Adoption of 2035 General Plan
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i i r r a Pu fic Hearing Itern IVoo 9 To: 9Vlayor RicharcB D. IVlsarphy arad Nlembers of th Cify Caeancil Via: ret I. Plaarrr9, City 6Vlanager Fram: Steven A. 6Vlendoza, Comrnunity Developmen/ Public VVorks Direcfor Subjec4: ,4clopgoon of 2035 Genera9 lan Slamrr ry: The 2035 Draft General Plan is comple4e and presented to the City ICouncil for consideration. The City Council is tasked with reviewing the document and approving or providing Staff with direction to make any final changes. The City Council is also responsible for certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report ( FEIR). Recornrnendation: 1. Open the Public Hearing; and, 2. Take Testimony; and, 3. Adopt Resolution No. 2015- 05 °' A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOS ALAiVIITOS, CALIFORNIA, CERTIFYING THE FINAL EtJVIRONf ENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE LOS ALANIITOS GENERAL PLAN INCLUDIIVG IAND USE CHANGES FOR VARIOUS PARCELS AND ADOPTING ENVIRONMEIVTAL FINDINGS, A STATEMENT OF OVERR(DING CONSIDERATIONS AiVD A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING i PLAN PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUA ITY ACT;" and, 4. Adopt Resolution No. 2015- 06 " A RESOLUTION OF THE Cll"Y COUiVCIL OF THE CITY OF LOS ALAMITOS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTIfJG THE 2014 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, INCLUDING LAND USE DESIGNATION CHANGES.° ackground The General Plan is a Iong- range planning program, to guide the orderly growth and developrrrent of the os Alamitos planning area over the Iong- term. It is intended to communicate the City' s vision of its future and to establish a policy framework to govern decision- making concerning the physical development of the community, inc{uding assurances that the community-at-large will be supparted by an adequate range of public services and infrastructure systems. The primary purpose of this llpdate is to refresh the Cifiy's Genera! Plan goals and policies, to address state law, reflect public outreacn, and address new and emerging issues. The General Plan Update is naw in its third year and a great deal of work was completed to understand the existing conditions, the opportunities for the Los Alamitos community, and the public' s input on future goals. The update also addresses several current and future challenges in this update. Some of these challenges include the lack of diversity in the City' s revenue base; aging and antiquated commercial/ industrial properties; the need for commercial recreation, shifting demographics and advancing technologies; and dealing with regional planning issues. The City CounciB is being asked to review the draft General Plan Update and Draft Environmental lmpact Fteport and adopt resolutions to approve them or provide Staff wifh direction for making any final changes. The Scope of the General Plan was to focus upon the following ten items: 1. Retooling of existing elemenfis. 2. Updating the Background Report to reflect current conditions. 3. Indusian of the City's Sphere of Influence into the General Plan. 4. Incorparation of os Aiarnitos Medical Center Specific Plan. 5. Incorporation of LAFCO Boundary Changes implemented in 2010. 6. Establishing Land Use within the os Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. 7. Incorporate principals of Compass Blueprint Corridor Study including area plan or specific plan. 8. Proposal should provide basis for establishment of Business Improvement Districts and Assessment Districts. 9. Development of new color digitized General Plan Map. 10. Provide, update, and manage an informative dedicated website. The Planning Commission, during their February 9, 2015 meeting completed their review and adopted the appropriate resolutions recommending City Council take the recommended action above. iscaassion California State Iaw requires cities to adopt and periodically update a long- range plan for their physical development known as the General Plan. The General Plan serves as a blueprint and foundafion upon which Band use, development, and capital improvement decisions should be based. The City of Los Alamitos General Plan consists of a coliection of elements that were adopted in May 1990 and amended at various points since then, including a major amendment in 2000. The City is now undergoing its update of the General Plan. The Housing Element is part af the General Plan but is subject to more specific regulatory timeframes. Per s4afie law, the Housing Element was General Plan Hearing March 23, 2015 Page 2 updated in 2014 and is therefore not part of the comprehensive l)pdate. However, the City ensured that the Housing Element and other General Plan elements remained consistent. C rnprehensive Frarnewiork The General Plan establishes a comprehensive framework