Honorable Chair and Members of the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission Special Meeting of October 3, 2022
Supplemental Information
Title
COMPREHENSIVE ZONING CODE UPDATE:
CITYWIDE STANDARDS
(Associate Planner Maricela Guillean)
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends Planning Commission:
1. Receive presentation;
2. Solicit public comments; and
3. Provide comments as appropriate on the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update: Citywide Standards. No formal Planning Commission actions or decisions are required at this meeting.
Body
Executive Summary:
At its Special Meeting on September 22, 2022, the Planning Commission received a presentation on the Citywide standards, solicited public comments, engaged in discussion, and provided direction, on the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update. This item is returning to the Planning Commission to summarize the comments and provide additional opportunity for input.
Background:
On August 22, 2017, the Hermosa Beach City Council unanimously adopted the first general plan update since 1979, PLAN Hermosa. PLAN Hermosa is the culmination of a multi-year community-wide effort to reflect on the community and its future and articulates a shared vision.
Zoning and subdivision regulations are one of the primary tools a city has for implementation of its general plan. Zoning and subdivision regulations translate the policies of a general plan into parcel specific regulations, including land use regulations and development standards. The type and intensity of land uses that are permitted and how they perform is critical to achieving PLAN Hermosa’s vision for neighborhood preservation and enhancement, economic development, coastal resource protection, environmental sustainability, and community health. The comprehensive zoning code update (ZCU) would result in updated zoning and subdivision ordinances that:
• Are consistent with and implements the General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan;
• Are modern and reflects the City’s current uses, practices, and development patterns;
• Provide clear decision-making protocols and streamlined review processes, where
appropriate;
• Retain the character and scale of the community’s neighborhoods, districts, and
corridors;
• Add to the economic vitality and promotes adaptive reuse and reinvestment of
properties;
• Address previously created nonconforming situations and balances whether to allow
their continuance or bring them into compliance; and
• Are clear, concise, understandable, and easy to use.
The draft Citywide Standards are one part of the comprehensive zoning code update. The Citywide Standards includes regulations or programs that apply citywide, including affordable housing density bonus provisions; updating zoning standards for condominiums, historic preservation sites, nonconforming uses and structures, off-street parking performance standards and signs; and provisions for the O-S-O Open Space Overlay Zone.
Past Meetings
|
Meeting Date |
Description |
|
March 4, 2020 |
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session - Introduction to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Assessment for Feedback |
|
May 19, 2020 |
Planning Commission - The Final Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Assessment Presentation |
|
February 17, 2021 |
Economic Development Stakeholders Advisory Working Group - Introduction to the Targeted Parking Amendments to Receive Feedback |
|
March 1, 2021 |
Economic Development Committee - Introduction to the Targeted Parking Amendments to Receive Feedback |
|
March 3, 2021 |
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session - Introduction to the Comprehensive Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance for Feedback |
|
April 20, 2021 |
Planning Commission - Commissioner Item to Provide Input as a Follow-up to the March 3rd Study Session |
|
July 20,2021 |
Planning Commission - Unanimous Recommendation to the City to Approve the Text Amendments to Hermosa Beach Municipal Code Section 17.26.050, Chapter 17.44, and Section 17.52.035 |
|
August 10, 2021 |
City Council - Approval of Parking Text Amendments |
|
February 2, 2022 |
Special Planning Commission Meeting to discuss Draft Land Use Regulations |
|
April 6, 2022 |
Special Planning Commission Meeting to discuss Draft Land Use Regulations |
|
June 7, 2022 |
Special Planning Commission Meeting to discuss Draft District and Design Standards |
|
August 8, 2022 |
Special Planning Commission Meeting to discuss Draft District and Design Standards |
|
September 22, 2022 |
Special Planning Commission Meeting to discuss Citywide Standards |
Discussion:
The Preliminary Citywide Standards presents draft provisions for the regulation of land uses in the Zoning Ordinance. The Preliminary Draft Citywide Standards document includes the following sections:
1. Introduction.
2. Affordable Housing, Density Bonus and Incentive Program.
3. Condominiums.
4. Historic Resources Preservation.
5. Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots.
6. Off-street Parking.
7. Performance Standards.
8. Signage Standards.
9. O-S-O Open Space Overlay Zone.
At its Special meeting on September 22, 2022, the Planning Commission provided direction and comments on the Citywide standards. Below is a compilation of the items staff will be incorporating into the draft Comprehensive Zoning Code Update.
• Refined Definitions - Clarify definition of abandonment of nonconforming uses.
• Historic Structure Nomination - The City may only nominate City properties as historic. Nominations of private property must be by the landowner.
• Signs - Allow signs advertising former businesses on the same property to remain.
• Nonconforming Structures and Uses - Allow all destroyed nonconforming structures and uses to be reestablished subject to rules in places, except that nonconforming parking may continue.
• Parking - Reduce the minimum width of qualifying parking lot landscaping islands to three feet and maintain existing residential parking requirements.
• Measuring Vibration - The City is currently working to update Title 8 of Municipal Code which addresses vibration and other similar performance standards. Title 17 will be updated once Title 8 is adopted.
Additionally, staff will be seeking further direction from the Planning Commission on several discussion items, in preparation of a final comprehensive zoning code update. These discussion items include:
• Options for Alternative Parking Designs
• Long term bicycle parking requirements
• Timeframe and re-establishment periods for Nonconforming Uses
• Potential Historic Structures List Update
• Context for condominium underground utility district waiver provision
Conclusion
After receiving direction from the Planning Commission, Staff will incorporate comments into a revised draft and prior to final adoption of the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update, whereby, a subsequent public hearing will be held by the Planning Commission.
Attachments:
1. Presentation Slides
2. Draft Citywide Standards
3. Link: March 4, 2020 Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session Agenda -
Staff Report 20-0122
4. Link: May 19, 2020 Planning Commission Agenda - Staff Report 20-0267 & 20-0238
5. February 17, 2021 Economic Development Stakeholders Advisory Working Group minutes
6. Link: March 1, 2021 Economic Development Committee Agenda - Staff Report 21-0139
7. Link: March 3, 2021 Joint City Council/Planning Commission Agenda - Staff Report 21-0132
8. Link: April 20, 2021 Video - Agenda Item 9.a
Commission input as follow-up to Zoning Code Update Study Session
9. Link: July 20, 2021 Planning Commission Agenda - Staff Report 21-0434
10. Link: August 10, 2021 City Council Agenda - Staff Report 21-0484 & 21-0470
11. Link: February 2, 2022 Special Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - Staff Report 22-0053
12. Link: April 6, 2022 Special Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - Staff Report 22-0193
13. Link: June 7, 2022 Special Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - Staff Report 22-0363
14. Link: August 8, 2022 Special Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - Staff Report 22-0499
15. Link: September 22, 2022 Special Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - Report 22-0566
16. SUPPLEMENTAL - Written Communications from the September 22, 2022 Planning Commission Special Zoning Code Meeting
Respectfully Submitted by: Maricela Guillean, Associate Planner
Approved: Jeannie Naughton, Community Development Director