HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-10843 approve an amendment to the Circulation Element of the General Plan with an addendum to the 2014 LUCE update Environmental Review ReportRESOLUTION NO. 10843 (2017 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CIRCULATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN WITH AN
ADDENDUM TO THE 2014 LUCE UPDATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
REPORT
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 October
24, 2017 for the purpose of considering General Plan Amendments proposed as part of the
Circulation Element Amendment project including General Plan Circulation Element map
changes; 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
September 14, 2017 for the purpose of formulating and forwarding recommendations to the City
Council of the City of San Luis Obispo regarding the project; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the Addendum to the Land Use and Circulation
Element Update Environmental Impact Report, and determined that the document adequately
addresses the potential environmental effects of the proposed amendment; 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 the applicant, interested parties, and the evaluation and recommendations by staff, presented at
said hearing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. Based upon all the evidence, the City Council makes the
following findings in support of the amendments to the General Plan to eliminate the Luneta Drive
connection between Verde and Palomar Streets based on the following findings and subject to the
following conditions:
a) The proposed General Plan Amendment is limited to minor policy revisions related
to street classifications which have negligible effect on actual street conditions,
therefore will not be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of those living
and working in the vicinity.
b) On September 3, 2014, the City Council adopted an Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) for the Land Use and Circulation Element Update which adequately
addresses the potential significant environmental impacts of the proposed project.
The EIR along with the prepared addendum adequately evaluate the potential
environmental impacts associated with the project.
R 10843
Resolution No. 10843 (2017 Series)
Page 2
C) The proposed General Plan Amendment will establish a new street classification,
Residential Collector (Major), to more appropriately reflect the character of
residential streets serving high density residential and neighborhood commercial.
This new street classification formalizes a footnote in the current Circulation
Element.
d) The proposed General Plan Amendment will reclassify Ramona Drive between
Tassajara and Broad Streets as a Residential Collector (Major) to more
appropriately reflect the character along this segment of Ramona Drive serving high
density residential and neighborhood commercial.
e) Text, Table 4 and Figure 1 of the Circulation Element will be amended to reflect
these changes. These changes represent a better organization of the document and
have no effect on the design or operation of the actual roadways.
SECTION 2. Environmental Review
a) An addendum to the Land Use and Circulation Element Update Environmental
Impact Report was prepared regarding the Luneta Drive closure. The addendum
concluded the following:
i) None of the following circumstances included in Section 15162 of the CEQA
Guidelines have occurred which require a subsequent EIR:
a. The project changes do not result in new or more severe environmental
impacts.
b. The circumstances under which the project is undertaken will not
require major changes to the EIR.
c. The modified project does not require any substantive changes to
previously approved mitigation measures.
ii) The proposed project would not result in a significant increase in future traffic
on affected roadways such that the effect would result in an increase in the
severity of any impact previously identified in the LUCE Update EIR, and the
proposed street reclassification changes are minor and consistent with the scope
of the approved project.
iii) The changes are consistent with City objectives to improve neighborhood
wellness.
SECTION 3. Action. The City Council does hereby approve the General Plan Amendment
(GENP-0557-2017) subject to the following conditions:
a) The City Council does hereby amend the City of San Luis Obispo Circulation
Element: (1) Circulation Element text amendment as described and shown in
Exhibit A, attached hereto; and (2) Circulation Element Figure 1 amendment as
described and shown in Exhibit B, attached hereto. The City Council declares that
should any provision, section, paragraph, sentence, or word of this Resolution be
rendered or declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, or by reason of
any preemptive legislation, the remaining provisions, sections, paragraphs,
sentences and words of this Resolution shall remain in full force and effect. The
recitals contained in this resolution are incorporated by reference.
R 10843
Resolution No. 10843 (2017 Series)
Page 3
Upon motion of Vice Mayor Rivoire, seconded by Council Member Gomez, and on the following
roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members Christianson, Gomez and Pease
Vice Mayor Rivoire and Mayor Harmon
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
The foregoing resolution was adopted this 24th day of October 2017.
/- �6"He—idi a on
ATTEST:
Carrie Gallagher
City Clerk
OVED AS
1. Ehristine 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, this � LA day of w,
Carrie Gallagher
City Clerk
R 10843
ATTACHMENT 2:
Proposed Changes to the Circulation Element
Circulation Element
Types of Streets
7.3. Design Standards
The City's roadway system is shown in Figure 1. The City shall require that improvements to the City's
roadway system are made consistent with the following descriptions and standards:
7.3.1. Average Daily Traffic (ADT)
The total number of vehicles that use a particular street throughout the day (24 hours).
7.3.2. Vehicle Level of Service (LOS)
Level of service is a letter grade representation of the quality of traffic flow based on congestion.
A. Level of Service (LOS) "A" is free-flowing traffic while LOS "F" is extreme congestion.
B. At LOS "D," the recommended standard, drivers can expect delays of 35 to 55 seconds and sometimes
have to wait through more than one cycle of a traffic signal. Vehicle may stack up at intersections but
dissipate rapidly.
