1 RESOLUTION 2025-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORTUNA
ADOPTING FORTUNA GENERAL PLAN LAND USE ELEMENT AMENDMENTS, THE
MILL DISTRICT SPECIFIC PLAN AND IMPLEMENTING DESIGN GUIDELINES WHEREAS, General Plan Land Use Program LU-16 through LU-18 direct the City to prepare and adopt design and development standards and criteria for the area identified as the Mill District to accommodate a range of development options including building types and uses and adopt a Mill District Area Plan that includes provisions for phased development of the former Pacific Lumber Company (PALCO) site; and WHEREAS, consistent with Land Use Element Policy LU-13, Specific Plans, the City of Fortuna elected to prepare and adopt a Specific Plan rather than an Area Plan because Specific Plans are used in areas intended for redevelopment and include goals, policies, and implementation strategies to guide public and private investment in a coordinated manner; and WHEREAS, specific amendments to the Land Use Element are necessary to achieve the City’s objectives for the Mill District Specific Plan (MDSP) and to mitigate potential environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 65352(a)(11) and 65352.3, the City requested consultation with local California Native American tribes as shown on the contact list provided by the California Native American Heritage Commission and coordinated with the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria and the Wiyot Tribe in evaluating the presence of and potential impacts to Tribal Cultural Resources; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 65300 of the State Planning and Zoning Law (Division 1 Title 7 of the California Government Code) in October 2010, the Fortuna City Council certified the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the Fortuna General Plan 2030 (State Clearinghouse # 2007062106) and adopted Fortuna General Plan 2030 as the long-term vision for the City’s physical evolution. General Plan 2030 includes the following elements: Land Use, Economic Development, Housing, Transportation and Circulation, Natural and Cultural Resources, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, Public Facilities, Health and Safety, Community Design, and Administration and Implementation.
Each element of the General Plan provides Goals, Policies, and Programs to carry out the objective of the Element, as required by State Law; and
WHEREAS, a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR, State Clearinghouse # 2007062106) was prepared for the for the Mill District Specific Plan (MDSP) as a supplement to the PEIR for the Fortuna General Plan 2030 to analyze the potential environmental effects of this project and was made available for public review on August 30, 2024 with a public period that extends to October 15, 2024, and
WHEREAS, on September 24, 2024, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and unanimously adopted Resolution P-2024-3118, with Commissioners Burke and Mobley absent, recommending City Council approval of the proposed General Plan amendments, the MDSP and implementing Design Guidelines, and Q-Qualified Zone; and WHEREAS, on January 28, 2025, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and considered modifications to the MDSP and Land Use Element Mill District Focus Area policies prompted by comment letters submitted in response to the Draft SEIR and adopted Resolution No. P-2025-3121, 2 recommending City Council adoption of the Mill District Specific Plan and implementing Q-Qualified Zone and Design Guidelines as modified, and supplementing Planning Commission findings adopted by Resolution P-2024-3118; and
WHEREAS, on November 20, 2024, the City of Fortuna City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing to accept all public comment and consider adoption of the amendments to the Land Use Element, adoption of the Mill District Specific Plan and Implementing Q-Qualified Zone and Design Guidelines; and that the City Council having heard and received all of said evidence and testimony; and WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this resolution have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORTUNA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Based upon the evidence presented, the CityCouncil hereby finds and determines as follows:
1. Each fact set forth in the recitals above is true and correct, and incorporated in full herein by reference.
Section 2. Public hearing and notices and public participation:
1. All necessary public hearings and opportunities for public testimony and comment have been conducted in compliance with State law.
Section 3. That all of the following findings are hereby made:
1. Required Findings of Adoption:
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
A. FINDING: The processing and approval of the amendments to the Land Use Element, adoption of the Mill District Specific Plan and Implementing Q-Qualified Zone and Design Guidelines is in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
1) A Final SEIR was prepared for the adoption of the amendments to the Land Use Element, adoption of the Mill District Specific Plan and Implementing QQualified Zone and Design Guidelines, which was certified by the City Council on February 18, 2025 to have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Resolution 2025-03.
3 PUBLIC INTEREST
B. FINDING: Adoption of the General Plan Land Use Element amendments, the Mill District Specific Plan and Implementing Q-Qualified Zone and Design Guidelines is in the public interest.
