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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3CDDWork Program 1-20-10 (Revised 01-12-10) (3)Page 1 of 4 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL RETREAT MEETING DATE: January 29, 2010 AGENDA ITEM: DEPARTMENT: Community Development CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson PREPARED BY: John F. Livingstone, AICP DIRECTOR: John F. Livingstone, AICP SUBJECT: Community Development Department Advance Planning Work Program for FY 10/11 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Direct staff regarding the priority of work on ordinances and General Plan amendments. REPORT SUMMARY: Each year the City Council reviews potential General Plan amendments and planning-related City Code amendments that are underway or have been recently adopted and provides direction to staff regarding the General Plan or Code amendments to be pursued in the year ahead. Listed below are (1) recently completed ordinances, (2) ordinance and plan amendments currently under consideration, (3) ordinances discussed by the Planning Commission and City Council at a recent Study Session, (4) ordinances that have been discussed for possible updates in the past, and (5) a list of the elements of the City’s General Plan and the date that each element was last updated. Staff recommends that the Council provide direction as to (1) which Ordinances/Plan updates should be pursued in addition to those under current review and (2) the order in which those updates should be pursued as resources become available. COMPLETED ORDINANCES: Nonconforming Use Section Update Wireless Ordinance Update Fence Ordinance Update Parking Ordinance to extend relaxed parking in the Village Miscellaneous Code update Story Poles Expedited Conditional Use Permit Process Tobacco Ordinance Urgency Ordinance for Medicinal Marijuana Dispensaries Administration Citation Ordinance Update of the Heritage Resource list Page 2 of 4 ORDINANCES/PLANS UNDER CURRENT REVIEW: Housing Element update and associated implementation ordinances State Mandated Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Medicinal Marijuana Dispensaries Ordinance (Interim Ordinance expires November 18, 2010) Circulation Element Update to implement recommendations of Pedestrian, Equestrian and Bikeways Advisory Committee ORDINANCES/PLAN AMENDMENTS FOR POTENTIAL CONSIDERATION: At the joint study session with the City Council on November 2, 2009 the Planning Commission presented their recommendation from their study session held on October 27, 2009. The Planning Commission recommended consideration of items 1 through 7. Item 8 was added as a result of discussion at the study session and 9 and 10 from discussions at Council meetings. 1. Update the code to include the State mandated Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance 2. Update the code to comply with the State mandated update for the Massage Ordinance 3. Depending on funding availability start work on the General Plan Noise Element and Noise Ordinance (This would require use of a consultant) 4. Review the Hillside Zoning District impervious issue, light reflectivity for paint colors, and general comparison to the R-1-40,000 Zoning District 5. Review the definition for height 6. Update the Sign Ordinance 7. New green ordinances 8. Update ordinance regarding site coverage by impervious surfaces. (See Attachment A) 9. Ordinance prohibiting smoking in certain area of the City of Saratoga 10. Review of General Plan and Pre Zoning Designations of unincorporated areas in the City SOI (Sphere of Influence) ORDINANCES PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOR UPDATE NOT LISTED ABOVE Increase Neighborhood Noticing to 500 feet on Administrative Design Review projects Create a new requirement to place large signs on properties with pending projects Restrict paint reflectivity in the Hillsides Updating the City’s 1982 CEQA implementation policy Establish an exception process to allow exceptions to setbacks, impervious coverage and Floor area Adopt a Toxic Gas Ordinance from the County of Santa Clara Environmental Health Department Page 3 of 4 GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS: Mandatory Elements Housing Element – currently being updated Land Use Element – Last updated 2007 Conservation Element – Last updated 2007 Open Space Element – Last updated 2007 Circulation Element – Last updated 1999 Noise Element – Last updated 1988 (Should be updated at the same time as the code section) Safety Element – Last updated 1987 Optional Elements Seismic Safety Element – Last updated 1987 Parks and Trails Master Plan – Last updated 1991 Scenic Highways Element – Last updated 1999 Area Plans The General Plan includes 12 Area Plans last updated in 1983 WORK PLAN POLICY: Based on direction at the Retreat, staff will prepare a report with a proposed work plan through June, 2011. That report will be presented at a regular City Council for formal consideration by the City Council. All proposed amendments to the approved work plan in the future would be brought to the City Council in a formal report for Council review and action. FISCAL IMPACTS: Due to the economic slowdown staff is estimating approximately $140,000 in funds will be generated for advance planning for FY 09/10. The advance planning budget for FY 09/10 has been used to update ordinances utilizing in house staff as listed on the previous page. It is anticipated that staff will be able to finish all of the projects listed under current review on the previous page within the current budget by June. Staff estimates that updating any one general plan element will cost $70K to $100K. The table below presents a rough estimate of the costs associated with each of the potential updates discussed by the Council and the Planning Commission at the November study session. Of course, these are estimates only and much will depend on the specific policies proposed by the update and the issues and opportunities identified during the public review process. Nonetheless, the table allows comparison of the relative level of effort associated with each of the updates. Given the current budget constraints staff recommends the City Council prioritize a list of ordinances that can be accomplished in house and as the economy improves the advance planning fund can be allowed to accumulate to accommodate a future General Plan Element update. Page 4 of 4 Plan/Ordinance PC Review? CEQA Review? Consultant Needed? City Attorney Costs Level of Staff Effort State mandated Massage Ordinance update No No No ~$3,000 Minor Noise Element/Ordinance Yes Yes – EIR likely required. Yes ~$10,000 Extensive Hillside Zoning District Update Yes Yes – Need for EIR unknown Possibly ~$10,000 Extensive Definition of Height Yes Possible. Will depend on nature of change. No ~$3,000 Moderate Sign Ordinance Yes Yes - Mitigated Negative Declaration No ~$3,000- $10,000 Moderate to Extensive Green Ordinances Yes Unknown No ~$3,000- $10,000 Moderate to Extensive Impervious Surface Yes Yes - Mitigated Negative Declaration No ~$5,000- $10,000 Moderate Smoking Ordinance No No No ~$3,000 Minor P:\SARATOGA\City Documents\CC retreat CDD Work Program 1-20-10.(Revised 01-12-10).doc