RESOLUTION N0. 22- 21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION PREPARED FOR THE PROJECT AND APPROVING MASTER CASE 21- 088 ( GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 21- 001), AMENDING THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND THE SAFETY ELEMENT OF THE
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA' S GENERAL PLAN
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS OF FACT. The City Council doeshereby make the following findings of fact:
a. On June 14, 2011, the City Council adoptedthe SantaClarita GeneralPlan, by adoption of Resolution No. 11- 61. The General Plan includes the state mandated elements required by the State of California, including the Housing Element and the Safety Element.
b. On October 22, 2013, the City Council adoptedthe 2013-2021 Housing Element. c. The State of California Government Code Section 65588 requires the review and adoption of a Housing Element that is updatedaccording to the SouthernCalifornia Association of Governments Regional Housing Needs Assessment ( RHNA) planning cycle.
d. Following receipt of grant funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development ( HCD) under the Planning Grants Program provisions of Senate Bill ( SB) 2, the City Council authorized a contract with the City of Santa Clarita' s ( City) consulting team of 4LEAF, Inc., and Rincon Consultants, Inc., on January 26, 2021, to prepare the updates to the Housing Element (" Housing Element Update" or " 2021- 2029 Housing Element") and the Safety Element. e. The proposed project is identified as Maser Case 21- 088 ( project), consisting of General Plan Amendment 21- 001, which includes updates to the Housing Element and the Safety Element of the City' s General Plan to ensureconsistencywith all State of California requirements.
f. The State of California Government Code Section 65583( c)( 9) requires that local jurisdictions make a diligent effort to achievepublic participation of all economic segments of the community in the development of the Housing Element, and the Housing Element must describe this effort. Public outreach was conducted to allow and encouragemeaningful public participation. Staff and consultants made use of multiple digital platforms to facilitate public input. Public participation included the establishment of the Housing Element Update website in March 2021; stakeholder interviews between January2021 and September2021; an online community opinion
surveythat was conductedin English and Spanishin the spring of 2021; a virtual communityworkshopto introducemajorelementsof theHousingElementUpdate process on April 29, 2021; the distribution of informational flyers at City libraries and on the City' s buses; a study sessionmeeting with the Planning Commission on June 15, 2021; and a City Council Development Committee meeting on March 30, 2022. Concernsraisedduringthesepublicparticipationeventswereaddressedin the 2021-2029 Housing Element and Safety Element updates.
g. On October 29, 2021, the complete public review Draft Housing Element Update was released, emailed to interested parties, and made available on the City' s website. h. On November 12, 2021, a draft of the Housing Element Update was submitted to HCD for its 60-day review.
i. On January 11, 2022, a comment letter from HCD on their review of the Draft 2021- 2029 Housing Element was received by staff. Revisions to the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element havebeen madepursuantto HCD' s commentsand the document has been updated to comply with State Housing Element Law. j . The City Council acknowledgesthat comments on the Draft Housing Element providedby HCD will beconsideredandincorporatedasappropriateprior to final adoption of the 2021-2029 Housing Element by City Council, in compliance with state law.
k. In accordance with California Government Code Section 65302. 5, the updated Safety Element was submitted to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection ( BOF) and the California Geological Survey for review. On January 18, 2022, the Resource Protection Committee of the BOF completed its review and assessment of the updated Safety Element and determined it meetsthe requirementsof Government Code Section 65302.
1. The Planning Commission held a duly -noticed public hearing on April 5, 2022, in accordance with the City' s noticing requirements. The public hearing for the Housing Element and Safety Element updateswas advertisedin The Signal newspaperon March 15, 2022. The public hearing was held at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m.
m. At the public hearing held on April 5, 2022, the Planning Commission received City staff spresentationsummarizingtheproposedproject, conductedthepublic hearing, andreceivedpublic testimony regarding the project andthe Negative Declaration prepared for the project. The Planning Commission, in a 5- 0 vote, recommended the City CounciladopttheNegativeDeclarationpreparedfor theprojectandadoptthe Housing Element and Safety Element Updates. Included in their recommendation was a request to make a minor revision to the Safety Element clarifying the service area for the Pitchess Detention Center. ....
n. The City Council held a duly -noticed public hearing on May 10, 2022, in accordance with the City' s noticing requirements. The public hearing for the Housing Element
and Safety Element updateswas advertisedin The Signal newspaperon April 19, 2022. The public hearing was held at City Hall, 23 920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, at 6:00 p.m.
o. At the public hearing held on May 10, 2022, the City Council received City staff s presentationsummarizingtheproposedproject, conductedthepublic hearing, and receivedpublic testimonyregardingtheprojectandtheNegativeDeclaration preparedfor the project.
p. Based upon the staff presentation, staff report, andpublic commentsand testimony, the City Council finds that the project will not adversely affect the health, peace, comfort, or welfare of personsresiding in the area; nor will the project jeopardize, endanger or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health, safety, or general welfare.
q. The location of the documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedingsupon which the decision of the City Council is basedfor the Master Case 21-088projectfile is with theCommunityDevelopmentDepartment; the record specificallyis in thecustodyof theDirectorof CommunityDevelopment.
