City of Shafter General Plan April 2005

Draft CITY OF SHAFTER GENERAL PLAN APRIL 2005

Draft CITY OF SHAFTER GENERAL PLAN

City of Shafter 336 Pacific Avenue Shafter, California 93263

Prepared By:

LSA Associates, Inc. 1650 Spruce Street, Suite 500 April 2005 Riverside, California 92507

General Plan Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION...... 1-1

2.0 LAND USE PROGRAM...... 2-1 2.1 INTRODUCTION...... 2-1 2.2 LAND USE DESIGNATIONS...... 2-2 2.3 LAND USE ORGANIZATION ...... 2-2 2.4 AGRICULTURAL/OPEN SPACE USES ...... 2-5 2.5 RESIDENTIAL USES ...... 2-6 2.6 COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE USES ...... 2-7 2.7 INDUSTRIAL USES ...... 2-7 2.8 SPECIFIC PLAN (7TH STANDARD ROAD) ...... 2-8 2.9 SPECIFIC PLAN (EAST OF SHAFTER’S DOWNTOWN AREA)...... 2-12 2.10 PUBLIC AND QUASI-PUBLIC USES ...... 2-14

3.0 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM...... 3-1 3.1 INTRODUCTION...... 3-1 3.2 STREETS AND HIGHWAYS...... 3-1 3.3 PARKING ...... 3-5 3.4 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION MODES ...... 3-5 3.5 COMMODITY MOVEMENT...... 3-7 3.6 AIR TRANSPORTATION ...... 3-7

4.0 PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES PROGRAM ...... 4-1 4.1 INTRODUCTION...... 4-1 4.2 WATER FACILITIES ...... 4-1 4.3 SEWER FACILITIES ...... 4-1 4.4 SOLID WASTE...... 4-2 4.5 DRAINAGE AND FLOODING...... 4-3 4.6 SCHOOLS...... 4-3 4.7 PARKS AND RECREATION ...... 4-5 4.8 FIRE PROTECTION...... 4-5 4.9 POLICE PROTECTION...... 4-6 4.10 PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS ...... 4-7 4.11 COORDINATION WITH SERVICE AGENCIES...... 4-8

5.0 HOUSING PROGRAM...... 5-1 5.1 INTRODUCTION...... 5-1 5.2 PROGRESS REPORT ...... 5-6 5.3 NEEDS ASSESSMENT...... 5-10 5.4 HOUSING RESOURCES AND CONSTRAINTS ...... 5-18 5.5 GOALS, QUANTIFIED OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS...... 5-27 5.6 TABLES ...... 5-36

6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM...... 6-1 6.1 INTRODUCTION...... 6-1 6.2 OPEN SPACE ...... 6-1 6.3 WATER RESOURCES...... 6-1 6.4 BIOLOGICAL HABITATS AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES ...... 6-2 6.5 MINERAL RESOURCES...... 6-3 6.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES...... 6-4

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General Plan Table of Contents

6.7 AIR QUALITY ...... 6-5 6.8 ENERGY RESOURCES...... 6-6

7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS PROGRAM ...... 7-1 7.1 INTRODUCTION...... 7-1 7.2 GEOLOGY AND SEISMICITY...... 7-1 7.3 FLOODING AND DRAINAGE...... 7-2 7.4 AIRPORT INSTALLATION LAND USE COMPATIBILITY ...... 7-2 7.5 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS...... 7-3 7.6 EMERGENCY SERVICES ...... 7-9 7.7 NOISE ...... 7-9

FIGURES 1-1 Planning Area...... 1-3

2-1 General Plan Land Use...... 2-4

3-1 Circulation Plan...... 3-2 3-2 Bicycle Plan...... 3-6

5-1 Regional Location ...... 5-2 5-2 Planning Area...... 5-3

7-1 Airport Land Use Compatibility...... 7-6 7-2 Noise Levels...... 7-11

TABLES 2.A Shafter General Plan Land Use Designations ...... 2-3

5.3.A City of Shafter Population and Housing, 1990-2003...... 5-37 5.3.B Projected Population Within the Planning Area, 2000-2030 ...... 5-37 5.3.C City of Shafter Age Distribution, 2000 ...... 5-37 5.3.D City of Shafter Ethnicity, 1990, 2000 ...... 5-38 5.3.E Industry Employment in the Bakersfield MSA...... 5-38 5.3.F Comparison of Planning Area 3 and Kern County Household Income ...... 5-38 5.3.G Housing Tenure...... 5-39 5.3.H Persons With Disabilities, 2000...... 5-39 5.3.I Shafter Household Size by Housing Tenure, 2000...... 5-39 5.3.J Composition of the Housing Stock, 2003...... 5-39 5.3.K Kern County Median Income and Income Limits by Household Size...... 5-40 5.3.L Household Income Groupings...... 5-40 5.3.M Maximum Affordable Monthly Housing Payment by Household Size, 2004...... 5-40 5.3.N Housing Affordability in Kern County for a Household of Four...... 5-40 5.3.O Housing Needs by Income Category, 2000-2007...... 5-40 5.3.P Remaining New Housing Construction Needs as of May 2004 ...... 5-41

5.4.A Development Potential of Vacant Lands Planned for Residential Development within the Current City Limits and Sphere of Influence ...... 5-42 5.4.B Development Potential of Lands Proposed for Annexation...... 5-42 5.4.C Distribution of Housing Affordability by Residential Density...... 5-42

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General Plan Table of Contents

5.4.D Distribution of Available Development Capacity ...... 5-43 5.4.E Zoning District Development Standards ...... 5-44 5.4.F Residential Off-Street Parking Standards...... 5-44 5.4.G Development Impact Fee Applicability for Residential Projects ...... 5-45 5.4.H Comparison of Planning Fees ...... 5-45

5.5.A Quantified Objectives, 2000-2007 ...... 5-46

7.A Airport Land Use Compatibility...... 7-4 7.B Description of Compatibility Zones ...... 7-5

April 4, 2005 iii

General Plan 1.0 Introduction

1.0 Introduction

California planning and environmental law requires each city and county in the state to pre- State-Mandated General Plan Elements pare and adopt a general plan to address characteristics and issues that are specific to The LAND USE ELEMENT designates the general distribution uses of the land for housing, business, each community, including information on industry, open space, education, public buildings physical characteristics, demographics, issues and grounds, waste disposal facilities, and other of local concern, and management of the categories of public and private uses. The Land community’s future. The California Environ- Use Element also sets forth standards for population density and building intensity. mental Quality Act (CEQA) requires cities and counties, in adopting their general plans, to The CIRCULATION ELEMENT is correlated with the evaluate the potential environmental impacts land use element, and identifies the general location and extent of existing and proposed major that would be created by plan implementation. thoroughfares, transportation routes, rail and air CEQA also requires that, if impacts are deter- transportation facilities, terminals, and other local mined to be significant, mitigation measures public utilities and facilities. Overall, the objective be devised to reduce the severity of those im- of the Circulation Element is to promote the movement of people and goods. pacts to the extent practical and feasible. The HOUSING ELEMENT includes a comprehensive assessment of current and projected housing needs. What is a General Plan? It embodies community policies for providing The Shafter General Plan is the community’s adequate housing for all economic segments of the community, as well as specific groups with special statement of the type of community Shafter housing needs (e.g., senior citizens, farm workers, desires for its future, and provides the means the homeless), and includes a five-year housing by which that desired future will be obtained action program. by setting forth a comprehensive strategy for The CONSERVATION ELEMENT addresses the con- managing Shafter’s future. The General Plan servation, management, and use of natural re- expresses, in the form of text, maps, and illus- sources, including water, soils, biological habitats, trations, the organization of physical, environ- and mineral deposits. Specific requirements are set forth to ensure the coordination of water resource mental protection, economic, and social activi- planning and future development. ties sought by the community in order to cre- The OPEN-SPACE ELEMENT details programs for ate and maintain a healthful, functional, and preserving open space for natural resource protec- desirable place in which to live. tion, the managed production of resources (e.g., agricultural lands), outdoor recreation, and protec- State General Plan Requirements tion of public health and safety.

State law (Government Code 65302 et. seq.) The NOISE ELEMENT evaluates present and pro- requires that every California city and county jected noise levels within the community as a guide for establishing a pattern of land uses in the prepare and adopt a “comprehensive, long- land use element that minimizes the exposure of term general plan for the physical develop- community residents to excessive noise. ment of the county or city, and of any land The SAFETY ELEMENT establishes policies and outside its boundaries which in the planning programs to protect the community from risk asso- agency’s judgment bears relation to its plan- ciated with seismic, geologic, flood, and fire haz- ning.” According to State guidelines for the ards, including identification of hazards, estab- preparation of general plans, the role of the lishment of safety standards, and delineation of general plan is to establish a document that evacuation routes. will “...act as a ‘constitution’ for development, the foundation upon which all land use deci- As further mandated by the State, the General sions are to be based. It expresses community Plan must serve to: development goals and embodies public policy relative to the distribution of future land use, • Identify land use, circulation, environ- both public and private.” mental, economic, and social goals and policies for the City and its surrounding

