RESOLUTION P23-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THE CITY OF SANTA
CLARITA CITY COUNCIL FIND THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIORNMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND APPROVE MASTER CASE 23-006, CONSISTING OF UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 23-001, AMENDING THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AS SHOWN IN EXHIBIT A.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS OF FACT. The Planning Commission does hereby make the following findings of fact:
A. Assembly Bill (AB) 1397 went into effect January 1, 2018, and amended the Housing Element Law (state law), specifically Government Code sections 65580, 65583, and 65583.2;
B. AB 1397 added new requirements for streamlining the permitting of affordable housing projects with at least 20 percent of units allocated for lower-income households on sites included in previous Housing Elements that are reused in the updated sites inventory; C. On May 10, 2022, the City Council adopted the 2021-2029 Housing Element; D. The adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element included Program HP-1.13 in order to comply with state law, which would amend the Unified Development Code (UD) to specify the by-right approval requirements for those specific [sites that have been listed as suitable sites for affordable housing development in previous Housing Elements, if at least 20 percent of units are affordable to lower-income households]; consistent with AB 1397; E. The proposed amendments are attached to Resolution P23-02 as Exhibit A; F. The proposed amendments implement Program HP-1.13 of the 2021-2029 Housing Element;
G. The project was duly noticed in accordance with the public hearing noticing requirements of the Unified Development Code and a 1/8th-page advertisement was placed in The Signal newspaper on January 31, 2023;
H. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on this issue commencing on February 21, 2023, at, or after, 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, California; and
I. At the hearing described above, the Planning Commission considered a staff presentation, Resolution P23-02
Master Case 23-006
the staff report, and public testimony on the proposed amendments.
SECTION 2. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings, the Planning Commission recommends the City Council hereby finds as follows:
A. A Notice of Exemption for this project was prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
B. The project is exempt from CEQA under Article 5 Section 15061(b)(3), the common-sense exemption. The activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. 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, the activity is not subject to CEQA; C. The documents and other material which constitute the record of proceedings upon which the decision of the Planning Commission is made is the Master Case 23-006 project file located within the Community Development Department and is in the custody of the Director of Community Development; and
D. Based upon the findings set forth above, the Planning Commission hereby finds the Notice of Exemption for this project has been prepared in compliance with CEQA.
SECTION 3. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR MASTER CASE 23-006. Based on the foregoing facts and findings for Master Case 23-006, the Planning Commission recommends the City Council hereby finds as follows:
A. The proposal is consistent with the General Plan;
The amendments are consistent with the General Plan 2021-2029 Housing Element adopted by the City Council in May 2022. Specifically, the amendments are consistent with Housing Element Goal HI, and will implement Housing Element Program HP-1.13 to ensure the City's compliance with Government Code § 65583:
Goal HI: Identify and maintain adequate sites to accommodate the City's regional housing need through the planning period.
Program HP-1.13: Sites Identified in Multiple Planning Periods.
Government Code § 65583 requires analysis and justification of the sites included in the sites inventory of the City's Housing Element.
The Housing Element may only count non-vacant sites included in Resolution P23-02
Master Case 23-006
one previous Housing Element inventory and vacant sites included in two previous Housing Elements if the sites are subject to a program that allows affordable housing by right. The Unified Development Code will be amended for housing sites used for multiple Housing Elements and allow by-right approval requirements if at least 20 percent of units are affordable to lower income households to ensure compliance with Government Code § 65583.
B. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone and complies with all other applicable provisions of this code;
The amendments comply with the provisions of the UDC. The proposed amendments would not change the General Plan land use or Zoning designation for any properties. No changes to the development densities or development regulations are proposed.
C. The proposal 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 zone in which the property is located; and
Nothing contained in the proposed amendments would endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public. The proposed amendments consist of updates to the UDC that are intended to implement the programs outlined in the 2021-2029 Housing Element and maintain compliance with recent updates to Housing Element laws.
D. The proposal is physically suitable for the site. The factors related to the proposal's physical suitability for the site shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. The design, location, shape, size, and operating characteristics are suitable for the proposed use;
2. The highways or streets that provide access to the site are of sufficient width and are improved as necessary to carry the kind and quantity of traffic such proposal would generate;
3. Public protection service (e.g., Fire protection, Sheriff protection, etc.) are readily available;
4. The provision of utilities (e.g. potable water, schools, solid waste collection and disposal, storm drainage, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal, etc.) is Resolution P23-02
Master Case 23-006
adequate to serve the site.
The proposal is physically suitable for the site in terms of location, shape, size, and operating characteristics. The amendments specify by-right approval requirements for certain affordable housing projects on specific sites (those non-vacant sites included in one previous Housing Element sites inventory, and those vacant sites included in two previous Housing Elements) as mandated by state law. No development is proposed or would be approved by the amendments, and any future development that may occur under the revised amendments would require separate development permit reviews at the time the projects are submitted. The City currently receives adequate service from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The project area is likewise served by all applicable utilities. Nothing in the proposed amendments would increase the need for fire or sheriff protection services, or increase demand for utilities.
SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS FOR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 23-001. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings for UDC Amendment 23-001, the Planning Commission recommends the City Council hereby finds as follows:
A. The amendment is consistent with the adjacent area, if applicable; The proposed amendments would apply to properties across the City and are consistent with the existing General Plan Land Use and Zoning designation. No changes to the General Plan Land Use Map or Zoning Map are proposed.
B. The amendment is consistent with the principles of the General Plan; The amendments are consistent with the General Plan 2021-2029 Housing Element adopted by the City Council in May 2022. Specifically, the amendments are consistent with Housing Element Goal H1, and will implement Housing Element Program HP-1.13 to ensure the City's compliance with Government Code § 65583:
Goal HI: Identify and maintain adequate sites to accommodate the City's regional housing need through the planning period.
