2014/09/11 Planning Commission Resolution (2)PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2014-34
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE
APPROVAL OF A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THE NORTHWEST SPECIFIC PLAN AREA
LOCATED SOUTH OF MILLBRAE AVENUE, WEST OF DOWDELL AVENUE,
NORTH OF BUSINESS PARK DRIVE, AND EAST OF LANGNER AVENUE IN
SONOMA COUNTY, CA
WHEREAS, the applicant, the City of Rohnert Park, filed Planning Application No.
PLSP2014-0004 proposing approval of a Specific Plan ("Specific Plan"), Prezoning, and General
Plan Amendments for the Northwest Specific Plan Area ("Project"), as well as certification of an
Environmental Impact Report ("EIR") for the Project, in accordance with the City of Rohnert
Park Municipal Code ("RPMC"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California State Law and the Rohnert Park Municipal Code,
public hearing notices were mailed to all property owners within an area exceeding a 300 foot
radius of the subject property and a public hearing was published for a minimum of 10 days prior
to the public hearing in the Community Voice; and
WHEREAS, on September 11, 2014, the Planning Commission held public hearings at
which time interested persons had an opportunity to testify either in support or opposition to the
Project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed the Final Environmental Impact Report
("Final EIR") prepared for the Project; recommended its certification by the City Council, and
has otherwise carried out all requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA"); and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the information
contained in Planning Application No. PLSP2014-0004 for the proposed Project, including
recommended revisions; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Rohnert Park makes the following
findings:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City
of Rohnert Park makes the following findings, determinations and recommendations with respect
to the proposed Project:
Section 1. The above recitations are true and correct, and material to this Resolution,
Section 2. The Planning Commission has recommended City Council approval of the
Final EIR for this Project, including adoption of associated CEQA Findings, Statement of
Overriding Considerations, and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, as described
in Planning Commission Resolution No. 2014-32, approved on September 11, 2014,
concurrently with the Planning Commission's approval of this Resolution.
Section 3. Findings. The Planning Commission hereby makes the following findings
concerning the Specific Plan, including recommended revisions, proposed by Planning
Application No. PLGP2014-0004 pursuant to Rohnert Park Municipal Code section 17.06.390:
1. The specific plan or specific plan amendment is consistent with the city's General
Plan.
Criteria Satisfied. The Specific Plan would implement the General Plan's goals
for the Northwest Specific Plan Area as described in the Community Design
Element. It would further implement the General Plan in that it would increase the
City's existing housing stock. The Specific Plan proposes to meet the goals of the
General Plan by providing for a mix of commercial, industrial, residential, and
park uses.
2. The specific plan or specific plan amendment will not adversely affect the public
health and safety or result in incompatible land uses.
Criteria Satisfied. The Specific Plan is not expected to have negative impacts on
the health or well being of project residents or occupants of the surrounding land
uses. The proposed neighborhood is in character with surrounding neighborhoods.
Mixed-use and commercial uses are planned on either side of Golf Course Drive
West and adjacent to the Graton Rancheria Casino. The proposed commercial
development and park/recreational facilities would benefit existing residents in
the area, as well as new residents of the Specific Plan area.
3. The specific plan or specific plan amendment provides the framework to phase
and pace growth within the specific plan area so as to ensure completion of all
necessary public facilities concurrently with completion of the specific plan; or,
alternately, a statement of public policy consideration can be adopted and/or an
exception granted in accordance with general plan policies GM -10, GM -11, and
GM -12.
Criteria Satisfied. The Specific Plan will be developed over a period of
approximately 20 years, as described in the Specific Plan. However, there is no
physical reason for the Specific Plan to be developed in phases. Due to a
difference in ownership patterns on the north and south side Golf Course Drive
West, it is likely that the south district will develop first and as a single project;
whereas, the north district will likely develop later as several individual projects.
The Specific Plan is designed to provide for adequate infrastructure and to be
integrated with existing City public improvements. The timing of the
construction of public facilities will be paced to meet the needs of the
development.
4. The specific plan or specific plan amendment identifies adequate financing
mechanisms for the infrastructure and public facilities required to support the
development.
Criteria Satisfied. The Specific Plan identifies several options for funding
capital improvements given the different development scenarios that may occur.
Future projects within the Specific Plan area will be subject to the payment of fees
to provide for and maintain public infrastructure such as Public Facilities
Financing Plan fees to help fund off-site improvements, City-wide and Regional
Traffic fees, Pavement Maintenance fees, Public Services Impact fees, and
Maintenance of on-site Infrastructure fees. The public improvements will be
funded through a Funding Mechanism such as a community facilities district or
assessment district.
5. The proposed specific plan is consistent with the planning and prezoning
designation provided for the specific plan area, pursuant to Government Code
Sections 65300 and 65859, or alternatively functions as prezoning for the
unincorporated territory.
Criteria Satisfied. The Commission has recommended that the City Council
prezone the Specific Plan area "Specific Plan District (SP)," which is consistent
with the direction of the City's General Plan. The proposed Specific Plan is
consistent with the prezoning designation of SP which zoning designation would
become effective at the same time annexation of the Specific Plan area becomes
effective.
Section 4. A duly noticed public hearing on the proposed Northwest Specific Plan
was held on September 11, 2014.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT the Planning
Commission does hereby recommend that the City Council adopt the findings in Section 3,
above, and approve Application No. PLSP2014-0004 for the Northwest Specific Plan and
Design Guidelines as provided at Exhibit A, in its entirety.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED on this 11th day of September, 2014 by the
City of Rohnert Park Planning Commission by the following vote:
AYES: � NOES: �' SENT: ABSTAIN:
ADAMS Y _ BLANQUIE
Gerard
Attest:
Susan zeved , ecording Secretary
GIUDICE Y HAYDON I
City of Rohnert Park Planning Commission
EXHIBIT A
NORTHWEST SPECIFIC PLAN
SEE EXHIBIT 3 ATTACHED TO THE STAFF REPORT