1 TO: City Council
FROM: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Brianna Rindge, Community & Economic Development Director MEETING DATE: April 4, 2023
SUBJECT: 2022 Annual Progress Report for the General Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the City’s 2022 Annual Progress Report on the General Plan. Review and submittal of the report is not a project requiring review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
BACKGROUND
Government Code Section 65400 mandates that by April 1st of each year the local planning agency shall submit a report to the State Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) that provides the progress of the implementation of the General Plan and a separate detailed report on housing entitlement and production. These reports were completed by staff and submitted to OPR and HCD on time. The General Plan report is attached to this staff report while the Housing-specific report was on the March 21, 2023, City Council agenda.
Unlike the Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR), there is not a specific form or format to submit the General Plan APR and guidelines are intentionally flexible to account for individual circumstances. The purpose of the report is to demonstrate how a city’s activities correspond to the General Plan’s adopted goals, policies, and implementation measures. The City’s report features those activities that played a significant role in a city’s implementation of the existing General Plan for the calendar year.
CEQA
Review and submittal of the attached report is not a project requiring review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Item No. 7i
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
2 OPTIONS
Information only. Receive and file.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2022 Annual Progress Report of Lomita’s General Plan Reviewed by: Approved by:
Gary Y. Sugano Ryan Smoot
Assistant City Manager City Manager
Prepared by:
________________
Brianna Rindge
Community & Economic Development Director
City of Lomita
Community and Economic
Development Department
2022
General Plan
Annual Progress Report
Attachment 1
1 Annual Progress Report on the Lomita General Plan and Housing Element Compliance
Reporting Period: Year 2022
(January 1, 2022– December 31, 2022)
The purpose for the Annual Progress Report is to assess how the General Plan is being implemented in accordance with adopted goals, policies and implementation measures; identify any necessary adjustments or modifications to the General Plan as a means to improve local implementation; provide a clear correlation between land use decisions that have been made during the 12-month reporting period and the goals, policies and implementation measures contained in the General Plan; and, to provide information regarding local agency progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs. If there are questions about this report, please contact Community and Economic Development Director, Brianna Rindge, AICP at (310) 325-7110 or [email protected].
The current Lomita General Plan was adopted by the Lomita City Council on May 4, 1998. The Lomita General Plan contains the seven state-required elements which are land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, safety and noise. The State allows the combining of elements or the addition of new elements as long as the required seven elements are present in some fashion. Lomita’s General Plan contains the following elements:
Lomita General Plan Element Update Status
Safety Updated & adopted December 2021
Housing Updated & certified October 14, 2022
Land Use Update triggered by Housing Element
update (rezone required by October
2024)
Circulation Update required by January 2025 per SB
932
Resource Management
(Open Space & Conservation)
Update required by January 2026 per SB
1425
Noise Update triggered by Land Use update
Economic Development Updated 1998; to be incorporated into other elements
Implementation Updated 1998; to be incorporated into
other elements
AMENDMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENERAL PLAN
Local governments are required to keep their General Plans current and internally consistent. The following represents amendments and the progress that the City has made towards implementing the goals and guiding policies of the General Plan from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
2 Land Use Element
Consistent with the Housing Element Policies and Actions, the City adopted General Plan Amendment No. 2022-01 modifying the Low-Density Residential Designation from 5.80-8.71 units per acre to 5.80-10.89 units per acre, and the Medium Density Residential Designation from 8.72-19.80 units per acre to 10.90-19.80 units per acre (Land Use Policy 9 to increase opportunities for home ownership.).
Circulation Element
The Circulation Element was last updated in 1998 and will be updated by January 1, 2025. It contains nine policies and, in 2022, the City implemented the following:
• Continued sidewalk improvement projects to ensure the “safety and use of pedestrian movement” in accordance with Policy 6.
• City Council adopted ordinances retaining the existing speed limits for Lomita Boulevard, Eshelman Avenue, and Palos Verdes Drive North. The Engineering and Traffic Surveys evaluated vehicle speed and collision rates in accordance with Policy 1.
Housing Element
In 2022, the State certified the City of Lomita’s Housing Element. The City adopted two housing-related zone text amendments. ZTA 2022-01 was an omnibus amendment that updated ADUs/JADUs standards, added state law provisions for SB 9 developments, and created and added a Planned Residential Development option in single-family zones. ZTA 2022-02 focused on additional residential sign standards in the 24000 Crenshaw Blvd. Specific Plan Zone.
