ATTACHMENT NO. 1
SUGGESTED FINDINGS OF APPROVAL
ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 23-002
SUGGESTED FINDINGS FOR PROJECTS EXEMPT FROM CEQA:
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 23-002 is categorically exempt pursuant to City Council Resolution No. 4501, Class 20, which supplements the California Environmental Quality Act because the request is a minor amendment to the zoning ordinance that does not change the development standards intensity or density. Additionally, the text amendment to the BECSP is within the scope of the BECSP Program Environmental Impact Report No. 08-008 certified by the Planning Commission on December 8, 2009. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 and 15163, no subsequent EIR or supplement to the EIR need be prepared for this ZTA and no further environmental review or documentation is required.
SUGGESTED FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL - ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 23-002:
1. Zoning Text Amendment No. 23-002 is to amend eight chapters of the Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (HBZSO) to update definitions and processes, provide clarification by codifying existing policies and code interpretations, and introduce a process for space efficient parking such as mechanical parking lifts. The chapters to be amended are Chapter 203 (Definitions), Chapter 210 (Residential Districts), Chapter 211 (C Commercial Districts), Chapter 212 (I Industrial Districts), Chapter 218 (M Mixed-Use Transit Center District), Chapter 230 (Site Standards), Chapter 231 (Off-Street Parking and Loading Provisions), and Chapter 241 (Conditional Use Permits and Variances – Temporary Use Permits-Waiver of Development Standards). Additionally, the ZTA includes amending Section 2.5: Street Regulations of the Beach and Edinger Corridors Specific Plan (BECSP) to update the process and provide clarification for street improvements within the specific plan.
The proposed zoning text amendment is consistent with the goals and policies of the City’s General Plan including:
Land Use Element:
Goal LU-1 – New commercial, industrial, and residential development is coordinated to ensure that the land use pattern is consist with the overall goals and needs of the community.
Policy LU-1(D) – Ensure that new development projects are of compatible proportion, scale, and character to complement adjoining uses.
Policy LU-4 (D): Ensure that single-family residences are of compatible proportion scale and character to surrounding neighborhoods.
Goal LU-11 – Commercial land uses provide goods and services to meet regional and local needs.
Goal LU-13 – The city provides opportunities for new businesses and employees to ensure a high quality of life and thriving industry.
Housing Element:
Policy 1.4 – Encourage resident involvement in identifying and addressing maintenance of housing in their neighborhoods.
Policy 4.3 – Explore continued improvements to the entitlement process to streamline and coordinate the processing of permits, design review and environmental clearance.
The proposed ZTA will allow the City to process new development requests with greater clarity and in a timely manner. The proposed amendments will refine the process for common maintenance improvements for residential properties such as perimeter fencing and accessory structures while ensuring that improvements are done in a manner that is compatible in proportion, scale, and character with surrounding uses. The proposed standards for fences/walls will allow residential applicants different design options for permit approval that will provide greater privacy, compatibility with existing neighborhood fences/walls, and with reduced permitting timelines. Providing additional guidance for accessory structures, such as patio covers, will empower property owners to confidently design these structures in a manner that will comply with code and reduce plan check revisions.
The introduction of space efficient parking standards in the form of mechanical stackers/lifts will provide additional parking design options for commercial and industrial uses. These standards could provide opportunities for new businesses to move into constrained sites and still provide required on-site parking. The proposed standards will allow this use to be designed in a manner consistent with existing parking standards. Development standards have been added to protect sensitive uses such as height limitation, full enclosure of mechanical equipment, and additional noise attenuation measures.
These new changes will provide greater customer service as this amendment will provide a clear, review process for common improvements or inquiries from residents and business owners that will ultimately benefit the City.
Circulation Element:
Goal CIRC-7 - Designated scenic corridors protect and enhance visual quality and scenic views.
Goal CIRC-7(D) - Provide landscaped medians and sidewalk treatments in accordance with City standards within major and primary arterial streets designated as landscape corridors, and continue to require the construction of landscaped medians and sidewalk treatments in new developments.
The proposed ZTA will continue the streetscape vision for Beach Blvd. of the specific plan while clarifying the process for property and business owners. In revising the BECSP’s street regulations, it will provide additional parkway and sidewalk standards for rights-of-way that are irregular in width in a manner that is compatible with existing properties along Beach Blvd. The additional amendments will clarify the process for alternative street improvements as well as the acceptable landscaping for the specific plan. This amendment will remove uncertainty in the city permitting process that puts property owners and business along Beach Blvd. in a position where they cannot obtain final permit approval and the City cannot intervene because the street is owned by a different agency. In turn, this will allow the city to expedite street improvements, provided certainty of final approval for BECSP property owners, and may encourage more improvements of properties along one of the city’s major highways.
2. Zoning Text Amendment No. 23-002 is compatible with the uses authorized in, and the standards prescribed for the zoning district for which it is proposed because it primarily revises the processing of certain permits and clarifies various sections of the HBZSO and BECSP. The revisions that have been added or clarified will not change the character of the base zoning district and the uses authorized therein.
3. A community need is demonstrated for the changes proposed because there is a constant community desire to improve customer service with decreased processing time and ensure the HBZSO and BECSP are clear, current, consistently adapting to new technologies and is proactive with conflicts in the code.
4. Its adoption will be in conformity with public convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice because ZTA No. 23-002 ensures the HBZSO and BECSP are clear, current, adapting to new technologies, proactive with conflicts in the code, and reflective of the City’s ongoing effort to improve customer service.