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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6. PLN-19-00012 - Lakewood and ImperialSTAFF REPORT PLANNING DIVISION DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2019 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION SUBMITTED BY: ALDO E. SCHINDLER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REVIEWED BY: DAVID BLUMENTHAL, CITY PLANNER PREPARED BY: DAVID BLUMENTHAL, CITY PLANNER SUBJECT: PLN-19-00012 (GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY FINDING) – A REQUEST FIND THE SALE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN LOCATION: SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LAKEWOOD BLVD AND IMPERIAL HWY ZONING: C-2 (GENERAL COMMERCIAL) REPORT SUMMARY The City of Downey has been approached by a developer (Waypoint Development Group) to redevelop the commercial property on the southwest corner of Imperial Hwy and Lakewood Blvd, which includes the City-owned parcel on the northeast corner of the site. Prior to the City selling the land, California Government Code Section 65402(a) requires the Planning Commission adopt a finding that the disposal of said property is consistent with the General Plan. Based on the analysis contained within this report, staff is recommending the Planning Commission adopt the following titled resolution: A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY FINDING THE DISPOSAL OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LAKEWOOD BLVD AND IMPERIAL HWY (AIN 6263-001-900) IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY’S ADOPTED GENERAL PLAN. BACKGROUND The subject site is an approximately 3,500 square foot parcel on the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy. This parcel is a remnant piece of land that was acquired by the City of Downey in 2004 to improve the Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy intersection. The City of Downey has received an unsolicited offer to purchase this property by Waypoint Development Group. It is the developer’s intent to combine the property with the adjoining parcel so they may redevelop the existing commercial center. Agenda Page 1 General Plan Consistency (PLN-19-00012) – Lakewood and Imperial February 6, 2019 - Page 2 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS Pursuant to Government Code 65402(a), prior to the City being able to sell the property, the Planning Commission must find that the sale of the property is consistent with the General Plan. The analysis of this finding is as follows: The sale of the parcel on the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy is consistent with the City of Downey’s adopted General Plan (Vision 2025). The subject site has a General Plan Land Use Designation of General Commercial. According to the General Plan, the intent of the General Commercial designation is to allow for a full range of commercial uses, including shopping center and other larger commercial uses. The General Plan further notes that it is appropriate for the General Commercial designation to be located in areas with larger lot sizes, which afford greater buffers to adjacent land uses. This action will allow the substandard parcel to be combined with the adjoining lot, thus creating a larger development site and facilitating redevelopment of the existing shopping center. For this reason, the sale of the parcel on the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy is consistent with the General Plan. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE The proposed project did not require a review from the Development Review Committee (DRC). ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Staff has reviewed the proposed use in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and determined that it is categorically exempt from CEQA, pursuant to Guideline Section No. 15312 (Class 12, Surplus Government Property Sales). Categorical Exemptions are projects which have been exempted from the requirements of CEQA because they Subject Site Agenda Page 2 General Plan Consistency (PLN-19-00012) – Lakewood and Imperial February 6, 2019 - Page 3 do not have a significant effect on the environment. Class 12 exemptions allow the disposal of surplus property, such as the subject site. CONCLUSION Based on the analysis contained within this report, staff is concluding the sale of the parcel located on the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy is consistent with the General Plan. EXHIBITS A. Draft Resolution Agenda Page 3 RESOLUTION NO. 19-____ A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY FINDING THE DISPOSAL OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LAKEWOOD BLVD AND IMPERIAL HWY (AIN 6263-001-900) IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY’S ADOPTED GENERAL 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. The property on the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy (AIN 6263-001-900) was acquired by the City of Downey in 2004 to accommodate an intersection improvement project; and, B. Upon completion of the intersection improvement project, an approximate 3,500 square foot remnant parcel remains; and, C. The City of Downey has received an unsolicited offer to purchase this property by Waypoint Development Group. It is the developer’s intent to combine the property with the adjoining parcel so they may redevelop the commercial center; and, D. The City of Downey desires to enter into a Purchase and Sale agreement to dispose of the surplus property; and, D. Prior to the City selling the land, California Government Code Section 65402(a) requires the Planning Commission adopt a finding that the disposal of said property is consistent with the General Plan; and, SECTION 2. The Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares the environmental impact of the proposed development has been reviewed and has been found to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is categorically exempt from CEQA, pursuant to Guideline Section No. 15312 (Class 12, Surplus Government Property Sales). SECTION 3. The Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares that the sale of the parcel on the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy is consistent with the City of Downey’s adopted General Plan (Vision 2025). The subject site has a General Plan Land Use Designation of General Commercial. According to the General Plan, the intent of the General Commercial designation is to allow for a full range of commercial uses, including shopping center and other larger commercial uses. The General Plan further notes that it is appropriate for the General Commercial designation to be located in areas with larger lot sizes, which afford greater buffers to adjacent land uses. This action will allow the substandard parcel to be combined with the adjoining lot, thus creating a larger development site and facilitating redevelopment of the existing shopping center. For this reason, the sale of the parcel on the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Imperial Hwy is consistent with the General Plan. Agenda Page 4 Resolution No. 19-______ Downey Planning Commission SECTION 4. The Secretary shall certify the adoption of this Resolution. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of February 2019 Steven Dominguez, 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 6th day of February 2019 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Mary Cavanagh, Secretary City Planning Commission Agenda Page 5