1) The proposed General Plan Land Use Element amendments, adoption of the Mill District Specific Plan and Implementing Q-Qualified Zone and Design Guidelines promotes the orderly and efficient development of the Mill District Area within the City and encourages a wide range of land uses. This action also encourages connectivity throughout the City by providing rights of way for the Strongs Creek Trail and connections to the Great Redwood Trial to increase pedestrian and bicycle paths and providing enhanced protections to the Strongs and Mill Creek riparian areas. This action is intended to guide the orderly development of the Mill District as a high quality infill site that supports mixed use development.
CONSISTENCY WITH THE FORTUNA GENERAL PLAN
C. FINDING The proposed Land Use Element amendments are consistent with all other components of the Fortuna General Plan.
1) In approving Resolution P-2024-3118 and Resolution P-2025-3121, the Planning Commission found that the proposed amendments to the Land Use Element and the MDSP are consistent with the with Land Use Element and Community Design Element policies and internally consistent with all other General Plan Elements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Fortuna hereby adopts the General Plan Land Use Element amendments, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein, and the Mill District Specific Plan and Design Guidelines, attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein, that incorporate all of the mitigation measures described in the Final PEIR; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Fortuna General Plan Land Use Map is hereby amended to apply the MD – Mill District Land Use Designation to all land within the MDSP area and to change the General Plan Land Use Designation of several adjacent areas were inadvertently planned MD – Mill District as part of the General Plan 2030. Adoption, in the following manner: the portion of APN 202-021-004 planned MD – Mill District is proposed to be changed to Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) like the remainder of the parcel and City-owned APN 202-021-012 containing wastewater facilities is proposed to be changed from Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) to Public (PUB, as well as to change the General Plan Land Use Designation to apply Parks, Greenways, & Recreation (PRK) General Plan Land Use a to the portion of APN 200-362-005 within the City of Fortuna, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Community Development Director is authorized to make minor technical corrections including but not limited to typographical, grammar, and formatting errors to 4 the Land Use Element, the Mill District Specific Plan, and Implementing Q-Qualified Zone and Design Guidelines; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all of the amendments described in this resolution shall become effective immediately after adoption by the City Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on this 18th day of February, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_____________________________
Mike Johnson, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Siana L. Emmons, City Clerk
5 EXHIBIT A
Recommended General Plan Land Use Element Amendments
Land Use Narrative
This Land Use Element designates four focus areas -- Fortuna Boulevard, Downtown, the Riverwalk District, and Rohnerville; and the Mill District Area Plan. Some representative goals and policies for the Mill District have been included; however, the Mill District Area Plan has the complete set of goals, policies and programs. (Page 1-1)
Land Use Designations
Mill District (MD)
This designation provides for single‐use and vertical and horizontal mixed‐use development as part of a large, that is well integrated center and compatible with the surrounding community. Uses may include small-and large‐scale light industry, retail and services, restaurants, entertainment venues, professional and administrative offices, residential units, compatible light heavy industry, public and quasi‐public, and similar and compatible uses.
The FAR for mixed‐use development shall not exceed 2.0. The FAR for nonresidential uses shall not exceed 0.58. Residential densities shall be in the range of 7.0 to 29.0 units per gross acre.
Citywide Growth and Development
Policies
Policy LU-1.20. The City shall work with HCAOG to incorporate findings and recommendations of the ongoing Multimodal and Vibrant Neighborhood Planning Project, or other similar HCAOG planning efforts, to develop and implement policies and programs to be included in the City General Plan, or other appropriate plans, and projects related to the City’s transportation system to reduce automobile dependency for local trips.
Focus Area: Mill District
Goals
Goal LU-14. To provide a full range of community services that are served by a street transportation network that serves commerce and encourages walking and cycling by making the experience pleasurable and efficient. (See Draft Mill District Area Plan for a complete Goals, Policies, and Program list).
Policies
LU‐14.1 Compatible Uses. The City shall ensure a flexible scale and range a variety of compatible uses in the Mill District including industrial, retail, office, service commercial, appropriate light‐ industrial, recreation, and residential uses. Minimize potential land use conflicts within and adjacent to the Mill District by applying appropriate land use designations and implementing appropriate development standards, buffer widths, and designs to minimize impacts from future development on existing and planned development in surrounding areas.
