HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/04/2000, C3 - ANNUAL REPORT ON THE GENERAL PLAN council Apr.4,00
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C I TY OF SAN LU IS O B I S P O
FROM: Arnold B. Jonas, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Glen Matteson,Associate Planner
SUBJECT: ANNUAL REPORT ON THE GENERAL PLAN
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Receive the annual report.
DISCUSSION
The General Plan provides a comprehensive, long-range vision focusing on preserving
community resources and meeting community needs. The General Plan provides a basis for
rational decision-making regarding the City's long-term physical development. The General Plan
is adopted and amended by the City Council, after considering recommendations by citizens,
appointed advisory bodies, other agencies, and City staff.
The City publishes an annual report on the status of its General Plan and actions taken to
implement it The report is to help citizens and City officials understand recent decisions
involving the General Plan.
The annual report is done in part to comply with State law, which says that"the planning agency
shall ... provide an annual report to the legislative body on the status of the general plan and
progress in it implementation, including the progress in meeting its share of regional housing
needs..." (California Government Code Section 65400). The General Plan itself also calls for an
annual report, to be completed during the first quarter of each calendar year (Land Use Element
policy 9.3). According to this policy, the report is to include the following items. Numbers in
parentheses refer to pages of the enclosed report where the item is addressed.
A. A summary of private development activity and a brief.analysis of how it helped meet
general plan goals(pages 2 and 3);
$, A summary of major public projects and a brief analysis of how they contributed to
meeting general plan goals(pages 3 through 5);
C. An overview of programs, and recommendations on any new approaches that may be
necessary(pages 5 through'n;
D. A status report for each general plan program scheduled to be worked on during that year,
including discussion of whether that program's realization is progressing on schedule, and
recommendations for how it could better be kept on schedule if it is lagging (pages 5
through 7);
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Council Agenda Report—General Plan Annual Report
Page 2
E. A status report on how the City is progressing with implementing its open space
preservation policies and programs (page 4);
F. Updated population or other information deemed important for the plan(page 2).
In the.report, staff has tried to balance brevity and completeness. More could be said on each
topic,but staff hoped to give a concise overview.
Any direction to modify the General Plan by Council at this meeting would simply identify items
for future consideration. Policies or programs that are described in the General Plan may be
changed only after advertised hearings by the Planning Commission and the City Council to
consider proposed amendments to the General Plan.
CONCURRENCES
On March 8, 2000, the Planning Commission voted seven to none to forward the Annual Report
to the Council,with minor changes from the first draft presented by staff.
FISCAL IMPACT
Receiving the report will have no fiscal impacts. The fiscal impacts of proposed General Plan
amendments and implementation programs are-discussed as those items are presented separately
to the Council for action.
ALTERNATIVES
No action is required. Council may continue action.
Enclosed
Annual Report on the General Plan: ,1999
gp annual report\=99
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city of san lues owspo
annual izepoRt
on the ceneRat plan: 1999
The General Plan provides a comprehensive, long-range vision focusing on
preserving community resources and meeting community needs. The General Plan
provides a basis for rational decision-making regarding the City's long-term
physical development. The General Plan is adopted and amended by the City
Council; after considering recommendations by citizens, appointed. advisory
bodies,other agencies,and City staff.
Each year, the City publishes an Annual Report on the status of its General Plan
and actions taken to implement it during the year just ended. This report is to help
citizens and City officials understand recent decisions involving the General Plan.
It fulfills the requirements of state law, and the General Plan itself, which call for
an annual report-
For
eportFor more information, contact the Community Development Department at 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401-3249; telephone 805 781-7172;
or visit the City's web site at: http://www.slocity.org
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City of San Luis Obispo 1 Genc,A Pian Annual Report 1999
General Plan Elements
State law requires each city and county to adopt a general plan that addresses seven topics.
Additional topics may be included. Each topic may be addressed in a separately published
document, or topics may be combined. The published sections of the General Plan are called
"elements."Table 1 shows the status of San Luis Obispo's General Plan elements.