C. At LOS "E," delays increase to 55 to 80 seconds and drivers frequently have to wait through more than
one cycle of a traffic signal. Stacked lines of cars at intersections become longer.
Table 4. Street Classification Descriptions and Standards
Local Commercial Streets directly serve non-residential development that
front them and channel traffic to commercial collector streets 5,000 25 mph
Local Residential Streets directly serve residential development that front
them and channel traffic to minor and major residential collector streets 1,500 25 mph
(Feference streets on ;igwFe 1).
Commercial Collector Streets collect traffic from commercial areas and
channel it to arterials.
Residential Collector Streets (Minor) collect traffic from residential areas
and channel it to arterials.
10,000
3,0003
25 mph
25 mph
Residential Collector Streets (Major) collect traffic from neighborhood
commercial, high density residential and residential areas and channel it
to arterials.
5,000 25 mph
Residential Arterials are bordered by residential property where
preservation of neighborhood character is as important as providing for
LOS D CVC*
traffic flow and where speeds should be controlled.
Arterial Streets provide circulation between major activity centers and
LOS E
residential areas
(Downtown) CVC*
LOS D
(other routes) CVC*
Parkway Arterials_*:"/Regional Routes are arterial routes with
landscaped medians where the number of cross streets is limited and
direct access from fronting properties is discouraged. These routes
LOS D CVC*
connect the city with other parts of the county and are used by people
Page 2-27
ATTACHMENT 2:
Proposed Changes to the Circulation Element
Chapter 2
traveling throughout the county and state and are designated as primary
traffic carriers. Segments of these routes leading ince San � . s Qbis a
thew aq. F-eppmup4y entppAkayii
Highway/Freeway/Ramps is a regional route of significance where access
is controlled. Segments of these routes leading into San Luis Obispo LOS D CVC*
should include landscaped medians and roadside areas to better define
them as community entryways.
*Speed Limits are dictated by prevailing speeds per the California Vehicle Code (CVC).
Notes:
(1) To determine the classification of a particular street segment refer to Figure 1: Streets Classification Map and Appendix E. Appendix E
includes the most recent traffic counts and estimates of level of service (LOS). Traffic counts will be different for various segments of a
particular street. In some cases, a range of LOS ratings are shown on Appendix E for "Arterial" streets because of the variability of traffic
flow conditions along a particular corridor,• and some street segments approaching intersections may have poorer LOS than shown in this
table. Note that all ADT should reflect volumes typically experienced when all schools are in session. To account for seasonal shifts ADT
shall be calculated using an annual average daily traffic (AADT) for individual volumes and the threshold shall be adjusted up to 15%.
(2) Desired maximum speed means that 85% of motorists using the street will drive at or slower than this speed. To account for seasonal
shifts speeds shall be calculated using an annual average or for individual speed surveys the threshold shall be adjusted up by 2.7 mph.
mer ri40i,, .g 61nd Broad kree�s "arrh of Wiqcefn S A49Fgar4te Am emoe Me mf;A4?; um desiped 40T goo! is 5,909 APT,
Page 2-28
ATTACHMENT 2:
Proposed Changes to the Circulation Element
Circulation Element
8. NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
8.1. Policies
8.1.1. Through Traffic
The City shall design its circulation network to encourage through traffic to use Regional Routes, Highways,
Arterials, Parkway Arterials, and Residential Arterial streets and to discourage through traffic use of
Collectors and Local streets.
8.1.2. Residential Streets
The City should not approve commercial development that encourages customers, employees or deliveries to
use Residential Local or Residential Collector (Minor and Major) streets.
8.1.3. Neighborhood Traffic Speeds
To the extent permitted under the California Vehicle Code, the City shall endeavor to reduce and maintain
vehicular speeds in residential neighborhoods.
8.1.4. Neighborhood Traffic Management
The City shall ensure that neighborhood traffic management projects:
A. Provide for the mitigation of adverse impacts on all residential neighborhoods.
B. Provide for adequate response conditions for emergency vehicles.
C. Provide for convenient and safe through bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
8.1.5. Neighborhood Traffic Management Guidelines
The City shall update its Neighborhood Traffic Management Guidelines to address voting, funding, and
implementation procedures and develop an outreach program on the availability of the program.
8.1.6. Non -Infill Development
In new, non -infill developments, dwellings shall be set back from Regional Routes and Highways, Parkway
Arterials, Arterials, Residential Arterials, and Collector streets so that interior and exterior noise standards
can be met without the use of noise walls.
8.1.7. New Project Evaluation
The City shall not approve development that impacts the quality of life and livability of residential
neighborhoods by generating traffic conditions that significantly exceed the thresholds established in Table 4
except as provided under CEQA. The City shall also not approve development which significantly worsens
already deficient residential neighborhood traffic conditions as established in Table 4 except as provided
under CEQA. New development shall incorporate traffic calming features to minimize speeding and cut -
through traffic.
Page 2-29
ATTACHMENT 2:
Proposed Changes to the Circulation Element
Figure 1: Existing
ATTACHMENT 2:
Proposed Changes to the Circulation Element
Figure 1: Proposed