GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 3258-23
ARTESIA & AVIATION CORRIDORS AREA PLAN GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
ORDINANCE NO. 3258-23
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, FOR A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO
ACTIVATE AND MAKE CONSISTENT THE ARTESIA & AVIATION
CORRIDORS AREA PLAN WITH THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
GENERAL PLAN CONCERNING FLOOR AREA RATIO AND PREFERRED
USED AND DESIGNS AND ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENT, MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
WHEREAS, at its meeting on June 20, 2017, the City Council approved a budget for expanding the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) and Placeworks, Inc.’s scope of work to include “planning and environmental services for the development of a planning document to effectively support revitalization of the Artesia & Aviation Corridors” (Artesia & Aviation Corridors Area Plan – AACAP); and
WHERAS, the GPAC held multiple public meetings, reviewed multiple technical studies and community survey results, and reached consensus on a Draft AACAP that was released for public input and forwarded to the Planning Commission for their consideration; and WHEREAS, in 2019 and 2020 multiple additional public meetings and workshops were held with the general public including residents, business owners/operators, the North Redondo Beach Business Association (NRBBA), and other interested parties to answer questions, and receive comments, and input. Additionally, between February 21, 2020 and March 31, 2020 a survey hosted on the City's website requesting input from the public on the proposed Draft AACAP was completed by 156 respondents; and
WHEREAS, on July 16, 2020, August 20, 2020, and September 17, 2020 the Planning Commission held public meetings and recommended that the City Council consider the Draft AACAP; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held public hearings on September 24, 2020, October 6, 2020, November 26, 2020, and December 8, 2020, to consider the AACAP; and WHEREAS, at their October 6, 2020 public hearing the City Council requested consultant proposals (inclusive of necessary environmental reviews/document) for the following:
An amendment to the Redondo Beach Zoning Ordinance that serves to “activate” the AACAP;
Amend the “Office” development standards to allow office on the ground floor of properties zoned C-2-PD pedestrian-oriented commercial zone; and
Create options and flexibility in the City’s parking regulations.
WHEREAS, on December 8, 2020, the City Council approved Resolution No. CC-2010- 074, a resolution of the City of Redondo Beach adopting the Artesia & Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP), which defines a number of strategies and implementable actions that will guide GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 3258-23
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the future revitalization of the area, including an increase in allowed floor area ratio (F.A.R.) from
0.50 to 0.60, physical placemaking enhancements, connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods, parking strategies, and new gathering spaces to create a sense of “place and character”.
WHEREAS, at their meetings on April 6, 2021 and April 20, 2021 the City Council approved services agreements with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for the preparation of amendments to the Redondo Beach Municipal Code and General Plan to implement the Artesia and Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP) and a parking study with recommendations for revisions to the City’s parking regulations related to AACAP, as well as the required associated environmental documents pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the City has completed (and intends to adopt) a draft Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS MND). The ISMND discloses potential environmental impacts concerning Cultural Resources associated with the proposed project and recommends mitigation measures to reduce the identified impacts to less than significant levels. On April 27, 2023 the City advertised a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project. Within the NOI the City invited the public to submit written comments on issues related to potential environmental impacts during a comment period, which started on April 27, 2023 and concludes on May 30, 2023. No comments on the proposed IS MND have been received to date.
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2023, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing, took public testimony, and considered the draft General Plan amendments that serve to implement and make consistent the AACAP with the General Plan and Redondo Beach Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, at their duly noticed public hearing on June 1, 2023, the Planning Commission determined to recommend that the City Council adopt the General Plan amendments that serve to implement and make consistent the AACAP with the General Plan and Redondo Beach Municipal Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY FIND AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS
1. In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as amended (CEQA), and State and local guidelines adopted pursuant thereto, the City has prepared an Initial Study to determine the proposed project’s potential impact on the environment. The City has determined that the project may have a significant effect on the environment (Cultural Resources). However, with implementation of the identified mitigation measures below, the project's potential impacts upon the City’s Cultural Resources would be reduced to less than significant levels. Accordingly, the adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration includes the following mitigation. a. CUL-1 Historical Resources Assessment. A historical resources evaluation shall be prepared for any discretionary project involving the demolition or physical alteration of any building, structure, object, or other built environment feature that is 45 years of age or older.
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b. CUL-2 Archaeological Resources Assessment. Prior to approval of any discretionary development projects involving ground disturbance activities that may include, but are not limited to, pavement removal, potholing, grubbing, tree removal, excavations, and grading, an archaeological resources assessment shall be performed under the supervision of an archaeologist that meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards (PQS) in either prehistoric or historic archaeology.
c. CUL-3 Unanticipated Discoveries. If cultural resources are encountered during ground-disturbing activities associated with individual development projects, work in the immediate area shall be halted and an archaeologist meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for archaeology in either prehistoric or historic archaeology shall be contacted immediately to evaluate the find.
2. The amendments to the General Plan are consistent with the regulations and procedures pursuant to Redondo Beach Municipal Code Title 10, Chapter 2 Section 10-2.2505, “General Plan and Specific Plan amendments.”
