2024/06/25 City Council Resolution 2024-046 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-046
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXT OF THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT SPECIFIC PLAN AREA LOCATED NORTH OF COPELAND
CREEK,WEST OF PETALUMA HILL ROAD, AND SOUTH OF KEISER AVENUE
(VARIOUS APNS)
WHEREAS, in 2023 the City of Rohnert Park adopted its required Housing Element,
including an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration, which, among other things,
provided for high-density residential development on the 2.4-acre parcel located at the southeast
corner of Snyder Lane and Keiser Avenue within the University District Specific Plan Area;
WHEREAS, the applicant, Cory Creath for Snyder Ventures, LP, filed Planning
Applications proposing amendments to the General Plan (PLGP23-0001), an amended Specific
Plan(PLSP23-0001), a Development Area Plan(PLDP23-0001), and a Tentative Map (PLSD23-
0002)to allow the subdivision and development of property for the Snyder Lane Commons
project("Project") located at the southeast corner of Snyder Lane and Keiser Avenue, within the
University District Specific Plan Area(APN 045-253-025), in accordance with the City of
Rohnert Park Municipal Code ("RPMC");
WHEREAS,the purpose of the proposed General and Specific Plan amendments is to
allow for an increased density and an increase of twenty residential units for the Snyder Lane
Commons project, consistent with the City's adopted Housing Element;
WHEREAS, the proposed Project requires changes to the Land Use element of the
General Plan, which are set forth in Exhibit A, attached to and incorporated herein, which
includes an increase of twenty units within the University District Specific Plan Area;
WHEREAS, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the University District Specific
Plan Project(State Clearinghouse Number 2003112011) and Addendums to the EIR have been
prepared and approved which show potential impacts related to the development of the site;
WHEREAS, the proposed changes as a result of the Project have been analyzed in
compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA), and
because no new environmental impacts were found, an addendum to the previously adopted
University District Specific Plan Project Environmental Impact Report(UDSP EIR) was
prepared in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA Guidelines §
15164);
WHEREAS, on May 23, 2024, the Planning Commission held a public hearing at which
time interested persons had an opportunity to testify either in support or opposition to the
proposal;
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed and considered the information
contained in the General Plan Amendment application for the proposal and recommended
approval of the proposed amendments;
WHEREAS, pursuant to California State Law and the Rohnert Park Municipal Code,
public hearing notices were mailed to all property owners within an area encompassing 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;
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2024, the City Council held a public hearing at which time
interested persons had an opportunity to testify either in support or opposition to the proposal;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in
the General Plan Amendment application for the proposal.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Rohnert
Park makes the following findings and determinations with respect to the proposed General Plan
Amendment:
Section 1. Recitals. The above recitations are true and correct.
Section 2. CEQA Review. The City prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to
address the potentially significant adverse environmental impacts that may be associated with the
planning, construction, or operation of the UDSP and to identify appropriate and feasible
mitigation measures and alternatives that may be adopted to significantly reduce or avoid the
impacts identified in the EIR. The City certified the Final EIR on May 23, 2006 and approved
Addendums to the Final EIR on April 8, 2014 and November 8, 2016.
In accordance with the requirements of CEQA, City staff and consultants reviewed the
project in light of the more detailed project-specific information now available and determined
that a supplemental or subsequent EIR was not required by CEQA Guidelines section 15162.
Therefore, an addendum (the 2024 Addendum) has been prepared to make minor technical
revisions or additions to the certified EIR. The 2024 Addendum concluded that there are no
changes in the project or new information that would result in a new or substantially more severe
impact than was disclosed in the 2006 Program EIR, 2014 Addendum, and 2016 Addendum and
has been adopted.
Section 3. Findings. City Council makes the following findings concerning the General
Plan amendments proposed by Planning Application No. PLGP22-0001:
1. 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.
A duly noticed public hearing on the proposed General Plan Amendments was
held on June 25, 2024.
2. That the proposed Project with the proposed General Plan amendments is
consistent with the remainder of the General Plan.