Table 1
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS
ELEMENT REQUIRED OR DATE OF ADOPTION COMMENT
OPTIONAL OR MAJOR REVISION
Land Use Required 1994
Housing Required 1994
-Open Space Required 1994
Circulation Required 1994 Includes"Scenic Roadways."
Conservation Required 1973 Update combining these topics
EnM Conservation Optional 1981 with Open Space is in progress.
Noise Required 1996
-Safety Required 1978 Update combining these
Seismic Safety Required 1975 topics is in progress.
Parks&Recreation Optional 1995
Water&Wastewater Optional 1996 State law requires an"Urban Water
Management Management Plan"that need not be
part of the general plan.
The City also maintains a digest version of the General Plan. The digest makes all policies and
programs available in a single document.
Amendments
During 1999, the City approved the amendments listed in Table 2. Since the 1994 updates,there
has been no major citywide change nor overall pattern among the individual changes that
suggests a comprehensive re-evaluation of goals or policies is necessary at this time.
Table 2
1999 GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
Location or Area Initiated by; comment
Type Subject Chane (acres) "
Housing Changing density in the Delete reference to City- City,for consistency with
Element text Edna-Islay Area initiated R-3 zoning. specific plan actions
Housing Inclusionary Reduced by half City;for consistency with
Element text performance standards inclusionary(affordable)
housing program as.adopted
Land Use Augusta Street(Judson Low-density Residential to 0.66 Applicant;for senior
Element map Terrace) High-density Residential housing roect
Water& Policies concerning Clarify City,to clarify intent
Wastewater water for development
Management
Element text
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City of San Luis Obispo 2 General Plan Annual Report 1999
Element Updates
The City did not adopt any element updates in 1999. Work continued on updating and combining
the Safety Element and the Seismic Safety Element. This work was part of a cooperative effort
involving the County and most of the cities within the County. Also, the City did substantial
work on updating the Conservation Element and consolidating policies on conservation that are
found in all the other elements, including Land Use, Open Space, and Energy Conservation.
Population Trends
The California Department of Finance estimated that there were 42,863 city residents on January
L 1999. This was an increase of 1.6 percent over the previous year, but only a two-percent
increase from the 1990 census. The City has begun to prepare for the next comprehensive look at
population,the U.S. Census in 2000.
Development Rates
Taken as a whole, the General Plan says housing construction should occur not much faster or
slower than one percent per year on average,that it should include a variety of housing types,and
that it should include dwellings affordable to low- and moderate-income residents. Table 3-A
summarizes residential construction since 1994. "Market Rate" refers to dwellings with no price
limits or direct subsidies, while "Below Market" refers to dwellings that do have a price limit or
subsidy intended to make them more affordable to low-income or moderate-income residents.
The table reflects only construction within the city limits. Annual increases in the number of
dwellings have remained below one percent.
Table 3-A
1995- 1999 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Net C-hange;Dueto-Complifi&C-onstractton>
(number of dwellings):`
Single Family Multifamily Total Annual Growth Rate
Year Market Rate Below Market Market Rate Below Market for the year for 3 years
1995 32 0 14 20 66 - 0.36% 0.34%
1996 53 0 31 0 84 0.45% 0.51%
1997 118 0 16 0 134 0.72% 0.56%
1998 130 0 4 0 134 0.72% 0.67%
1999 57 4 10 0 71 0.38% 0.61%
Notes:
For 1999 and later,classification as to single family or multifamily may differ from previous years,to conform to
State and Federal housing type definitions.
Not reflected in.these numbers, in 1999 about existing 24 dwellings,mostly single-family,were annexed as part
of the Fuller Road Area
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City of San Luis Obispo 3 Gent,A Plan Annual Report 1999
The General Plan also says that the gap between housing demand (due to more jobs and college
enrollment) and supply should not increase. This overall direction is supplemented by a policy
that the City will consider setting nonresidential construction limits if the amount of
nonresidential floor area increases faster than one percent yearly, averaged over a five-year
period, and excluding the first 300,000 square-feet built after.1994. (The 300,000-square-foot
threshold was reached in 1997.) Table 3-B summarizes nonresidential construction since 1994.