April 4, 2005 1-1

General Plan 1.0 Introduction

planning area as they relate to land use City wishes to consider for annexation, and development; and other areas that affect the City’s planning efforts. • Provide a framework within which the City's Planning Commission and City “Comprehensive” is also defined by exam- Council can make land use decisions; ining the range of issues that the General • Provide citizens the opportunity to partici- Plan addresses. A community’s General pate in the planning and decision-making Plan must address not only the seven process affecting the City and its sur- elements required by the State, but also rounding planning area; and consider other issues affecting the community’s future. The General Plan repre- • Inform citizens, developers, decision- sents Shafter’s effort to the coordinate its makers, and other agencies, as appropri- major urban, rural, and environmental ate, of the City's basic rules that will guide components, along with quality of life is- both environmental protection and land sues. development decisions within the City and surrounding planning area. • The General Plan must be internally consistent. State law requires that the State law requires that the General Plan in- General Plan be internally consistent. In clude seven mandatory elements, but allows order to function as a useful statement of flexibility in how each local jurisdiction struc- local policy, the various components of the tures these elements. The Shafter General General Plan need to “comprise an integrated, internally consistent and compati- Plan is organized into six “Programs,” ad- 1 dressing each of the General Plan elements ble statement of policies... ” If a General required by law, and also addresses Public Plan does not achieve such internal con- Services and Facilities. sistency, the City, businesses, development community, and citizens who attempt Characteristics of a General Plan to use the plan will face conflicting direc- tives, and be unable to rely on the plan. State General Plan Guidelines not only define All elements of a general plan have equal the role of a community’s general plan, but legal status, and no general plan element they also describe the basic characteristics takes precedence over any other. The that distinguish it from other planning efforts. General Plan resolves potential conflicts These characteristics are: between or among the elements through

clear language and consistent policy. No • The General Plan must be comprehen- individual provision of the General Plan sive. The State defines “comprehensive” requires or encourages an action to be in two ways: the physical area the plan taken that is prohibited or discouraged by covers and the issues the plan addresses. another General Plan provision. In addi- Geographic comprehensiveness means tion, the assumptions used in the General that the general plan covers all territory Plan are uniform and consistently applied. within the community’s boundaries, and Because General Plan text, diagrams, and any lands outside of its boundaries which, maps are each integral parts of a consis- in the agency’s judgment, bears relation to tent whole, diagrams and maps, including its planning. For cities, this always means the land use and circulation maps, are in- the entire city limits, generally includes tended as graphic reflections of the Gen- spheres of influence, and sometimes in- eral Plan text, and are consistent with writ- cludes lands outside of the sphere of inten policies. fluence. The General Plan boundary for the Shafter General Plan is illustrated in Fig- ure 1-1. It includes not only the existing city limits, but also a larger area within the City’s sphere of influence, lands that the 1 Government Code Section 65300.5.

April 4, 2005 1-2 LEGEND GENERAL PLAN AREA BOUNDARY

Dresser Ave PLANNING AREA

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE Jack Ave CITY LIMITS

C e nt Merced Ave ra l V a ll ey H w y

Fresno Ave ?ÿ

Tulare Ave AÃ Shafter/Minter Field

Lerdo Hwy

F RI AN Los Angeles Ave T- KE RN C A U NA P L & Riverside St S S an P ta F R e R W y B N Orange St S F R R

Burbank St CA LLOW AY C ANAL San Diego St

Imperial St ?ÿ

7th Standard Rd

c Wasco Ave

Poplar Ave D Beech Ave Beech

c Scaroni Ave

Shafter Ave e

Z FIGURE 1-1

0 5000 City of Shafter General Plan FEET Planning Area BASE MAP SOURCE: KERNCOG

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General Plan 1.0 Introduction

Because resources are not unlimited, and General Plan Issues not all community objectives can be achieved concurrently, there are often To be effective as a decision-making tool, the trade-offs between community objectives. various elements of the Shafter General Plan As a result, the blind pursuit of one objec- integrate the management of the community’s tive may, in some cases, inhibit the future physical, social, environmental, and achievement of other community objec- economic environments. The General Plan not tives. For example, the Shafter General only addresses the issues that the State re- Plan recognizes and emphasizes the need quires be included in a General Plan, but also to increase local employment opportuni- responds to the current and future issues that ties. However, to permit an “anything Shafter faces. Key community issues that the goes,” unmanaged expansion of employ- General Plan addresses include: ment-generating uses could result in significant traffic and air quality impacts, and • Achieving and maintaining a vibrant com- inhibit achievement of quality of life objec- munity in which all residents enjoy a wide tives. Thus, the General Plan strikes a range of employment, shopping, and rec- balance between competing objectives, reational opportunities; and provides statements of community • Retaining the community’s desirable small priorities. town character, while undergoing major expansion of the City’s employment base; • The General Plan must be a long-term planning tool. By definition, a general • Protecting the Shafter area’s agricultural plan needs to include policies and pro- economy and employment, while providing grams that can be extended from the pre- for the orderly conversion of certain agri- sent to the immediate and long-term fu- cultural lands to provide for expanded lo- ture. However imperfect our understand- cal employment and housing opportuni- ing of the future may be, the General Plan ties; recognizes that effective planning is based • Protecting downtown vitality and maintain- on a long-term view so that trends can be ing Shafter’s downtown as the center of anticipated and managed, and negative community life and a distinctive part of the effects can be reduced. The Shafter Gen- City’s identity; eral Plan has established the year 2030 as its horizon date for the implementation • Providing regional and local mobility and of General Plan policy. Although 2030 has avoiding urban traffic congestion problems been utilized as a build out date for envi- through a combination of regional high- ronmental analysis purposes, actual build way, local roadway, and transit improve- out of the land uses proposed by the ments, provision of local employment op- Shafter General Plan may occur beyond portunities in proximity to housing, and that date. enhancing opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian travel; • The General Plan must be a clear statement of development policy. Gen- • Establishing clear performance objectives eral Plan policy guides the review of pro- for area infrastructure and services, posed development within the City of thereby ensuring that the provision of pub- Shafter, and includes goals, objectives, lic services and facilities supports the policies, and performance standards. community’s determination of desirable Shafter’s development policy is set forth in types and intensity of land use; and two major components. First are the goals, • Achieving an appropriate range of housing objectives, policies, and performance opportunities, including executive and up- standards, which are intended to provide a per end housing, as well as housing for clear direction for managing Shafter’s fu- workers, seniors, and young adults who ture. In addition, the General Plan sets are first starting their careers and forming forth specific programs to implement the families. City’s policy direction.

April 4, 2005 1-4

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

2.0 Land Use Program

GOAL velopment intensity for each parcel of land within the City, plus the City’s view of appro- To achieve and maintain a pattern of land priate land uses and development intensity for uses that meets the needs of a diverse and lands outside of the City, but within the Gen- growing population, while reinforcing those eral Plan study area. characteristics of a rural community that make Shafter a desirable place to live. A key consideration in defining the type, intensity, location, and mix of future land uses is 2.1 Introduction increasing local employment opportunities and The Land Use Program is the cornerstone of broadening the availability of housing to in- the General Plan, setting forth Shafter’s fun- clude move-up and executive housing. Along damental land use philosophy and directing with providing adequate land area for new development to the most suitable locations housing and employment needed by resi- while maintaining the economic, social, physi- dents, the proposed mix of land uses is in- cal, environmental health and vitality of the tended to help maintain sufficient municipal community. The Land Use Element, (referred income to pay for City services and facilities. to as the Land Use Program in the Shafter General Plan), required by law since 1955, The General Plan Land Use Program ad- has the broadest scope of the seven manda- dresses more than just the character of the tory General Plan elements, synthesizing all City itself. In Shafter, as in most communities, General Plan land use issues. many planning and land use decisions tran- scend political and geographic boundaries. The State’s requirement that local general Shafter’s planning programs must, therefore, plans include a Land Use Element is intended be coordinated with the planning activities of to ensure that communities achieve and main- Kern County, school districts and public ser- tain land use patterns, along with standards vice agencies operating within the plan area, for development intensity and population den- the City of Bakersfield and other cities in the sity that are consistent with each community’s County, and appropriate State and Federal vision, as well as its goals and objectives. agencies. With this recognition, the Land Use Program provides a framework for interagency The Land Use Program for the City of Shafter cooperation, coordination of planning pro- organizes the physical environment of the city grams, and the provision of needed public and its planning area in a manner consistent services and facilities. with local social values. In addition, to meet the requirements of the California Government To facilitate achievement of Shafter’s vision Code, the Land Use Program designates the and ensure efficient coordination with area proposed general distribution, location, and service providers and affected jurisdictions, extent of land uses for housing, business, in- the Shafter Land Use Program contains the dustry, and open space. It also establishes following sections: standards for the spatial relationships between the various types of land uses within the study • Land Use Designations area. Implementation of the Land Use Pro- • Land Use Organization gram will reflect the community’s desire to grow while maintaining its traditional ties to • Agricultural/Open Space Uses agriculture, its rural setting, and small town • Residential Uses atmosphere. • Commercial and Professional Office Uses Thus, the Land Use Program establishes City • Industrial Uses policy regarding the appropriate use and de-

