STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
PH 2
12/12/2023
JC
Date:December 12, 2023
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From:Larissa De La Cruz, Director – Community Development Jocelyn Swain, Senior Planner – Planning & Permitting
Subject:General Plan Amendment No. 17-007/Zone Change No. 17-006 Recommendations:
1. Adopt Resolution No. , approving General Plan Amendment No. 17-007, amending the General Plan land use designation from Non-Urban Residential (NU) to Light Industrial (LI) for 160 acres of land located on the south side of Avenue H between 50 th Street West and 55th Street West (APNs 3269-011-015, 3269-011-007)
2. Introduce Ordinance , amending the City zoning plan for approximately 160 acres of land located south of Avenue H between 50 th Street West and 55 th Street West (APNs 3269- 011-015, 3269-011-007), known as Zone Change No. 17-006, from RR-2.5 (Rural Residential, minimum lot size 2.5 acres) to LI (Light Industrial).
Fiscal Impact:
None. The applicant has been awarded a $30,000,000 grant from the California Energy Commission for the project.
Background:
On May 1, 2023, the Community Development Department received updated applications for the construction and operation of an electric school bus manufacturing facility on the south side of Avenue H between 50th Street West and 55th Street West. These applications included a Site Plan Review (SPR), General Plan Amendment (GPA), and Zone Change (ZC) request. The proposed project would consist of a 630,000 square-foot electric school bus manufacturing facility on approximately 30 acres of the 160 acre site. The facility would employ 650 individuals; creating 100 new office jobs and 550 new manufacturing jobs. This is in addition to the approximately 750 jobs created with BYD’s transit bus manufacturing and battery facilities. 1 4
6 5
The applicant, BYD, submitted applications for a General Plan Amendment (GPA) and Zone Change (ZC), associated with the Site Plan Review (SPR) application to facilitate the development of the proposed manufacturing facility. The applicant is requesting to amend the General Plan land use designation from Non-Urban Residential (NU) to Light Industrial (LI) and zoning from RR-2.5 (rural residential, minimum lot size 2.5 acres) to LI for the subject property. The proposed change in the land use designation and zoning for the subject site would be consistent with the designations and zoning in the area, and the surrounding properties.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission heard the proposed GPA/ZC during their regular meeting on November 13, 2023, and voted to recommend approval to the City Council.
JS/hb
Attachments:
A. Resolution No.
B. Ordinance No.
C. PC Staff Report, November 13, 2023