2002/11/12 City Council Resolution (5)RESOLUTION NO. 2002 -255
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING THE CITY CENTER CONCEPT PLAN
WHEREAS, on July 25, 2000 the City Council approved Resolution No. 2000 -152
adopting a comprehensive update of the City's General Plan.
WHEREAS, as part of a 1997 Rohnert Park Summit, a Town Center (aka City Center)
Task Force was created to research, discuss and recommend courses of action for a future
civic /town center.
WHEREAS, in December of 1998, an urgency ordinance (Ord. #645) was approved
putting in place a 45 day moratorium on development to allow for the preparation of a plan for
the Civic /Town Center, including: 1) recommended goals and objectives, 2) design and
development standards and guidelines for construction and redevelopment within the Town
Center, and 3) strategies to promote desirable uses within the area. As part of the process a
Technical Advisory Committee was created and MIG consulting group was contracted with to
prepare the plan.
WHEREAS, during the early part of 1999, numerous public meetings were held with the
Technical Advisory Committee, property owners and businesses, and the Planning Commission.
Public design workshops were also held during this time. There was significant public
participation in the development of the Concept Plan during this time.
WHEREAS, the Draft City Center Concept Plan was completed in April 1999 and
consideration of the Plan was delayed until the General Plan could be completed.
WHEREAS, the comprehensive update of the General Plan was completed in July 2000
and the Town Center /City Center area is designated in the General Plan for mixed -use and
public /institutional.
WHEREAS, on August 13, 2002, the Rohnert Park City Council directed staff to bring
the Draft Concept Plan to the Planning Commission and City Council for consideration of
approval.
WHEREAS, Planning Application No. 1858, City Center Concept Plan, was processed
in the time and manner prescribed by State and local law.
WHEREAS, at the October 10, 2002 Planning Commission meeting, upon hearing and
considering all oral and written testimony and arguments of all persons desiring to be heard, the
Commission considered al? the facts relating to Planning Application No. 1858 and
recommended approval of the Draft City Center Concept Plan as a guideline for development in
the City Center area.
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WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park has reviewed and considered
all oral and written comments raised during the public hearings and the information contained in
related staff reports for the Draft City Center Concept Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ROHNERT PARK DOES RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
Section 2. Findings. The City Council, in adopting the Draft City Center Concept
Plan, dated April 15, 1999, as a guideline for development in the City Center area, makes the
following finding, to wit:
1. The City Center Concept Plan is consistent with the elements of the Rohnert Park
General Plan 2000. Specifically, the Plan is consistent with the following goals, policies and
programs of the General Plan:
Goal LU -E: Encourage development of the City Center as a mixed -use activity center with a
range of commercial, residential, and civic uses.
Policy LU -4: Develop the City Center as a mixed -use, pedestrian- oriented center.
Policy LU -30 which states, "Prepare and adopt a City Center Concept Plan to guide development
and redevelopment in the City Center area. " The explanatory text states, "The City Center area
is generally defined by Hinebaugh Creek on the north, the railroad tracks to the east, the
Rohnert Park Expressway to the south, and U.S. Highway 101 to the west. The City Center
would be an area of mixed land uses including civic buildings, commercial businesses, office
uses, and multifamily housing. It would include approximately 180 housing units."
Policy LU -31: Allow, but do not require, mixed- or multi -use development.
Goal CD -A: Create pedestrian- oriented activity centers that serve as community focal points.
Policy CD -1: As part of preparation of specific plans, ordinances, ....and other measures, ensure
that the University District and the City Center are developed as citywide destinations and with a
pedestrian orientation.
Policy CD -19: As part of updating the City's zoning regulations or applicable specific plans,
adopt standards to foster pedestrian orientation by new development in Mixed -Use and
Neighborhood Commercial areas...
Policy CD -20: Encourage buildings to foster a sense of place by providing transitions between
the street and building....as part of development standards or any design guidelines that may be
prepared.
Policy CD -26: Design local streets to not only accommodate traffic, but also to serve as
comfortable pedestrian environments.
Policy CD -40: Use an adopted City Center Concept Plan (Policy LU -30) as the basis for the
development character of the area.
Goal CD -L: Ensure that the location of buildings and the orientation of entrances within
commercial centers allow for easy pedestrian access.
Policy CD -55: Require all development within commercial districts to provide pedestrian
amenities,...
Policy CD -57: Encourage the integration of art and cultural components in public places and
facilities.
Goal TR -F: Encourage alternative modes of travel - including transit, bicycles, and walking -by
coordinating land use planning and development with transportation and by promoting compact,
mixed -use development in targeted areas.
Policy TR -31: Require project proponents to provide bus stops and shelters in conjunction with
new development.
Goal OS -F: Provide an integrated system of parks and trails throughout the City to meet the
community's recreational needs.
The Housing Element, adopted in 2001, states, "The City owns two sites within the City Center
(430 and 450 City Hall Drive). The 1999 City Center Concept Plan identifies residential uses as
an important component of the pedestrian- oriented center, which will eventually include city
hall, the public library, and commercial uses. Dwelling units are allowed as a primary use, and
higher floor -area ratios (2.0 vs. 1.5) are allowed for mixed -use projects that include residences.
As noted above, the current City Hall site on Commerce Blvd. has been identified in the Housing
Element for affordable housing.
`Revenue bonds to construct a new city hall and library within the City Center have been sold,
and it is hoped that their construction in the next few years will be a catalyst for mixed -use
development nearby.
`The City is actively working with potential developers to construct approximately 180 high -
density units above ground -floor commercial uses. A mix of lower- and moderate - income units
is assumed for these sites, with the potential for senior housing.
`The sites are designated as "Mixed Use" by the General Plan diagram, which will allow
residential development as a permitted use. One of the properties is vacant, while the other is
improved with an office building and parking lot that will be demolished. Access and other
infrastructure necessary to support residential uses on the sites are already in place."
2. That a duly noticed public hearing has been held to receive and consider public testimony
regarding the City Center Concept Plan.
Section 3. Environmental Clearance. The project is categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to the Guidelines for the California
Environmental Quality Act, Section 15262: Feasibility and Planning Studies (i.e., studies that do
not have a legally binding effect on later activities).
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council does hereby adopt the
City Center Concept Plan, dated April 15, 1999, incorporated herein by reference, as a guideline
for development in the City Center Area.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED on this 12th day of November 2002 by the City
Council of the City of Rohnert Park.
Attest:
Mayor, City of Rohnert Park
MIM
MACKENZIE: AYE REILLY: AYE VACANCY: N/A VIDAK- MARTINEZ: NO FLORES: AYE
AYES: (3) NOES: (1) ABSENT: (0) ABSTAIN: (0)
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