PC Resolution-12-02-28-04RESOLUTION NO. 12-02-28-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN
JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS (GPA) RELATED TO THE
HISTORIC TOWN CENTER MASTER PLAN.
Whereas, the City has prepared an updated Master Plan for the 150 acre
Historic Town Center planning area establishing policies and recommendations for guiding
future development of the Historic Town Center and has prepared a Form -Based Code to
establish new land use and development standards for that historic downtown; and,
Whereas, the General Plan Land Use Element establishes the limits of the
Historic Town Center Master Plan planning area and identifies the planning area for the
development of commercial and service uses which balance the community's commercial
needs with those of tourism -based development while maintaining fiscal and economic
viability. The Land Use Element also provides that the City will continue to implement a
Historic Town Center revitalization plan to provide additional housing opportunities and
population to support these commercial services and retail sales; and,
Whereas, the proposed project has been processed pursuant to Section 9-
2.301, Development Review of the Title 9, Land Use Code of the City's Municipal Code;
and,
Whereas, the Environmental Administrator has required preparation of a
Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the project pursuant to Section 15081 of
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; has issued a Notice of
Preparation pursuant to Section 15082 of those guidelines; has overseen the preparation
of the Draft PEIR prepared pursuant to Section 15084 of those Guidelines; has issued a
Notice of Completion pursuant to Section 15085 of those Guidelines to provide for public
review and comment and has otherwise complied with all applicable provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and,
Whereas, the Design Review Committee conducted public meetings on
January 5, 2012, January 19, 2012, and February 2, 2012; and the Transportation
Commission conducted a public meeting on November 9, 2011; and the Park, Recreation
& Equestrian Commission conducted a public meeting on November 21, 2012 and the
Cultural Heritage Commission conducted a special public meeting on November 30, 2012
pursuant to Title 9, Land Use Code to consider the proposed project and public testimony
on the proposed project; and,
Whereas, the Planning Commission conducted a duly -noticed public meeting
on December 13, 2011 and conducted duly -noticed public hearings on January 24, 2012
and February 14, 2012 pursuant to Title 9, Land Use Code, Section 9-2.335, Public
Hearing Procedures to consider public testimony on the proposed project.
2/28/2012
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission of
the City of San Juan Capistrano hereby finds that:
1. The project is consistent with Land Use Goal 1 which states that the City will
"Develop a balanced land use pattern to ensure that revenue generation matches
the City's responsibility for provision and maintenance of public services and
facilities" because the Master Plan provides for the revitalization of the Historic
Town Center and the repositioning of the Del Obispo Street corridor with
economically diverse uses that are intended to promote re -investment and would
result in the addition of about 500,000 gross square feet (GSF) of new commercial
space within the planning area.
2. The project is consistent with Land Use Goal 5 which states that the City will
"Encourage commercial development which serves community needs and is located
in the existing central business district" because the Master Plan and implementing
Form -Based Code promote a wide variety of commercial and service uses that
serve both residents and tourists within the planning area; and,
3. The project is consistent with Land Use Goal 6 which states that the City will
"Enhance or redevelop underperforming commercial centers" because the Master
Plan allows commercial property owners the option of developing new residential
neighborhoods along the south edge of the Del Obispo Street corridorto reduce the
over -abundance of commercial retail use throughout the planning area while
providing more potential market support for commercial, office, and service uses in
the planning area.
4. The project is consistent with Circulation Goal 1 which states that the City will
"Provide a system of roadways that meets the needs of the community" because the
Master Plan includes planned street extensions and changes to the geometric
design of streets to will improve overall circulation throughout the Historic Town
Center especially through the planned extension of Forster Street.
5. The project is consistent with Circulation Goal 2 which states that the City will
"Promote an advanced public transportation networW' because the Master Plan
promotes an intensification within the floor area ratio (FAR) limits of the 1999
General Plan as well as mixed-use development with a strong residential
component which would likely result in increased use of rail transportation due to
the convenient proximity of the depot station; and,
6. The project is consistent with Cultural Resources Goal 1 which states that the City
will "Preserve and protect historical, archaeological, and paleontological resources"
because the Master Plan integrates and preserves existing historic buildings within
the planning area, establishes development standards which protect such
structures, and because new development would be subject to City Council Policy
601 regarding historic and cultural resource protection; and,
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7. The project is consistent with Parks & Recreation Element Goal 1 which states that
the City will "Provide, develop, and maintain ample park and recreational facilities
that provide a diversity of recreational activities" because the Master Plan maintains
the Historic Town Center Park as a center -piece to the downtown with the capability
of accommodating a variety of community events; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning
Commission of the City of San Juan Capistrano hereby recommends that the City Council
adopt General Plan Amendments (GPA) Related to the Historic Town Center Master Plan
as provided by Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 28th day of February, 2012, by
the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Chairman Sheldon Cohen, Commissioners Ginny Kerr, Roy Nunn,
Jeff Parkhurst and Rob Williams.
NOES: Commissioner Tim Neely.
ABSTAIN: None.
Sheldon Cohen, Chairman
William Ramsey, AICP, Principal Plan/rfer
Secretary
2/28/2012
Exhibit "A"
General Plan Amendments (GPA) Related
to Adoption of the Historic Town Center Master Plan
1. Land Use Element: Revise the Land Use Element as follows:
a. Revise the description of the "Historic Town Center Master Plan Area" to read as
follows:
• . '. 10 ONNIPM ••KILUO • •
Business Pla �ng a framework for the redevelopment of the downtown
P�_pjivate. • ..' • the CitV. he MasterPlan establishes. • 1.•
capacitv, but rather,♦ r degree of flexibilitVof land use mix to
accommodate future chanqes in market conditions.
b. Revise General Plan Land Use Element "Figure LU -4, Historic Town Center" to
conform the boundaries to the adopted Historic Town Center Master Plan.
2. Circulation Element: Revise the Circulation Element as follows:
a. Revise the Circulation Element "Related Plans and Programs" to add the
following section:
Historic Town Center "Park Once" Strategy
The Historic Town Center Master Plan provides for the development of on -street
diagonal parking, existing parking structure expansion, and the construction of
the Ortega "Park Once" structure to accommodate parking needs in the
downtown and serve existing and future businesses. The City's approach to
parking within the Historic Town Center Master Plan area is to provide for parking
needs through both private and public parking facilities and reduce the cost
burden on new businesses of providing on-site parking to meet Title 9, Land Use
Code parking standards.
b. Revise the Circulation Element "Figure C-2, Arterial Highway System" to remove
Ortega Highway between Camino Capistrano and Del Obispo Street from the
County Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH).
c. Revise the Circulation Element "Figure C-2, Arterial Highway System" to classify
Camino Capistrano between State Route -74 (Ortega Highway) and Camino
Capistrano as "H, (space -constrained Hot Spot)".
d. Revise the Circulation Element "Figure C-2, Arterial Highway System" to
designate the Yorba Street, Forster Street, EI Camino Real, and Avenida los
Amigos extensions as "two-lane local arterials" subject to the voluntary
dedication or "friendly" condemnation of public right-of-way by private property
owners consistent with the City's eminent domain policy established by the
Historic Town Center Master Plan and subject.
e. Revise the Circulation Element to add "Figure C-4, Bikeways and Trails Master
Plan" showing existing and proposed bikeway and trail connections within the
Historic Town Center Master Plan area.
3. Parks and Recreation Element: Revise Parks & Recreation Element "Figure PR -1,
Parks and Recreation Facilities" to eliminate bikeways and trails which will be
incorporated into the Circulation Element as provided by 2.e. above.
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