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GENERAL PLAN, DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN, DEVELOPMENT CODE,
AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
WORK COMPLETED TO DATE AND PROJECT STATUS
April 8, 2024
OVERVIEW
The schedule for completion of the General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, Development Code, and Environmental Impact Report has been impacted by many factors. Firstly, there have been significant changes in the contractual scope of work, work products, and level of staff and consultant effort required to address new legislation enacted by the State regarding Plan content. Secondly, the legal challenges to the submittal and content of the Housing Element have posed additional challenges and new strategies. Thirdly, the extended time period allocated for public review and comment on the draft updated Land Use Plan Diagram have to be accommodated, and lastly, the shift from online public events during the pandemic to in person workshops and events have required additional coordination.
Specifically, the time frame for preparation a 2021-2029 Housing Element that would successfully receive a statement of compliance with Housing Law from the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) exceeded the project schedule incorporated in the contractual agreement and required the reassignment of City staff from other programmed General Plan work tasks. Ultimately, the Housing Element required a different approach than originally envisioned. Due to multiple lawsuits from the ACLU, Inland Counties, Public Law, and California Attorney General’s office, the City’s schedule was subject to a stipulated judgement. The City successfully achieved its stipulated timeline and adopted a compliant Housing Element, even though one-third of all cities in the southern California region are still out of compliance with state law. The City also successfully navigated new challenges to the Housing Element, including fair housing laws and multiple reviews by HCD.
With HCD’s certification, the project team can now move forward with completing the remaining work tasks and products and anticipate that these can be published for public review in late 2024.
SUMMARY OF PROGRESS IN COMPLETING WORK PRODUCTS
The following summarizes the status of the principal work products described in the approved Scope of Work and modifications approved and/or otherwise directed by the City of San Berardino:
Task 1: Project Foundation, Initiation, and Coordination Since project inception, over 500 conference calls and in-person and Zoom project coordination meetings have been conducted with City staff, considerably exceeding those specified in the
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contractual agreement between the City and PlaceWorks. Regularly scheduled project management calls are scheduled weekly, in addition to the meetings/calls to address specific work products.
Task 2: Existing Conditions Background Report
The completed products of this task encompass a series of technical studies documenting the baseline of data and analyses that contribute to the description of issues and opportunities to be addressed in writing the General Plan’s goals, policies, and implementation programs. Their narratives, tables, charts, maps, and other content also provide the substantive foundation for the Existing Setting section of the project’s Environmental Impact Report. These studies are documented in the project files and generally address the following topics:
a. Population and Demographics.
b. Land Use: Existing uses, general plan and zoning designations and standards, pending and approved development projects, opportunity areas for change, and implications for climate change.
c. Housing: Incorporates all information required by State Law including assessment of existing housing and needs, constraints, fair housing, sites, and existing programs. (Note that this database was incorporated into the HCD approved Housing Element). d. Historic Resources: Historical perspective, identification and mapping of historic sites and buildings.
e. Infrastructure and Public Services: Mobility and circulation (automobile, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian; traffic volumes; vehicle miles traveled), police and fire, parks and recreation, and education/schools.
f. Economy and Jobs: Structure of the local economy, national trends, labor force, economic development assets, and market demands (residential, commercial, industrial, and visitor- serving).
g. Natural Environment: Biological resources, critical species, and habitat; cultural resources; air quality; and climate change.
h. Hazards and Vulnerability: Geology and seismicity, flooding, fire and wind, evacuation routes, and noise.
i. Environmental Justice: A health and environmental justice included documentation of key health conditions of residents, disadvantaged areas subject to pollution, and an assessment of the condition of physical, economic, social, and other determinants of health.
Task 3: Public Outreach Strategy
More than 90 public engagement stakeholder meetings, workshops, pop-up events, webpage surveys, and other meetings have been completed to date. Among these are:
a. Ward-Based Workshops. Two rounds of workshops were conducted in each of the seven City Council Wards; the first providing the opportunity for the community to discuss their perceptions of citywide and local issues, needs, and opportunities and provide input for developing a vision for the future and the second engaging participants an interactive exercise 3 | P a g e
to identify locations in their Ward where new housing, commercial, and other development and parklands should be targeted. This input was used in developing the preliminary land use plan diagram.
b. Downtown Workshops: Three workshops have been conducted in developing a vision and preliminary land use and urban form plans mobility, infrastructure, and public realm/open space plans, development standards, design guidelines, and implementation programs. c. Pop-Up Workshops. The planning team hosted “pop-up” events, or interactive exercises, at five scheduled community events to gather public input about topics relevant to the General Plan. These included the San Bernardino Food Fest, Back to School Extravaganza, UPLIFT San Bernardino Community Block Party, Annual Rendezvous Back to Route 66, and SCAG’s Go Human Kit of Parts.