through which the City manages its growth and development to ensure it efFiciently and effectively provides public facilities and services. With great pub( ic facilities and services, Los Alamitos delivers and continua{ly enhances a high quality of life and a desirable business c{imate, maintaining its position among the most attractive places to live and work in Southern California. Greafi communities develop over time, and Los Alamitos is no exception. In addiYion, great communities are the product of countless individual decisions by residents, businesses, investors, visitors, and organizations, as well as numerous collective decisions through elected and appointed officials and public sector staff. The purpose of the General Pian is to provide a common vision for the future of Los Alamitos and to provide coordination for the many individual and collective decisions that, over time, will lead to the envisioned future. Since the City's incorporation in 1960, Las Alamitos remains a community that values its citizens, its way af Iife, and its future as one af the preeminent communities in Southern Caiifornia. This General Plan builds on the strengths of previous planning efforts, staying true to the community's values and vision, and addressing future needs in a changing world. This plan focuses on the preservateon and enhancement of the existing Los Alamitos community while strengfihening the employment base and promoting the creation of a town center to ensure long- term viabiiity. Another important focus of this General Plan is to provide a document that is approachable and easy to use. This plan focuses on providing clear, consistent, and substantive goals and policy direction to guide community members, staff, and elected officiais when reraking decisions about Los Alamitos' future. The General Plan is comprised ofi an overall Vision and topical elements. Whereas the eiements address a group of topical issues, the Vision provides the common framework tying all elements of the Generai Plan together into a ur ified whole. The General Plan will also help guide and be implemented by other planning documents such as the City's Annual Budget, Strategic lan, Capital Improvement Plan, and of course the General Plan Implementafiorr Plan. The Vision is listed below; Generai Plan Hearing March 23, 2015 Page 3 edut 3tion • r ui 6i ui na1 Ly serviee a%.(,. ..,. ,. Los Alamrtos is an attractive, dynamic, and modern city renownecf for its wortd-class schoo/s, parks, and recreatron facilities, as well as a nationally-recognized medica0 center. The City is comprised of well- maintained neighborhoods that enjoy strong idenfifies, generate civic pride, and collectively offer wide range of places to Irve. Los Alamifos hosts a town center that defines the popu(ar image of the City and offers multiple p(aces for the residents, workers, and students of Los Alamitos to meet friends, stroll, enjoy great food, and shop. The City is home to successful businesses thaP provide fhe City with a diversity of tax revenue and fiscal support, helping ensure Los Alamrtos is economically sustainable. Los Alamitos maintains a system of streets and trails that are safe for everyone and every form of transportatiorr— be they children, families, workers, or customers who wa/k, bike, ride transit, or drive. C eneral Plan lemerats The elements establish the goals and policies relevant to land use, growth, and development of the City for a variety of topics and provide a framework for municipal decision-making. Equaliy as important thaugh, the City in4ends the goals and policies fio guide and help inform decisions of those investing in Los Alamitos— residents, businesses, and organizations. ore specifically, the following tabie provides an outline far fihe General Plan document, including the Infroduction and the individual elements. Please note again that the Housing Element was updated separately and, while still a part of the averali General Plan, was not part of this comprehensive update effort and is not analyzed in the EIR. Each element provides: A brief review of background information on current conditions in the City. Clearly articulated goals that the City is attempting to attain. Policies to achieve these goals. Maps, tab9es, and other graphics to clarify a ad iifustrafie key concepts. General Plan Hearing March 23, 2015 Page 4 General Plan Contents and Struc#aare introduction Purpose Citywide Visian Generai Pian Elements Outreach Summary Community History Existing Land Uses Land Use Eiement 6ssues and Opportunities Land Use Plan Goals and Policies Econamic Eiement Summary of Key Economic Findings Economic Overview Economic Vision Economic Strategies Goals and Policies Open Space, Recreation, and Parks, Recreation and Open Space Conservation Elemenf Naturai, Cultural and Historic Resources Air, Energy, and Water Resources Goals and Policies Mobility and Circulation