April 4, 2005 2-1

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

• Specific Plan community center, as well within a planned community to be created in the southeast por- • Public and Quasi-Public Uses tion of the Planning Area. Industrial develop- • Community Character ment will be focused in three areas: adjacent to existing industrial uses within the commu- • Economic Development nity core, along Lerdo Highway at State Route • Agricultural Development 99, and in the southeastern portion of the Planning Area, within and adjacent to the • Interagency Coordination ITTC. New commercial development is to be provided in close proximity to existing and fu- 2.2 Land Use Designations ture residential areas. Table 2.A establishes an organization of land use types for the Shafter General Plan. It is Shafter’s analysis of its recent growth trends the intended to establish a community struc- indicated that residential growth has been ture that facilitates the provision of needed somewhat constrained by the area’s distance homes, shops, services, industry, and recrea- from State Route 99 and lack of land areas tional and other facilities, while protecting the that could support development of a broad existing community’s small town character, range of residential product types, commer- and quality of life. Shafter’s land use plan is cial, and recreational opportunities in an set forth in Figure 2-1. amenity-rich, planned community setting. The General Plan proposes such a planned com- 2.3 Land Use Organization munity that would simultaneously offer a number of residential products, including move-up Traditionally, Shafter was organized around housing. The 7th Standard Road corridor east the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, of the ITTC represents Shafter’s best and only forming a tightly knit community with industrial realistic opportunity for such a planned com- uses concentrated along the rail line. Subse- munity. As a result, the City’s General Plan quently, opportunities arose to annex lands update identifies a “Specific Plan” area to be being developed for industrial purposes. The developed as a mixed-use planned community first of these areas was the unincorporated adjacent to employment opportunities within area along Lerdo Highway adjacent to State the ITTC along the north side of 7th Standard Route 99, where industrial uses were expand- Road, south of the expanding industrial area ing adjacent to Shafter Airport/Minter Field, along Lerdo Highway. and were in need of municipal services. The second area was the International Trade and Objective Technology Center (ITTC) along 7th Standard Road, east of State Route 99. Organize Shafter’s physical environment into a logical, functional, and visually pleasing pat- In preparing the Land Use Program, the City tern, defining the amount, location, and distri- reviewed existing development trends and bution of various types of land uses within the approvals, and completed an inventory of ex- City and its General Plan study area. isting land available for development. These efforts identified an opportunity to create an Policies amenity-rich, large-scale planned community 1. Maintain Shafter’s downtown as the center in close proximity to existing and future em- of community life, anchored by City Hall, ployment opportunities within the ITTC along school district headquarters, the Green th 7 Standard Road, south of the expanding Hotel, and a small downtown park. En- industrial area along Lerdo Highway. courage pedestrian-oriented retail uses within the central portions of downtown, The City’s vision is to provide a wide range of with highway-oriented commercial uses housing, including move-up housing opportu- along State Route 43 and Lerdo Highway. nities, focusing new residential development to areas immediately adjacent to the existing

April 4, 2005 2-2

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

Table 2.A – Shafter General Plan Land Use Designations Land Use Designation Type and Intensity of Use Agricultural/Open Space Includes land considered to be agriculturally productive, as well as open space for the community. Minimum parcel size is 20 acres. Rural Residential Maximum of 0.4 dwelling unit per gross acre; maximum anticipated population intensity is 1.32 persons per acre. Rural Community Maximum of 1.0 dwelling unit per gross acre; maximum anticipated population intensity is 3.31 persons per acre. Estate Residential Maximum of 2.0 dwelling units per gross acre; maximum anticipated population intensity is 6.62 persons per acre. Very Low Density Residential Maximum of 3.5 dwelling units per gross acre; maximum anticipated population intensity is 10.85 persons per acre. Low Density Residential Maximum of 5.0 dwelling units per gross acre; maximum anticipated population intensity is 16.6 persons per acre. Medium Density Residential Maximum of 10.0 dwelling units per gross acre; maximum anticipated population intensity is 33.1 persons per acre. Medium-High Density Residential Maximum of 20.0 dwelling units per gross acre; maximum anticipated population intensity is 66.2 persons per acre. Ancillary commercial uses may be permitted in mixed-use projects. Commercial and Professional Office Includes office and professional uses and supporting retail and commercial services. Medium and medium-high density residential development may be permitted as part of mixed-use projects, provided that commercial and professional uses are the dominant use within the project. Maximum floor area ratio shall be 0.5, including areas devoted to residential use. Business/Industrial Park Includes a mix of light industrial, distribution, and office uses, as well as commercial uses that support area businesses. Outdoor storage and industrial processes are prohibited. Maximum floor area ratio shall be 0.5. Industrial Includes facilities associated with various industrial, warehouse, and distribution uses. Maximum floor area ratio shall be 0.6. Resource Management Includes facilities associated with the extraction of mineral resources. Maximum floor area ratio shall be 0.2. Community Facilities Includes facilities related to government and other public and quasi- public agency uses. Maximum floor area ratio shall be 0.5. Parks and Schools Includes facilities associated with public parks and schools, as well as private schools. Specific Plan Includes a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, community facilities, parks, and schools provided in a planned community setting. Maximum development intensity shall be as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Land Use Program.

April 4, 2005 2-3 LEGEND GENERAL PLAN AREA BOUNDARY Dresser Ave RURAL RESIDENTIAL (0.4 DU/AC)

RURAL COMMUNITY (1 DU/AC) Jack Ave VERY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (3.5 DU/AC)

C e LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (5 DU/AC) nt Merced Ave ra l V a MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ll ey (10 DU/AC) H w y MEDIUM HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (20 DU/AC)

AGRICULTURE/OPEN SPACE Fresno Ave ?ÿ SPECIFIC PLAN BUSINESS PARK

Tulare Ave AÃ COMMUNITY FACILITIES Shafter/Minter Field COMMERCIAL/PROFESSIONAL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL Lerdo Hwy PARKS & SCHOOL F RI RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AN Los Angeles Ave T- KE CANAL/RIGHT OF WAY RN C A U NA P L & Riverside St S S an P ta F R e R W y B N Orange St S F R R

Burbank St CA LLOW AY C ANAL San Diego St

Imperial St ?ÿ

7th Standard Rd

c Wasco Ave

Poplar Ave D Beech Ave Beech

c Scaroni Ave

Shafter Ave e

Z FIGURE 2-1

0 5000 City of Shafter General Plan FEET General Plan Land Use BASE MAP SOURCE: KERNCOG

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General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

2. Protect existing residential neighborhoods 8. Incorporate existing urban development within the urbanizing areas surrounding approvals in the southeastern portion of downtown from the encroachment of in- the General Plan study area into a large, compatible, non-residential uses. Within mixed-use planned community, recogniz- Shafter’s core area: ing the rapid expansion of residential development from the area south of 7th a. Limit the development of industrial Standard Road and providing appropriate uses to locations along the BNSF rail transitions from industrial development line, State Route 43, and Lerdo High- expanding outward from the ITTC and way. Lerdo Highway area to the west and north. b. Limit the development of major com- 9. Reconcile existing land use conflicts and mercial uses to locations along State prevent future land use conflicts by estab- Route 43 and Lerdo Highway lishing adequate interface among poten- c. Work with the Kern High School Dis- tially conflicting uses and functions. trict to facilitate the expansion of 10. Encourage new uses in the downtown by Shafter High School in a manner that promoting professional office, mixed-use will minimize the impacts of school- and residential projects which contribute to related traffic and activities on adja- the vitality of the area and create pedes- cent residential uses. trian traffic. 3. Maintain a buffer of agricultural and rural 11. Encourage new uses adjacent to Shafter residential uses surrounding Shafter’s ur- Airport by promoting a broad range of in- banizing core area to provide a physical dustrial and appropriate commercial uses. separation between the area and industrial uses to the east, south, and south- 12. Encourage appropriate development to east. locate adjacent to existing developed areas, such as central Shafter, the Shafter 4. Provide ample areas for highway-oriented Airport area, and ITTC, so that municipal and other types of commercial develop- services can be efficiently provided. ment adjacent to State Route 99 inter-

changes at Merced Avenue, Lerdo High- way, and 7th Standard Road. 2.4 Agricultural/Open Space Uses 5. Emphasize the “entry” function of lands Objective adjacent to the Lerdo Highway and Recognize and retain commercial agriculture th 7 Standard Road interchanges along as a desirable land use and as a major seg- State Route 99, including lands adjacent ment of the community’s identity and eco- to Shafter Airport, promoting uses that nomic base. present a positive image of the community. Policies 6. Provide for large-scale, medium to heavy 1. Recognize that the agricultural land use industrial uses west of State Route 99 to designation indicates the intended long- the north and south of Lerdo Highway, re- term developed use of land in the same serving substantial frontage along the manner as other General Plan land use highway for business park and commercial designations, and not as a temporary service uses. “holding zone.” 7. Provide for the construction of large-scale a. Apply agricultural land use designa- distribution and industrial facilities east of tions only to areas or parcels capable the BNSF rail line between the Orange of supporting long-term production of th Street and 7 Standard Road, compatible food, fiber, or plant materials, main- with the quality of development within the taining agricultural production as the ITTC. highest priority use within lands designated for agricultural use.

