HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 2025-01PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND
BAR, CALIFORNIA, FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF THE LITTLE
LEAGUE/PONY PROPERTY FOR FUTURE CITY PARK AND RECREATION USE IS
IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65402(A).
A. RECITALS
(i) WHEREAS, on April 18, 1989, the City of Diamond Bar was established as a
duly organized municipal corporation of the State of California;
(ii) WHEREAS, on July 25, 1995, the City of Diamond Bar adopted its General
Plan incorporating all State mandated elements;
(iii) WHEREAS, on December 17, 2019, the City of Diamond Bar adopted its
Comprehensive General Plan Update incorporating all State mandated
elements;
(iv) WHEREAS, the PONY Board of Directors and City staff began negotiations
to facilitate a transfer of ownership of the PONY property to the City for long-
term use as a City park and recreation use due to declining enrollment over
a number of years at the Diamond Bar PONY/Little League, which made it
fiscally unsustainable for PONY to maintain services, the Stevens Field
property, and the volunteers necessary to ensure the league can remain
effective and operational;
(v) WHEREAS, the area to be acquired by the City is approximately 10.23
acres, and would become a public park and recreational use for youth and
adult sports programs in a manner consistent with the City's Parks Master
Plan. Furthermore, the location offers a unique opportunity to leverage the
City's adjacent undeveloped park site with the 10.23-acre PONY property to
create what could ultimately be the City's second-largest public park.
(vi) WHEREAS, Section 65402(a) of the Government Code of the State of
California requires that no real property shall be acquired by dedication or
otherwise for street, square, park or other public purposes until the location,
purpose and extent has been submitted to and reported upon by the
planning agency of the City as to conformity with adopted General Plan or
part thereof; and
(vii) WHEREAS, on December 10, 2024, at a regularly scheduled meeting, the
Planning Commission, considered the matter and voted 3-0 directing staff to
thoroughly review General Plan 2040 to see if there were any goals or
policies pertaining to potential health impacts of locating new park facilities
near the Union Pacific Railroad.
(viii) WHEREAS, on January 14, 2025, at a regularly scheduled meeting, the
Planning Commission, discussed and considered the matter of the proposed
acquisition of the Little League/PONY property for future City park and
recreation use to be in conformance with the Diamond Bar General Plan
2040, and concluded said review prior to the adoption of this Resolution
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DIAMOND BAR DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Planning Commission hereby specifically finds that all of the facts set forth
in the Recitals, Part A, of this Resolution are true and correct.
2. The Planning Commission hereby finds that the proposed acquisition of
property is in conformance with the adopted General Plan 2040 of the City of
Diamond Bar as follows:
Land Use &Economic Development Element
(a) Goal LU-P-52 states: When opportunities arise, collaborate with public
service providers and agencies including, but not limited to, the Los
Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Walnut Valley and
Pomona school districts, Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, Los
Angeles County Fire Department, and Walnut Valley Water District to
designate and pursue acquisition of land for public facilities as necessary to
serve unmet facility needs of Diamond Bar residents.
The proposed acquisition of the Little League/PONY property would
provide the opportunity to maintain and expand public park and
recreational use for youth and adult sports programs in a neighborhood
without a public park.
(b) Policy LU-P-53 states: Ensure adequate parkland to serve the recreational
needs of Diamond Bar residents by providing for a range of park sizes and
amenities, equitably distributed throughout the city. Where necessary to
adequately expand the park system and/or provide specialized recreational
facilities and programming as identified in the Parks and Recreation Master
Plan, actively pursue the acquisition of additional parkland.
The proposed acquisition of the Little League/PONY property would
provide the opportunity to maintain and expand public park and
recreational use for youth and adult sports programs in a neighborhood
without a public park. Furthermore, the location offers a unique opportunity
to leverage the City's adjacent undeveloped park site with the proposed
10.23-acre PONY property to create what could ultimately be the City's
second-largest public park.
Public Facilities &Services Element
a) Goal PF-G-1 states: Maintain and expand the system of parks, recreation
facilities, open spaces, and trails that meet the active and passive
recreational needs of residents of all ages and abilities.
See Responses Above.
b) Policy PF-P-7 states: Endeavor to distribute new parks equitably
throughout Diamond Bar, striving to ensure that residents are within a %
mile radius of a neighborhood park or community park.
See Responses Above.
Community Health & Sustainability Element
a) Policy CHS-P-1 states: Strive to ensure that all areas of the community
have an equal distribution of public parks and public recreational facilities
to maximize access.
See Responses Above.
3, The Planning Commission hereby finds that the proposed acquisition of
property is found to be exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) because
"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."
4. Based on the findings and conclusions set forth above, this Resolution shall
serve as the Planning Commission's finding regarding the General Plan
conformity of the proposed acquisition of the Little League/PONY property for
future City park and recreation use, as required by California Government
Code Section 65402(a).
The Planning Commission shall:
(a) Certify as to the adoption of this Resolution; and
(b) Forthwith transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the City Council of
the City of Diamond Bar for use in its deliberations regarding the
acquisition of the Little League/PONY property for future City park and
recreation use.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 14TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025, BY THE
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR.
BY:
Chairperson
3
1, Greg Gubman, Planning Commission Secretary, do hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution was duly introduced, passed, and adopted by the Planning Commission of
the City of Diamond Bar, at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the
14th day of January, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
4
Commissioners:
Bw as, Wolfe, V/C Garg, C/Torres
NOES:
0
Commissioners:
None
ABSENT:
1
Commissioners:
Rawlings
ABSTAIN: 0 issioners: None
ATTEST:
Greg Gubma ecretary
0