
Code, as adopted by the City of Downey.
30) Prior to the commencement of construction, the applicant shall obtain all required
permits. Additionally, the applicant shall obtain all necessary inspections and permit
final prior to occupancy of the units.
Agenda Page 25
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 10
FIRE
31) Access roads greater than 150 feet in length shall have an approved means of turning
around for fire apparatus in accordance with 2013 California Fire Code and DMC
Section 3327.
32) Water mains shall be installed in accordance with DMC Section 3600.
33) Hydrant placement/spacing shall be in accordance with DMC Section 3610, (a), (1). “300
feet for industrial, commercial, high density or multi-unit residential areas.”
34) Additional public hydrants may be required depending upon required fire flows, street
width, or tactical considerations by the Fire Chief (DMC Section 3610(c)).
35) Residential Fire Sprinklers shall be installed in accordance with DMC Section 3317 and
NFPA 13D. All new building(s) constructed for any occupancy use shall be protected by
an approved Automatic Fire Extinguishing System throughout, installed in accordance
with current recognized standards.
36) Fire Lane signage shall be installed in accordance with DMC 3327.
37) Smoke detectors shall be installed within each residential living unit in accordance with
2013 California Fire Code section 907.2.11.2.
38) Residential Addressing- due to the high density of the project, each residence shall be
provided with a clearly visible address.
39) Knox key access shall be provided for all keyed public access security gates.
40) Fire Protection equipment shall be identified in accordance with 2013 California Fire
Code section 509.1. “Approved signs required to identify fire protection equipment and
equipment location shall be constructed of durable materials, permanently installed and
readily visible.”
PUBLIC WORKS
41) The owner/applicant shall dedicate five feet (5‘) for right-of-way purposes along 7th
Street frontage and property line corner cut off right of way dedication at the intersection
of 7th Street and Paramount Bl to the standards of the City Engineering Division.
42) The owner/applicant shall install fifteen (15) LED street lights with full-cutoff fixture optics
on new marbelite standard with underground service along the perimeter of the tract.
Prior to the installation of the lights, the applicant shall obtain all necessary permits for
the Engineering Division.
43) The owner/applicant hereby consents to the annexation of the property into the Downey
City Lighting Maintenance District in accordance with Division 15 of the Streets and
Highways Code, and to incorporation or annexation into a new or existing Benefit
Assessment or Municipal Improvement District in accordance with Division 10 and
Division 12 of the Streets and Highways Code and/or Division 2 of the Government
Code of the State of California.
44) All onsite utilities shall be installed underground.
Agenda Page 26
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 11
45) The owner/applicant shall install street trees around the perimeter of the project. Street
trees shall be 24-inch box (2-inch diameter trunk) street trees at 50 foot distance apart
planted in 4’X5’ tree wells.
46) Prior to the issuance of building permits, the owner/applicant shall be required to
complete a construction & demolition (C&D) waste management plan per Article V,
Chapter 8 of the Downey Municipal Code.
47) Prior to the issuance of grading permits, the owner/applicant shall submit an engineered
grading plan and/or hydraulic calculations and site drainage plan for the site (prepared
and sealed by a registered civil engineer in the State of California) for approval by the
Engineering Division and Building and Safety Division. All lot(s) shall not have less than
one (1%) percent gradient on any asphalt or non-paved surface, or less than one quarter
(1/4%) percent gradient on any concrete surface. Provide the following information on
plans: topographic site information, including elevations, dimensions/location of
existing/proposed public improvements adjacent to project (i.e. street, sidewalk, parkway
and driveway widths, catch basins, pedestrian ramps); the width and location of all
existing and proposed easements, the dimensions and location of proposed dedications;
the location, depth and dimensions of potable water and sanitary sewer lines; and the
type of existing use, including the gross square footage of the building, and its
disposition.
48) The owner/applicant shall construct/install curb, gutter, sidewalk, disabled ramps,
portland cement concrete driveway approaches, and pavement along all property
frontage to the standards of the Department of Public Works. Sidewalks shall extend the
full width of the parkway, except for tree wells.
49) Broken, uneven, or sub-standard curb, gutter, sidewalk, driveway, disabled ramps and
pavement, within the project boundaries, shall be replaced to the satisfaction of the
Public Works Department. Contact the Public Works Inspection Office at (562) 904-
7110 to have these areas identified just prior to initiating a grading plan.
50) The owner/applicant shall obtain all necessary plan approvals and permits and shall
provide that the standards of improvements, construction materials, and methods of
construction shall be in conformance with the Standard Plans and Specification for
Public Works Construction and as modified by the City of Downey’s Standard Plans and
Specifications.
