2010/11/16 Planning Commission Resolution (2)PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2010-31
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF
AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND USE MAP AND TEXT OF THE GENERAL PLAN
FOR SOUTHEST SPECIFIC PLAN PROJECT LOCATED NORTHEAST OF BODWAY
PARKWAY AND VALLEY HOUSE DRIVE (APN 47-111-030)
IN SONOMA COUNTY, CA
WHEREAS, the applicant, Redwood Equities LLC, has filed Planning Application No.
PL2003-031SP proposing General Plan Amendments, and related certification of a Final
Environmental Impact Report ("EIR"), in connection with a proposed mixed-use community
located northeast of the intersection of Bodway Parkway and Valley House Drive (APN 47-111-
030 ) (the "Project'), in accordance with the City of Rohnert Park Municipal Code ("RPMC");
and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to the land use element of the General Plan
("Southeast Specific Plan General Plan Amendments") would alter the configuration of the
existing land use designations onsite and add Public/Institutional and Parks/Recreation land use
designations. The project site is currently designated Rural Estate Residential, Low Density
Residential, Medium Density Residential, and Mixed Use. The proposed Southeast Specific
Plan General Plan Amendments are attached as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Southeast Specific Plan General Plan Amendments would amend the
Land Use Map of the General Plan as provided on the amended General Plan Land Use Diagram
attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed the Final EIR prepared for the Project;
recommended its certification by the City Council; and has otherwise carried out all
requirements for the Project pursuant to CEQA; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California State Law and the RPMC, public hearing notices
were mailed to all property owners within an area exceeding a three hundred foot radius of the
subject property and a public hearing was published for a minimum of 10 days prior to the first
public hearing in the Community Voice; and
WHEREAS, on November 16, 2010, the Planning Commission held a public hearing at
which time interested persons had an opportunity testify either in support or opposition to the
proposal: and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the information
contained in the General Plan Amendment application for the proposal.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City
of Rohnert Park makes the following findings and determinations with respect to the proposed
General Plan Amendment and amendments to Land Use Map:
Section 1. The above recitations are true and correct.
Section 2. The Planning Commission recommends 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. 2010-30 approved on November 16, 2010 concurrently
with the Planning Commission's approval of this Resolution.
Section 3. Findings related to the General Plan Amendments. The Planning
Commission makes the following findings concerning the General Plan amendments proposed
by Planning Application No. PL2003-031 SP:
That the proposed site is appropriate for development under the General Plan's
Land Use Designations for the site.
Criteria Satisfied. The proposed General Plan amendments would be the same
as the current General Plan land use designations but slightly reconfigured. The
proposed amendments would also add Parks land use designation to the site to
ensure adequate area for future parklands.
2. That the proposed General Plan amendments would be consistent with specific
policies in the Land Use Element of the General Plan relative to the proposed
development.
Criteria Satisfied. The proposed amendments are consistent with specific
policies in the Land Use Element of the General Plan applicable to the Southeast
Specific Plan area. The policies establish a primarily residential development
with a mixed use land use designation for commercial and multi -family uses. The
proposed development implements the existing land designations and proposes no
changes to the existing policies envisioned in the General Plan and is therefore
consistent with such specific policies.
3. That a duly noticed public hearing has been held to receive and consider public
testimony regarding the proposed amendments to the General Plan Land Use
Map.
Criteria Satisfied. A duly noticed public hearing on the proposed General Plan
Amendments was held on November 16, 2010.
4. That the proposed Project with the proposed General Plan amendments is
consistent with the General Plan.
Criteria Satisfied. The General Plan Amendment, and consistency of the Project
with the General Plan, are discussed in the application materials, the Final EIR,
the Specific Plan, staff reports, and submittals by the Project applicant. The City
adopts the conclusions and analysis of those documents regarding General Plan
consistency. The Project, including the General Plan Amendment, is consistent
with the General Plan and will result in an internally consistent General Plan.
5. The General Plan Amendment approved for this Project will not cause the
General Plan to become internally inconsistent.
Criteria Satisfied. The General Plan Amendment proposed by the Project
Sponsors better implements the General Plan policies and goals than does the land
use plan depicted in the General Plan, as explained in the Specific Plan and staff
reports. The General Plan Amendment and the remainder of the General Plan
comprise an integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement of polices
for the City. The various land uses authorized for the Project are compatible with
the objectives, policies, general land uses, and programs specified in the General
Plan, as amended. The Project is compatible with and conforms to the objectives,
policies, general land uses and programs specified in the General Plan. The
Project furthers the objectives and policies of the General Plan and does not
obstruct their attainment. The Project is compatible with and in harmony with the
General Plan goals and policies. The Project is in harmony with surrounding
neighborhoods, and the site is physically suitable for the development proposed.
6. That the City has considered and evaluated the goals, objectives and policies of
the General Plan and finds that the proposed General Plan amendments are in
compliance with the General Plan.
The General Plan comprises many objectives, policies, principles, programs,
standards, proposals and action plans (collectively, "policies"), as well as
performance standards. The City recognizes that the policies necessarily compete
with each other. The City has considered all applicable General Plan policies and
the extent to which the project conforms to and potentially competes with each of
those policies.
The City has fully evaluated the extent to which the Project achieves each policy,
including those pertaining to compatibility of land use, protection of open space,
standards regarding geology, soils and earthquake risks, hazardous materials,
flood hazards and drainage, protection of water quality, protection of biological
resources, transportation standards and goals, regional and local housing needs,
jobs/housing balance, noise, protection air quality, protection of visual resources,
standards for public services and utilities, protection of architectural and historic
resources, the provision of housing for all sectors of the economic community,
and the provision of employment opportunities for residents of the City. The City
has also fully considered the Project's compliance with all goals, policies and
objectives in the General Plan, and finds the Project in compliance with the
General Plan.
7. The City finds that the balance achieved by the Project among competing General
Plan policies is acceptable.
Criteria Satisfied. The Project achieves each applicable policy to some extent,
and represents a reasonable accommodation of all applicable competing policies
in the General Plan. The Project promotes the General Plan goals referenced in
the CEQA Statement of Overriding Considerations approved by Planning
Commission Resolution No. 2010-30 on November 16, 2010 concurrently with
the Planning Commission's approval of this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Planning Commission
that it does hereby recommend that the City Council adopt the Findings hereinabove; adopt and
amend the General Plan Land Use Diagram and approve Application No. PL2003-031SP,
General Plan Amendments for a proposed specific plan northeast of Valley House Drive and
Bodway Parkway (APN 47-111-030), as described in the Southeast Specific Plan General Plan
Amendments attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A, in its entirety.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED on this 16th day of November, 2010.
AYES: NOES: D ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
AHANOTU S ARMSTRONG B9$2A,y NILSON � NORDIN
Rohnert Park Planning Commission
Susan Azevedo, Recordilxg Secretary
EXHIBIT A
SOUTHEAST SPECIFIC PLAN GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
SEE EXHIBIT 1 ATTACHED TO THE STAFF REPORT