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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 83390 0 RESOLUTION NO. 8339 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA ADOPTING THE WEST END SPECIFIC PLAN THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Azusa does hereby find, determine and declare that: A. At the initiation of the City of Azusa Redevelopment Agency, a Specific Plan has been prepared which would apply to an area of approximately 66.1 acres in the west -central portion of the City, bounded by Foothill Boulevard on the south, Todd Avenue on the west, Vernon Avenue on the east, and Eighth Street and the Southern Pacific railroad tracks on the north. A map showing the general area covered by the Specific Plan is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit "A" and incorporated here by reference. The affected area is further described in detail within the Specific Plan itself. B. The adoption of the Specific Plan, and the related General Plan Amendment No. 87-3, Code Amendment No. 157 and Zone Change Case No. 2- 262 have been the subject of several community meetings, public hearings and other actions to ensure the highest level of involvement by the community and interested citizens, including but not limited to, the following: 1. A Citizens Advisory Committee was formed, composed of eleven civic and business leaders. This committee held meetings on September 4, 1986 and October 7, 1986 regarding development of the Specific Plan. 2. Three noticed communi.ty<;:,.meetings- were held on January 28, 1987 for the presentation of the draft Specific Plan. A fourth noticed community meeting was held on August 25, 1987. 3. The Planning Commission held duly noticed public hearings on September 9, 1987 and October 7, 1987. An informal community meeting was held on October 1, 1987. C. On October 7, 1987, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 2500 recommending that the City Council certify the Final Environmental Impact Report and adopt the Specific Plan and related actions. In so voting, the Planning Commission recommended that the Specific Plan be amended so that land use designations within the Specific Plan area would remain the same, except that all properties along Foothill Boulevard would be designated for service/commercial uses. The Planning Commission also recommended that all 0 0 circulation improvements should be studied to encourage completion at one time rather than in an incremental fashion. D. On November 2, 1987, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on the Specific Plan. E. The City Council has carefully reviewed the Specific Plan and finds that it meets the provisions of Government Code § 65451 and Azusa Municipal Code § 19.39.020 in that: 1. The Specific Plan includes a text and a diagram or diagrams which specify all of the following in detail: a. The distribution, location and extent of the uses of land, including open space, within the area covered by the plan. b. The proposed distribution, location, and extent and intensity of major components of public and private transportation, solid waste disposal, and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the area covered by the plan and needed to support the land uses described in the plan. C. Standards and criteria by which development will proceed, and standards for the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable. d. A program of implementaion measures including regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to carry out paragraphs a, b and c. 2. The Specific Plan includes a statement of the relationship of the Specific Plan to the General Plan. 3. The Specific Plan complies with all applicable provisions of state law. F. The City Council further finds that the regulations contained in the Specific Plan substantially advance legitimate governmental interests and are necessary to further and protect the general health, safety and welfare of the City of Azusa. The Council finds that the following interests are substantially advanced as described herein: 1. The Council finds that a legitimate governmental interest exists to retain the industrial and commercial character of the West End Specific Plan Area. Even though some redevelopment and major rehabilitation of properties is warranted to improve the area's overall image and economic position, a significant change mrw/RES7777 -2- 0 0 in land usage should be avoided. The West End Specific Plan area is a well established industrial district that has maintained its overall economic vibrancy over the years. This interest is substantially advanced by the Specific Plan in that it: a. Adopts land use standards and regulations within the Specific Plan area that encourage and enhance the industrial and commercial character of the planning area; b. Reduces existing and potential land use conflicts over time by allowing existing residential and other potentially incompatible uses to be replaced as private development demands require. (The use of eminent domain will be governed by the Redevelopment Plan.) C. Reserves space for, and encourages the expansion of, the emerging automobile customization area along Foothill Boulevard immediately west of Vernon Avenue; and d. Establishes priority areas for the direct expenditure of Redevelopment Agency funds. 2. The Council finds that a legitimate governmental interest exists to improve vehicular circulation in the West End Industrial Park. The vehicular circulation system through the West End Specific Plan area is incomplete, and significantly hinders vehicular access from the east and west. Completion of Industrial Street and the extension of Eighth Street will aid significantly in improving vehicular access-, and is critical to the future marketability of area properties. This interest is substantially advanced by the Specific Plan in that it allows for: a. Improved access to the Specific Plan area from Vernon Avenue and Todd Avenue by the extension of Eighth Street and the completion of Industrial Street; b. Completed improvements along Foothill Boulevard, Vernon Avenue and Todd Avenue so that these streets present an attractive appearance, and carry traffic as efficiently as possible; C. Completed and upgraded improvements along the planning area's internal streets while not significantly reducing access or parking for any lot; and mrw/RES7777 -3- 0 0 d. Street improvement standards that reflect the unique industrial character of the area and of each street. 