LU‐14.3 Open Space and Parkland. The City shall maintain protect the one hundred year floodwayplain and creek buffer areas in the Mill District as Open Space, and allow development elsewhere within the 100‐year floodplain where it can be demonstrated that it will not have cumulative adverse impacts on or off site; provide for public access and trail development,; apply 100 foot and 75 foot streamside setbacks from Strongs and Mill Creeks, respectively; as warranted, encourage target FARs to be achieved with multistory buildings,; and encourage park development as shown in the Mill District Area Plan’s conceptual illustrations. 6 Recommended General Plan Land Use Element Amendments
LU‐14.4 Balanced Transportation. The City shall ensure a safe and convenient transportation streets and roadways system in the Mill District that includes utilizes public transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Policy LU-14.5. To the extent feasible, the proposed developments within the MDSP Area and within a walkable 0.5-mile distance to the Mill District shall seek to incorporate residential uses to complement proposed non-residential uses within the Mill District in order to achieve a more balanced land use mix within the City of Fortuna.
Policy LU-14.6. The City shall work with the Fortuna Mill Commerce Center property owner and applicant for development within the MDSP Area to implement a Class I trail through the Mill District as part of the Great Redwood Trail and/or Strongs Creek Trail in order to provide a continuous active transportation corridor between Fortuna Boulevard and Newburg Road / 12th Street, as specified in the Mill District Specific Plan (MDSP) Bicycle and Pedestrian Access performance standard and shown on the circulation diagram.
Proposed Policy LU-14.8. The City shall work with HCAOG to incorporate findings and recommendations of the ongoing Multimodal and Vibrant Neighborhood Planning Project, or other similar HCAOG planning efforts, to plan and implement projects to improve low stress connectivity of nonmotorized transportation modes between the Mill District site and the surrounding established neighborhoods.
Programs
LU‐16. The City shall prepare and adopt land use specific policies and standards for the Mill District through the adoption of a Specific Plan that includes design guidelines and development standards and criteria for the Mill District to accommodate a the allowable range of development options including building types and uses that are compatible with surrounding development and protects planned open space areas;
LU‐17. The City shall prepare a that includes a diagrammatic connectivity map with desired network cross-sections that provides for all transportation modes, for the Mill District.
LU‐18. The City shall prepare and adopt a Mill District Area Plan as well as the major components of public infrastructure to support the land uses described in the General Plan; and that specifies the regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to carry provisions for out the phased development of the site.
Commercial Development & Industrial Development
Policies
LU‐6.6 Targeted Commercial Use and Development Levels. To grow consistent with projected commercial absorption rates and avoid overbuilding that could result in high vacancy rates, the City shall designate monitor commercial use development levels (square footage) within the City as well as track conditions relating to urban decay within Downtown and established shopping centers. To equitably distribute commercial uses.
Programs
7 Recommended General Plan Land Use Element Amendments
LU‐8 Track new commercial development, pursuant to Policy LU-6.6, by Focus Area or City neighborhood as well as conditions relating to urban decay, in particular within Downtown and other shopping centers, in coordination with local associations and regional economic development organizations. Where urban decay or other indications of overbuilding or high vacancies are occurring, identify available or new City programs to limit urban decay, attract businesses, and encourage increased business activity. Report on development levels and where development is occurring, urban decay conditions, and other findings related thereto, to the Planning Commission and City Council as part of the annual General Plan annual report. The City shall allow new commercial development, up to the following levels, to equitably distribute sales and employment generating uses in the City and annexation areas:
• Commercial (COM) 168,000 SQ.FT.
• Office (OFF) 172,000 SQ.FT.
• Central Business District (CBD) 35,000 SQ.FT.
• Mill District (MD) 250,000 SQ.FT.
• Fortuna Blvd (CMU) 146,000 SQ.FT
• Riverwalk District (RWD ) 150,000 SQ.FT
Industrial Development
Policies
LU‐7.4 Targeted Industrial Use and Development Levels. To grow consistent with projected industrial absorption rates and avoid overbuilding that could result in high vacancy rates, the City shall designate monitor industrial use development levels (square footage) to within the City as well as track conditions relating to urban decay equitably distribute industrial uses.
Programs
LU‐9 Track new industrial development, pursuant to Policy LU-7.4, by Focus Area or City neighborhood as well as conditions relating to urban decay. Where urban decay or other indications of overbuilding or high vacancies are occurring, identify available or new City programs to limit urban decay, attract businesses, and encourage increased business activity. Report on development levels and where development is occurring, urban decay conditions, and other findings related thereto, to the Planning Commission and City Council as part of the annual General Plan annual report. The City shall allow new industrial development, up to the following levels, to equitably distribute sales and employment generating uses in the City and annexation areas:
• South of Main Street in City 100,000 SQ.FT.
• Riverwalk District Annexation 150,000 SQ.FT
• Rohnerville Airport Annexation 150,000 SQ.FT
8