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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/25/2019 Special Joint Mtg with CCDIAMOND BAR GENERAL PLAN UPDATE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM 21810 COPLEY DRIVE September 25, 2019 6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 1. ROLL CALL: Council Members: Andrew Chou, Ruth M. Low, Nancy A. Lyons, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Tye, Mayor Carol Herrera. Commissioners: Jennifer "Fred" Mahlke, Kenneth Mok, William Rawlings, Vice Chairperson Frank Farago, Chairperson Naila Barlas 2. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE — REVIEW OF THE GENERAL PLAN 2040 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 4 Recommended Action: Receive the staff presentation; receive public comments; and provide feedback to facilitate the preparation of the Public Hearing Draft General Plan. Requested By: Community Development Department 3. ADJOURNMENT nom' DIAMOND BAR GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: 2 MEETING DATE JOINT MEETING of the CITY COUNCIL and PLANNING COMMISSION September 25, 2019 AGENDA REPORT TITLE: GENERAL PLAN UPDATE — REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF THE GENERAL PLAN 2040 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 4 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive the staff presentation, receive public comments, and provide feedback to facilitate the preparation of the Public Hearing Draft General Plan. BACKGROUND: State planning law requires that each city and county adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan to guide the physical development of the community. The current General Plan, adopted in 1995, has remained relatively unchanged, except for the Housing Element which is required to be updated more frequently on a State -mandated cycle. In 2016, the City Council embarked on the process to prepare a comprehensive update to the General Plan, setting a new horizon year of 2040. The Comprehensive General Plan Update process has been a multi-year work effort that included three primary phases: 1. Project Initiation, Visioning and Issue Identification; 2. Options and Strategies; and 3. Draft and Final Documents. Phase 1 commenced in August 2016, with a Joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting and concluded in March 2017, with a second Joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting. General Plan 2040: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting #4 Page 1 of 6 September 25, 2019 Phase 2 commenced in April 2017, and concluded in January 2018, with a Joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting where a preferred land use plan was selected. Phase 3 commenced in February 2018. As part of Phase 3, the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) completed its detailed review of the Draft Policies in March 2019. The Draft General Plan, and related Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and Climate Action Plan (CAP) have now been completed and are available for public review. As part of the final steps in the General Plan Update process, a series of Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Sessions has been scheduled to provide an opportunity for all parties, including the public, to become familiar with the documents and provide any additional comments prior to the formal public hearings and adoption to complete the process. The purpose of this Joint Study Session is to focus in more detail on Chapters 1 through 4 of the Draft General Plan: Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Land Use & Economic Development Chapter 3 - Community Character & Placemaking Chapter 4 - Circulation DISCUSSION: Document Overview Phases 1 and 2 of the General Plan update process created the framework around which the General Plan 2040 document was written. The two fundamental building blocks of the document are: 1) The Community Vision and Guiding Principles (Section 1.4); and 2) the Goals and Policies that form the basis for Chapters 2 through 8. The primary purpose of the document as a whole is to establish the underlying context for the Community Vision, Guiding Principles, Goals and Policies. The design and layout are intended to make the General Plan a user-friendly, easy to use document. For example, document navigation is facilitated by color -coded page headers (e.g., green for Chapter 1, orange for Chapter 2, etc.). Also, key topics within the chapters are highlighted within text boxes. Photos and other vivid graphics are used to break up and illustrate the ideas presented in the text.' The following sections provide is a brief summary of Draft General Plan Chapters 1 through 4: 1 Due to time constraints, placeholders were inserted throughout the Public Review Draft where photos will be inserted prior to publication of the Public Hearing Draft. Also, several photos will be changed out with better and higher -quality images that more appropriately illustrate the ideas presented in the accompanying text. General Plan 2040: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting #4 Page 2 of 6 September 25, 2019 Chapter 1 — Introduction This Chapter provides a brief overview on the purpose, authority under State law, scope, organization and administration of the General Plan. Section 1. 