3. The amendments to the General Plan are consistent with the City’s General Plan in that the proposed amendments are necessary to implement and make consistent the General Plan with the revitalization strategies included within the Artesia & Aviation Corridors Area Plan as approved and adopted by resolution by the City Council on December 8, 2020.
a. Land Use Element Goal 1H. Continue and enhance existing commercial districts which contribute revenue to the City and are compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods.
4. The amendments to the General Plan are consistent with the Artesia & Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP) as they serve to “activate” the AACAP, amend the “Office” development standards, and implement a number of strategies and actions that will guide the future revitalization of the area, including an increase in allowed floor area ratio (F.A.R.) from 0.50 to 0.60, physical placemaking enhancements, connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods, incentivize restaurants and outdoor dining areas, and develop new gathering spaces to create a sense of “place and character”.
5. These amendments do not require a vote of the people under Article XXVII of the City Charter.
SECTION 2. RECITALS. The above recitals are true and correct, and the recitals are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full.
SECTION 3. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element (Page 2-8) Table 2 – Land Use Plan Classifications, Maximum Density/Intensity for C-2 Land Use. (NOTE:
Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout) Floor area ratio: 0.50; 0.60 in the Artesia and Aviation Corridors Areal Plan area only.
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SECTION 4. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element (Page 2-26) Artesia Boulevard. General Corridor (second, third, and fourth paragraphs). (NOTE: Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout)
ARTESIA BOULEVARD
General Corridor
Artesia Boulevard is the main commercial corridor of North Redondo. It originally developed as a typical "strip" commercial street with mostly one-story buildings with adjacent surface parking. Many of the older buildings have parking located in the rear, while more recent developments have parking located in the front and/or side.
Typical for a commercial street of its era, Artesia Boulevard still tends to be a collection of small individual developments, many of which lack physical coordination with adjoining properties. Because of this, a focus has been placed on revitalization through coordinated improvements and development. The City is undertaking an ambitious improvement program, inclusive of the adopted Artesia & Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP)(December 8, 2020), to create an attractive, coordinated appearance along the entire length of the corridor.
In addition to establishing policies to assure quality design, the principal strategy for Artesia Boulevard is to divide the corridor into four sub-areas and to implement the AACAP. The sub-areas and the AACAP This has been done in an attempt to change Artesia Boulevard from a long, largely undifferentiated corridor into distinct sub-areas, each with its own functional and design emphasis. Each sub-area was and the AACAP were developed to be compatible with the prevailing character of existing development and to enhance trends that were already occurring.
The implementation of these sub-areas and the AACAP should allow future development in each area to be more coordinated and compatible, while creating a discernible pattern of diversity as one travels the length of the corridor.
SECTION 5. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element Pages (2-28 and 2-29) Policy 1.15.8. (NOTE: Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout)
Policy 1.15.8. Require that the renovation of existing structures or new development on sites where parking lots currently extend to Mathews Avenue and Vanderbilt Lane restrict their vehicular access to Artesia Boulevard, unless there are no feasible alternatives, and that areas facing, abutting, or exposed to residential areas be extensively landscaped to include a screen wall (with pedestrian/bicycle access if agreed upon by all impacted property owners) incorporating evergreen plant material (covering a majority of the wall within a one year period) (I1.1).
SECTION 6. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element (2-111 and 2- 112) Policy 1.57.6. and Policy 1.57.7 (NOTE: Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout)
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Policy 1.57.6 Require that the renovation of existing structures or new development onsite is served by parking lots located on adjacent residentially-zoned property restrict the vehicular access to such parking areas to the commercial zone frontage, unless there are no feasible alternatives, and that areas facing, abutting, or exposed to residential areas be extensively landscaped to include a screen wall (with pedestrian/bicycle access if agreed upon by all impacted property owners) incorporating evergreen plant material (covering a majority of the wall within a one-year period) (I1.1, I1.7, I1.18).
Policy 1.57.7 Allow parking lots by conditional use permit in residential districts where the lot is contiguous to or separated by an alley from the commerciallyzoned property served by the parking lot, provided that there is no adverse impact on surrounding residential properties and that areas facing, abutting, or exposed to residential areas be extensively landscaped to include a screen wall (with pedestrian/bicycle access if agreed upon by all impacted property owners) incorporating evergreen plant material (covering a majority of the wall within a one year period) (I1.1, I1.7, I1.18).
SECTION 7. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element: (Page 2-30) (Paragraph 3) Sub-Area 2: Pedestrian-Oriented, Community-Serving Commercial Center-Phelan to Rindge Lane, and (Page 2-31) Policy 1.17.2 and Policy 1.17.4 (NOTE: Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout)
This three-block section in the central portion of the corridor has been designated as an area with a "pedestrian-oriented" design character ("C-2-PD"). As it implies, "pedestrianoriented" design is intended to create an environment that will foster pedestrian circulation among businesses once a person has arrived in the area. Pedestrian-oriented areas are considered to be desirable in certain locations both as a means to provide diversity in design character and to provide a different type of shopping experience and environment.
