Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 3, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: SUNAYANA THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PREPARED BY: CHRIS SCHAEFER, AICP, PLANNING MANAGER
SUBJECT: ZONE CHANGE FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE PRESIDENT AVENUES NEIGHBORHOOD, GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS PROPERTIES ON ADAMS AVENUE, JEFFERSON AVENUE, TRUMAN AVENUE AND ROOSEVELT AVENUE
SUMMARY
The applicant requests a Zoning Amendment to rezone properties in the President Avenues Neighborhood from R-1-7.2 (Single Family Residential, 7,200 square feet minimum lot size) to R-1-7.2P (Single Family Residential, 7,200 square feet minimum lot size, Preservation Zone) thereby creating a new historic preservation area.
RECOMMENDATION
Introduce Ordinance No. XXXX for first reading by title only and waive further reading of the ordinance.
ORDINANCE NO. XXXX – AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A CHANGE OF ZONE CLASSIFICATION FROM “R-1-7.2” TO “R-1-7.2P” ON PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE PRESIDENT AVENUES NEIGHBORHOOD, GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS THE PROPERTIES ON ADAMS AVENUE, JEFFERSON AVENUE, TRUMAN AVENUE AND ROOSEVELT AVENUE TO THE SOUTH OF MALVERN AVENUE
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The petition met the minimum requirement of 51% of the property owners in support of a zone change to allow for the initiation of a zoning amendment to reclassify the neighborhood to a Residential Preservation Zone.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Zone Change
The President Avenues Neighborhood as described herein consists of properties zoned R-1-7.2 (Single Family Residential, 7,200 SF minimum lot size). The proposed zone change would add a “P” to the zone reflecting the Preservation Zone designation. A Residential Preservation Zone is a zoning classification applied to a mature residential neighborhood where the existing housing and environment is determined to be a valuable asset to the City and should be preserved (Fullerton Municipal Code (FMC) Section 15.48.020).
Request for Zone Change
The City received a request to reclassify the President Avenues Neighborhood to a Residential Preservation Zone on July 12, 2022. The City held an informational meeting with 20 properties represented on November 30, 2022 pursuant to FMC Section 15.48.055. Staff sent letters to all registered property owners with a survey to determine property owners interest creation of a neighborhood Preservation Zone. Staff held the informational meeting to explain Preservation Zone implications and the public hearing process for implementation. Staff provided hand-outs summarizing these processes and gave a presentation followed by a question-and-answer period. Fullerton Heritage participated in the meeting and provided information in response to questions.
Staff received eight responses from property owners out of 58 at the time of the neighborhood meeting. Volunteers went door-to-door in the subject neighborhood due to the low survey response rate to conduct a face-to-face survey. Volunteers received a nearly 85% response rate with the following results:
Support
38 66%
Oppose
11 19%
No Response
9 15%
TOTAL PROPERTIES
58 100%
The petition at this point meets the minimum 51% requirement of property owners in support of a zone change to allow the Director of Community and Economic Development to initiate the zoning amendment to consider the request to reclassify the neighborhood to a Residential Preservation Zone.
Historical Significance
The majority of homes in the subject neighborhood were built in the 1940s. Fullerton Heritage provided the following verbiage in support of the request:
The President Avenues Historic District is a cohesive group of single-family residences in central Fullerton, six blocks west of downtown Fullerton, along the north and south sides of (Little) West Chapman Avenue. The area is known by local residents as the Gaslamp District because of the distinctive streetlights added in the 1980s. The district consists exclusively of single-family homes in the 300 and 400 blocks of North Adams Avenue, North Jefferson Avenue, North Roosevelt Avenue, North Truman Avenue, and property at 716 West Chapman Avenue.
The President Avenues Historic District is an excellent collection of Minimal Traditional architecture in the form of single-family residences constructed during a period of intense growth in Fullerton in the 1940s. Characterized by simple, exterior forms and restrained detailing, the Minimal Traditional style was well suited to the pre- and post-World War II era as its simplicity fitted the restraint of the Depression years and was conducive to the mass production of houses in postwar subdivisions. Some of the district residences were part of the City’s first development to build much needed housing for defense workers who had moved to Fullerton.
Designed and constructed primarily by Jewett Bros. – William and Richard Jewett – one of the most important postwar development firms in Fullerton, the historic district reflects the high quality of the firm’s design and craftsmanship. The district is notable for its thoughtful incorporation of planning features, including modest uniform setbacks, shallow front lawns, concrete sidewalks, mature street trees, and automobile accommodations. The district’s layout, community planning features and Minimal Traditional architectural style help to maintain the area’s cohesive and consistent aesthetic character, providing a strong sense of place.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 2, 2023 to consider the request (Attachment 4) and received the following input during public comments:
Five speakers spoke in favor of approving the zone change.
One speaker requested additional outreach.
One speaker inquired to the age of a structure for the City to considered it historical.
The Planning Commission recommended City Council approval of the zoning amendment with a 3 – 0 – 2 vote (Absent: Dino, Tutor). Commissioners in favor of the application indicated the 66% favorable outcome provides a strong case for approval of the request for a zone change. Further, Commissioners expressed the importance of preserving the thread and fabric of the City of Fullerton with the current need for housing and the surge of higher density housing.
Environmental Review
The proposed project is categorically exempt from CEQA provisions per State CEQA Guidelines 15308 (Class 8 – Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) because the project proposes a Zoning Amendment to add a preservation designation to an established neighborhood with historic characteristics and requires no public review. Staff will file a Notice of Exemption for this project.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – PowerPoint Presentation
Attachment 2 – Draft Ordinance No. XXXX
Attachment 3 – Draft Ordinance Exhibit A
Attachment 4 – Planning Commission Staff Report dated August 2, 2023 Attachment 5 – Planning Commission Resolution No. PC-2023-20 Attachment 6 – Planning Commission Minutes dated August 2, 2023 cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
President Avenues Zone Change
October 3, 2023 - Page 2