Administrative
Report
H.11., File # 23-5975 Meeting Date: 5/2/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TITLE
APPROVE THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC.
FOR PREPARATION OF GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENTS NEEDED TO
IMPLEMENT THE ARTESIA AND AVIATION CORRIDORS AREA PLAN (AACAP) TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2023 AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 6, 2021, the City Council approved an agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to provide consulting services for the preparation of zoning code amendments to the Redondo Beach Municipal Code needed to identify office and restaurants as preferred uses and increase the allowable floor area ratio from 0.5 to 0.6 for properties within the Artesia and Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP).
The contract was for an amount not to exceed $53,491 and was initially for the term April 6, 2021 through January 31, 2022.
Expansive environmental review requirements created the need to amend the term of the agreement in both January and September of 2022. The environmental analysis is complete and public meetings are scheduled to discuss the zoning changes in June and July. To ensure that the consultant is able to participate in these meetings and carry the project through completion, the Agreement is recommended for a third amendment which will extend the term through August 31, 2023 at no additional cost.
BACKGROUND
On December 12, 2020, the City Council adopted the AACAP. City staff received a proposal from Rincon Consultants, Inc. for environmental review of the ordinance needed for implementation of the adopted AACAP.
At their meeting on April 6, 2021, the City Council approved a contract with Rincon Consultants to further revitalization efforts of the Artesia and Aviation corridors as envisioned within the AACAP. The scope of the contract approved by the City Council on April 6, 2021, is summarized below.
Rincon Consultants, Inc. shall prepare an Initial Study-Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND) for the following amendments to the Redondo Beach Zoning Ordinance:
· An amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance to “activate” the AACAP and require future development in the AACAP Area to be consistent with the “intent” of the AACAP. Actions allowed under the AACAP include increases in the allowable floor area ratio from 0.5 to 0.6
H.11., File # 23-5975 Meeting Date: 5/2/2023
allowed under the AACAP include increases in the allowable floor area ratio from 0.5 to 0.6 (FAR)
· An amendment to Section 10-2.621, Additional Land Use Regulations, which applies to the C2-PD Zone. The amendment would remove the restriction of “Office” uses, including “Medical Office” to only the second floor or on the ground floor to the rear of other permitted retail or services uses in the AACAP area
The contract for the original Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. was set to expire on January 31, 2022. However, additional time was needed to clarify the project scope and conduct deep analysis of the potential build-out of preferred uses in the AACAP. An analysis of the existing land use mix for the corridor was compared with the land use mix of Riviera Village to develop a “target” for the amount of preferred uses in the AACAP (office and restaurant). As a result of the extra time required for analysis, City Council approved an amendment to the Agreement on January 18, 2022 to extend the term through August 31, 2022.
Upon further review, Staff identified the need to adjust the project scope to not only require amendments to the zoning code but also necessary amendments to the Redondo Beach General Plan, to ensure both documents reflect the desired changes. Additional time beyond the August 31, 2022 term approved by the first amendment became necessary to navigate State requirements attributable to the CEQA process for General Plan Amendments. Amendments that result in proposed changes to the General Plan require consultation with California Native American tribes, thus requiring more time to traverse the CEQA process. Subsequently, on September 6, 2022, the City Council approved a second amendment of the contract through March 31, 2023. Staff anticipated completion of the revised CEQA process by the end of January 2023, and that Planning Commission review would occur in February and City Council review in March.
While staff completed the CEQA process at the end of January 2023 as anticipated, additional time is needed on the contract with Rincon to accommodate public hearings held by the Planning Commission and City Council. During the past four months, the Planning Commission agendas have been extremely impacted with State initiatives related to SB9 regulations, Inclusionary Housing and objective residential standards, as well as City Council initiatives which include, Metro C, Cannabis, encroachment ordinances and an outdoor living space discussion. The agendas have also included applications for private development, which is a customer service function and considered a top priority. Many of the aforementioned topics have required multiple Planning Commission public hearings for review. As a result, during the past four months, the Planning Commission has met two to three times per month, a marked increase of their typical, single monthly meeting.
In order to secure a spot on the Planning Commission agenda for this important AACAP item, a special public hearing has been scheduled for June 1, 2023 to review the proposed Zoning and General Plan Amendments. Staff anticipates appearing before the City Council sometime in July 2023 for final review of the proposed changes. To ensure that the consultant is able to carry the project through completion, the contract is recommended for extension through August 31, 2023.
COORDINATION
The third amendment to the Agreement has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
H.11., File # 23-5975 Meeting Date: 5/2/2023
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no additional costs associated with the extension of the contract. The cost for the contract is $53,491 and has been funded by the General Plan Maintenance Fund.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Agmt - Proposed Third Amendment to the Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. · Agmt - Second Amendment to the Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., September 6, 2022
· Agmt - First Amendment to the Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., January 18, 2022 · Agmt - Original Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., AACAP Zoning Amendments, April 6, 2021