HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1749 revoking the Planned Development Overlay related to a development projected proposed at 1144O 1749
ORDINANCE NO. 1749 (2025 SERIES)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, REVOKING THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
OVERLAY (ORDINANCE NO. 1687 [2020 SERIES]), RELATED TO A
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PROPOSED AT 1144 CHORRO STREET,
AND AMENDING THE ZONING MAP TO REZONE THE SEVEN (7)
ASSOCIATED PROPERTIES FROM C-D-PD AND C-D-H-PD TO C-D
AND C-D-H, RESPECTIVELY. THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA) (1144 CHORRO STREET; 895, 898,
AND 973 HIGUERA STREET; 876 AND 890 MARSH STREET; AND 868
AND 870 MONTEREY STREET; PDEV-0428-2023)
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public
hearing in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo,
California, on September 17, 2019, initiating the project review with consideration of the
Community Benefits and Mandatory Project Features for the Planned Development
Overlay (PD Overlay), pursuant to a proceeding instituted under ARCH-1687-2018,
PDEV-0509-2019, and EID-0475-2019; Mark Rawson, applicant; and
WHEREAS, the Architectural Review Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo
conducted a web-based public hearing on June 1, 2020, recommending approval of the
project with direction to the Planning Commission for consistency with the Community
Design Guidelines, pursuant to a proceeding instituted under ARCH-1687-2018, PDEV-
0509-2019, and EID-0475-2019; Mark Rawson, applicant; and
WHEREAS, the Cultural Heritage Committee of the City of San Luis Obispo
conducted a web-based public hearing on June 22, 2020, recommending approval of
the project with direction to the Planning Commission for consistency with the Historic
Preservation Ordinance and Historic Preservation Program Guidelines, pursuant to a
proceeding instituted under ARCH-1687-2018, PDEV-0509-2019, and EID-0475-2019;
Mark Rawson, applicant; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a
web-based public hearing on July 8, 2020, recommending approval of the project with
direction to the City Council for consistency with the General Plan and Zoning
Regulations, pursuant to a proceeding instituted under ARCH-1687-2018, PDEV-0509-
2019, and EID-0475-2019; Mark Rawson, applicant; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a web-
based public hearing on August 18, 2020, introducing an ordinance amending the Zoning
Regulations Map to change the zoning designation of seven (7) properties from C-D-H
to C-D-H-PD and C-D to C-D-PD for a PD Overlay; and approving the development of a
six-story mixed-use building consisting of approximately 30,000 square feet of
commercial/office space and 50 residential dwelling units pursuant to a proceeding
instituted under ARCH-1687-2018, PDEV-0509-2019 and EID-0475-2019; Mark
Rawson, applicant; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a web-
based public hearing on September 1, 2020, approving the PD Overlay for seven (7)
properties within the Downtown Commercial Zone and adopting an ordinance
(Ordinance No. 1687 [2020 Series]) amending the Zoning Regulations Map to change
the zoning designation of the associated properties from C-D to C-D-PD and C-D-H to
C-D-H-PD pursuant to a proceeding instituted under PDEV-0509-2019 and EID-0475-
2019; Mark Rawson, applicant; and
WHEREAS, the City Council’s approval of a six-story mixed-use development
consisting of approximately 30,000 square feet of commercial/office space and 50
residential dwelling units, instituted under ARCH-1687-2018, PDEV-0509-2019 and EID-
0475-2019, expired on August 28, 2024, and the property owner of 1144 Chorro Street
does not wish to re-initiate; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Community Development Department received a complete
application submittal on May 15, 2025, confirming that all affected owners of the seven
(7) associated properties are in agreement and requesting to revoke the PD Overlay,
related to the development project proposed at 1144 Chorro, instituted under PDEV-
0428-2023; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a
public hearing in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo,
California on July 9, 2025, recommending the City Council revoke the PD Overlay related
to the development project proposed at 1144 Chorro and amend the Zoning Map to
rezone the seven (7) associated properties from C-D-PD and C-D-H-PD to C-D and C-D-
H, pursuant to a proceeding under PDEV-0428-2023; Copeland Properties, Jamestown
Premier Retail LP, and NKT Commercial, applicants; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public
hearing in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California
on August 19, 2025, for the purpose of introducing an Ordinance to revoke the PD Overlay
