Agenda #: 5.5
Meeting Date: March 19, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager
TITLE: 2023 GENERAL PLAN STATUS REPORT.
STRATEGIC
GOAL: Open, Engaged & Responsive Government
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the report for filing with the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
State Law requires each city to prepare and adopt a comprehensive, long-term General Plan to guide its physical development. The General Plan is a policy document comprised of goals and policies for implementation. In the fall of 2016, the City embarked on a comprehensive update to the General Plan to create a community vision and blueprint for the City through 2040. The City Council adopted Diamond Bar General Plan 2040 on December 17, 2019.
In accordance with California Government Code Section 65400(b), the City is required to submit an annual General Plan status report to the local legislative body (City Council), the State Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on the status of the General Plan, its implementation progress, and how the City is meeting the region’s housing needs. The attached report lists the City’s progress toward the implementation of the updated General Plan for the period of January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.
The City Council is asked to review and approve the annual report for submittal to OPR and HCD. This report is due to HCD by April 1, 2024.
Major accomplishments during this period include the following:
• Town Center Specific Plan: The TCSP will provide the regulatory and urban design framework to establish a downtown, or “Town Center” in Diamond Bar as a walkable place with entertainment, retail, restaurants, community gathering spaces and urban housing opportunities. Several tasks were commenced and/or completed throughout 2023. On January 24, the Planning Commission and City Council held a joint study session to discuss project buildout alternatives and approaches to encourage the development of inclusionary housing, and directed staff to evaluate a buildout of 2,055 dwelling units in the EIR. On March 21, the City hosted a community meeting to update the public on the project, with a focus on density and the incorporation of an inclusionary housing component to the plan. The Initial Study and Notice of Preparation of the Supplemental EIR were published on June 5.
Significant progress on the Administrative Drafts of the Specific Plan and Supplemental EIR were made through the end of 2023, and the public review drafts of these documents are anticipated to be released by late spring of this year. The TCSP implements General Plan Goals LU-G-4, 12-14, 22-24, 35-39, 41-43, ED-G-1 and 2, CC-G-2, 11-13, CR-G-3-5, 14 and Housing Element Programs #8,9,12. as well as Policies LU-P-7, LU-P-8, ED-P-3, CC-P-5, CC-P-9, CC-P-16-18, 21-23, 25- 26, 32-33, 41-51, CR-P-39-40 and CHS-P-14-15.
• Public Safety: The City completed installation of 50 Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader security/surveillance cameras throughout the community.
This project implements General Plan Goal PS-G-6.
• Environmental: The City contracted with Abound Food Care and is actively encouraging generators of edible food to establish contracts or agreements with food rescue organizations to divert edible food from being needlessly disposed of or destroyed as mandated under Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383). The City is facilitating the establishment of partnerships between generators and food rescue organizations, fostering a collaborative approach to addressing food waste challenges. This implements General Plan Policy CHS-P-50.
• Economic Development: The City launched the Open Rewards pilot program app during Diamond Bar’s Restaurant Week (October 1st to October 15th), where diners were offered a 20% reward for making purchases at Diamond Bar eateries. During the 2-week timeframe, over $4,200 in rewards were distributed, amounting to a total economic impact of $22,075.35 or approximately a 5x return on the initial investment. This program implements General Plan Goal ED-G-3. • Citywide Bus Shelters Replacement: The Citywide replacement of bus shelters and unsheltered bus stop amenities was completed. Among other upgrades, the new bus shelters feature a City logo on the back panel, solar-powered (where feasible), and owned by the City. This project implements General Plan Policies CC-P-1, CC-P-4, CR-P-1, and CR-P-48.
• Citywide Street Name Sign: The replacement of internally illuminated street name signs (with the new design) and LED safety lights for arterial streets was completed.
Replacement of the residential street name signs with the new design (new windmill logo, new typeface, etc.) was completed for half of the City. The second half of the City's residential areas will be addressed in 2024. This project implements General Plan Policy CC-P-1.
• Canyon Loop Trail Project: The first and most significant phase of the project was complete. The improvements on the hardpan trail were successful and includes a safer trail experience and improved amenities such as three benches, a new stairway, gabion walls, water diverters to protect the trail from erosion, V-swales, a water velocity reducer to protect the blue line stream, timber fencing, directional trail makers, and overall trail compaction to ensure a safe experience for residents. In addition to those amenities, staff installed two site maps and one flora/fauna interpretative panel, and three shade structures above each bench. The team will continue to work with all consultants at US Fish and Wildlife and CA Fish and Wildlife as staff implements the Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Program (HMMP) in 2024. In short, this program addressed the environmental impact this project included and will provide a five-year plan which includes on-site vegetation restoration to ensure the revegetation of the habitat is as greater amount than the take during the project. This project implements General Plan Goals and Policies RC-G-3, RC-P-9, PF-G-1 and PF-P-14.
A complete summary matrix of the City’s progress toward implementing the General Plan is provided in Attachment A.
On March 12, 2024, the Planning Commission reviewed the report and directed staff to forward it to the City Council with a recommendation to receive and file.
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
Attachments:
1. 5.5.a 2023 GP Status Report Matrix