d. General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC). To date, 18 meetings have been conducted with the committee appointed by the Mayor and City Council as the key public body providing input for the development of a vison statement, land use and mobility plans and goals, policies, and implementation programs for each of the General Plan Elements. e. Downtown Advisory Committee (DTAC). To date, eight meetings have been conducted with the committee appointed by the Mayor and City Council to be the primary public body providing input to and promoting community participation for the preparation of the Downtown Specific Plan.
f. The Community Guide to Planning Initiative. Involved the conduct of two multi-day sessions to enable residents to learn about the history of planning, planning tools, and the decision- making process as the foundation for their providing informed input in the visioning and land use planning workshops.
g. Community-Based Organizations. Several meetings were conducted with Community Based Organizations to elicit their support in announcing and attracting participation in the public workshops and, in two cases, serve as facilitators of meetings for which the planning team provided talking points and interactive exercises.
h. Schools. The planning team collaborated with the faculty of two local schools in designing and conducting interactive exercises for the students to create their plans for how lands should be developed in the future.
i. Website. A project website was developed and continues to be periodically updated providing information about the planning project’s purposes and processes, describes how the public can keep informed and be involved, announces dates and locations for participation activities, posts documents developed in the planning process, incorporates surveys for public comment on issues raised and response to draft documents, provides a library of resources including legislative requirements, guidelines, and relevant existing planning documents, and contact information for those seeking additional information. j. Social Media. The City’ s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram provided updates regarding key planning issues and notices of workshops and events.
Task 4. Vision Statement
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The Vision Statement lays the foundation for the development of goals, policies, and implementation programs of the updated General Plan. It is not a statement about today but envisions how the City can evolve based on the needs and values of its residents expressed through multiple forums of public conversation and input. The Vision Statement was adopted by the San Bernardino City Council on March 16, 2022
Task 5. Land Use Plan Update
Working in collaboration with the GPAC, the planning team developed a preliminary updated Land Use Plan Diagram depicting the types, densities/intensities, and development standards to be permitted to the year 2050. It targets growth in the downtown, along transit corridors, and key neighborhood centers and represents a considerable departure in its categorization of uses and densities from the existing plan. These include opportunities and standards for the development of housing in areas historically zoned for commercial and office uses, consistent with recent State legislation. The preliminary Land Use Plan diagram was confirmed by the GPAC at its July 2022 meeting and is posted on the project website for public review and comment.
Task 6. General Plan Update
General Plan Elements Goals, Policies, and Implementation Programs Draft goals, policies, and implementation programs have been completed for the following General Plan Elements:
a. Economic Development: Economic Development Program; Local Economy and Regional Jobs; Economic Activity Centers, Districts, and Corridors; Supporting Personnel and Social Potential, and Fiscal Resilience.
b. Public Facilities and Services: Police and Fire, Education, Visual and Performing Arts, Municipal Facilities and Services.
c. Parks, Recreation, and Trails: Parkland Resources, Programming and Engagement, Park and Facilities Design, Multi-Purpose Trails, and Funding.
d. Conservation and Open Space: Sustainable Development, Biological Resources, Mineral Resources, and Air Quality.
e. Energy and Water Conservation
f. Historic and Archaeological Resources: Preservation and Protection of Historic Resources, Funding, Community Involvement and Education, and Archaeological Resources Protection. g. Safety: Emergency Preparedness and Response, Hazardous Materials and Waste, Flooding and Dam Inundation, Geologic and Seismic Hazards, Wind Hazards, Fire Hazards, Climate Change Hazards.
Preliminary drafts were prepared, reviewed and confirmed with City staff, presented to the GPAC, and revised drafts prepared incorporating revisions in response to GPAC and public comments. These are considered to be 95 percent complete and will be incorporated into the public draft General Plan.
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Housing Element
The 2021-2029 City of San Bernadino Housing Element update was completed and adopted in compliance with state law. The Housing Element update also satisfies the conditions set forth in the Stipulated Final Judgement and Order in Gracia et al v. City of San Bernardino, 2023 that was entered into with the California Attorney General and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Housing Element is the product of dozens of meetings with residents, community leaders, stakeholders, and litigants in San Bernardino, including multiple drafts submitted to HCD and extensive analysis of the community’ s needs and vision. The Plan addresses the existing and future housing needs for all residents that will also include the production of 8,123 new housing units.
As part of the Housing Element update, the following items were completed:
• Annual Housing Progress Report (2021, 2022, and 2023) • Existing Conditions Report, Housing Needs Assessment (2022) • Draft 2021-2029 City of San Bernardino Housing Element (2023) • Revised drafts (3) of the Housing Element to HCD (2023) • Adopted 2021-2029 City of San Bernardino Housing Element (2024) In addition, additional ordinances and programs were drafted:
• Updated the Density Bonus ordinance
• Rezoned land to accommodate new housing
• Deleted the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
• Created a new Rental Property Maintenance Program
• Amended the emergency shelter overlay
• Approved emergency shelter projects (Navigation Center, Lutheran Services) • Approved several affordable housing products
Looking forward to 2024, the City will be updating the Development Code to facilitate and encourage the development of housing, including affordable housing.