April 4, 2005 2-5

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

b. Avoid designating lands for long-term 7. Facilitate the development of adequate agricultural use in locations where housing for farm workers in appropriate they will be surrounded by lands des- locations. ignated for incompatible urban and ru- 8. Within areas currently under agricultural ral development. production, as well as areas designated c. Ensure that adequate land is desig- for industrial use, support the retention nated for urban and rural development and development of agriculturally related to meet long-term needs for housing, industries and support services (e.g., food employment, shopping, recreation, processing, storage yards, equipment and other non-agricultural activities. sales and rentals, etc.) to assist in maintaining the long-term economic viability of d. Recognize that the Shafter General lands designed for agricultural use. Plan land use map is a plan for the ultimate build out of the community, and 9. Work with Kern County to protect lands not a projection of land use needs for designated for agricultural use, minimizing a particular date. Thus, it is not in- the influence of speculative land transac- tended that, in the future, as build out tions on the price of farmland, and provid- approaches, the General Plan be ing incentives for long-term agricultural modified to provide for further expan- use. sion of lands designated for urban and 10. Minimize conflicts between existing agri- rural uses. cultural and urban uses, and design urban 2. Protect lands designated for agricultural development to facilitate continued agri- use by providing a distinct boundary be- cultural use through appropriate site plan- tween lands intended for urban and rural ning of adjacent uses and provision of use and those intended to be preserved in suitable buffers. long-term agricultural use. 11. Pursue an Agricultural Conservation 3. Maintain the viability of commercial agri- Easement program pursuant to the Cali- cultural operations within areas desig- fornia Farmland Conservancy Program nated for agricultural use by requiring ap- (PRC §10200 et. seq.). propriate minimum parcel sizes and limit- a. Identify specific target areas and ing the intensity of permitted land uses. strategies for the establishment of 4. Limit the extension of urban services into conservation easements and fee title or through areas that are designated for acquisition. agricultural uses, and avoid their inclusion in assessment districts and other financing 2.5 Residential Uses mechanisms intended for the provision of urban services and facilities. Objective 5. Within lands designated for rural residen- Provide a variety of housing types suitable to a tial or urban development, permit existing broad range of socioeconomic groups and a agricultural operations as interim uses, residential environment that enhances resi- protecting their continued operation dents’ quality of life and reinforces those char- through the implementation of a right-to- acteristics of a rural, small town that make farm ordinance and the provision of suit- Shafter a desirable place to live. able buffers as part of new development proposed on adjacent land. Policies 6. Promote regulations that allow farmers to 1. Promote the development of rural residen- manage their operations in an efficient, tial areas and rural communities that pro- economic manner with minimal conflict vide for and protect rural lifestyles and are from non-agricultural uses. compatible with nearby agricultural uses.

April 4, 2005 2-6

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

2. Maintain and promote suburban density, 2.6 Commercial and Professional single-family areas that will accommodate Office Uses a range of densities from small lot subdivisions in a planned community setting to Objective traditional subdivisions to large lot eques- Provide conveniently located, efficient, and trian-oriented developments. attractive commercial areas to serve regional, 3. Broaden the range of housing types and community, and neighborhood functions and encourage innovation in available housing meet the retail and commercial service needs types. In addition to traditional single- of Shafter residents and businesses, as well family housing, provide: as those of highway travelers in a manner compatible with Shafter’s rural, small town a. Move-up and executive housing op- character. portunities; b. Housing for those desiring amenities Policies not typically found in small town sub- 1. Support efforts to maintain downtown divisions (e.g., common open space Shafter as a viable commercial/office dis- and recreational areas); trict by continuing to provide assistance to c. Opportunities for those not desiring a business expansions and development dwelling on an individual lot or a mo- within the area. bile home lifestyle; and 2. Maintain shopping centers of sizes and at d. Appropriate housing for active seniors locations that offer both choice and con- and those requiring some degree of venience for shoppers and residents. assistance or care. 3. Promote the development of commercial 4. Ensure that multifamily projects fit the uses to support the industrial and agricul- scale of the community, are consistent tural operations within the area. with Shafter’s small town community char- 4. Encourage the development of highway- acter, are of high quality, and are well oriented commercial uses along State maintained. Route 99. 5. Promote the development of residential projects that provide semi-private and pri- 2.7 Industrial Uses vate open space and recreation facilities. Objective 6. Support efficient management of local ag- Expand employment opportunities, increase ricultural production activities by encour- the personal income of local residents, and aging the provision of adequate farm strengthen Shafter’s economic base through a worker and farm family housing within and well-defined pattern of industrial development, adjacent to agricultural areas. including rail-served facilities. 7. Design new residential development with identifiable neighborhood units. Street de- Policies sign should route through traffic around, 1. Promote industrial, warehouse, and distri- rather than through new neighborhoods. bution uses which are sensitive to adja- Neighborhood streets should be quiet, cent uses, encouraging higher intensity or safe, and amenable to bicycle and pedes- high truck traffic-generating uses, such as trian use. manufacturing, food processing, and large-scale warehousing to locate near State Route 99, the ITTC, or the City industrial park on Burbank Street, with less intensive uses located closer to central Shafter.

April 4, 2005 2-7

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

2. Facilitate the development of industrial 9. Continue to facilitate the availability of projects which expand local employment needed infrastructure for employment- job opportunities by providing financial, generating uses while keeping develop- processing, and negotiations assistance ment impact fees to a competitive level. as appropriate. Establish assessment districts where feasible to fund up-front installation of needed 3. Require industrial development that is in public facilities. proximity to residential areas to provide buffers, along with appropriate setbacks, 10. Provide similar incentives for existing local landscaping, and screening to minimize businesses wishing to expand as for new noise, light, glare, and other impacts. businesses wishing to locate in Shafter.

4. Facilitate the development of rail served th industrial and warehouse uses by working 2.8 Specific Plan (7 Standard Road) with the UP and BNSF rail lines to extend The southeasterly portion of the General Plan service, and through development of an study area, currently within unincorporated inter-modal cargo facility. territory, has been designated “Specific Plan.” 5. Promote Shafter as a business location This area, which encompasses approximately 3,663 acres, lies west of State Route 99, north providing competitive development sites th and an active business-friendly govern- of 7 Standard Road. ment. The location of the Specific Plan area in rela- 6. Promote programs to facilitate expansion tion to the northward expansion of existing of existing industrial businesses and at- residential areas south of Shafter and the tract new businesses to the area, including southerly and easterly expansion of existing expedited entitlement processing business industrial uses along Lerdo Highway and support services, and assisting in im- within the ITTC places existing agricultural proved access to capital. lands between three rapidly expanding con- centrations of urban development. These ex- 7. Periodically meet with and conduct sur- isting agricultural lands are further isolated by veys of the local business community to State Route 99 to the east. Urban residential evaluate the effectiveness of City services development was approved in this area as and economic development activities. early as 1996, when the Kern County Board of 8. Promote a continuing supply of skilled Supervisors approved a 568-acre residential workers and the capital needed to attract planned community known as Coberly Farms and maintain business in Shafter. along the north side of Seventh Standard Road. A total of 1,200 single-family detached - Encourage area educational institu- dwelling units and 29 acres of multifamily de- tions to establish education and con- velopment were approved along with sites for tinuing education programs to meet commercial, school, and park development. the existing and foreseeable needs of Concurrent with the Coberly Farms develop- local employers. ment, Kern County also approved urban de- - Work with the Kern High School Dis- velopment on the “Etcheverry Property,” south trict, California State University Ba- of 7th Standard Road. kersfield, and technical colleges to identify local educational resources As of 2005, much of the area designated Spe- applicable to the labor force needs of cific Plan is under Land Conservation Con- emerging industries in relevant occu- tract; however, a substantial portion of the pational specialties. area is not under a contract, and other lands have had notices of non-renewal filed by - Encourage the entry of lower income property owners. These lands generally lie Shafter residents into job training pro- th along the north side of 7 Standard Road. grams, enabling them to hold mean-

ingful, well paying jobs.

April 4, 2005 2-8

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

The rapid urban growth approaching the Spe- opportunities, including move-up housing, cific Plan area, currently approved urban de- south and east of Shafter’s existing industrial velopment, existence of large lands in agricul- areas whose visual character is defined prin- tural use and under land conservation con- cipally by suburban density residential and tracts, and large land ownerships, represent low-rise commercial uses, along with industrial both a significant opportunity and a substantial uses which provide a transition between the challenge. Specific Plan area’s residential neighborhoods and industrial areas to the north and west. The area designated Specific Plan provides Shafter with the opportunity to establish a Policies unique, amenity-rich planned community. The 1. Prior to approvals of development applica- potential to preserve agricultural greenbelts, tions for all or any portion of this area, a and to plan the area in large blocks provides a Specific Plan or planned development is significant opportunity to apply “smart growth” to be prepared and approved. Such Spe- principles and provide a walkable community cific Plan or planned development shall with a broad range of housing, commercial provide detailed guidance for project- and employment opportunities in close prox- related land use, provision and financing imity to each other. Shafter’s intent is that of required public services and facilities, residential development within this area be protection of agricultural lands, community provided with a high level of amenities, such design, recreational amenities, and com- as parks, trails and paseos, and other recrea- munity improvements. Development within tional uses, and that the area exhibits a high the Specific Plan area shall be predicated level of design quality. upon the availability of adequate infra-

structure and other public services and fa- Key issues in the development of the Specific cilities for each phase of the project. Plan area will be an orderly conversion of land to urban use, establishment of a stable, long- 2. Urban development shall not be permitted term boundary between urban and agricultural on any parcel for which there is a valid uses, permanent preservation of agricultural land conservation contract in effect. lands outside areas planned for urban devel- Where urban development is to be located opment, financing the development of new adjacent to an agricultural use, adequate infrastructure to serve the site, designing tran- buffers shall be provided. sitions between residential and industrial uses, 3. Within the area designated Specific Plan, and managing project-related traffic. Water, sewer, drainage, and other utility systems will single-family and multifamily residential, need to be developed, along with new school retail and service commercial, office, institutional, and public open space uses may facilities. Currently, two- lane rural roads serve the Specific Plan area. However, improve- be developed. A total of 380 to 420 acres ments to 7th Standard Road, including its in- shall be reserved for business park and industrial uses to provide a buffer between terchange with State Route 99 are underway. Additional long-term regional transportation residential communities within the Specific improvements are anticipated, including de- Plan area and expanding industrial areas to the north and west. velopment of a “westerly beltway” (a north- south expressway or freeway connecting the 4. The maximum allowable residential den- westerly portion of Bakersfield with State sity for development within the 7th Stan- Route 99 in the central to northern portion of dard Road Specific Plan area shall be the Shafter planning area and a “northerly 4.25 dwelling units per gross acre within beltway,” providing an east-west connection each Specific Plan, excluding acreage between the State Route 99 and Interstate 5. within the rights-of-way for 7th Standard Road and the existing canals. Residential Objective development products with higher densi- To provide an amenity-rich, master-planned ties than 4.25 dwelling units per acre may urban enclave with a broad range of housing be permitted, provided that sufficient us-