SECTION 2. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings, the City Council hereby find asfollows:
a.
An Initial StudyandaNegativeDeclarationfor this projecthavebeenpreparedin compliancewith theCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct (CEQA). b. TheDraft Initial Studyhasbeencirculatedfor reviewandcommentby affected governmental agencies and the public, and all comments received have been considered. TheDraft NegativeDeclarationwasadvertisedandpostedon December 16, 2021, in accordance with CEQA. The public review period wasopen from December 16, 2021, through January 18, 2022.
c. A Final Initial Study, which includes responses to comments and revisions to the Draft Initial Study (Errata), was prepared, published for public review, and sentto all commenters on March 18, 2022.
d. There is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment. TheNegativeDeclarationreflectstheindependentjudgmentof theCity. e.
Thedocumentsandothermaterialwhich constitutetherecordof proceedingsupon whichthedecisionof theCity Councilis madeis theMasterCase21-088projectfile, locatedwithintheCommunityDevelopmentDepartmentandisin thecustodyof the Director of Community Development.
f. The City Council, based upon the findings set forth above, hereby finds that the NegativeDeclarationfor this projecthasbeenpreparedin compliancewith CEQA.
SECTION 3. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR MASTER CASE 21- 088. Based on the foregoing facts andfindings for Master Case 21- 088, theCity Councilherebyfinds asfollows:
a. Theproposalis consistentwith theGeneralPlan.
The project is consistent with the General Plan' s objectives, policies, and procedures. The proposedupdatetotheHousingElementandtheSafetyElementoftheCity'sGeneral Planensuresconsistencywith all requirementsof theStateof CaliforniaGovernment Code. Theamendmentsto theHousingElementandSafetyElementwould notresultin amendmentsto any other elementsof the General Plan.
b. Theproposalisallowedwithintheapplicableunderlyingzoneandcomplieswithall other applicable provisions of this code.
TheproposedamendmentstotheHousingElementandSafetyElementwouldnotresult in any GeneralPlan land use changes or zoning changes. No changes to the land use map orzoningmapwerenecessarytoaccommodatetheCity'sRHNAallocation. Future residential development is expectedto occur in those areasalready identified for residential uses.
c. Theproposal will not endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public convenience, health, interest, safety, or general welfare, or be materially detrimental or injurious to the improvements, persons, property, or uses in the vicinity and zonein which theproperty is located.
Nothing contained in the proposedamendmentswould endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public. Theproposedamendmentsto theHousingElementand SafetyElementconsistof updatesasrequiredbystatelawandwouldnotbematerially detrimental or injurious to the improvements, persons, property, or uses in the vicinity. d. Theproposal isphysically suitable for the site. Thefactors related to theproposal' s physical suitability for the site shall include, but are not limited to, thefollowing:
1. The design, location, shape, size, and operating characteristics are suitablefor the proposed use.
2. Thehighwaysor streetsthatprovideaccessto thesiteareof sufficientwidthandare improvedasnecessarytocarrythekindandquantityoftrafficsuchproposalwould generate.
3. Public protection service ( e. g., Fire protection, Sheriff protection, etc.) are readily available.
4. Theprovision of utilities ( e.g. potable water, schools, solid waste collection and disposal, storm drainage, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal, etc.) is adequate to serve the site.
The proposal is physically suitable for the site in terms of location, shape, size, and operating characteristics. Theproposedamendmentsto theHousingElementandSafety
Elementconsistof updatesasrequiredbystatelaw. Nochangestothelandusemapor zoning map were necessaryto accommodatethe City' s RHNA allocation. Future residentialdevelopmentis expectedto occurin thoseareasalreadyidentifiedfor residential uses. Furthermore, theCity conductedoutreachwith publicprotectionservice and utility providers asa part of the Project and incorporated commentsreceived in the HousingandSafetyElementUpdates. Nothingin theproposedamendmentswould increase the need for fire or police protection services, or increase demand for utilities.