"Institutional" includes schools, churches, and goverment buildings. The table reflects only
construction within the city limits. Projects in the unincorporated Airport Area or Cal Poly, for
example, are not included.
Table 3-B
1995- 1999 NONRESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Net Change Due to Completed Construction
(gross floor area in s. rare-feet
Annual Growth Rate
Institu- Retail (incl. Service& Ware- Excluding fust
Year tional Office motel,hotel) Manufacturing house Total Actual 300,000 sq.ft.
1995 -3,100 37,500 47,800 98,100 6,000 186,300 2.1% 0%
1996 31,800 11,600 0 500 14,700 58,600 0.66% 0%
1997 0 17,500 148,800 -10,150 27,450. 183.,600 2.0% 1.4%
1998 0 2,6001 63,700 -5,6001 0 60,700 0.66% 0.66%
1999 1 4,8001 23,6001 32,2001 186,200 -2,100 244,700 2.65% 2.65%
Annual average sincel994: 1.6% 0.94%
Note: Not reflected in these numbers, in 1999 about 71,000 square-feet of existing building area,mostly services
&manufacturing,were annexed as part of the Fuller Road Area
The amount of nonresidential construction in the City has approached the rate that would trigger
further action to implement the growth management policy. Nonresidential building area has.
increased two to three times faster than the number of dwellings, contributing to the imbalance
between jobs and housing in the area In 1999, retail and wholesale developments comprised a
large part of the increase.
Capital Projects
Capital projects are the City's major investments in facilities and equipment They are one way
to implement the General Plan. During each two-year budget cycle, the City evaluates its list of
proposed capital improvement projects for consistency with the General Plan.
During 1999,the City advanced or completed several capital projects. The major projects directly
supporting General Plan goals are listed below, in no particular order. Other items requiring
substantial investments are listed under following topic headings.
• Nearly completed the extension of Mission Plaza from Broad Street to Nipomo Street.
• Acquired about 23 acres for sports fields near Broad Street and Industrial Way.
• Improved a storm drain and replaced water mains in several areas.
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City of San Luis Obispo 4. Gencral Plan Annual Report 1999
Open Space Protection
A basic General Plan goal is protecting the open land outside the City's urban reserve line,which
is the adopted growth boundary, as well as sensitive lands within the urban area. The Land Use
Element, Open Space Element, and Conservation Element address this subject in detail. In 1999,
the City approved a policy concerning the use of City-owned land (typically parks or open space)
for mitigating environmental impacts, including those of private development projects. Also,
several grant applications were filed, some grants were received, and progress was made on
negotiating with owners for acquiring additional open space.
Affordable Housing
The General Plan Housing Element emphasizes the City's goal to provide housing that meets the
needs of all members of the community. In 1999, the City did the following in support of
affordable housing or special-needs housing:
• Culminating many years of study and discussion, adopted an inclusionary housing program,
which requires most new residential and nonresidential developments to help provide
housing affordable to low-and moderate-income residents.
• Adopted residential growth management rules that do not restrict the pace of infill housing
and housing affordable to low-income residents.
• Approved a rezoning and a density bonus for a new residential facility for low-income elderly
(Judson Ten-ace on Augusta Street).
• Helped expedite completion of the Villa Rosa infill housing project,which contained the four
below-market dwellings completed in 1999.
• Approved the DeVaul subdivision, which will include multifamily and affordable housing
• Supported issuance of multifamily housing revenue bonds to help the DeVaul project provide
affordable rental dwellings.
• Continued to contribute to operation of the Orcutt Road homeless shelter and the Prado Road
homeless services center.