related to the development project proposed at 1144 Chorro and amend the Zoning Map
to rezone the seven (7) associated properties from C-D-PD and C-D-H-PD to C-D and C-
D-H, pursuant to a proceeding under PDEV-0428-2023; Copeland Properties,
Jamestown Premier Retail LP, and NKT Commercial, applicants; and
WHEREAS, notices of said public hearing were made at the time and in the
manner required by law; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has duly considered all evidence, including the
testimony of interested parties and the evaluation and recommendation by staff,
presented at said hearing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
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SECTION 1. Findings. Based upon all evidence, the City Council revokes the
Planned Development Overlay, related to the development project at 1144 Chorro Street,
because the required findings previously made for Ordinance No. 1687 (2020 Series)
would no longer be applicable and/or met, based on the following:
1. The purpose of adopting this PD Overlay in 2020 was to facilitate a specific
accompanying project at 1144 Chorro Street;
2. Approval of that accompanying project at 1144 Chorro Street (ARCH-1687-
2018, PDEV-0509-2019, and EID-0475-2019) has expired;
3. Any community benefits and mandatory project features required of, or
resulting from, the development project would no longer occur because the
accompanying project approval has expired and the property owner of 1144
Chorro Street does not wish to re-initiate;
4. All current owners of the seven (7) affected properties do not wish to re-initiate
the project as previously approved;
5. The property owner of 1144 Chorro Street has actively pursued entitlement
and building permit approvals for different uses at the property;
6. The PD Overlay encumbers seven (7) properties in downtown, not under
common ownership, by referring to an expired project approval on the Zoning
Map; and
7. Revocation of the PD Overlay would amend and clean up the Zoning Map by
removing the reference to an expired project approval and its associated
requirements (e.g., mitigation measures from the environmental review;
deviations allowed by the PD overlay; conditions of approval, etc.). Revocation
would provide clarity in applicable regulations of the affected properties and
remove unnecessary restrictions on development thereof.
SECTION 2. Environmental Determination. The project is exempt from
environmental review under Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule Exemption) of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. This “Common Sense”
exemption states that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for causing
significant effect on the environment. Since the scope of this request is limited to an
amendment on the zoning map and does not facilitate any development project, it would
not have an effect on the environment. Additionally, the mitigation measures required as
part of the PD Overlay adoption in 2020 were only applicable to the development project
for 1144 Chorro Street as proposed at the time. Should there be any development
proposed on 1144 Chorro Street or any of the other affected properties, those projects
would be evaluated on an individual basis for consistency and compliance with all
applicable regulations in effect at that time, including environmental review.
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SECTION 3. Action. The City Council hereby adopts an ordinance to revoke the
PD Overlay, related to a development project proposed at 1144 Chorro Street, and rezone
the seven (7) associated properties from C-D-PD and C-D-H-PD to C-D and C-D-H,
respectively, as shown in Exhibit A and incorporated herein.
EXHIBIT A
Proposed Zoning Map with the C-D and C-D-H Zones
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SECTION 4. A summary of this ordinance, together with the names of the Council
members voting for and against, shall be published at least five (5) days prior to its final
passage, in the New Times, a newspaper published and circulated in this City. The
Ordinance shall be effective 30 days after its final passage.
INTRODUCED on the 19th day of August 2025, AND FINALLY ADOPTED by the
Council of the City of San Luis Obispo on the 2nd day of September 2025, on the following
vote:
AYES: Council Member Boswell, Francis, Marx, Vice Mayor Shoresman,
and Mayor Stewart
NOES: None
RECUSED: None
ABSENT: None
__________________________
Mayor Erica A. Stewart
ATTEST:
_________________________
Teresa Purrington,
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
J. Christine Dietrick,
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________.
__________________________
Teresa Purrington,
City Clerk
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9/4/2025 | 11:05 AM PDT