Date: June 20, 2023
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kathy Pease, Contract Planner
Jim Schaad, City Manager
Subject: General Plan Update Workshop
Recommendation
The purpose of this item is informational to discuss the General Plan Update, Specific Plan and Zoning Code update. No formal action is required.
BACKGROUND
General Plan
Staff have received the first chapters of the draft General Plan update which includes the Introduction, Vision, Guiding Principles and Land Use Chapter.
An updated land use diagram has been proposed that streamlines land use into overall land use categories: residential (Neighborhood, Urban Neighborhood), commercial/employment (Employment), Open Space and Public Lands and Downtown Specific Plan. See Attachment 2, Draft Land Use Diagram.
Urban Growth Areas
Following the last General Plan status update, addi�onal poten�al scenarios are being explored for poten�al expansion of the City’s boundaries.
Public Outreach
Following the City Council meeting January 22, 2023, where the Council requested additional outreach including paper mailings, a mailer and survey went out as part of the utility billing. Summaries of the feedback surveys can be found here:
dbead1_0999f5aa11104288b446d245433ec897.pdf (marysville.ca.us) dbead1_0533154942db4adb8e834c416c0364af.pdf (marysville.ca.us) Recently staff provided a dedicated webpage on the Community Development Department main page regarding the General Plan to provide information and updates to the public. As information becomes available, the website will be continually updated. Information can be found at this link: General Plan Update | City of Marysville
Staff has provided periodic emails to the Community Advisory Committee and Planning Commission to provide updates on the process, as technical information is being prepared.
AECOM, the consultant preparing the updated General Plan, is currently conducting stakeholder interviews to solicit input on the General Plan and Specific Plan including representatives from Rideout Hospital, Yuba County, Yuba County Water Agency and other local employers.
Downtown Specific Plan
Technical work continues on the specific plan. An economic profile prepared for the Specific Plan area for your information is included as Attachment 3.
A new section, in the Zoning Code, Title 18.12.041 Downtown Specific Plan Districts, is being proposed to include zoning districts that will be unique to the proposed Downtown Specific Plan currently in progress. Particular emphasis is being placed on mixed use and opportunities for increased housing opportunities.
CMU Commercial Mixed-Use: a primarily non-residen�al zoning district that keeps a place in the Downtown area for assembly, light industrial, and other uses that are not normally best mixed in directly with housing.
MU Mixed-Use Corridor: a primarily retail and commercial service-oriented district that allows high densi�es/intensi�es (residen�al or office above retail/service and hotels, etc.) along the main corridors.
MD Medical Arts District: medical offices and related uses, amor�za�on of auto-oriented uses, allows high density housing, offices, and other uses that complement the hospital complex and its employees.
D-MU Downtown Mixed Use: requires “build to” rather than setbacks, preserves historic character, allows broad mix of urban land uses at high densi�es.
MU-N Mixed-Use Neighborhood: primarily residen�al zoning district but that allows home occupa�ons, small retail, coffee shops, small restaurants, lower densi�es, lower bulk, encourage “s�tch” development that is in line with exis�ng heights and scale of development.
MU-B B Street Corridor: transi�onal zoning district that allows wide mix of uses, does not have historic preserva�on requirements, encourages infill of underu�lized parking, an�cipates a road diet and use of more of the public realm for pedestrian ac�vity, outdoor sea�ng.
Zoning Code Update
As part of the General Plan Housing Element update adopted in 2021, the state Housing and Community Development (HCD) identified several action items that were needed including updating the City’s zoning code to be consistent with changes to recent state law.
Proposed Changes
Staff has reviewed the existing Municipal Code Chapter 18, Zoning Code and is proposing changes to the following sections:
• 18.07 Definitions
• 18.12 Zoning Districts
• 18.90 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
• 18.97 Density Bonus
• 18.98 Senate Bill 9 Implementation (new section) SB 9 overrides existing density limits in singlefamily zones. SB 9 is intended to support an increased supply of starter, modestly priced homes by encouraging the building of smaller houses on small lots. It also requires objective local development standards for projects covered by Senate Bill 9 related to higher density housing.
It also waives the City’s ability to require discretionary review of two units on a single-family parcel or lot splits into two.
A Planning Commission study session on the Dra� chapters was held on May 24, 2023. The Planning Commission was suppor�ve of the changes.
Parking
Also discussed was a possible amendment for parking in the Downtown. There was a robust discussion by the Planning Commission expressing concern about elimina�ng parking altogether. Therefore, staff will bring the parking discussion back to the Planning Commission June 28, 2023 to further explore ways to reduce parking requirements, but s�ll ensure that there is adequate parking for residents as projects are proposed.
Environmental Review
In December 2022, the City issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) that was circulated for a 30-day comment period from February 7th to March 8, 2023, and posted on the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) state website to solicit comments on the contents of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). The City held a public scoping meeting before the Planning Commission on February 22, 2023. Comments were received from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the Feather River Air Quality Management District. The comments were mainly regarding standard permitting requirements for new development and to make sure the Draft EIR addresses hazardous materials, stormwater runoff and air quality emissions.
Attachments:
1) Formatting Guide for the General Plan
2) Draft Land Use Diagram
3) Marysville Specific Plan Area Profile
4) Draft General Plan chapters
5) Senate Bill 9 Overview