SECTION 4. FINDINGS FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 21-001. Based on the above findings of fact and recitals and the entire record, including, without limitation, oral and written testimony and other evidence received at the public hearings, reports and other transmittals from City staff to the City Council, anduponstudiesandinvestigationsmadeby the City Council, the City Council finds as follows:
a. The proposed General Plan amendment meetsall of thefindings per Section] 7. 06. 130 Findings and Decision).
TheproposedGeneralPlanamendmentmeetsall of thefindingsperSection17.06.130, as summarized in Section 3, above.
b. Properties which benefitfrom increaseddensity or intensity of developmentresulting from the General Plan amendmentshall fully mitigate their increasedsewer impact at the time that developmentoccurs on theproperties.
Theproposedamendmentsto theHousingElementandSafetyElementconsistof updates as required by state law. No changes to the land use map or zoning map were necessary to accommodate the City' s RHNA allocation. Future residential development is expected to occur in those areasalready identified for residential uses. c. In addition, the City Council shall makeat least one of thefollowing findings:
1. TheproposedGeneralPlan amendmentis consistentwith otherelementsof theCity's General Plan pursuant to Government CodeSection 65300.5.
2. The proposed General Plan amendment, if applicable, responds to changes in state and/or federal law pursuant to GovernmentCodeSection 65300.9.
3. TheproposedGeneralPlan amendmenthasbeenreferredto theCountyof Los Angeles and any adjacent cities abutting or affected by theproposed action, the Local Agency Formation Commission, and anyfederal agencywhoseoperations or lands may be affected by theproposed decisionpursuant to GovernmentCode Section 65352.
TheproposedGeneralPlanamendmentconsistingof updatesto theHousingElementand SafetyElementincluderevisionsto ensureconsistencywith all requirementsof theState of California Government Code. The amendmentsto the Housing Element and Safety Element are consistent with the other elementsof the City' s General Plan. As a part of the outreach for the General Plan amendment and the CEQA process, the proposed
amendments were referred to the applicable county, state, and federal agencies. Input doom received, if any, was incorporated into the applicable documents. d. Additional findings for the Housing Element Update include the following:
1. TheproposedamendmentstotheHousingElementareconsistentwithGovernment Code Section 65583, which statesthata HousingElementis amandatoryelementof theGeneralPlanandshallconsistof anidentificationandanalysisof existingand projected housing needsand a statement of goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and a scheduleof programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing.
2. TheproposedGeneralPlanamendmentisnecessarytoupdatetheHousingElement in order to reflect the adequate sites for housing, including rental housing, factory - built housing, and mobile homes, and shall make adequateprovisions for the existing andprojectedneedsof all economicsegmentsof thecommunity.
3. TheHousingElementdescribesexistingandprojectedhousinginventoriesand opportunities for additional housing within the planning area.
4. The Housing Element determinesthe extent of housing needsin the community and planning area.
5. TheHousingElementdescribesmethodsfor solvinghousingdeficienciesand providingtheCityanditsplanningareawithsufficienthousingatall incomelevels.
6. The information which is the subject of this GeneralPlan amendmentis consistent with all other provisions of the Housing Element.
SECTION 5. The City Council hereby approvesMaster Case 21- 088, consisting of General Plan Amendment 21- 001, adoptingtheNegativeDeclarationpreparedfor theproject and allowing for the amendmentof the Housing Element and SafetyElement, as shown in the Housing Element Update (Exhibit A) andthe Safety Element Update (Exhibit B).
SECTION 6. TheCityClerkshallcertifytotheadoptionof thisresolutionandcertify this record to be a full, complete, and correct copy of the action taken.
PASSED, APPROVED, ANDADOPTEDthis1Othdayof May, 2022.
o
d'
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
DATE:__
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Mary Cusick, CityClerkof theCityof SantaClarita, doherebycertifythatthe foregoing Resolution No. 22-21wasdulyadoptedbytheCityCouncilof theCityof Santa Clarita at a regularmeetingthereof, heldonthe1Othof May, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Miranda, Gibbs, McLean, Smyth, Weste NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
CITY CLERK
EXHIBIT A
HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE ( HEARING DRAFT)
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
DOCUMENT CAN BE FOUND AT
htti) s:// www. santa- clarita. com/ housin elemerit
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EXHIBIT B
SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE ( HEARING DRAFT)
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
DOCUMENT CAN BE FOUND AT
htt s:// ww- w. santa- clarita. convi--lome/' showdocument? id= 2I0 i 8& t= 637S5888660411 S7b