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2024/05/23 Planning Commission Resolution 2024-06PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2024-06 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF 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; and WHEREAS, the applicant, Cory Creath for Snyder Ventures, D", 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 comer 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"); and WHEREAS, the purpose of the proposed 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; and 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; and 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; and 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); 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 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; and 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; 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: 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 recommended for adoption. Section 3. Findings. Planning Commission makes the following findings concerning the General Plan amendments proposed by Planning Application No. PLGP22-0001: 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 May 23, 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 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 F '1111 i 111VT II01 1 11 - 71 1111- ti7-7- Tur I - 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 affordable housing units provided, the proposed amendments improve the Project's compliance with the Housing Element of the General Plan. S. 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 Planning Commission does hereby recommend that the City Council adopt the Findings hereinabove and 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 on this 23rd day of May, 2024 by the City of Rohnert Park Planning Commission by the following vote: AYES: �NOES:jP/ ABSENT: ABSTAIN:--&- AUSTIN-DFL LON EPST ORLOFFA�e STRIPLENWI,,_ LAM Chairperson, Rohnert Park Planning Commission Attest: Clotile Blanks, Recording Secretary EXHIBIT A 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 Pro rain: University District Specific Plan Area Gross Housing Units Building Area (1,000 s f.) 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 1,400-4,6441,fiK Minimum of 100 1. Excludes acreage for the Rohnert Park Expressway between the easterly City limits and Petaluma Hill Road, and KeiserAvenue.