TO:
CITY COUNCIL
VIA: CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Placentia Cit Council
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023
SUBJECT: STUDY SESSION TO REVIEW CHAPMAN CORRIDOR REVITALIZATION PLAN
PROGRESS
FISCAL
IMPACT: No fiscal impacts are associated with this Study Session. Potential significant economic benefit to the local Placentia economy, including jobs, public & private investment, and annual/one-time revenue.
SUMMARY:
On October 1, 2019, City Council adopted the comprehensive General Plan Update. This update included all Elements of the General Plan except the Housing Element, which was adopted as part of the required 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocations in March 2022, and will come before this City Council as an amended document. The Land Use Element of the 2019 General Plan strongly encourages enhancements and improvements to the visual image, physical design characteristics, economic vitality and infrastructure of the Chapman corridor. On October 4, 2022, City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Placeworks, Inc. (Placeworks) to complete the Chapman Corridor Revitalization Pian document and supporting environmental documentation furthering the goals of the General Plan. At this time, City Staff and Placeworks will present the progress made to date on the Chapman Corridor Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Receive and file the Staff Report and presentation; and
2. Solicit public comments (if any) regarding the proposed Chapman Corridor Revitalization Plan and supporting documentation; and
3. Provide direction to Staff as appropriate regarding the proposed Chapman Corridor Revitalization Plan.
3.b.
Feb 07, 2023
City Council Agenda
February 7, 2023
STRATEGIC PLAN STATEMENT:
This item is consistent with the City Council approved 5 -Year Strategic Goal to:
Promote Community and Economic Development, as Objective Number 3.5 is to Initiate the Chapman Corridor Specific Plan and Objective Number 3.6 is to create design review guidelines and procedures. This agenda item will specifically result in creation of the Chapman Corridor Specific Plan (or equal Zoning document) and will also create design review guidelines specific to the Chapman Corridor.
BACKGROUND:
The General Plan is the City's land use constitution, a legal policy document that is mandated to exist by the State of California. The General Plan is intended to reflect the community's values and set policies to guide in the development, maintenance, and use of the City's built environment.
It forms the basis for future decision making as it relates to the mandatory and optional Elements of the General Plan. The Land Use Element is one of seven mandatory General Plan Elements required by the State of California. On October 1, 2019, City Council adopted the comprehensive General Plan Update, which included an updated Land Use Element. The Land Use Element of the 2019 General Pian strongly encourages enhancements and improvements to the visual image, physical design characteristics, economic vitality and infrastructure of the Chapman Corridor and other major corridors as indicated in the subsequent paragraphs. • Goal LU -1 states: Provide a well-balanced land use pattern that accommodates existing and future needs for housing, commercial, industrial and open space/recreation uses, while providing adequate community services to City residents. Policy LU -1.10 further states:
Create specific zoning or plans for major corridors within the City. This would include the Chapman Avenue corridor and the Placentia Avenue corridor, among other major thoroughfares.
• Goal LU -3 states: Revitalize underutilized, abandoned or dilapidated commercial, industrial and residential uses and properties. Policy LU -3.1 furthers this goal by stating: Encourage opportunities for redevelopment and improvements in the Old Town area, the TOD district, industrial areas, neighborhoods in the southern sector of the City, and commercial centers along major roadway corridors.
• Goal LU -5 states: Improve urban design in Placentia to ensure that development is both architecturally attractive and functionally compatible and to create identifiable neighborhoods, and community areas. Policy LU -6.6 furthers this goal by stating: Improve urban design in Placentia to ensure that development is both architecturally attractive and functionally compatible and to create identifiable neighborhoods, and community areas. • Goal LU -6 states: Enhance and improve the visual image, economic vitality and infrastructure of the Old Town area, TOD, and surrounding areas, like the future Chapman corridor. Policy LU -6.6 furthers this goal by stating: Focus planning and economic
City Council Agenda
February 7, 2023
development efforts to spur development and infrastructure improvement on major transportation corridors, such as the future Chapman Avenue corridor. • Goal LU -10 states: Create enhanced connectivity with California State University Fullerton (CSUF) campus community. Policy LU -10.2 furthers this goal by stating: In creating the aforementioned corridor plans, the City shall take into consideration the nearby Cal State University Fullerton campus community and capitalize on its proximity.
In October 2022, City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Placeworks to draft the Chapman Corridor Revitalization Plan document and supporting environmental documentation furthering the aforementioned goals of the General Plan. Since that time, Staff has been working closely with Placeworks to refine the plan, and at this time, Staff is seeking City Council input.
DISCUSSION:
The Chapman Corridor Revitalization Plan development standards and regulations will foster responsible, progressive and attractive development to meet City Council's goals for the corridor.
Medium-high density mixed-use development will bring new businesses and residents to the Chapman Corridor, and adjacent Old Town Placentia and TOD District, benefitting the traditional downtown with new shoppers and diners.
Another benefit of the Revitalization Plan is to plan for appropriate successor commercial and mixed-use development that will unify the Chapman Corridor from Placentia Avenue to Kraemer Boulevard. Staff envisions that the plan will encourage the consolidation of smaller parcels for new development, providing a catalyst for development, thereby increasing pedestrian activity and revenue to the City in the form of property taxes, sales tax, Transient Occupancy tax and impact fees. This will also result in a more unified aesthetic for the Chapman Corridor, which currently appears aesthetically and visually inconsistent between Placentia Avenue and Kraemer Boulevard.
Placeworks (with Staff oversight) prepared a presentation (Attachment 1) for City Council review.
The presentation will summarize the project overview, corridor boundary options, and existing conditions (including land use, urban design, mobility, opportunity areas, mobility considerations, policy guidance/questions, and next steps. There are three different slides throughput the presentation, each with specific policy questions. The goal of this Study Session is to receive City Council and public input regarding the following policy questions:
The first set of policy questions are related to the corridor boundaries. Those questions are:
1. Which properties should be included within the project boundary?, 2. Could overlays be appropriate to incorporate properties that fall within Old Town and contribute to Chapman Corridor?, and 3. Should the Civic Center be considered for inclusion and possible redevelopment or vertical public/private expansion?
City Council Agenda
February 7, 2023
The second set of policy questions are related to land use and site testing. Those questions are:
1. What does council envision for the future of Chapman Corridor?, 2. What are key objectives for Chapman Corridor?, and 3. What mobility options should be considered for Chapman Avenue and connections to Old Town and the future Metrolink Station? The third set of policy questions are related to additional uses and mobility (transportation). Those questions are: 1. What additional uses and or types of development should be explored?, and
2. Which mobility options and connections should this plan prioritize? Next Steps
February and March:
• Stakeholder and Property Owner Conversations
• Community Outreach
• Refine Plan Objectives
• March/April City Council Study Session #2 (if desired by City Council) • Continue to refine opportunity areas and site testing • Refine Mobility Recommendations — Fehr & Peers
April and May:
• Draft Plan
Summer 2023:
• Conduct an Economic Benefit Analysis (upon completion of land use changes and buildout) • Council approval of Corridor Revitalization Plan, initiate any necessary CEQA studies (final Plan adoption with CEQA certification)
Ongoing:
• Continue to refine opportunity areas and site testing • Refine Mobility Recommendations — Fehr & Peers
On A Parallel Track:
• Initiate a Chapman Corridor Streetscape Master Plan
Prepared by:
Reviewed and a
ved:
Josep La •ert D. + rrula
Director bf Development Services
Attachment:
PowerPoint Presentation
City Administrator