Program HP-1.13: Sites Identified in Multiple Planning Periods.
Government Code § 65583 requires analysis and justification of the sites included in the sites inventory of the City's Housing Element.
The Housing Element may only count non-vacant sites included in one previous Housing Element inventory and vacant sites included in two previous Housing Elements if the sites are subject to a program that allows affordable housing by right. The Unified Development Resolution P23-02
Master Case 23-006
Code will be amended for housing sites used for multiple Housing Elements and allow by-right approval requirements if at least 20 percent of units are affordable to lower income households to ensure compliance with Government Code § 65583.
Approval of the amendment will be in the interest of public health, convenience, safety, and general welfare and in conformity with good zoning practice; The amendments support the public health, convenience, safety, and general welfare of the community, and is in conformity with good zoning practice because the proposed amendments would implement one of the General Plan Housing Element Programs to ensure compliance with state law.
D. The amendment is consistent with other applicable provisions of this code; and The amendments are consistent with the UDC and would not change the General Plan Land Use Map or Zoning Map, and would not alter the development densities or development regulations of the code.
E. Is necessary to implement the General Plan and/or that the public convenience, the general welfare or good zoning practice justifies such action.
The amendments are necessary in order to implement the General Plan, more specifically, to implement the General Plan's 2021-2029 Housing Element in compliance with state law.
SECTION 5. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Clarita, California, as follows:
Adopt Resolution P23-02, recommending the City of Santa Clarita City Council find the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under section 15061(b)(3), and approve Master Case 23-006, consisting of Unified Development Code Amendment 23-001, amending the Unified Development Code as shown in Exhibit A.
Resolution P23-02
Master Case 23-006
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21% day of February, 2023.
Rence Rain
CHAIRPERSON
PLANNING COMMISSION
ATTEST:
RACHEL CLARK, SECRETARY
PLANNING COMMISSION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
1, Rachel Clark, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Clarita, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 21 day of February, 2023, by the following vote of the Planning Commission:
AYES:
COMMISSIONERS: AYALA, BERUN, BURKHART, EICHMAN
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: OSTROM
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARY
EXHIBIT A:
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS - REDLINE/STRIKETHROUGH
Note that new proposed language is shown in blue underline.
Amendments to Definitions
The Unified Development Code (UD) is amended at Section 17.11.020 (Definitions) to add a definition for lower-income households in its alphabetic location, to read as follows:
"Lower-income households" means persons and families whose income does not exceed the qualifying limits for lower-income families as established and amended from time to time pursuant to Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. and includes very-low income households and extremely-low income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the California Health and Safety Code, and as may be later amended.
Amendments to Mixed Use Corridor (MXC) Zone
17.35.010 (Mixed Use Corridor (MXC) Zone)
A. Development Standards. Property in the MC zone shall be subject to the following general development standards:
1. Maximum density (units per gross acre)
2. Minimum density (units per gross acre)' =
3. Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of nonresidential component 1.0
4. Minimum floor area ratio (FAR) of nonresidential component' 0.25
5. Building setback from public right-of-way (major or secondary highway) (in feet) 5
6. Building setback from public right-of-way (not on a major or secondary highway) (in feet)
7. Surface-level parking setback from major/secondary highway (in feet) 10/5
8. Structure setback from neighboring residential zones or uses (in feet)? 25
9. Maximum height of building/structure without a CUP (in feet) 50 Notes:
1. Floor area ratios and densities less than the minimum required shall be subject to a minor use permit. except that a multifamily project that includes at least 20% of total project units as affordable to lower- income households shall be permitted without need for use permit on any of the following parcels: 2811- 002-069 and 2836-011-018.
Amendments to Residential Use Types
17.42.010 (Residential Use Types)
4. Dwelling
c. Multitamily-Includes a building designed and intended for occupancy by three (3) or more families living independently of each other, each in a separate dwelling unit, which may be owned individually or by a single landlord. Includes apartments, townhomes, row houses, triplexes, and fourplexes. Accessible parking stalls shall be required in accordance with the Building Code.
NU1 NU2 NU3 NU4 | NU5 URI| UR2 UR3 UR4 UR5 CR CC CN BP
P P P M* C C
*Notwithstanding the above. a multifamily project that includes at least 20% of total project units as affordable to lower-income houscholds shall be permitted without need for use permit on any of the following parcels: 2861-058-072. 2861-058-073. 2861-058-074. 2861-058-075. 2861-058-076. 2861-058- 077. 2861-058-079. 2861-058-080. 2861-058-081. 2861-058-082, 2861-058-083. 2861-058-084. 2861-058- 085. and 2861-058-071.
Amendments to Corridor Plan (CP) Zone
17.37.010 (Corridor Plan (CP) Zone)
The corridor plan (CP) zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area that are governed by an adopted corridor plan. Specific allowable uses, maximum intensity standards, and development standards shall be determined by the adopted corridor plan.
For any properties rezoned CP prior to the final adoption of a corridor plan, development of such properties shall be governed by the underlying General Plan land use designation and the corresponding zone's development standards.
Notwithstanding the above, a multifamily project that includes at least 20% of total project units as affordable to lower-income households shall be permitted without need for use permit on any of the following parcels: 2844-001-046. 2844-001-033. 2830-001-214, 2830-001-208. 2830-001-051, 2830-001- 043. 2830-001-042. 2830-001-027. 2830-001-215. 2830-001-036. 2830-001-015. 2830-001-029.2803- 032-001, 2803-032-026. 2803-032-034. 2803-032-035. 2803-032-042. 2803-032-043. 2825-015-015. and 2844-001-072.