The Annual Housing Progress Report (attached) provides detailed analysis of the progress made towards achieving housing goals and meeting the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. For the Sixth Housing Cycle (2021-2029), the City has a Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) of 827 units. Those units are further allocated into the following income categories: very-low, low, moderate, and above moderate.
Although cities do not control or are not required to directly participate in housing production, cities are expected to work towards and facilitate the production of housing. In 2022, 30 building permits were issued. One multi-family project contained 16 units, a second multi-family project contained eight units, and the remainder of the building permits were issued for detached one-family dwellings, which includes accessory dwelling units.
Resource Management (Open Space and Conservation) Elements The Resource Management Element was updated in 1998 and will be updated by January 1, 2026. It contains 17 policies and in 2022, the City implemented the following:
• Numerous programs organized by the City promote the use of open space to maintain and enhance residents’ health in accordance with Policy 11. 3 • Continued support for the Farmer’s Market which utilizes the open space in front of City Hall thereby improving residents’ health in accordance with Policy
11. • Prepared plans and implemented capital improvement projects to provide a mode adequate water distribution system in accordance with Policy 16. • Ensured new construction projects adhered to stormwater best management practices and that Low Impact Development requirements were met in accordance with Policy 17.
Safety Element
On December 21, 2021, City Council certified the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and adopted General Plan Amendment 2021-02 for the updated 2021- 2029 Safety Element. The Safety Element goals, policies, and actions provide the City’s safety roadmap with a 20-year horizon, including a comprehensive hazard mitigation and emergency response strategy with five goals, 21 policies, and 64 action items. In the first year since adoption, the following progress was made to achieving its goals.
• The Water Master Plan made recommendations for replacing pipelines, studies to consider improvements in pressure and zone connectivity, and water supply redundancy. These recommendations are based on results of hydraulic modeling, capacity, and fire flow, which corresponds to Policy 2.4’s Action 2.4a.
• Various water capital improvement projects, which correspond to Policy 2.4’s Action 2.4a.
• Actively recruited volunteers and held two Community Response Emergency Team (CERT) trainings corresponding to Policy 3.2a.
• Expanded code enforcement activities to reduce risk of fire related to unsafe structures or hazardous conditions related to vegetation or outdoor storage, as specified in Policy 2.3’s Action 2.4c. Code enforcement staff opened cases on dwellings constructed or converted without building permits and had a vacant unsecure building secured.
• Updated Emergency Operations Center computers and software in accordance with Goal 4’s Actions 4.4a and 4.4b.
Economic Development Element
The Economic Development Element was updated in 1998. The mission of the city’s economic development effort is to actively support he development and expansion of existing businesses, and to proactively recruit quality revenue-generating uses that 4 diversify and expand the City’s economic base, offer a variety of products and services, increase employment opportunities a, enhance fiscal resources, preserve and enhance Lomita’ unique historic appeal and contribute to the quality of life for Lomita. In 2022, the following progress was made to achieving the Economic Development Element’s goals and implementation efforts:
• Launched the ARPA-funded Façade Improvement Program and Job Creation Program and revised the programs to include more types of businesses, which aligns with Economic Development Policy 3 to promote the improvement and revitalization of existing commercial areas and is in accordance with stated implementation program to commit financial resources.
• ZTA 2022-01 Modified zoning code’s commercial parking requirements to increase options which aligns with Economic Development Policy 3 to promote the improvement and revitalization of shopping centers. • Implementation Program: Business Retention and Expansion Approved a one-year Professional Services Agreement with South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) to: 1) directly outreach to businesses via phone calls, personal visits, email or postal mailings and survey their needs; 2) to provide concierge services and make businesses aware of the City’s Job Creation Program and Façade Improvement Program and coordinate with the City throughout the process of applying; 3) offer training opportunities for business owners and their workforce; and 4) market all of SBWIB’s business services and resources.
Capital Improvements
During the reporting period, the following projects were planned, active and/or completed. All relate to the General Plan goals and policies and specifically are consistent with the Safety Element, Economic Development Element and Circulation Element:
• The Cypress Water Production Facility is undergoing a multi-year upgrade project
• Street resurfacing and reconstruction in street Zones C & F • Began design for street resurfacing and reconstruction in street Zone G • Sidewalk improvement project ongoing
• Design of 247th Street Area Water Project ongoing
End