The Specific Plan, as originally adopted, contains an analysis of General Plan
consistency. This includes a discussion of the Plan's ability to provide greater
housing diversity through multiple residential densities, including varied lot and
home sizes that address wider market areas, and affordable housing. The proposed
amendments do not change this analysis. In fact, the proposed amendments
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enhance the Project's consistency with these goals, including General Plan Goals
LU-F (Create new mixed-use University District; offer a wide mix of residential
opportunities), LU-I (Provide a range of housing variety in type and price), HO-1
(Provide opportunities for housing development that accommodate projected
growth, mitigate potential constraints, and facilitate mobility within the ownership
and rental markets. Ensure adequate sites are available to meet local housing
needs), and HO-2 (Provide a diversity of housing types that accommodate
projected population and demographic changes and enable residents to remain in
Rohnert Park throughout their lives).
In addition, the 2023 Housing Element amended the City's General Plan to
include higher density housing on the proposed project site.
3. The General Plan amendment approved for this Project will not cause the
General Plan to become internally inconsistent.
The General Plan amendments proposed by the project applicant are minor
adjustments to accommodate an increase of twenty units on one lot within the
University District Specific Plan Area. The amendments continue to implement
the General Plan policies and goals and enhance consistency between the Land
Use, Community Development and Housing Elements. The General Plan
amendment and the remainder of the General Plan comprise an integrated,
internally consistent, and compatible statement of policies 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 furthers the objectives and policies of the General Plan and
does not obstruct their attainment.
4. 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. In 2014, the City fully evaluated the extent to which the
University District Specific Plan achieved 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 proposed amendments are minor in nature, ensure that the City's adopted
Housing Element can be implemented through the University District Specific
Plan, and do not change the City's original considerations with respect to General
Plan compliance. In fact, by increasing the number of total housing units and
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affordable housing units provided, the proposed amendments improve the
Project's compliance with the Housing Element of the General Plan.
5. The City finds that the balance achieved by the Project among competing General
Plan policies is acceptable.
The Project achieves each applicable policy, to some extent, and represents a
reasonable accommodation of all applicable competing policies in the General
Plan and specifically supports implementation of the Housing Element.
Section 4. The City Council does hereby approve Planning Application No. PLGP23-
0001, General Plan Amendments for the University District Specific Plan Area located north of
Copeland Creek, west of Petaluma Hill Road, and south of Keiser Avenue (various APNs), as set
forth in the General Plan Amendments attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A, in its entirety.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 25th day of June, 2024.
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
ATTEST: Susan H. Adams, Mayor
Sylvia Lop u , y Clerk
AP OVED A TO FORM:
,i -
4Mic elle M. Kenyo , City Attorney
Attachments: Exhibit A: General Plan Amendments
ELWARD: L. RODRIGUEZ: SANBORN: /, I CIt DICE: ADAMS:
A S: ( ) NOES: ( ) ABSENT: �) ABSTAIN: (
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EXHIBIT A
General Plan Amendments
Snyder Lane Commons Project
Amendments to Table 2.4-1 (Land Use Program: University District Specific Plan Area)
[Note: Updated indicated below in bold/underlined text. Underlined text to be added and strike-out
text to be removed]
LU-14 Ensure that the land use program is within the ranges indicated on Table 2.4-1, including
the minimum and maximum number of units for each residential land use classification.
Table 2.4-1: Land Use Program:University District Specific Plan Area
Gross Housing Units Building Area(1,000 sf.)
Acreage' Minimum-Maximum Minimum-Maximum
Rural Estate Residential 10-15 20-26 -
Low Density Residential 50-75 200-410 -
Medium Density Residential 55-100 600-900 -
High Density Residential 5-15 200-500 -
Mixed Use 10-30 0-150 100
Parks 10-20 - -
Public/Institutional 5-20 - -
Open Space and Buffers 50-70 - -
Total 300 1,400-1,6451.665 Minimum of 100
1.Excludes acreage for the Rohnert Park Expressway between the easterly City limits and Petaluma Hill Road,and Keiser Avenue.
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