51) All driveway approaches shall be as wide as the driveway or parking aisle they serve.
All unused driveways shall be removed and reconstructed with full-height curb, gutter
and sidewalk. The driveway approach on Paramount Blvd shall be a radius return
approach.
52) The owner/applicant shall install pavement, which consists of a minimum section of 4”
thick aggregate base, and a minimum 2-1/2” thick asphalt concrete pavement.
53) All areas within the scope of work of this project shall comply with the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act;
the General Construction Activities Stormwater Permit (GCASP) of the State, the
Agenda Page 27
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 12
Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SQMP) of the Los Angeles County Department
of Public Works, and Municipal Code Section 5700 et. seq.
54) The owner/applicant shall install a sewer main and sewer lateral (to the front property
line), and shall provide that the design and improvements of sewers shall be to the
standards of the City Engineering Division. Septic systems are not acceptable.
55) Prior to the final of building permits, the owner/applicant shall provide that all
construction graffiti created as part of this project in the public right of way to be
removed.
56) The owner/applicant shall provide that no easements of any type be granted over any
portion of the subdivision to any agency, utility or organization (private or public), except
to the City of Downey prior to recordation of the tract map, unless said easement is
approved by the City of Downey. The owner/applicant shall grant easements in the
name of the City shall include:
a) Vehicular easements.
b) Walkway easements.
c) Drainage easements.
d) Utility easements.
57) The owner/applicant shall submit a recorded mylar copy of the final map, a digital
AutoCAD format file (AutoCAD 2000 or later) and scanned, uncompressed TIFF images
of Tract Map on a CD-ROM media.
58) The owner/applicant shall furnish and install a new (min. 1-inch) dedicated potable water
service line, meter, and meter box for each unit.
59) The owner/applicant shall furnish and install a (min. 1-inch) dedicated water service line,
meter, and meter box for the landscaping irrigation system.
60) The owner/applicant shall furnish and install backflow device(s) in accordance with the
Department of Public Works and the State and County Department of Health Services
requirements.
61) The owner/applicant shall confirm availability of adequate fire flow and pressure in
accordance with the Department of Public Works and Downey Fire Department
requirements.
62) The owner/applicant shall furnish and install the public potable water improvements,
including on-site pump facilities or extension and/or replacement of existing mains and
associated facilities, necessary to provide adequate fire flow and pressure to the site.
63) The owner/applicant shall furnish and install fire hydrant(s) and dedicated fire protection
lateral(s) including backflow devices, fire department connections and other
appurtenances as required by the Department of Public Works and the Downey Fire
Department. Such improvements may include removal and/or replacement of existing
fire hydrants, laterals, backflow devices, and associated facilities with new facilities to
current Downey standards and materials. Backflow devices, fire department
connections, and associated appurtenances are to be located on private property and
Agenda Page 28
Resolution No. ___________
Downey Planning Commission
10734 Paramount Blvd – PLN-14-00254
June 3, 2015 - Page 13
shall be readily accessible for emergency and inspection purposes. Backflow devices
shall be screened from street view by providing sufficient landscaping to hide it.
64) The owner/applicant shall provide and record utility easement(s) for access to, and
inspection and maintenance of, public water lines, meters and appurtenances, and
backflow devices.
65) The owner/applicant shall furnish and install sanitary sewer lateral(s) and associated
facilities within the public right of way in accordance with the requirements of the
Department of Public Works.
66) The owner/applicant shall identify the point(s) of connection for the sanitary sewer
lateral(s) and confirm that sufficient capacity exists in the publicly owned facilities in
conformance with the requirements of the Department of Public Works and the County
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (CSDLAC).
67) The owner/applicant shall furnish and install the public sanitary sewer improvements,
including extension and/or replacement of existing mains and associated facilities,
necessary to provide adequate capacity for the site as approved by the Department of
Public Works and CSDLAC.
68) The owner/applicant is responsible for coordinating with, and payment(s), to, the City
and CSDLAC for all sanitary sewer connection and capacity charges.
69) The applicant’s “fair share” payment to intersection upgrades, as required by the
mitigation measures, shall be as follows:
Paramount Blvd @ 3rd St. - $17,000 (City local match on grant) x 8.6% = $1,462
(KB fair share amount).
Paramount Blvd @ 5th St. - $31,000 (City local match on grant) x 13.6% = $4,216
(KB fair share amount).
Paramount Blvd @ 7th St. - $21,000 (City local match on grant) x 9.5% = $1,995
(KB fair share amount).
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