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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Resolution 16-2996RESOLUTION NO. 16 -2996 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE PLN -14 -00210 (GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONE CHANGE) REGARDING A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE SOUTHERLY HALF OF THE PLANNING AREA (DEFINED AS 9525- 9601 FIRESTONE BOULEVARD, 11016 -11100 PANGBORN AVENUE, AND 11017 -11121 NEWVILLE AVENUE), FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL (GC) TO MEDIUM - DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (MDR), EXCLUDING 9601 FIRESTONE BOULEVARD, WHICH WOULD CHANGE FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL (GC) TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL (NC); AND REZONE THE PLANNING AREA FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL (C -1) AND PARKING BUFFER (P -B) TO MULTIPLE- FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R -3), EXCLUDING THE PARKING BUFFER (P -B) PORTION OF 9601 FIRESTONE BOULEVARD, WHICH WOULD REZONE TO C -1 THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Downey does hereby find, determine and declare that: A. The City Council of the City of Downey initiated a change of the General Plan Land Use designation of the planning area (defined as 9525 -9601 Firestone Boulevard, 11016 -11100 Pangborn Avenue, and 11017 -11121 Newville Avenue), from General Commercial (GC) to Medium - Density Residential (MDR), excluding 9601 Firestone Boulevard, which would change from General Commercial (GC) to Neighborhood Commercial (NC). B. The City Council also initiated a change of zoning for the planning area from Neighborhood Commercial (C -1) and parking Buffer (P -B) to Multiple- Family Residential (R -3), excluding the Parking Buffer (P -B) portion of 9601 Firestone Boulevard, which would rezone to C -1. C, The Planning Commission conducted a duly- noticed public hearing on September 21, 2016, and after fully considering all oral and written testimony and facts and opinions offered at the aforesaid public hearing, adopted Resolution No. , recommending approval of the proposed General Plan amendment and change of zoning to the City Council. SECTION 2. In consideration of the General Plan Amendment, the Planning Commission of the City of Downey further finds, determines and declares that: A. That the proposed General Plan Amendment is consistent with all other goals, policies, programs, and land uses of applicable elements of the General Plan. The Applicant is requesting approval of a General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation on the property from LDR (Low Density Residential) to MDR (Medium- Density Residential). Doing so makes the zone change and the land use designations of the General Plan consistent, RESOLUTION NO. 16 -2996 PAGE 2 because project implementation addresses General Plan policies regarding future population growth (Policy 1.1.2), promoting residential construction that compliments existing neighborhoods (Policy 1.4.2), and home ownership (Policy 1.4.3). B. That the proposed General Plan Amendment will not adversely affect surrounding properties or the surrounding environment. The planning area consists of apartment complexes (9525 -9545 Firestone, 11026 -11100 Pangborn, and and 11017-11121 Newville Avenue), detached rental units (11016 -11100 Pangborn Avenue and 9553 Firestone), a motel (9565 Firestone) and a retail center (9601 Firestone). The proposed General Plan Amendment will make possible the future development of these properties for purposes that are consistent with the current use of the land, and will not adversely affect surrounding properties or the surrounding environment. C. That the proposed General Plan Amendment promotes the public health, - safety, and - general welfare- and - serves- the - goals- and - purposes- of_this - article. Section 9312.02 (a) of the Downey Municipal Code describes the intent and purpose of the City's residential zone regulations. The proposed General Plan Amendment promotes these goals by contributing to the variety of housing types in the City and by contributing to the broad range of housing types available in the City. The General Plan Amendment designates land (the subject property) to accommodate such housing needs, and it maintains the scale of housing in the general vicinity. The proposed General Plan Amendment facilitates adequate light, air, and open space for each dwelling of the proposed project and protects the surrounding neighborhood from incompatible land uses. As a result, the proposed General Plan Amendment promotes the public health, safety, and general welfare and serves the goals and purposes of the Zoning Code D. That the proposed General Plan Amendment will not conflict with provisions of this article, including the City's subdivision ordinance. The proposed General Plan Amendment would change the land use designation of the southerly half of the planning area from General Commercial (GC) to MDR. The requested MDR classification matches the General Plan land use designation of the northerly portion of the planning area, which the City changed in 2005 as part of the General Plan update. Project implementation addresses General Plan policies regarding future population growth (Policy 1.1.2), promoting residential construction that compliments existing neighborhoods (Policy 1.4.2), and home ownership (Policy 1.4.3). Therefore, the proposed General Plan Amendment will not conflict with provisions of the Zoning Code. SECTION 3. In consideration of the zone change, Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares that: WIM RESOLUTION NO. 16 -2996 PAGE 3 A. That the zone change is necessary and