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Home My WebLink About2015 098 CC RESO RESOLUTION 2015-098 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BALDWIN PARK ADOPTING THE FINDINGS OF FACT AND APPROVING A TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN BALDWIN PARK AREA (LOCATION: THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AREA GENERALLY BOUNDED BY LA RICA AVENUE TO THE WEST, CLARK STREET TO THE NORTH, PARK N RIDE LOT TO THE EAST AND DOWNING AVENUE TO THE SOUTH, INCLUDING THE METROLINK RAIL STATION. APPLICANT: CITY OF BALDWIN PARK; CASE NUMBER: SPECIFIC PLAN 15-01 (SP 15-01). THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BALDWIN PARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Baldwin Park does hereby find, determine, and declare as follows: a) That an application ("Application") for a Specific Plan (SP 15-01) was submitted by the City for certain real property, within the area generally bounded by La Rica Avenue to the west, Clark Street to the North, Park n Ride Lot to the East and Downing Avenue to the South, including the Metrolink Rail Station in the City of Baldwin Park, described more particularly in the Application on file with the City Planner; and b) The Application is sought to allow for the orderly, systematic and specific implementation of the City's General Plan within the Specific Plan area (approximately 115 acres). At build-out, the development could include up to 833 residential dwelling units and 289,135 s.f. of nonresidential space; and c) That a duly noticed public hearing was held on said Application by the Planning Commission, and based upon evidence presented including applicable staff report for the Specific Plan and each member of the Commission being familiar with the general area, it was determined that the facts as required by the Baldwin Park Municipal Code for the granting of such Application is present and that the Planning Commission should recommend that the City Council approve the Specific Plan; and d) A properly noticed public hearing was held by the City Council of the City of Baldwin Park on November 18, 2015, at which time evidence was heard on the Downtown Transit-Oriented Specific Plan; and SECTION 2. The City Council does hereby adopt the Findings of Fact applicable to Specific Plans: Resolution 2015-098 Page 2 a) The specific plan is consistent with and provides for the orderly, systematic, and specific implementation of the General Plan. The specific plan will provide for the orderly, systematic and specific implementation of the General Plan within the Specific Plan area (approximately 115 acres overall). The Specific Plan identifies sites that are underutilized and have the potential for redevelopment, infill development and/or adaptive reuse to better serve the downtown area. The proposed Specific Plan includes development standards to facilitate a cohesive design and a high-quality architectural and pedestrian-oriented environment through a continuous street-frontage, pedestrian connections and ground-floor design features that provide a visual link to the street and sidewalk. Build-out of the Specific Plan would result in the development of 833 residential units and 289,135 s.f. of non-residential space. The specific plan is located within the Downtown Area noted in Goal 8.0 of the Land Use Element of the General Plan which seeks to establish a pedestrian "core" for the Downtown Area. Additionally, Policy 8.1 encourages the City to provide a mix of commercial and multi-family residential uses to create 24-hour activity in the Downtown, which is exactly what the Specific Plan facilitates to create within the area. b) The land use and development regulations within the specific plan are comparable in breadth and depth to regulations contained in this chapter. The proposed development standards contained in the specific plan do vary some from the development standards contained in the City's Municipal Code; however there is a reduction in the number of parking stalls required for commercial uses (75% of the current Zoning Code requirement) and residential multi-family uses. This reduction is to reflect the characteristics of a Downtown transit oriented development and to reflect on the 'Park Once" concept. Furthermore, the reduction in the development standards for on-site parking is justified in that the project proposal is transit-oriented given its close proximity and walking distance to the Baldwin Park Metrolink Rail Station, the MTA rapid bus route along Ramona Boulevard, which feeds into the El Monte Bus Station, as well as Foothill Transit bus routes which serve the San Gabriel Valley. Transit-oriented development typically requires fewer parking than regular development due to its location near transit hubs and proximity to goods and Resolution 2015-098 Page 3 services. This reduces the likelihood that residents to have two automobiles per unit and instead residents will rely on public transit and other alternative modes of transportation. c) The specific plan will not adversely affect the public health and safety or result in incompatible land uses. This specific plan is consistent with Goal 8.0 of the Land Use Element of the General plan which seeks to establish a pedestrian `Core' for the Downtown as noted with the transit- oriented, mixed use development including up to a maximum 833 residential dwelling units and the 289,135 s.f. of commercial/retail space. The specific plan is also consistent with Policy 8.1 which is to provide for a mix of commercial and multi-family residential uses...and allows mixed use development to consist of vertical integration of commercial and residential uses as shown in the attached Specific Plan. d) The specific plan provides the framework to phase and pace growth within the specific plan area so as to ensure completion of all necessary public facilities concurrently with completion of development entailed in the specific plan. The specific plan is not specifically phased; however, it is considered a long-range document. Much of the revitalization in the Specific Plan area will require land assemblage and on sites with multiple owners, redevelopment tends to be longer term (10+ years). It is anticipated that the any proposed development within the Specific Plan area will be coordinated in accordance with the Specific Plan's development standards and design guidelines. e) The specific plan identifies adequate financing mechanisms for the infrastructure and public facilities required to support the development. There are no financing mechanisms noted in the specific plan and financing of the infrastructure of any type of new development within the Specific Plan area will be completely borne by the respective Developer. Any developer who decides to undertake any development within the Specific Plan area will be required to coordinate with each respective utility company with regards to upgrading/installing infrastructure. However, the Specific Plan notes that the City should develop an infrastructure financing plan as outlined in Chapter 8. Because individual areas of the Resolution 2015-098 Page 4 Specific Plan may develop at different times, and it is anticipated that the infrastructure and available funding sources will change as development occurs, the financing plan will need to be updated periodically. SECTION 3. That the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2015-099 certifying the Final and Draft Environmental Impact Report and adopting the Finding of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations and the Mitigation Monitoring Program pursuant to CEQA. SECTION 4. That the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and forward a copy hereof to the City Planner. PASSED AND APPROVED th . 17th day of Febru-fie 016. _4/%Milir 1111 MA► ' LOZANO A OR ATTEST: STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) SS. CITY OF BALDWIN PARK ) I, ALEJANDRA AVILA, City Clerk of the City of Baldwin Park, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution 2015-098 was duly and regularly approved and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 17th day of February, 2016 by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None. ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None. ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None. ,j - -7(4. - ALEJANDRA AV , CITY CLERK