PC RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
POMONA APPROVING GENERAL PLAN CONFORMITY (GPC 17348-2021) FOR THE PROPOSED VACATION OF AN APPROXIMATELY 250 FOOT
WIDE ALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN PALOMARES STREET AND LINDEN
STREET
WHEREAS, the City of Pomona is requesting a finding of General Plan Conformity (GPC 17348-2021) for the proposed vacation of a 250-foot wide alley located between Palomares Street and Linden Street;
WHEREAS, prior to the processing of a request for alley vac ation, a General Plan Conformity must be approved by the Planning Commission, in compliance with California Streets & Highways Code §8313 and Government Code §65402;
WHEREAS, the proposed vacation of the subject Alley is consistent with the City’s General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Pomona has, after giving agenda notice as required by law, reviewed General Plan Conformity (GPC 17348-2021) on December 8, 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of Pomona, California as follows:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to Article 19, Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Planning Commission determines that this project is exem pt from further CEQA review and documentation. Section 15061(b)(3) exempts projects where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 2. In support of the General Plan Conformity Assessment finding, the Planning Commission hereby finds and determines that the Alley vacation will not adversely affect the General Plan of the City, in that the proposed project is consistent with the following:
Goal 6B.G2 “Locate higher intensity transit oriented development around existing and future Metrolink, Metro Gold Line, High Speed Rail, BRT, and other transit stations.”
Goal 6B.P2 “Permit the highest densities and intensities within comfortable walking distance of major transit.”
The General Plan identifies the subject site within the “Transit-Oriented District: Neighborhood,” which is regulated by the Pomona Corridors Specific Plan “Midtown” segment. Chapter 6B of the Pomona General Plan (Page 64) establishes a vision for Transit Oriented Districts as “the most active and walkable districts in the City and they feature development types of greater intensity than ATTACHMENT NO. 3
surrounding areas.” Furthermore, within the Downtown context, such districts will “feature the City’s widest range of contemporary housing types, and a wide mixture of uses that are compatible with the district’s housing, all concentrated within walking distance of the Downtown Core’s theater, shops, restaurants, cafes, nightlife, and amenities.”
While alleys can be a significant contributor to walkability within a transit -oriented district, this particular alley is impeding the development of a 100 percent affordable, work -live mixed-use housing development. The closure of the alley is necessary to enable a full block development that spans Palomares Street, Fourth Street, Linden Street, and Mission Boulevard. The full block development will still enhance walkability and pedestrian connections to nearby transit by designing streetscape improvements that encourage pedestrian traffic, establishing angled parking at Palomares to reduce the vehicular lane and create a slower street, and, at the northeast corner, create a porous private-public layout that establishes bench seating, public art, and landscaping to encourage activation of the space and increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Maintaining the alley in its current form would make the design of the affordable housing development impractical and cost ineffective. To that end, the goals and policies of transit-oriented districts in the Pomona General Plan must also be assessed in the context of the goals and policies found in the Economic Development element, namely:
Goal 7B.G5 “Remove barriers to new investment.”
Goal 7B.G7 “Take a proactive approach to guide economic development to achieve the City’s economic vision.”
Goal 7B.G12 “Promote housing —especially move-up workforce housing—of various types in diverse settings that serve the needs of Pomona’s core household population while also attracting compact, one- and two-person households.”
Goal 7B.G13 “Develop collaborative relationships between private and public entities to establish and maintain a comprehensive and coordinated economic development process.”
The proposed development wi ll take place on existing City -owned land. The City has actively pursued the sale of this land to facilitate the development of affordable housing, and has partnered with a non-profit affordable housing developer, and encouraged gap funding investment to ensure the viability of the project.
Therefore, the proposed alley vacation would conform the goals and policies of the Pomona General Plan.
ATTACHMENT NO. 3
SECTION 3. The Planning Commission of the City of Pomona hereby approves General Plan Conformity Assessment (GPC 17348-2021) to allow the proposed vacation of a 250-foot wide alley located between located between Palomares Street and Linden Street, as illustrated and described in Exhibit A.
SECTION 4. The Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and forward the original to the City Clerk.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 8th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2021.
ALFREDO CAMACHO
PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON
ATTEST:
ATA KHAN
PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARCO A. MARTINEZ
DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF POMONA )
ATTACHMENT NO. 3
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
"Pursuant to Resolution No. 76-258 of the City of Pomona the time in which judicial review of this action must be sought is governed by California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6."
ATTACHMENT NO. 3