The housing demands of college students and employees have a substantial impact on the
community. The City has adopted a goal'that Cal Poly State University and Cuesta College
provide on-campus housing. Cal Poly released a project plan to build additional housing on
campus. Cal Poly also worked on a draft campus master plan update that aims to accommodate
on-campus housing for fimue enrollment increases,as well as some off-campus faculty housing.
Historic Preservation
The City added many properties to the List of Historic Resources. The City also began seismic
and other upgrades for the Historical Museum, and continued to work with a citizens' group for
preservation and rehabilitation of adobes.
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City of San Luis Obispo 5 Genual Plan Annual Report 1999
Other Activities
Many other City actions furthered the goals and objectives of the General Plan. The most
significant are summarized below.
• Adopted Residential Growth Management Regulations, replacing an inactive citywide
permit-ranking system with a schedule for phased development of major expansion areas.
• Completed annexations of the DeVaul Ranch, the Fuller Road Area, and Aero Drive
properties,and conceptually approved annexing three ownerships in the Margarita Area.
• Certified an environmental impact report supplement and approved a use permit for
expansion of the Marsh Street garage.
• Resolved issues preventing State approval of the Water Reuse Program.
• Established a neighborhood parking area in Monterey Heights.
Program Summary
The General Plan contains an ambitious array of programs covering many types of City activities.
The Housing Element, in particular, includes many programs with specific time frames. The City
Council, as part of the budget cycle, formally reconsiders program priorities and support levels
every two years, while General Plan elements are usually revised only every five years or more.
The two-year priority determinations made by the City Council supersede the target program-
completion dates in the General Plan. In addition, some programs depend on participation by
other agencies. As a result, the actual program work often varies from the originally targeted
completion dates. Table 4 (following) summarizes the principal programs, other than routine
activities, on which work was done or scheduled to be done during 1999. (Program item numbers
are from the General Plan Digest; program dates are from the separately published elements,
which may have identifying numbers for the programs different from those in the Digest.)
Previous annual reports identify programs completed in previous years. A separate list of all
General Plan programs is available form the Community Development Department.
Table 4
PROGRAM SUIVEVIARY
GENERAL PLAN EVIPLEIvIENTATION
Program
Number Topic Program Status During 1999
LU 1.16.1 Monitor County Resource There were no significant changes affecting the San
Management System Luis Obispo area.
LU1.16.7 Consistent City&County plans The City unsuccessfully opposed changes to the
County plan involving commercial and residential
development along Los Osos Valley Road.
LU 1.17.2 Open space funding The City applied for several grants.
OS 13.10
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City of San Luis Obispo 6 General Plan Annual Report 1999
GENERAL PLAN HAPLEMENTATION
Program
Number Topic Program Status During 1999
LU 2.13 & Inclusionary housing ordinance The Council adopted an ordinance and a related
H 2.3.1 General Plan amendment.
LU 3.7.10 Reinforcing Madonna Road retail The City has encouraged coordination among the three
area ownerships and approved a privately initiated
redevelopment of Central Coast Mall.
LU 5.8 Public art The City included public art in its projects. Staff did
background work on a requirement for art in private
projects,to be presented to the Council in 2000.
LU 6.0.2 Overlay resource mapping The City has expanded its resource mapping as part of
the Conservation Element update and creation of
Geographic Information System themes for
environmental review.
LU 6.5.1 Flood management in previously The City worked with the involved County special
A thru D developed areas district to prepare a scope of work for a waterways
&LU management plan.
6.5.4
LU 6.5.5 Creek restoration The City continued to require restoration at private
development sites and to perform restoration on its
own property,particularly near the Water Reclamation
Facility.
LU 6.5.11 Replacing non-native plants This has been a part of restoration and maintenance.
LU 7.11 Airport Area Specific Plan The draft plan was nearly completed,but publication
was delayed by the need to reconsider a location for
areawide drainage detention.
LU 8.5, Mid-Higuera enhancement plan After several public workshops in 1999,a draft plan
3.1.4 was published early in 2000.
H 23.2 Housing trust fund This has been established as the"Affordable Housing
Fund,"and receives in-lieu fees paid under the
inclusionary housing requirements.
