ORDINANCE NO. _____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CATHEDRAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING SPECIFIC PLAN 25 - 0001, ESTABLISHING THE FOREST LAWN – CATHEDRAL CITY
SPECIFIC PLAN
WHEREAS, on February 6, 2025, T&B Planning, representing Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association, (“Applicant”) submitted applications to amend the General Plan (General Plan Amendment 25- 0001), change the official zoning map (Change of Zone 25-0001) and establish th e Forest Lawn Cathedral City Specific Plan (Specific Plan 25- 0001) (“Project”); and
WHEREAS, the Project proposes to establish the Forest Lawn - Cathedral City Specific Plan for the long- term development of the existing cemetery use consisting of a total of 10 acres located on the southwest corner of Ramon Road and Da Vall Drive, including a General Plan Amendment and Change of Zone in support of the existing and future cemetery uses; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 65453 states that a specific plan shall be prepared, adopted and amended in the same manner as a general plan, except that a specific plan may be adopted by resolution or by ordinance and may be amended as often as deemed necessary by the legislative body; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 65450 authorizes that, after the City Council adopts a General Plan, the Planning Agency may, and if directed by the City Council must, prepare specific plans to guide the implementation of the General Plan for all or part of the area covered by the General Plan.; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) herein referred to as CEQA, the State of California Guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (commencing with Section 15000 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; herein referred to as the "CEQA Guidelines"), and the City's CEQA Procedures, the City is the "lead agency" for the preparation and consideration of environmental documents for the Proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (“IS/MND”) was prepared in accordance with CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines and the City's CEQA Procedures to evaluate the potential physical environmental impacts of the Project. The IS/MND was circulated for a 30-day public/responsible agency review on January 21, 2026, and was also made available for review on the City’s web page, and at City Hall; and
WHEREAS, in conformance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (“MMRP”) has been prepared for the Project and includes mitigation measures that are specific to the Project; and Ordinance No. _____
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2026, and April 15, 2026, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the Project at the City of Cathedral City Council Chambers, and adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance establishing the Forest Lawn – Cathedral City Specific Plan; and
WHEREAS, City Council, having final approval authority over this Project, has reviewed and considered all comments received during the public review period prior to approving this Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. CITY COUNCIL RECORD. The City Council determines that the evidence in the record constitutes substantial evidence to support the actions taken and the findings made, that the facts states herein are supported by substantial evidence, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Cathedral City Municipal Code and Cathedral City General Plan; (b) The Staff Report prepared by Acting Director Sandra Molina dated May 13, 2026, including all Exhibits attached thereto;
(c) Planning Commission Resolution No. 2026 -02, a Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Cathedral City, California recommending City Council action on the Project;
(d) Staff’s presentation at the public hearing conducted at the City Council meeting held on May 13, 2026;
(e) Testimony and/or comments on the Project from interested parties including the Applicant and its representatives submitted to the City in both written and oral form at, or prior to, the public hearing conducted at the City Council hearing held on May 13, 2026; and
(f) Public comments on the Project, both written and oral, received and/or submitted at, or prior to, the public hearing conducted at the City Council meeting held on May 13, 2606.
Section 2. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA). The City Council finds that the environmental review for the Project has been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the CEQA Guidelines, and the City’s CEQA Procedures, and is being considered concurrently with appr oval of this ordinance. Based on its independent review of the Initial Study, Mitigated Negative Declaration, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan, and the entire administrative record, the City Council determines that the Project, as mitigated, will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Ordinance No. _____
Section 3. ADOPTION OF THE FOREST LAWN – CATHEDRAL CITY SPECIFIC PLAN. The City Council hereby adopts t he Forest Lawn – Cathedral City Specific Plan (SP 25-0001), attached hereto as Exhibit A. The City Council hereby finds and determines that the Forest Lawn – Cathedral City Specific Plan (SP 25 -0001) was prepared in accordance with California Government Code, Article 8, Specific Plans [65450-65457] and facts exist to justify approving the Fores t Lawn – Cathedral City Specific Plan in accordance with Section 65453(a) of the California Government Code as follows:
(a) The proposed specific plan is consistent with all other provisions of the General Plan. The Forest Lawn Specific Plan is consistent with General Plan policies and programs that provide for the use of Specific Plans as part of the General Plan to address detailed design, land use and policy direction for a particular area within the City and as a method of detailed and systematic implementation of the General Plan (General Plan, Administration Element, Policy 2 and Program 2A), and General Land Use Policy 4 to encourage in-fill development and lot consolidation shall be encouraged as means of enhancing existing development and as a means of optimizing the use of existing roadways and utility infrastructure; and
(b) The proposed specific plan will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare. The Forest Lawn Specific Plan is desirable in service to the community in that it allows the Applicant to meet the long term needs of the immediate and surrounding community by providing needed cemetery spaces, conforms with applicable policies of the General Plan, and is not detrimental to existing uses or to uses specifically permitted in the surrounding area.
Section 4. ADOPTION OF THE FOREST LAWN – CATHEDRAL CITY SPECIFIC PLAN CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. The City Council hereby adopts the conditions of approval, attached hereto as Exhibit B, for the Forest Lawn – Cathedral City Specific Plan.
Section 5. SEVERABILITY. If any chapter, sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portion of this ordinance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance, and each chapter, sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 6. PUBLICATION. The City Clerk shall, within fifteen (15) days after passage of this Ordinance, cause it to be posted in at least three (3) designated public places; shall certify to the adoption and posting of this Ordinance; and shall cause this Ordinance and its cer tification, together with proof of posting, to be entered in the Book of Ordinances of this City.
Ordinance No. _____
Section 7. CERTIFICATION. Approved and adopted at a meeting of the Cathedral City City Council held on the 27th day of May, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
___________________________
Raymond Gregory, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Christina Burton, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
Eric S. Vail, City Attorney
Ordinance No. _____
EXHIBIT A
FOREST LAWN – CATHEDRAL CITY SPECIFIC PLAN
Ordinance No. _____
EXHIBIT B
FOREST LAWN – CATHEDRAL CITY SPECIFIC PLAN
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL