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Home My WebLink AboutItem 5b. 1106 Walnut St. (GENP-0144-2023) General Plan Conformity Report PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT SUBJECT: GENERAL PLAN CONFORMITY REPORT FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1106 WALNUT FOR CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICES BY: Rachel Cohen, Senior Planner FROM: Tyler Corey, Deputy Director Phone Number: 805-781-7574 Phone Number: 805-781-7169 Email: rcohen@slocity.org Email: tcorey@slocity.org APPLICANT: City of San Luis Obispo REPRESENTATIVE: Shelly Stanwyck RECOMMENDATION Adopt a Draft Resolution determining General Plan Conformance for the acquisition of property located at 1106 Walnut Street for City Offices (GENP-0144-2023). 1.0 COMMISSION'S PURVIEW Section 65402 of the California Government Code requires the local planning agency make a finding of General Plan conformance whenever a governmental entity proposes to acquire or dispose of a property. Specifically, Section 65402 requires that the location, purpose, and extent of real property acquisition (and disposition) be submitted to and reported upon by the planning agency having jurisdiction as to conformity with the City’s adopted general plan (Cal. Gov’t Code § 65402(c)). 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed property being considered for acquisition by the City is located at 1106 Walnut Street (APN: 001-207-018). The property is approximately 0.87 acres in size and within the Office (O) zone. Figure 1 shows the location of the property and its proximity to other City and County offices in the downtown area. Meeting Date: 4/12/2023 Item Number: 5b Time Estimate: N/A - Consent Page 9 of 149 Item 5b GENP-0144-2023 Planning Commission Report – April 12, 2023 Police Dept. City Hall City Offices County Offices City Offices Proposed Site Figure 1: The proposed site (1106 Walnut) is located across Santa Rosa Street from the City’s Police Department. Page 10 of 149 Item 5b GENP-0144-2023 Planning Commission Report – April 12, 2023 3.0 PROJECT ANALYSIS The proposed acquisition of 1106 Walnut Street for City government offices conforms with both the City’s General Plan and Zoning Regulations as described in detail below. The City may consider using the site as a public safety facility in the future if and when a General Plan amendment and Use Permit is approved for the site. Consistency with the General Plan The Land Use Element (LUE) identifies Government Offices as one of the many uses designed to utilize land designated as Office. The Office land use designation provides for offices uses that “meet the needs of city and specialized needs of county residents ,” such as the following:  Professional and financial services such as doctors, architects, insurance companies and banks  Government offices  Residential uses  Mixed-use projects  Public and quasi-public uses LUE policies outline that government offices should be located near other government offices and within the downtown area. As shown in Figure 1 (above), the proposed property is located approximately 1,200 feet from other City and County government offices and across the street from the City’s Police Department in the downtown area.  LUE Policy 4.21: City Hall and the County Government Center should remain at their present locations. Additional local government administrative office space which cannot be accommodated within the existing city and county properties should be developed nearby within the Downtown.  LUE Policy 5.1.1: The City shall support the continued grouping of government offices that provide similar types of services for efficient service delivery. Consistency with the Zoning Regulations The City is proposing to utilize the building at the proposed property for use as government offices which may include, but not limited to administrative offices, meeting spaces, accessory uses, etc. Some examples of possible office usage include providing additional space for City’s departments where staff are sharing cubical spaces due to staff exceeding the capacity of existing buildings or providing office space prior to a more formal remodel of the “City Hall Campus” when SLO Rep moves to its new building. Zoning Regulations Chapter 17.24 describes the “office zone” as including “a range of public administrative uses.” The office use is defined as “firms or organizations providing professional, executive, management, or administrative services, such as accounting, architectural, computer software design, engineering, graphic design, interior design, legal offices, and tax preparation offices…1” Per Table 2-1, Uses Allowed by Zone, government offices are an allowed within the Office Zone by right. 1 Section 17.156.032 Page 11 of 149 Item 5b GENP-0144-2023 Planning Commission Report – April 12, 2023 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Section 15061(b)(3) states a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for 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. The determination of general plan conformity for the acquisition of land for government office use by the City of San Luis Obispo is not subject to CEQA because the project will not have a significant effect on the environment since it is a policy review of whether acquiring land conforms with the General Plan. Any future development related to the proposed property will be subject to environmental review as required under CEQA. 5.0 OTHER DEPARTMENT COMMENTS There is concurrence from the Administration Department on this recommendation. 6.0 ALTERNATIVES 1. Continue consideration of the proposal, with direction to staff on items needed or necessary information to make a decision on General Plan conformity. 2. Deny that the proposed property acquisition for 1106 Walnut Street is in conformance with the General Plan based on finding(s) of inconsistency with the General Plan. Staff does not recommend this alternative as the project is critical for needed City Government offices. 7.0 ATTACHMENTS A - Draft Planning Commission Resolution determining General Plan Conformance for the acquisition of property for City Government Offices. Page 12 of 149 RESOLUTION NO. XXXX-23 A RESOLUTION OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINING GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1106 WALNUT FOR CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICES THAT IS EXEMPT FROM CEQA PER SECTION 15061(B)(3) THE GENERAL RULE AS REPRESENTED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT AND ATTACHMENTS DATED APRIL 12, 2023 (1106 WALNUT STREET, GENP-0144-2023) WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public meeting in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, on April 12, 2023, for the purpose of reviewing the acquisition of property for City Government Offices for General Plan Conformity as required by California Government Code Section 65402 (GENP-0144-2023); and WHEREAS, notices of said public hearing were made at the time and in the manner required by law; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has duly considered all evidence and recommendations by staff, presented at said hearing. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: Section 1. Findings. Based upon all the evidence, the Commission makes the following findings: 1. The acquisition of property for City Governmental Offices will not harm the general health, safety, and welfare of people living or working in the vicinity because the proposed project is consistent with the General Plan Land Use Element and the Zoning Regulations. Section 2. Environmental Review. Section 15061(b)(3) states a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for 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. The determination of general plan conformity for the acquisition of land for government office use by the City of San Luis Obispo is not subject to CEQA because the project will not have a significant effect on the environment since it is a policy review of whether acquiring land conforms with the General Plan. Any future development related to the proposed property will be subject to environmental review as required under CEQA. Page 13 of 149 Planning Commission Resolution No. PC-XXX-2023 Page 2 GENP-0144-2023 (1106 Walnut) Section 3. Action. The Planning Commission does find and report that GENP - 0144-2023 conforms to the City of San Luis Obispo’s General Plan pursuant to California Government Code Section 65402. On motion by ___________________, seconded by _____________________, and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: REFRAIN: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this day of April 12, 2023. __________________________ Tyler Corey, Secretary Planning Commission Page 14 of 149