April 4, 2005 2-9

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

able open space or non-residential uses greens, pools, lakes, and commu- (e.g., commercial and office development) nity center buildings; are provided so as not to exceed the • Creation of linear parks along ca- maximum overall allowable density of the nals; project. • Public facilities/parks in excess of 5. Residential development shall include an Quimby Act requirements; and/or appropriate range of single-family detached and multifamily attached residential • Public facilities with a recognizable product types. Senior, age-restricted resi- connection to the project that are dential development is appropriate, but is substantially in excess of the City’s not to be the dominant focus of residential minimum requirements. development. A maximum of 13,954 dwelling units shall be permitted throughout the 9. Commercial uses within the Specific Plan area are intended to serve local Specific Plan area (16.61 persons per acre). neighborhood needs (e.g., supermar- ket, drug store, and personal ser- 6. Residential neighborhoods within the vices), as well as to provide commer- Specific Plan area should be designed to cial services to adjacent industrial ar- provide high quality housing that is attrac- eas and the larger community. Gener- tive to a broad spectrum of buyers, includ- ally, commercial uses serving ing housing that provides “move-up” op- neighborhood areas will be provided portunities for local residents. Multifamily, in identifiable centers of 10 to 20 for-rent housing should be limited to key, acres, with approximately 100,000 to central locations, adjacent to commercial 225,000 square feet of gross leasable uses. area. Larger commercial centers (up to 120 acres) may be located along 7. Residential development should incorpo- 7th Standard Road. Commercial uses rate residential “village” themes, providing may occupy up to 180 acres of the identifiable neighborhood areas within the 3,283 acres intended for residential area. The identity of individual neighbor- communities, with a maximum Floor hoods should be reinforced with differing Area Ratio of 0.5. Included as part of architectural styles and locations. commercial development are visitor- 8. Residential communities within the 7th serving uses (e.g., hotels and restau- Standard Road Specific Plan area shall rants). Such visitor-serving uses shall provide a strong package of project be oriented toward the freeway and 7th amenities, which may include, but is not Standard Road. limited to the following: 10. Commercial centers should be designed • 25% usable open space; with plazas, pocket parks, public art, and similar amenities to create gathering • Trails and paseos; places with a high level of visual interest. • Child care facilities; A strong mix of commercial uses including neighborhood retail, specialty retail, res- • Neighborhood/satellite community taurant, entertainment, office-based em- libraries; ployment and/or professional services • Fountains and water features; should be provided. th • Public art; 11. Development within the 7 Standard Road Specific Plan area should take advantage • Amphitheaters and public gathering of existing and planned rail facilities within places; the community by permitting the extension • Homeowner-owned parks and rec- of rail lines into the specific plan to support reational facilities, such as sports rail-served industrial and warehouse uses fields, ball courts, tot lots, putting where such extensions do not impact

April 4, 2005 2-10

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

planned residential development. Indus- service, outdoor storage, and trash trial uses may occupy up to 349 acres with collection areas should be located as a maximum Floor Area Ratio of 0.6. far from residential uses as possible. 12. Appropriate separation and buffering of 13. Where a multifamily residential use is lo- industrial and warehouse uses from resi- cated adjacent along a common property dential land uses is to be provided, includ- line with a non-residential use (e.g., com- ing provision of truck routes that run mercial center), the noise-generating ac- around, rather than through residential tivities of both uses (e.g., parking areas; community areas. loading docks; and service, outdoor storage, and trash collection areas) should be a. Generally, a transition should be es- located along the common property line to tablished between larger industrial the extent feasible. uses within the ITTC and the area along and south of Lerdo Highway to 14. Where multifamily development is located residential uses by providing a mix of adjacent to a single-family neighborhood, light industrial, business park, and appropriate buffering is to be provided. commercial uses. a. Increase setbacks for multifamily de- b. The number and extent of locations velopment along common property where industrial and warehouse de- lines with single-family development. velopment will abut residential land b. Provide a heavily landscaped screen uses should be minimized. Where and wall along the property line of the such land use relationships cannot be multifamily use. avoided, strive to use roadways, rather than common property lines to c. Locate noise-generating activities separate the residential and non- such as parking and trash collection residential uses, designing the resi- areas as far from the single-family dential uses along such a boundary to neighborhood area as possible. back onto the street separating the two uses. d. Development of an appropriate level of pedestrian and bicycle circulation c. Ensure that the design of develop- throughout the Specific Plan is to be ment proposed along a boundary be- provided, including pathways connect- tween residential and a warehouse or ing residential neighborhoods with industrial use provides sufficient pro- each other, as well as with non- tection and buffering for the residential residential and recreational compo- use, while maintaining the develop- nents of the area. Specific Plan devel- ment feasibility of the non-residential opment should also provide recrea- use. The provision of buffers and tran- tional trail systems for jogging and bi- sitions to achieve compatibility should cycling. generally be shared by both uses along the boundary between them. 15. Development of the Specific Plan area shall provide such on- and off-site road d. Increased setbacks along roadways improvements on City of Shafter streets as and common property lines between needed to ensure that applicable roadway residential/non-residential uses should performance standards are met. be provided as appropriate to ensure compatibility between the two. 16. Public services and facilities, including needed on-site and off-site facilities, shall e. A heavily landscaped screen should be provided and financed by the project as be provided along the roadway or needed to meet applicable public services common property line separating resi- performance standards. dential and warehouse/industrial uses. 17. Project development shall provide full f. Noise-generating activities such as mitigation of impacts on school facilities to parking areas; loading docks; and affected school districts.

April 4, 2005 2-11

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

18. The timing of new development shall be related land use, provision and financing correlated with the installation of water, of required public services and facilities, sewer, electrical, and natural gas utility protection of agricultural lands, community systems, provision of municipal services design, recreational amenities, and com- (including emergency services), and pro- munity improvements. Development within ject open space and amenities with land the Specific Plan area shall be predicated development in a manner that is economi- upon the availability of adequate infra- cally feasible and that ensures adequate structure and other public services and fa- service to uses within the site. cilities for each phase of the project. 19. Project entry, streetscape, and landscape 2. Urban development shall not be permitted design elements are to be designed to on any parcel for which there is a valid create and maintain a strong community land conservation contract in effect. identity. Where urban development is to be located adjacent to an agricultural use, adequate 20. Development of an attractive, but natural- buffers shall be provided. appearing landscape at community entries and along arterials and collector roadways 3. Within the area designated Specific Plan, is to be provided with groves of trees, single family and multifamily residential, earth tone wall colors, and drifts of flower- retail and service commercial, office, insti- ing shrub materials. tutional, and public open space uses may be developed. 2.9 Specific Plan (East of Shafter’s 4. The maximum allowable residential den- Downtown Area) sity for development within this Specific Approximately 955 acres are designated Spe- Plan area shall be 4.25 dwelling units per cific Plan in the area between Shafter’s exist- gross acre, excluding acreage within the ing core and the Calloway Canal along both rights-of-way for Lerdo Highway and the sides of Lerdo Highway. The purpose of this Calloway Canal. Residential development designation is to provide for residential devel- products with higher densities than 4.25 opment in a planned community setting adja- dwelling units per acre may be permitted, cent to industrial areas along Santa Fe Way provided that sufficient usable open space and the BNSF rail line. This area is also in or non-residential uses (e.g., commercial close proximity to the large industrial area and office development) are provided so along Lerdo Highway at State Route 99. Resi- as not to exceed the maximum overall al- dential development is intended to provide for lowable density of the project. a range of housing types, including estate and 5. Residential development shall include an equestrian-oriented housing, suburban single- appropriate range of single-family de- family detached housing, and multifamily detached and multifamily attached residential velopment. product types. Senior, age-restricted residential development is appropriate, but is Objective not to be the dominant focus of residential To provide a master-planned residential com- development. A maximum of 3,020 dwell- munity east of Shafter’s core area in close ing units shall be permitted throughout the proximity to large-scale industrial areas. Specific Plan area (16.61 persons per acre). Policies 6. Residential neighborhoods within the 1. Prior to approvals of development applica- Specific Plan area should be designed to tions for all or any portion of this area, a provide high quality housing that is attrac- Specific Plan or planned development is tive to a broad spectrum of buyers, includ- to be prepared and approved. Such Spe- ing housing that provides “move-up” op- cific Plan or planned development shall portunities for local residents. Multifamily, provide detailed guidance for project- for-rent housing should be limited to key,

