City Council Agenda Report
November 7, 2023
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: John P. Ramirez, AICP, Director of Community Development Jill Ann Arabe, AICP, Development Services Manager
Andrew R. Arellano, Assistant Planner
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 23-1744 – ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 2023-01 TO AMEND VARIOUS SECTIONS OF TITLE 17 OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL
CODE AS IT RELATES TO THE AUTOMOBILE PARKING ZONE AND
ORDINANCE NO. 23-1745 - ZONE CHANGE NO. 2023-01 TO REMOVE
ZONING DESIGNATION AUTOMOBILE PARKING ZONE FROM THE ZONING MAP
Background:
The Automobile Parking (P) zone was adopted by Ordinance No. 114 in 1959 with the intent to serve as setbacks/buffers for incompatible uses. There are 275 parcels that contain a P zoning either exclusively or within the parcel. The P zoning primarily prohibits construction of a building; however, 43 existing sites contain structures.
On October 11, 2023, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the aforementioned project and with a 5-0 vote, recommended approval to City Council for Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2023-01 and Zone Change (ZC) No. 2023-01.
Discussion
The request consists of ZTA No. 2023-01 to amend various sections of Title 17 of the Norwalk Municipal Code (NMC) as it relates to the P zone and ZC No. 2023-01 to remove the P zone from the zoning map.
The proposed update will simplify the list of permitted land uses and zones, minimize conflicts between zoning code requirements, and serve as a proactive approach of enhancing economic development.
City Council November 7, 2023
Ordinance No. 23-1744 - ZTA No. 2023-01 and
Ordinance No. 23-1745 - ZC No. 2023-01
Page No. 2
6 4
7 Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3). The project will not involve any construction nor have a significant effect on the environment.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Citizens Advised:
The public hearing notice was posted at the City’s three designated posting places, posted online, and mailed to 3,444 property owners and tenants within a 300-foot radius of the project sites on October 26, 2023. On October 27, 2023, the notice was also published in The Norwalk Patriot. Social media accounts also promoted notification of the project for the hearing. As of the writing of this report, staff has received no public comments.
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
The recommended actions will further the City’s Strategic Plan Goals 2 and 3 to work in partnership with our community to achieve safe and livable neighborhoods and to create and sustain a resilient and economically prosperous city.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council:
a. introduce by title only Ordinance No. 23-1744, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AMENDING TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATED TO THE REMOVAL OF THE AUTOMOBILE PARKING ZONE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, and schedule for adoption; and
b. introduce by title only Ordinance No. 23-1745, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
NORWALK SETTING FORTH ITS FINDINGS OF FACTS AND DECISION APPROVING ZONE CHANGE NO. 2023-01, and schedule for adoption.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 23-1744 (Zoning Text Amendment No. 2023-01)
2. Ordinance No. 23-1745 (Zone Change No. 2023-01)
3. Planning Commission Staff Report dated October 11, 2023 (without attachments)
4. Zoning Text Amendment No. 2023-01 – Redline Version