City Council Agenda Report
July 16, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Alex Hamilton, Interim Community Development Director Sophia Tatlyan, Consulting Senior Planner
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 24-1749 - ZONE CHANGE NO. 2024-01 AND ORDINANCE NO. 24-1750 - ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 2024-03, TO AMEND VARIOUS SECTIONS OF TITLE 17 OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE AS IT RELATES TO SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICT NO. 1
Background:
In 2023, City Council adopted the Norwalk Entertainment District - Civic Center Specific Plan Area 16 (SPA 16). SPA 16 is located at the southeast corner of Imperial Highway and Norwalk Boulevard in Norwalk. The development of this area is anticipated to be implemented through one or more leases to a private developer of all or a portion of the portion of the City owned land and other contractual arrangements between the City and a private developer. Specific Plan Area 1 (SPA 1) is located to the south of SPA 16. The SPA 1 parcels included in this proposal comprise the AMC Theater, retail pad tenants and the Outback Steakhouse. Currently there is one existing freestanding sign located in Assessor Parcel No. 8047-007-191, (the Outback Steakhouse).
The height and location of the existing freestanding sign is not optimal given the existing conditions. Establishing the proposed Special Sign District No. 1 (SD 1) will allow for the relocation of the existing on-premise sign with a taller freeway oriented freestanding sign and provide greater flexibility for businesses entities within the Norwalk Entertainment District (SPA 16) to utilize the sign, when submitted as part of their future Master Sign Program.
City staff-initiated, Zone Change (ZC) No. 2024-01 and Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2024-03, are a request to approve the Special Sign District No. 1 (SD 1) overlay and SD 1 sign development standards. This item is to be considered concurrently with Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2024-02, a request to establish a review process and regulatory framework to allow the creation of Special Sign Districts city wide. As set forth in ZTA No. 2024-02, a Special Sign
City Council July 16, 2024
Ordinance No. 24-1749 - Zone Change No. 2024-01 and Ordinance Nos. 24-1750 - Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-03 Creating Special Sign District No. 1 and Amending the Norwalk Municipal Code
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0 District overlay must be approved by City Council through a zone change and zoning text amendment request. The approval of ZC No. 2024-01 and ZTA No. 2024-03, to create SD 1 is dependent on the approval and adoption of ZTA 2024-02.
On June 26, 2024, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the aforementioned project and with a 4-0 vote, recommended approval to City Council for ZC No. 2024-01 and ZTA No. 2024-03.
There were some in attendance stating concerns with this action. An email and letter from Jordon R. Sisson, Esq., an attorney for Unite Here Local 11, was submitted to the record.
In summary the concerns are as follows:
1. Adequacy of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviewed for the action.
2. Concern that this action will allow for more projects; i.e. digital billboard sign, other accessory signs, etc.
Staff rebutted points raised by the opposition as follows:
1. Staff confirmed the request is not in conjunction with any active application to construct a second hotel in SP 1, a billboard, or freestanding sign. Any future submittal to develop a second hotel, would require approval by the Planning Commission with a Conditional Use Permit and any future submittal to construct an on-premise or off-premise freestanding sign would require approval by the Planning Commission with a Sign Use Permit. In either scenarios, all the requests mentioned are discretionary applications and subject to an environmental review and CEQA determination at the time of their submittal.
Discussion
ZC No. 2024-01 is a request to establish the SD 1 overlay. SD 1 is comprised of 11 non- residential properties, located within the SPA 1, SPA 16, Institutional, and Public Facility overlay zone districts. SD 1 includes the following parcels listed in no particular order by Assessor Parcel Numbers: 8047-006-910, 8047-006-922, 8047-006-924, 8047-006-925, 8047-006-926, 8047- 006-927, 8047-007-136, 8047-007-188, 8047-007-189, 8047-007-190 and 8047-007-191. The proposal meets the minimum site conditions to create a Special Sign District, as set forth in ZTA No. 2024-02.
ZTA No. 2024-03 proposes to amend Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.01 (Administration), Article II (Establishment of Zones, and limiting the Uses of Land Therein) and Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter
17.03 (Development Requirements), Article III (Signs) to establish SD 1 development standards and allow one freeway-oriented on-premise freestanding sign up to 100’ in height. The development standards specify the maximum freestanding sign height, sign width, number of sign panels, and sign design review process. There is no implementing project as part of this City Council July 16, 2024
Ordinance No. 24-1749 - Zone Change No. 2024-01 and Ordinance Nos. 24-1750 - Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-03 Creating Special Sign District No. 1 and Amending the Norwalk Municipal Code
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0 request. Any future request to construct a freeway-oriented freestanding sign will require a Sign Use Permit and the review and approval of the Planning Commission.
The formation of SD 1 will allow business entities within the Norwalk Entertainment District (SPA 16) more flexibility for their signage when submitted as part of their future Master Sign Program.
Additionally, the proposed development standards would allow for a sign height greater than the existing freestanding sign to maximize freeway visibility.
This project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Code of Regulations, also known as the “Common Sense Exemption” and Section 15311 (Class 11 – Accessory Structures) of the California Code of Regulations, for the construction or replacement of minor accessory structures including on-premise signs.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Citizens Advised:
The public hearing notice was posted at the City’s three designated posting places and posted online. On July 5, 2024, the notice was also published in The Norwalk Patriot. Social media accounts also promoted notification of the project for the hearing. Four notices were posted on or in proximity to the subject parcels. As of the writing of this report, staff have not received any new 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. 24-1749, AN ORDINANCE OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK APPROVING ZONE CHANGE NO. 2024-01 ESTABLISHING SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICT NO. 01 (SD 1) OVERLAY, and schedule for adoption.
b. introduce by title only Ordinance No. 24-1750, AN ORDINANCE OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK APPROVING ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 2024- City Council July 16, 2024
Ordinance No. 24-1749 - Zone Change No. 2024-01 and Ordinance Nos. 24-1750 - Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-03 Creating Special Sign District No. 1 and Amending the Norwalk Municipal Code
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0 03 TO ESTABLISH THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICT NO. 01 OVERLAY AND AMENDING TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE, and schedule for adoption.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 24-1749 (ZC No. 2024-01)
2. Ordinance No. 24-1750 (ZTA No. 2024-03)
3. Planning Commission Staff Report dated June 26, 2024 (without attachments)
4. Email and attached Letter of Opposition received on June 26, 2024