3 summarizes the General Plan update process, including the robust public outreach and participation efforts which included stakeholder interviews, surveys, community workshops, pop up events, newsletters, social media and website campaign, ten GPAC meetings, and the workshops and public hearings leading to the ultimate adoption of the General Plan. A Community Vision Statement and Guiding Principles (Section 1.4) were developed though the collective input that was received and sets, the stage for the collective aspirations and readiness for the future of Diamond Bar. Section 1.5 identifies how the General Plan is organized by topic into nine (9) Chapters which include the seven state -required elements and other optional topics found to be important to the community as follows: 1. Introduction 2. Land Use & Economic Development (Land Use Required; Economic Development Optional) 3. Community Character & Placemaking (Optional) 4. Circulation (Required) 5. Resource Conservation (Open Space and Conservation Required) 6. Public Facilities and Services (Optional) 7. Public Safety (Safety and Noise Required) 8. Community Health and sustainability (Optional) 9. Housing (Required; Adopted 2013-2021 Housing Element incorporated by reference) The core of the General Plan are the Goals and Polices contained within each of these Chapters. Goals are broad statements of philosophy or direction, while Policies are statements to help implement or achieve the Goals. There are also a variety of maps and other exhibits (i.e.m, Figure 2-2 Land Use Diagram, and Figure 4-1 Circulation Diagram), that illustrate the intent of the Goals and Policies. Chapter 2 — Land Use and Economic Development This Chapter has the broadest scope of all the chapters and provides the overall framework for the physical development of the community and the distribution and intensity of land uses upon which many of the goals and policies in other chapters are based. Important to the Chapter is the Land Use Diagram (Figure 2-2) which illustrates the distribution of land uses throughout the city. The Land Use Diagram, combined with the defined land use classifications, determine how properties may be developed. The proposed Land Use Diagram is much more detailed than its 1995 predecessor, with land General Plan 2040: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting #4 Page 3 of 6 September 25, 2019 uses now designated at the parcel level given the technological advances in mapping and graphic capabilities. For the majority of the community, the Land Use Diagram reflects the current built environment. No changes to any of the residential neighborhoods have been proposed. The Land Use Diagram incorporates previously approved developments, open space areas, parks and other facilities that have been approved since the 1995 General Plan to provide a more complete and current inventory of land uses. Earlier in the General Plan Update process, much effort and community outreach focused on developing a "preferred" land use plan, which was selected at the January 30, 2018, Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session. That Preferred Plan, and now the Land Use Diagram, reflects the desire to create four new focus areas as part of a strategy to provide walkable mixed-use activity centers in an otherwise built -out environment. The focus areas provide opportunities for infill development that can incorporate a variety of housing, retail, entertainment and restaurant uses to meet the needs of the existing and future residents of the City. These focus areas include: • Town Center - A "Town Center" is identified along Diamond Bar Boulevard between SR -60 and Golden Springs Drive that could accommodated a more traditional 'downtown' type development with entertainment, retail restaurant, community gathering spaces and ancillary residential uses to create a walkable environment. A maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.25 and a maximum residential density of 20 dwelling units per acre is permitted. • Mixed -Use Neighborhood — The Neighborhood Mixed Use focus area is envisioned as a combination of residential and neighborhood serving retail and services to promote revitalization of North Diamond Bar Boulevard between SR -60 and Highland Valley Road. A maximum FAR of 1.25 and a maximum residential density of 30 dwelling units per acre is permitted. • Transit Oriented Mixed Use — This focus area is intended to leverage underutilized sites around the Metrolink station to provide higher -density housing, offices and supporting commercial uses close to regional transit. A maximum FAR of 1.5 with residential densities between 20 and 30 dwelling units per acre is permitted. • Community Core Overlay — This focus area covers the County owned and operated golf course. Should the County choose to discontinue operation of the golf course, the Overlay would envision a master -planned, mixed-use, pedestrian -oriented community and regional destination. The majority of site north of the existing clubhouse would support park, open space and other community and civic uses. The area from the club house south would accommodate a mix of uses emphasizing destination and specialty retail, dining, and entertainment, including opportunities for residential, hospitality, and community and civic uses. General Plan 2040: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting #4 1 Page 4 of 6 September 25, 2019 The land use density and intensity standards for all land use categories are identified in Table 2-2 on Page 