H 2.3.9 Mortgage revenue bonds The City approved mortgage-revenue-bond financing
to help the affordable rental component of the DeVaul
project
H 33.1 Housing rehab loans Funds remain available as part of a countywide
program,mainly to help low-income and senior:..
H 3.3.2, Housing conservation downtown After completion of a survey of conditions and
33.32 optional approaches last year,further work was
3.3.4 delayed by other program efforts.
H 63.1 Growth management exemption This exemption was continued in the new regulations.
for very-low, low income
H 6.3.4 Affordable housing in major The Margarita,DeVaul,and Orcutt plans are being
expansion areas prepared or reviewed to carry out this program.
H 8.3.1 Shelters for homeless and The City continued to support shelter and services for
displaced people the homeless and victims of abuse.
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City of San Luis Obispo 7 Genes.A Plan Annual Report 1999
GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Program
Number Topic Program Stators During 1999
H 83.2 Sites for special housing The draft Orcutt Area Specific Plan,which was just
being readied for public review at the end of the year,
can accommodate expansion of a mobile home park.
H 9.3.4 Revise solar access This task has been included in work on the
Conservation Element update.
OS 1.3.9 Mapping open space holdings The City continues to add this information to its
OS 3.3.4 and easements. geographic information system.
OS 3.3.3 Designate,zone creek corridors This is being implemented as annexations, specific
as open space plans,and area plans are done.
OS 5.3.2 Wildlife corridor planning Corridors are being made key parts of the draft
OS 6.3.2 Airport,Margarita,and Orcutt areas specific plans.
OS 6.3.1 Species lists and maps The City continued to identify listed species and map
their distribution,with the latest effort being part of the
Conservation Element update.
PR 2.2.2 Youth athletic fields Land was acquired in the Margarita Area
S 1.3:1 Abate hazards in buildings used Unreinforced masonry buildings have been identified
SS 1.3.5 by the public and incentives for upgrades are being implemented.
SS 1.3.6
SS 1.3.11
SS 1.3.28 Community training The City continued to provide Community Emergency
Response Training."
WW Reducing storm water infiltration Activity increased under the lateral-replacement
132.1 for sewer lines program.
Cl 3.13 Railroad bile path Additional work was done on phase 2.
Cl 6.5 Neighborhood traffic The Public Works Department continued to respond to
CI 6.6 management requests concerning neighborhood traffic issues.
CI 6.7
CI 7.6,7.7 Traffic counts and resident Traffic counts were conducted.
surveys
CI 8.9, Prado Road phased extension This was included in review and preparation of plans
8.10 and state highway designation for Dalidio,Orcutt,and Margarita areas;at year end an
amendment to the proposed alignment was scheduled
for Council consideration.
CI 10.8 Encourage update of Airport Staff commented on a rough draft.The long-awaited.
Land Use Plan public review draft was released by the Countyjust
early in 2000.
CI 11.6 Passenger train service The regional planning agency and the State Dept of
Transportation announced plans for upgraded equip-
ment on trains linking S.L.O.and San Diego,and
additional train service along the coast route,
connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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City of San Luis Obispo 8 Gencral Plan Annual Report 1999
GENERAL PLAN BOLEMENTATION
Program
Number Topic Program Status During 1999
CI 12.5, Downtown parking The"Access and Downtown Parking Plan"EIR was
12.7, 12.8 completed and the plan itself was readied for adop-
tion. Responding to the Copeland's proposal(which
could affect the plan)and work on other parking-
related tasks received higher priority than adopting the
plan. For the Marsh Street garage expansion,
environmental review pf changes was completed and
architectural plans were prepared.
EC 1.3.17 Recycling Additional effort went toward recycling yard wastes
EC 1.1320 and construction and demolition materials.
EC 1.3.39 Concentration of residences The DeVaul development plan(approved)and the
Margarita Area Specific Plan(being revised for
hearings)provide for concentrations of housing near
jobs and services.
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