desirable for the development of the community in harmony with the objectives of the General Plan and this chapter and is in the interests or furtherance of the public health, safety, and general welfare. The Applicant's proposal to change the zoning of the planning area subject site from P -B and C -1 to Multiple - Family Residential (R -3), excluding the P -B portion of 9601 Firestone Boulevard, which would rezone to C- 1, addresses General Plan policies regarding future population growth (Policy 1.1.2), promoting residential construction that compliments existing neighborhoods (Policy 1.4.2), and home ownership (Policy 1.4.3). The opportunity for new home ownership is in the interest of furthering the public health, safety and general welfare.. B. That the zone change will be compatible and complementary to existing conditions and adjoining property in the surrounding area. The proposed change of zoning will be compatible to existing conditions because multi - family developments occupy most of the properties in the planning area, with the exceptions being a dental office and a motel at the east end of the block and adjacent to the northwest corner of Firestone and Newville. It makes sense to change the classifications of properties that support residential uses to R -3 and to change zoning of the southerly half of the block to Medium Density Residential since the northerly half is already designated MDR. The zone change would also reflect the approvals permitted by the zone exception cases affecting some of the residentially - developed properties in the planning area. Rezoning commercial properties to a Neighborhood Commercial (C -1) classification best reflects those occupying uses as well. C. That the site is adequate in size to accommodate the uses permitted in the zone requested and that ail applicable property development standards can be complied with. The Planning area under consideration is more than adequate in size to successfully accommodate the permitted uses and development standards of the requested R -3 zone, because the majority of properties within this area are developed with multiple - family residential uses already.. D. That the site properly relates to streets and highways designed and fully improved to carry the type and quantity of traffic that is expected to be generated in the area and that utilities exist or are planned which will adequately serve the property as rezoned. Firestone Boulevard is a Major Arterial that provides vehicular access to the planning area. It has is fully improved and capable of carrying the type and quantity of traffic a proposed 24- unit condominiums will generate. Firestone Boulevard has six travel lanes, three in each direction and separated by a raised median. The Traffic Technical Review Memorandum prepared in association with the DUDEK Mitigated Negative Declaration for PLN -14 -00210 summarized that there is virtually no probability that future development within the planning area would result in any significant impact to the surrounding circulation system, due to the nominal levels of service (LOS) at the intersections near the planning area. -3- RESOLUTION NO. 16 -2996 PAGE 4 E. That the proposed zone change is in general conformance with the General Plan and General Plan land use designation for the parcel. The proposed change of zoning on the site is in general conformance with the General Plan and General Plan land use designation for the parcel. Program 1.3.1.5 of Downey Vision 2025, the Downey General Plan directs the City to encourage land uses consistent with the area's designation as properties recycle. The subject property is zoned C -1 (Neighborhood Commercial) and P -B (Parking Buffer). PLN -14- 00210 proposes to change the General Plan designation of the southerly half of the project site from General Commercial (GC) to Medium Density Residential (MDR). The requested MDR classification matches the General Plan land use designation of the northerly portion of the project site, which the City changed in 2005 as part of the General Plan update. SECTION 4. The Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares it has reviewed the project for compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. Based on its own analysis and consideration, the Planning Commission found that there will be no significant impact on the environment as a result of the proposed project. Accordingly, the Planning Commission adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration. SECTION 5. The Planning Commission, hereby recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Map, changing the land use categories of the properties in the planning area (defined as 9525 -9601 Firestone Boulevard, 11016 -11100 Pangborn Avenue, and 11017 -11121 Newville Avenue), from General Commercial (GC) to Medium - Density Residential (MDR), excluding 9601 Firestone Boulevard, which would change from General Commercial (GC) to Neighborhood Commercial (NC), and further recommends the City Council approve a change of zoning for the planning area from Neighborhood Commercial (C -1) and parking Buffer (P -B) to Multiple- Family Residential (R -3), excluding the Parking Buffer (P -B) portion of 9601 Firestone Boulevard, which would rezone to C -1. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21 st day of September, 2016. Matias Flores, Chairman City Planning Commission I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Planning Commission of the City of Downey at a meeting held on the 21st day of September, 2016 AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Flores, Rodriguez, Morales and Lujan NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Owens Mary Ca anagh, Secretary City Planning Commission 4 ..