April 4, 2005 2-12

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

central locations, adjacent to commercial 10. Commercial development should be de- uses. signed with plazas, pocket parks, public art, and similar amenities to create gather- 7. Residential development should incorpo- ing places with a high level of visual inter- rate residential “village” themes, providing est. identifiable neighborhood areas within the area. The identity of individual neighbor- 11. Appropriate separation and buffering of hoods should be reinforced with differing industrial and warehouse uses from resi- architectural styles and locations. dential land uses is to be provided, including provision of truck routes that run 8. Residential communities within this Spe- around, rather than through residential cific Plan area shall provide a strong community areas. package of project amenities, which may include, but is not limited to: a. Generally, a transition should be established between the Specific Plan • 25% usable open space; area and industrial uses to the west. • Trails and paseos; b. Ensure that the design of develop- • Child care facilities; ment proposed along a boundary between residential and an industrial use • Neighborhood/satellite community li- provides sufficient protection and braries; buffering for the residential use, while • Fountains and water features; maintaining the development feasibility of the non-residential use. The pro- • Public art; vision of buffers and transitions to • Amphitheaters and public gathering achieve compatibility should generally places; be shared by both uses along the boundary between them. • Homeowner-owned parks and recreational facilities, such as sports fields, c. Increased setbacks along roadways ball courts, tot lots, putting greens, and common property lines between pools, lakes, and community center residential/non-residential uses should buildings; be provided as appropriate to ensure compatibility between the two. • Public facilities/parks in excess of Quimby Act requirements; and/or d. A heavily landscaped screen and wall should be provided along the roadway • Public facilities with a recognizable or common property line separating connection to the project that are sub- residential and industrial uses. stantially in excess of the City’s minimum requirements. e. Noise-generating activities such as parking areas; loading docks; and 9. Commercial uses within the Specific Plan service, outdoor storage, and trash area are intended to serve local neighbor- collection areas should be located as hood needs. Generally, commercial uses far from residential uses as possible. serving neighborhood areas will be provided in identifiable centers of 10 to 20 12. Where a multifamily residential use is lo- acres, with approximately 100,000 to cated adjacent along a common property 225,000 square feet of gross leasable line with a non-residential use (e.g., com- area with a maximum Floor Area Ratio of mercial center), the noise-generating ac- 0.30. Included as part of commercial de- tivities of both uses (e.g., parking areas; velopment may be office and visitor- loading docks; and service, outdoor stor- serving uses (e.g., hotels and restau- age, and trash collection areas) should be rants). Such uses shall be oriented toward located along the common property line to Lerdo Highway. the extent feasible.

April 4, 2005 2-13

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

13. Where multifamily development is located create and maintain a strong community adjacent to a single-family neighborhood, identity. appropriate buffering is to be provided. 19. Development of an attractive, but natural- a. Increase setbacks for multifamily de- appearing landscape at community entries velopment along common property and along arterials and collector roadways lines with single-family development. is to be provided with groves of trees, earth tone wall colors, and drifts of flower- b. Provide a heavily landscaped screen ing shrub materials. and wall along the property line of the

multifamily use. 2.10 Public and Quasi-Public Uses c. Locate noise-generating activities such as parking and trash collection Objective areas as far from the single-family Provide ample area for the conduct of public neighborhood area as possible. business and the operation of individual insti- d. Development of an appropriate level tutions within the community, reinforcing of pedestrian and bicycle circulation Shafter’s vision of a community that values throughout the Specific Plan is to be civic involvement. provided, including pathways connecting residential neighborhoods with Policies each other, as well as with non- 1. The development and design of public residential and recreational compo- office and institutional developments nents of the area. Specific Plan devel- should comply with the General Plan pro- opment should also provide recrea- visions for commercial and office devel- tional trail systems for jogging and bi- opment. cycling. 2. Permit the development of needed public 14. Development of the Specific Plan area facilities within all land use designations, shall provide such on- and off-site road provided that uses are sited in appropriate improvements on Shafter’s streets as locations and mitigate impacts on sur- needed to ensure that applicable roadway rounding land uses. performance standards are met. 3. Work with area service agencies to define 15. Public services and facilities, including their needs and ensure an adequate in- needed on-site and off-site facilities, shall ventory of land for schools, parks and rec- be provided and financed by the project as reational facilities, police and fire facilities, needed to meet applicable public services libraries, cultural facilities, and other public performance standards. and quasi-public services. 16. Project development shall provide full 4. Support the development and operation of mitigation of impacts on school facilities to shared school/park facilities. Work with affected school districts. area service agencies to identify and im- 17. The timing of new development shall be plement programs to share resources and correlated with the installation of water, undertake joint programs where such pro- sewer, electrical, and natural gas utility grams could result in mutually beneficial systems, provision of municipal services cost savings and improved services and (including emergency services), and pro- facilities to Shafter residents and busi- ject open space and amenities with land nesses. development in a manner that is economi- 5. Ensure that the land uses within and sur- cally feasible and that ensures adequate rounding the Shafter Airport are both con- service to uses within the site. sistent with the General Plan Land Use 18. Project entry, streetscape, and landscape Program and the Airport Land Use Com- design elements are to be designed to patibility Criteria set forth in the Safety Program.

April 4, 2005 2-14

General Plan 2.0 Land Use Program

6. Require new development to pay its fair share of the infrastructure and facilities improvements that are required to support the development. 7. Ensure that the location, intensity, and timing of new rural and urban development are coordinated with the provision of infrastructure.

April 4, 2005 2-15

General Plan 3.0 Transportation Program

3.0 Transportation Program 3.2 Streets and Highways GOAL Regional roadways include State Routes 99 To achieve and maintain a well-balanced and 43, as well as 7th Standard Road and transportation system that maximizes freedom Lerdo Highway. State Route 99 is a limited- of movement; provides for the efficient and access freeway that runs from northwest to safe transportation of goods within and southeast along the eastern edge of the Gen- through the City of Shafter; and which bal- eral Plan study area. It is currently constructed ances concerns for mobility with concerns for with four travel lanes and interchanges at safety and the quality of life in Shafter. Lerdo Highway and 7th Standard Road.

3.1 Introduction State Route 43 runs from the northwestern The Shafter Transportation Program is con- portion of the General Plan study area south- cerned with how people and goods move east through central Shafter and then turns in about in and through the community. Trans- a southerly direction at Beech Avenue. It is portation issues include streets and highways, currently constructed as a four-lane divided parking, alternative modes of transportation highway through the central portion of the City, (e.g., pedestrian and bicycle systems, public and as a two-lane facility where it continues in transit), commodity movement via truck and a southerly direction. Lerdo Highway is the rail, and air transportation. For each of these main east-west roadway connecting central transportation “modes,” the Transportation Shafter to State Route 99 and Interstate 5. It is Program provides guidance and sets forth ac- currently constructed as a four-lane divided tions to maintain viable levels of service, highway from Interstate 5 (west of the study minimize impacts on the environment, main- area) to Mannel Avenue in central Shafter, and then as a two-lane undivided highway tain compatibility with adjacent land uses, and th improve the overall efficiency of moving peo- east to State Route 99. 7 Standard Road ple and goods by maintaining coordination forms the southerly boundary of the City of between the various modes of transportation Shafter and its planning area. It is currently serving Shafter. In addition to addressing local being improved from a two-lane roadway to a transportation concerns, the Transportation divided four-lane highway between State Program also seeks to achieve coordination Route 99 and Santa Fe Way. with the interests of adjacent communities, as well as regional state, and federal agencies. Objective Maintain a roadway and highway system that: In addition to land use, which is discussed in the Land Use Program, concerns related to Operates at Level of Service C on a daily transportation include airport safety and noise, and peak hour basis, except in the vicinity which are addressed in the Environmental of freeway interchanges where Level of Hazards Program of the General Plan. Service D is acceptable; and

State Law recognizes that circulation and land Balances the need to move vehicles with use are closely related, and therefore requires the need to protect environmental and that policies in this Program and the Land Use aesthetic resources, and the City’s quality Program be “correlated.” Careful integration of of life. the City’s transportation policies with its land use policies will ensure that there is sufficient Policies roadway capacity to accommodate the traffic 1. Facilitate meeting the City’s roadway per- that will be generated by planned future de- formance objective through implementa- velopment. tion of the circulation plan set forth in Fig- ure 3-1.

April 4, 2005 3-1 LEGEND

CITY LIMITS MAJOR ARTERIAL (6 LANES)

GENERAL PLAN AREA ARTERIAL (4 LANES) BOUNDARY FREEWAY COLLECTOR

INTERCHANGE

Merced Avenue OVERCROSSING

CA B LLO N WAY S F

R R F R IA N T S -K E a R n C N t A a N A F L C e A N W A L Fresno Avenue ay

43 Tulare Avenue MINTER FIELD

Lerdo Highway 99 Lerdo Highway C AO LL W A Y C AN Los Angeles Street AL F RI AN T- KE RN

C AN AL Riverside Street

B N S 43 F 65

R R Orange Street North Beltway North Beltway way Belt North Burbank Street 99 FR IA NT -K

E RN e

u CA n N AL e

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B r r R F B

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D c W d s Z

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C 99 7th Standard Road

FIGURE 3-1

N 0 2500 5000 City of Shafter General Plan FEET R:\CSH130\Graphics\General Plan\pro_circ.cdr (4/06/05) SOURCE: CITY OF SHAFTER. Circulation Plan