2-16. The potential buildout under the proposed General Plan is identified in Table 2-3 on Page 2-17 which estimates up to 3,750 new housing units, 7,000 new jobs, and 8,800 new residents for a total population estimated at 66,700 that could result from the 2040 General Plan. It is expected that much of the growth would occur within the four focus areas mentioned above. The Goals and Polices contained in this Chapter provide direction to achieve the future growth anticipated by the land use plan and apply both citywide and specific to various land use categories such as residential, non-residential, public facilities and open space. The majority of the Goals and Policies are related to the new opportunities within the four mixed-use focus areas. Chapter 3 — Community Character & Placemaking This Chapter helps guide the physical form and character of the City by providing strategies to strengthen the City's identity through both new development and public improvements. Placemaking elements include features such as monuments and decorative treatments that define City entry points, public art installations, decorative streetscape elements at key intersections or districts, and landscaping that create a memorable and unified character. The desired character for the community is to retain and build upon the recent efforts to create placemaking elements that tell the story of Diamond Bar's early ranch origins. This includes continued expansion of the entry monuments signs and decorative intersection treatments throughout the community. The Goals and Polices contained in this Chapter provide direction to incorporate such elements into both new development projects and public improvements. The majority of the Goals and Policies are related to the new opportunities within the four mixed-use focus areas and encourage walkable and pedestrian -oriented neighborhoods. Chapter 4 — Circulation This Chapter is aimed at improving the transportation network within the City, balancing the circulation needs with safety and access across a variety of modes of transportation, including automobile travel, public transit, non -motorized transportation and goods movement through a Complete Streets approach. It is important to note that the California Complete Streets Act was passed in 2008 which requires Circulation Element of General Plans to include a Complete Streets approach that balances the needs of all users of the streets, including pedestrians, bicyclist, motorist, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. The Circulation Diagram (Figure 4-1) defines the City's roadway system which is unchanged and designed to accommodate the existing and anticipated development under the Land Use Plan. General Plan 2040: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting #4 1 Page 5 of 6 September 25, 2019 NEXT STEPS: The next Joint Meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2019. Planned topics for the next meeting include the following: • General Plan 2040 Chapters 5 through 8 • Climate Action Plan 2040 • Draft Environmental Impact Report A third Joint Meeting has been tentatively scheduled for October 22, 2019, should the Council and Commission wish to have further discussions on these topics. The 45 -day Public Review Period concludes on October 31, 2019, after which staff will publish the Final EIR, Public Hearing Draft General Plan and Public Hearing Draft CAP. A Planning Commission public hearing to consider recommending certification of the Final EIR, and adoption of the General Plan and CAP is tentatively scheduled for November 12, 2019, followed by a City Council public hearing to consider adoption of the documents to conclude the update process on December, 3, 2019. Prepared by: t� Daniel Fox City Manager Greg Gubman, AICP Community Development Director General Plan 2040: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Meeting #4 Page 6 of 6 September 25, 2019 ige VOLUNTARY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION TO: CITY CLERK f .v % SPEAKER NAME: � � DATE: (Please print clearly) ADDRESS: - J,<2 ai `fid (Please print clearly) ORGANIZATION: c�+� ° '` o (Please print clearly) AGENDA#/SUBJECT: r I would like to address the City Council/Planning Commission on the ppov ted item. Please have the Minutes reflect my name and address as printed above. Signature This document is a public record subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. nI<1t� tr'ND HAP � VOLUNTARY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION TO: CITY CLERK SPEAKER NAME: C�' �!(�1i` DATE: (Please aint clearly) ADDRESS: (Please print clearly) ORGANIZATION: (Please print clearly) AGENDA#/SUBJECT: G P"+ '�:b t r I would like to address the City Council/Planning Commission on the above stated item. Please have the Minutes reflect my name and address as printed above. _1- Signature This document is a public record subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. IWINOND BILI fk` :217 VOLUNTARY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION TO: CITY CLERK SPEAKER NAME: DATE: (Please print clearly) ADDRESS: ORGANIZATION: AG EN DA#1/SU BJ ECT (Please print clearly) (Please print clearly) r W" r� ��15 1 would like to address the City Council/Planning Commission on the above stated item. Please have the Minutes reflect my name and address as printed above. Signature This document is a public record subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act.