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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 11-036 RESOLUTION NO. 11- 036 A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF DENSITIES PERMITTED IN THE CN(RHD) ZONING DISTRICT AND AMEND THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP TO DESIGNATE RECENTLY ANNEXED LAND AT 22480 AND 22490 MT. EDEN ROAD AS RESIDENTIAL HILLSIDE CONSERVATION (RHC) THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Findings 1. The City of Saratoga wishes to amend the Land Use Element of the Saratoga General Plan to (a) clarify that the higher densities currently allowed in the CN(RHD) zoning district at Prospect Road and Lawrence Expressway are only allowed in that particular commercial area and are not elsewhere in the City and (b) designate recently annexed land as Residential Hillside Conservation (RHC). 2. These amendments were considered by the Planning Commission of the City of Saratoga and the Commission, after a duly noticed public hearings on March 23, 2011 and May 11, 2011, recommended that the City Council adopt the amendments. 3. The City Council of the City of Saratoga held duly noticed public hearings on April 20, 2011 and June 1, 2011 to consider the Commission's recommendations and all testimony and written materials provided in connection with those hearings. Therefore, the City Council hereby resolves as follows: Section 1. Adoption. The Saratoga General Plan Land Use Element is amended as set forth below. Text to be added is indicated in bold double underlined font (e.g., bold double underlined) and text to be deleted is indicated in strikeout font (e.g., strikeout). Text in standard font remains unchanged by this ordinance. 1. The discussion of the "Commercial /Office" land use designations in the General Plan is revised as shown below. Commercial/Office Commercial land is broken into two general subcategories. Densities and intensities of uses permitted in these subcategories are as follows: Commercial Retail (CR): There are five main commercial areas in the City with this designation. The main commercial areas include Downtown Big Basin Way (including Neale's Hollow), Argonaut Shopping Center, the Gateway, Quito Shopping Center and the Center at Prospect and Lawrence (including nearby Big Tree Center). These commercial areas serve the community and/or their immediate neighborhood. They are not regional in 1 orientation and tend to be located in relatively small complexes. Maximum intensity of building coverage is 60% of net site area, except as regulated by an applicable specific plan. Commercial uses in the downtown Village Area are regulated by the Village Specific Plan (adopted in 1988 and as may be revised by City Council from time to time), including building coverage and height. Where a new commercial development is to be located adjacent to or across from an established single family or multi family residential use, appropriate landscape buffers shall be required that are at least equal to the setbacks of the adjacent residential district. No single tenant of said development shall exceed 15,000 square feet of floor area. The commercial area near Prospect and Lawrence is the only CR area suitable for high density mixed use development with a minimum density of 20 units per net acre and for emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing for homeless individuals and families. 2. The existing text presenting the "Summary Description Of Use" of the Commercial Retail (CR) land use designation in Table LU -1 on page 16 of the Land Use Element is amended as set forth below. Commercial uses /centers serving community and/or neighborhood; not regional in orientation. Refer to Saratoga Village Specific Plan for uses, height and lot coverage permitted in Specific Plan area. High density mixed use projects and emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing for homeless individuals and families are appropriate in the commercial area near Prospect and Lawrence consistent with applicable zoning. 3. The General Plan map is hereby amended to designate the 37.81 property shown on Exhibit A hereto as Residential Hillside Conservation (RHC). Section 2. Severance Clause. The City Council declares that each section, sub section, paragraph, sub paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance is severable and independent of every other section, sub section, paragraph, sub paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance. If any section, sub section, paragraph, sub paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is held invalid, the City Council declares that it would have adopted the remaining provisions of this ordinance irrespective of the portion held invalid, and further declares its express intent that the remaining portions of this ordinance should remain in effect after the invalid portion has been eliminated. Section 3. California Environmental Quality Act The proposed amendments and additions to the General Plan Land Use Element are Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15061(b)(3). CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential of causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. In this circumstance, Staff is recommending amendments to the existing General 2 Plan Lane Use Element and the amendments and additions would have a de minimis impact on the environment. Following a duly noticed public hearing the foregoing resolution was adopted at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Saratoga held on the 1st day of June, 2011 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Manny Cappello, Emily Lo, Jill Hunter, Vice Mayor Chuck Page, Mayor Howard Miller NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: S 4 4/1/11—dt4 ANN SULLIVAN HOWARD A. MILLER CLERK OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA Saratoga, California Saratoga, California DATE: C' ,7 -40// APPROVED AS TO FORM: RICHARD TAYLOR, CITY ATTORNEY 3