Pedestrian-orientation is accomplished through policies related to design and permitted uses. In terms of design, buildings are to be located close to the sidewalk to provide interest and stimulation to pedestrians, and to de-emphasize the presence of autos.
Design details such as signs and windows are also specifically geared to the pedestrian view.
In terms of uses, emphasis is placed on commercial businesses that are not strictly destination-oriented, or uses that can generate walk-in business/pedestrian activity.
Typical examples would include book stores, apparel stores, specialty retail, restaurants and food stores. Offices, which tend to be more destination-oriented, are only allowed toward the rear or above the ground floor of buildings.
It is important in pedestrian-oriented areas for adjoining developments to be designed in a coordinated manner that will promote a continuation of pedestrian circulation along the street and between the developments. Related to this, pedestrian-oriented areas usually need to be confined to a somewhat limited area since persons are generally not willing to circulate long distances on foot (i.e. more than a few blocks from where they have parked).
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A final criteria is that an area should already possess some of the elements that are reflective of pedestrian-orientation. In the case of this segment of Artesia Boulevard, a large proportion of the existing buildings are situated close to the sidewalk. In addition, the character of many of the businesses are compatible with pedestrian-oriented areas.
Because of this, future development should work together with existing development to promote and enhance a pedestrian-oriented character.
Policy 1.17.2. Encourage professional/business and medical office Accommodate professional, finance, insurance, real estate, and other offices at the rear or on the second level of structures whose ground floor frontage is occupied by pedestrian-active retail or similar uses on parcels designated as “C-2-PD” (I1.1).
Policy 1.17.4. Permit development to a maximum intensity of a floor area ratio of 0.5
0.60 and height of two stories (30 feet) (I1.1).
SECTION 8. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element (Page 2-34) Sub-Area 3: Mixed-Use Corridor-Blossom to West of Flagler Lane, Policy 1.18.4 (NOTE:
Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout) Policy 1.18.4. Permit development of sites exclusively for commercial uses to a maximum intensity of a floor area ratio of 0.5 0.60 and height of two stories (30 feet) (I1.1).
SECTION 9. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element (Page 2-36) Sub-Area 4: Community- and Highway-Related Corridors-Remaining Areas, Policy 1.19.2 (NOTE: Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout) Policy 1.19.2. Permit development of sites exclusively for commercial uses to a maximum intensity of a floor area ratio of 0.5 0.60 and height of two stories (30 feet) (I1.1).
SECTION 10. TEXT AMENDMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN. Land Use Element (Pages 2-61, 2-62, and 2-63) Aviation Boulevard, and Objective 1.31, Policy 1.31.1, Policy 1.31.3, and Policy
1.31.4. (NOTE: Additions are noted as underlined and deletions are noted in strikeout) The stretch of Aviation Boulevard from Aviation Boulevard south to Harper Avenue, designated "C-2," has been historically developed with highway-oriented commercial uses, including a number of auto related uses. The General Plan continues to maintain the same highway-oriented commercial function for Aviation Boulevard with the inclusion of policies to enhance the quality and appearance of future development and pursue the programs and strategies outlined in the AACAP.
Objective 1.31. Provide for the continued development of Aviation Boulevard as a localserving commercial corridor containing a diversity of retail, personal service, office, restaurants with outdoor dining, and similar uses which are primarily oriented to the needs of and accessible to nearby residents.
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Policy 1.31.1. Accommodate retail, professional office, restaurant with outdoor dining, and other community and neighborhood serving land uses as prescribed in Policy 1.16.1 on parcels designated as “C-2” (I 1.1).
Policy 1.31.3. Permit development of sites exclusively for commercial uses to a maximum intensity of a floor area ratio of 0.5 0.60 and height of two stories (30 feet) (I1.1).
Policy 1.31.4. Require that projects be designed and developed to achieve a high level of quality and distinctive character in accordance with the policies which pertain to the use and/or site for architecture (1.53.1+), signage (1.54.1+), site design (1.55.1+), streetscape and public amenity (1.56.1+), interface of differing uses (1.57+), and physical and functional adequacy (1.58+) and standards outlined in the Artesia and Aviation Corridor Area Plan (I1.1, I1.10, I 1.18).
SECTION 11. INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS. Any provisions of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code, or appendices thereto, or any other ordinances of the City inconsistent herewith, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 12. SEVERANCE. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this general plan amendment is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the general plan amendment. The City Council shall declare that it would have passed this general plan amendment and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 13. This General Plan Amendment shall be published by one insertion in the official newspaper of said city, and same shall go into effect and be in full force and operation from and after thirty (30) days after its final passage and adoption.
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GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 3258-23
ARTESIA & AVIATION CORRIDORS AREA PLAN GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of July, 2023 _______________________________
William C. Brand, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
______________________________ ______________________________ Michael W. Webb, City Attorney Eleanor Manzano, CMC, City Clerk GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 3258-23
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH )
I, Eleanor Manzano, City Clerk of the City of Redondo Beach, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 3258-23 was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 11th day of July, 2023 and approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Redondo Beach, California, at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the 18th day of July, 2023, and there after signed and approved by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk, and that said Ordinance was adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN
_________________________
Eleanor Manzano, CMC
City Clerk