General Plan 3.0 Transportation Program

Work with the SP and BNSF railroads tended to move large volumes of to construct grade separations where through traffic. Principal arterials rail lines cross principal arterials and should be designed with right-in/right- arterial highways. out intersections and a smaller number of intersections providing full turn- Promote the design of roadways to ing movements. Direct access to abut- optimize safe traffic flow within estab- ting properties should be avoided lished roadway configurations by where possible, except for large minimizing driveways and intersec- commercial or industrial uses where tions, uncontrolled access to adjacent access lines up with streets across the parcels, on-street parking, and fre- principal arterial, and where consistent quent stops. with minimizing breaks in through traf- Provide adequate capacity at intersec- fic movement. tions to accommodate future traffic Arterials (104’ right-of-way) are con- volumes by installing intersection traf- tinuous divided streets intended to fic improvements and traffic control provide for the efficient movement of devices, as needed, as development through traffic. Arterials should be de- occurs. signed with few intersections. Direct Facilitate the synchronization of traffic access to abutting properties should signals. be avoided, except for large commercial or industrial uses where access Where needed, provide acceleration lines up with streets across the arte- and deceleration lanes for commercial rial, and where consistent with mini- access drives and major industrial us- mizing breaks in through traffic ers. movement. Arterials should not pene- Provide for reciprocal access and trate residential neighborhoods, and parking agreements between adjacent should not be located adjacent to land uses, thereby facilitating off- schools. street vehicular movement between Collectors (66’ to 92’ right-of-way) adjacent commercial and other non- are continuous streets intended to col- residential uses. lect and distribute traffic from local 2. Maintain design standards and protect the streets onto arterials. Depending upon primary purpose of the roadways shown in the volume of traffic, the collectors will the Circulation Plan (previously referenced need to carry, collectors can be two- Figure 3-1) consistent with the following lane roadways with a 66’ right-of-way, guidelines. up to a four-lane divided roadway with a painted median and a 92’ right-of- Freeways (218’ right-of-way, or as de- way. Only two-lane collectors should termined by Caltrans) include continu- be permitted to penetrate into residen- ous divided highways with restricted tial neighborhoods. access, intended to provide efficient movement of regional through traffic. Local Streets (52’ to 66’ right-of-way) Freeways do not allow direct access provide access to abutting properties to abutting private property, nor do and are designed to discourage they have intersections with other through traffic within residential roadways and highways. Access to neighborhoods. Within residential freeways is restricted to widely spaced neighborhoods, local streets will have interchanges. Caltrans standards for 52’ to 60’ rights-of-way, depending freeways shall apply. upon the amount of traffic the road is intended to accommodate. Within Principal Arterials (110’ right-of-way) commercial, business park, and indus- are continuous divided streets in-

April 4, 2005 3-3

General Plan 3.0 Transportation Program

trial areas, local streets would have 12. Require that existing driveways that are larger rights-of-way, up to 66’. unnecessary or substandard be removed or upgraded, wherever feasible, in con- 3. Encourage regional goods movement to junction with any on-site development or utilize State Route 99, principal arterials, any adjacent street construction. and arterial highways, separating to the extent feasible, routes for goods move- 13. Locate driveways on corner parcels as far ment and residential access routes. away from the intersection as is possible. 4. Require preparation and implementation 14. Use raised medians where needed for: of the recommendations of traffic impact access control, separation of opposing studies for new developments which will traffic flows, left turn storage, aesthetic generate 80 or more peak hour vehicle improvement, and/or pedestrian refuge. trips at an intersection of General Plan 15. Where medians are constructed, provide roadways. openings at the maximum feasible inter- 5. Monitor roadway levels of service at key vals, typically at ¼ mile intervals, but no intersections on an annual basis and less than ⅛ mile. document these findings. Along 7th Standard Road, maintain full 6. Ensure that adequate north-south and turning movements (i.e., median east-west arterial capacity is provided to breaks) to minimum ½ mile intervals, accommodate future travel demand in co- with limited access (right turns only) to ordination with the Land Use Program. minimum ¼ mile intervals. Where access must be provided at shorter in- 7. Pursue establishment of traffic impact tervals (as short as ¼ mile for full turn- mitigation fees on new development to ing movements or ⅛ mile for right turn ensure that transportation improvements movements), provide accelera- are constructed in a timely manner. tion/deceleration lanes so as to main- 8. Make optimal use of federal, state, and tain the carrying capacity of the road- other funding sources to complete circula- way. tion system improvements. 16. Avoid offset intersections along arterials 9. Locate commercial, industrial, business and collectors. Intersections along local park, and high density residential uses and minor residential collector streets may that generate heavy traffic so that they be offset within a residential neighborhood have direct access or immediate secon- as a means of discouraging through traffic. dary access to arterials, principal arterials, 17. Require new development to construct all or freeways. on-site roadways, including Transportation 10. Design and reconfigure collector and local Program routes, and provide a fair share roadways to improve circulation within and contribution for needed off-site improve- connections to residential, commercial, ments. Contributions for off-site improve- and industrial areas. ments may be in the form of fees and/or physical improvements, as determined by - Implement appropriate measures to the City Engineer. mitigate speeding and other traffic impacts in residential areas. 18. Design street systems serving industrial areas, including the primary routes ac- - Implement roadway patterns that limit cessing these areas, to accommodate the through traffic on local residential movement of trucks along roadways and streets. at intersections. 11. Require the design of new developments 19. Coordinate transportation plans with those to focus through traffic onto arterial of the City of Bakersfield, Kern County, streets. and the State.

April 4, 2005 3-4

General Plan 3.0 Transportation Program

20. Develop consistent requirements for land- implement the Kern County Bicycle Facili- scaping along rights-of-way of arterials, ties Plan to ensure safe bicycle travel major collectors, and minor collectors to along public roadways (Figure 3-2). be implemented through conditions of ap- 3. Continue to support the provision and us- proval on adjacent developments. age of flexible public transportation such

as para-transit services. 3.3 Parking 4. Promote the use of fixed schedule transit Objective service within the City and encourage Provide a balance between the supply and transit connections between Shafter and demand for parking, while recognizing the de- other parts of the region. sirability and availability of alternatives to the 5. Avoid locating driveways within passenger use of automobiles. waiting areas of bus stops or within bus bays. Locate driveways so that drivers will Policies be able to see around bus stop improve- 1. Maintain an adequate supply of parking ments. that will support the existing and future 6. To the extent feasible, ensure that road- parking needs. way improvement projects do not de- 2. Maintain the first priority for public streets crease mobility or accessibility for bicy- of providing safe and efficient travel for the clists or pedestrians. public with parking as a second priority. 7. Integrate multi-use paths along canals and 3. Generally, permit parking on collector utility corridors, as well as within park fa- streets, with restrictions as needed to ac- cilities, where practical. commodate transit stops, on-street bicycle 8. Where shopping facilities are located ad- lanes, added lanes at intersections, or jacent to residential areas, provide direct other operational requirements, and pro- access between residential and commer- hibit on-street parking along arterials and cial uses without requiring pedestrians and principal arterials. bicyclists to travel completely around the 4. Cooperate with State and regional agen- commercial development. cies to coordinate the provision of parking 9. Orient site design in non-residential areas facilities with regional transportation needs to allow for safe and convenient pedes- (e.g., park and ride lots). trian access from sidewalks, transit and bus stops, and other pedestrian facilities, 3.4 Alternative Transportation in addition to access through required Modes parking facilities. Objective 10. Maximize visibility and access for pedes- Support and encourage the use of transporta- trians and encourage the removal of barri- tion modes which provide an alternative to ers for safe and convenient movement of travel by private automobile. pedestrians. 11. Provide, as appropriate, bicycle lanes Policies (Class II) along arterial streets and high 1. Coordinate land use and site design with volume collector streets, as well as along transportation in such a way as to en- major access routes to schools and parks. hance the opportunity for transit, bicycle, 12. Encourage new development to include and pedestrian travel between housing appropriate bicycle parking and storage and employment areas. facilities. 2. Recognize the high potential for bicycle transportation in the City and continue to

April 4, 2005 3-5 LEGEND

CITY LIMITS

GENERAL PLAN AREA BOUNDARY COMPLETED BICYCLE ROUTE PROPOSED BICYCLE ROUTE

Merced Avenue

CA B LLO N WAY S F

R R F R IA Madera Avenue N T -K E R C N A N A L C A S N a A n L ta Fresno F e Fresno Avenue Avenue W a y Redwood Drive 43 99 Tulare MINTER Avenue l ra FIELD

t n e e u T C en E

v E Atlantic Avenue A fic R Lerdo ci e T a u S n P e Lerdo Highway

t Highway t v A C e e

H l l AO l l L e e L

C r r a a

e t t W

E A Y u W S W S

e B C AN v Los Angeles Rodriguez Avenue AL A F RI y A r Street NT - a KE

d R h N a c

C o A a t N

A Z R e L

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t Riverside a

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c S 43 F S R

R d Orange a

R St reet 99

D Burbank F RI Burbank Street AN Street T- S KE RN a e n C u ta A NA n F L

e e CALL v W O WAY San Diego A a

Str eet l C e d A d N

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a L

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Street Z

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FIGURE 3-2

N 0 2500 5000 City of Shafter General Plan FEET Bicycle Plan R:\CSH130\Graphics\General Plan\Bike Routes.cdr (04/06/05) SOURCE: KERN COG.