3. The Council finds that a legitimate governmental interest exists to improve the overall visual image of the area through landscaping and building design. The visual quality of the West End Specific Plan area should be upgraded through investment of public funds, and private rehabilitation efforts. Visual quality is an important economic development tool that generally contributes greatly to the economic health of local communities. This will not only help local properties and businesses, but will be advantageous to neighboring uses. This interest is substantially advanced by the Specific Plan in that it: a. Adopts design and architectural standards for new and rehabilitated structures that meet the industrial and commercial needs of the Specific Plan area, but are consistent with City-wide policies, including the Azusa Urban Design Guidelines. Such standards will help create an attractive "urban industrial" atmosphere through architectural character, setbacks, building massing, building height, building materials and color, walls and fences, rooftop and ground mounted equipment screening, and trash enclosure standards; b. Promotes consistent and visually pleasing but easily maintained landscaping throughout the planning area through the:,i,.:;,provdsion of detailed landscaping standards and palettes; C. Places a major emphasis on improving the visual appearance of Foothill Boulevard, Todd Avenue, and Vernon Avenue, including landscaped screening of new parking areas along Foothill Boulevard, Vernon Avenue and Todd Avenue; and d. Establishes sign standards for the planning area that serve to reduce sign clutter and promote coordinated sign programs for each development. 4. The Council finds that a legitimate governmental interest exists to assist the West End Specific Plan area's business community through a combination of public, private and cooperative efforts. Close cooperation between the well-established local business community and the City of Azusa Redevelopment mrw/RES7777 -4- 0 0 Agency will help enhance the implementation of this plan, and encourage the continued economic well- being of local enterprises. Established and emerging businesses in the area are seen as a definite asset to the whole community. This interest is substantially advanced by the Specific Plan in that it will help: a. Assist local business owners in improving their businesses through help in locating financing, management assistance and training, and assistance in marketing the area as a whole to other businesses and consumers in the region; b. Assist local businesses and property owners in upgrading their properties or expanding their businesses. This will include the establishment of a rehabilitation program focused on the edges of the planning area, code enforcement activities, and assistance in assembling parcels in key areas where lotting patterns limit business expansion; and C. Retain in Azusa established and emerging West End Specific Plan area businesses wherever and whenever possible through sensitive redevelopment activities, relocation assistance, and cooperative redevelopment or rehabilitation efforts. 5. The Council finds that a legitimate governmental interest exists to achieve the physical upgrading of portions of the West End Specific Plan area through the sensitive use of Redevelopment Agency powers and financing capacUries... The use of the Redevelopment Agency's powers to acquire and assemble land can be used in a manner consistent with the West End Redevelopment Plan to assemble development parcels in key portions of the planning area for redevelopment into new orexpanded existing uses. In addition, Redevelopment Agency funds can be employed to provide needed street and landscaping improvements throughout the planning area. Through the appropriate use of these powers, the City of Azusa Redevelopment Agency will be able to contribute directly to the upgrading, modernization and rehabilitation of the West End Specific Plan area. This interest is substantially advanced by the Specific Plan in that it encourages: a. Purchasing and assembling, through the auspices of the Redevelopment Agency, parcels for future new development or the expansion of existing development where such will mrw/RES7777 -5- 0 0 be necessary for implementing the land use and circulation recommendations of the Specific Plan, where critical to the success of appropriate development plans that are consistent with the Specific Plan, or where land assemblage will improve the image or marketability of the planning area as a whole; b. Acquiring, assembling and redeveloping property on a priority basis in key portions of the planning area, including land for the extension of Eighth Street, along Todd Avenue and Vernon Avenue for the purpose of providing better sized and shaped parcels than currently exist; and C. Acquiring land in other parts of the planning area as necessary to help businesses expand their operations, or to provide for larger, better shaped parcels for new businesses. G. The Specific Plan is consistent with the General Plan, furthers and systematically implements the General Plan as to the area covered by the Specific Plan, and complies with all applicable provisions of the planning and zoning laws of the State of California. H. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared to analyze potential environmental impacts of the Specific Plan in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act. The Council has thoroughly reviewed and certified the final EIR and finds that the mitigation measures recommended by the EIR and incorporated in the Specific Plan are necessary to satisfy the environmental analysis contained in the EIR I. Implementation of the Specific Plan will create certain non -conforming uses which will eventually be phased out over a period of up to fifty years. The Council finds that this result is necessary and reasonable and substantially advances the legitimate governmental interests identified in Section 1, Paragraph F of this Resolution. Implementation of the Specific Plan will not interfere with reasonable investment -backed expectations and will not deny anyone economically viable use of their land. SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Azusa based on the above finds does hereby adopt the West End Specific Plan, a copy of which is attached and incorporated here by reference. SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this Resolution. mrw/RES7777 -6- 0 0 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of November , 1987. 9. ry MAYOR I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa, at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 16th day of November , 1987, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: AVILA, COOK, CRUZ, LATTA, MOSES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE �G� I ZTY CLERK mrw/RES7777 -7-