Task 7. Draft Comprehensive General Plan
General Plan layout and design templates have been completed and submitted to City staff for review.
Task 8. Downtown Specific Plan
The draft Downtown Specific Plan was prepared in consideration of input received from the community in six workshops and pop-up events and eight advisory committee meetings. A multi-day charette was conducted in a downtown venue at which the planning team worked collaboratively with City staff in developing a Vision Statement, land use plan, development standards, and a mobility and infrastructure plan. At periodic points, the charrette was opened for the public, property owners, and business representatives to review and comment on preliminary concepts and recommendations.
Based on the input received and intensive team discussions, a formal draft Specific Plan was 6 | P a g e
completed and submitted to the City for review in July 2022. A second draft was prepared incorporating revisions in response to the comments received and submitted in July 2023. As of this date, the Plan is considered to be 95 percent complete, waiting for recommendations for final edits from City staff.
Task 9. Development Code
The updated Development Code will be prepared and published concurrent with the Draft General Plan document. To address specific concerns regarding the existing Code related to the Housing Element and state legislation adopted subsequent to project initiation, preliminary work has been completed for the following Code sections:
• Completed preparation of Code land use categories and development standards for implementation of the Downtown Specific Plan.
• Consideration of standards to limit the size and distribution of warehousing in selected industrial zones in response to issues raised by the community. • Identification of land use zone classification and development standard revisions that may be necessary for consistency in implementing the updated General Plan Land Use Diagram and Downtown Specific Plan.
• Consideration of Code changes regarding permitted uses and development standards for compliance with SB 6 and AB 2011, which provide for the development of housing in commercial and office zones.
• Completed preliminary objective design standards for housing in commercial and office zones for compliance with SB 6 and AB 2011.
• Reviewed the existing Development Code to establish levels of approval and proposed uses.
Task 10. Program Environmental Impact Report
Prepared an Addendum to the existing General Plan Environmental Impact Report to allow for the adoption of the 2021-2029 Housing Element.
MOVING FORWARD TO PROJECT COMPLETION
The immediate task in moving to project completion is the finalization of the public draft Land Use Plan. This “triggers” a critical path of tasks involving the following:
• City staff review and confirmation of the Draft Land Use Plan. • GPAC meeting to review staff comments and confirm recommended Plan diagram. • Preparation of the Land Use Element’s goals, policies, and implementation programs to reflect the recommended Land Use Plan Diagram.
• Calculation of the “reasonable” buildout of the Land Use Plan as input for preparation of the General Plan Environmental Impact Report and the following technical studies each of which provides the foundation for the preparation of corollary General Plan elements:
Traffic modeling of trip generation, distribution, impacts, and vehicle miles traveled. 7 | P a g e
Noise modeling of the projected traffic volumes
Air quality modeling of the projected traffic volumes. • Preparation of the Mobility Element’s circulation plans (automobile, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian) and goals, policies, and implementation programs correlated with buildout analyses of the draft Land Use Plan Diagram.
• Preparation of the Noise Element’s goals, policies, and implementation programs correlated with traffic impact analyses of the draft Land Use Plan Diagram. • Preparation of the Environmental Justice Element in compliance with the California Attorney General’s Best Practices Guide for SB 1000 (published September 2023) which significantly expands the breadth of analysis beyond the scope described in the contractual work program, clarifies and expands the areas considered disadvantaged, clarifies expectations for significant public input, and requires detailed implementation programs. • Submittal of the completed draft Safety Element to CalFire and State Department of Geology for review and comment.
• Preparation of the Public Draft General Plan incorporating all the above-described elements.
An administrative draft will be submitted for staff review, followed by a screen check draft incorporating revisions in response to staff comments, and any modifications incorporated in a final draft published and posted on the project and City websites for public review. • Preparation of the revised Development Code for consistency with the General Plan Land Use Diagram, applicable policies, and the Downtown Specific Plan. • Preparation, publication, and posting of the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for public review concurrent with the Draft General Plan.
• Following the public review period, the Draft General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, Development Code, and PEIR will be submitted for Planning Commission public hearings and recommendation to forward to the Mayor and City Council for approval. • Mayor and City Council public hearings of the Draft General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, Development Code and PEIR and consideration of Planning Commission recommendations. • Publication and posting of approved plans and certified PEIR.
Based off the outline above, the publication of the Draft General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, Development Code, and PEIR is anticipated for late October or early November of 2024.