General Plan 3.0 Transportation Program

13. Demand-actuated traffic signals should 3.6 Air Transportation include push buttons to signal the need for pedestrians to cross, and include audible Objective signals and countdown signs to assist the Promote the expansion of air transportation disabled in crossing streets. Demand- services for both cargo and passengers. actuated traffic signals corresponding with bicycle routes should include bicycle sen- Policies sitive loop detectors or push buttons adjacent to the curb. 1. Support the addition of air freight services at Minter Field/Shafter Airport, while miti- 3.5 Commodity Movement gating the impacts that expansion of the facility will create. Objective 2. Encourage the provision of convenient air Accommodate the safe movement of com- travel opportunities for Shafter residents. modities within and through the City of Shafter in such a way as to minimize impacts to adja- 3. Support efforts at Minter Field/Shafter Air- cent land uses, environmental resources, and port to minimize negative effects of air transportation, such as air pollution, noise, quality of life. and safety hazards. Policies 1. Provide adequate roadways and support system to accommodate both automobile and truck traffic in the industrial areas of the City. 2. Designate truck routes separate from residential areas to allow the efficient movement of goods to and from industrial areas. 3. Promote rail service opportunities in industrial areas. 4. Facilitate establishment of an inter-modal rail facility, providing service for both the UP and BNSF lines. 5. Encourage provision of a connection between the UP and BNSF rail lines so as to provide industrial users within Shafter with the opportunity to gain service from either system. 6. Actively support regional transportation improvement projects, including a new westerly extension of State Route 58. 7. Coordinate commodity movement improvements with Kern County and adjacent municipalities, especially when designating truck routes

April 4, 2005 3-7

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

GOAL and storage for drought and emergency conditions. To provide for the ongoing provision and timely expansion of high quality public ser- Policies vices and infrastructure for existing and future residents and businesses. 1. Ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place and operational prior to occupancy 4.1 Introduction of new development, such that new development will not negatively impact the The purpose of the Public Services and Facili- performance of water facilities serving ex- ties Program is to define the types of public isting developed areas. services and facilities that are needed to support Shafter’s vision, and to ensure that these 2. Maintain an up-to-date master plan of wa- services and facilities will be capable of sup- ter facilities. porting a growing population and indus- 3. Protect and improve water infrastructure, trial/agricultural economic base. Thus, this replacing mains and pumping facilities as Program identifies appropriate service levels necessary, and improving the efficiency of for public services and facilities, and provides water transmission facilities. a plan for supporting build out of the land uses identified in the Land Use Program. 4. Permit the construction of interim facilities when it will not impair the financing or The City recognizes that there are financial timely construction of master planned fa- limits on the services and facilities that can be cilities. provided to Shafter residents and businesses. 5. Periodically evaluate local water consump- Even with a strong local economy, a balance tion patterns, the adequacy of existing fa- needs to be maintained between the high cilities, and the need for new facilities. quality and level of services desired by the community and the financial ability of the City 6. Incorporate expected reductions in the and other service agencies to provide these need for water facilities resulting from wa- services and infrastructure. ter conservation programs based on actual experience with the implementation of 4.2 Water Facilities such programs.

The City of Shafter owns and operates its own 4.3 Sewer Facilities public water system, including groundwater wells, above-ground water storage tanks with Shafter’s Department of Public Works is booster stations, an above-ground tank and responsible for the operation and maintenance booster plant, and water distribution lines. of the City’s public sewer system. Wastewater Treatment of the City’s water supply is treatment service within the City is achieved by chlorination. accomplished through a co-ownership of the Shafter/North of the River Sanitation District Objective (NORSD) regional treatment plant that guarantees a set share of the treatment plant’s Maintain a water system capable of providing to the city of Shafter. The North of the River the daily and peak water needs of existing and Sanitary District owns two-thirds of the future residences, businesses, and other uses, wastewater treatment plant and the City of including the provision of adequate fire flows, Shafter owns one-third of the plant. maintenance of adequate service pressures,

April 4, 2005 4-1

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

Wastewater generated within the Planning and the need for expanding sewage Area is transported through several miles of treatment capacity. gravity sewer lines and several lift stations to 5. Work with the NORSD and Kern County to the Shafter/NORSD Wastewater Treatment th explore and develop uses for treated Facility, located on a 160-acre site on 7 wastewater. Where reclaimed wastewater Standard Road within the City of Shafter. can be economically delivered, encourage

the installation of dual water systems and The Shafter/NORSD Wastewater Treatment facilitate the use of reclaimed water sup- Facility currently has a maximum daily plies for irrigation and industrial purposes. treatment capacity of 6.2 million gallons of wastewater per day, and is currently designed 6. Incorporate expected reductions in sew- to be expanded to 12.9 mgd. However, further age flow projections and the need for expansion can easily be implemented. sewage treatment capacity resulting from water conservation programs based on The City of Shafter currently owns 2.0 mgd of actual experience with the implementation treatment capacity and, consistent with the of such programs. existing Joint Powers Agreement, has the ability to expand the City’s share of the facility 7. Permit the construction of interim facilities either independently or jointly with NORSD. only when it is found that construction of such facilities will not impair the financing

In 2002, on average, the Shafter/NORSD or timely construction of master planned Wastewater Treatment Facility treated 4.5 mil- facilities. lion gallons of raw sewage per day. The cur- 8. Work cooperatively with affected agencies rent sewage flow from the City averages 1.2 to ensure that capacity allocations are ad- mgd daily. justed among the agencies served by the Shafter-North of the River Wastewater Objective Treatment Facility to optimize plant utiliza- Provide a wastewater collection, treatment, tion, avoid unnecessary expansions, and and disposal system capable of meeting the facilitate needed expansions. daily and peak sewer service needs of existing and future residences, businesses, and other 4.4 Solid Waste uses during peak use conditions without ex- Two franchise haulers, American Refuse and hibiting restricted flow (except for force mains) Varner Brothers, serve newly annexed territo- or exceeding the rated capacity of the Shafter- ries in the City of Shafter. The City owns col- North of the River Regional Wastewater lection equipment and operates residential, Treatment Facility. commercial, and industrial trash pickup services within the core community. Solid waste Policies that is collected within the City is typically de- 1. Ensure that adequate infrastructure is in livered and disposed of at the Shafter/Wasco place and operational prior to occupancy Landfill and the Bakersfield Metropolitan of new development, such that new de- (Bena) Landfill. These landfills are owned and velopment will not negatively impact the operated by the Kern County Waste Manage- performance of sewer facilities serving ex- ment Department. The Shafter/Wasco Landfill isting developed areas. is the City’s primary landfill, while the Bena Landfill accepts some refuse from industrial 2. As part of the design of sewer systems, uses within the City. Both of these facilities are provide adequate capacity for average designated as a Class III landfills and have the and peak conditions. capacity to serve projected solid waste dis- 3. Maintain an up-to-date master plan of posal needs through January 2030. sewer facilities. 4. Encourage water conservation as a means of reducing sewage generation

April 4, 2005 4-2

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

Objective Policies Reduce the amount of solid waste requiring 1. Require dedication and improvement of disposal at landfills, enhancing the potential stormwater detention, retention, and con- for recycling of the City’s solid wastes. veyance facilities as a condition of approval for new development where Policies needed to protect on-site and downstream development from flooding. 1. Provide the best possible service for the collection of solid waste, recyclables, and 2. Require adequate infrastructure to be in green waste at the lowest possible cost. place and operational prior to occupancy of new development, such that new de- 2. Provide and promote opportunities to re- velopment will not negatively impact the duce solid waste generation at home and performance of drainage facilities serving in businesses and public facilities; make existing developed areas. possible the safe disposal of hazardous materials. 3. Where they are required, design retention and detention facilities as multi-use rec- 3. Require builders to incorporate appropri- reation areas, where safe and feasible. ate storage areas for recyclables in new commercial, industrial, and public devel- 4. Require implementation of Best Manage- opments. ment Practices in the design of drainage systems to reduce discharge of non-point 4. Support the identification and selection of source pollutants originating in streets, new landfill sites in remote locations of the parking lots, paved industrial work areas, County, where such sites would not im- and open spaces involved with pesticide pact existing or proposed parks or water applications. storage facilities.

5. Limit the location of solid waste transfer 4.6 Schools stations to areas where heavy industrial uses would be appropriate, avoiding traf- Availability of quality education facilities is one fic, odor, and other environmental impacts of Shafter’s highest priorities. The high priority on the community. placed on schools by area residents is reflective of the family-oriented nature of the community and the community’s commitment to its 4.5 Drainage and Flooding youth. Shafter’s Public Works/Engineering Depart- ment provides drainage and flood manage- School services within the majority of the ment within the City. FEMA flood zone maps Planning Area are provided by the Richland indicate that some developed lands within the School District (grades K-8) and the Kern High Planning Area are located within the 100-year School District (grades 9-12). The Norris flood zone. In the downtown area, flooding can School District (grades K-8) serves the south- exceed the equivalent of a 50-year flood, indi- eastern portion of the Shafter Planning Area. cating the need for improved drainage facili- The Maple Elementary School District serves ties. All new development in the City is re- an area in the western portion of the Planning quired to install on-site storm drain systems. Area, while other school districts serve por- The City has undertaken programs to alleviate tions of the Planning Area along the southern existing drainage problems in several areas. boundary including Rio Bravo-Greeley Union Elementary School District and Rosedale Un- Objective ion Elementary School District.

Protect structures for human occupancy and Present State law regulating school facility roadways identified as evacuation routes from financing places responsibility on the State inundation during the 100-year flood event. and local school districts. State law also caps development fees for schools, and limits the

April 4, 2005 4-3

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

ability of cities to require new development to 4. Maintain clear, ongoing communications provide new school facilities. In general, pay- with area school districts on all matters ment of the development fees established by related to the need for and provision of local school districts is considered to be “miti- school sites and other administrative, gation in full” for the impacts of such develop- educational, and recreational facilities. ment on schools, whether or not the maximum 5. Coordinate the planning efforts of the City fees allowable under the law are adequate to and area school districts by: construct new facilities. Locating school facilities to facilitate Although the construction of schools is the their primary educational purpose and responsibility of local school districts and not allow for safe pedestrian, bicycle, and the City, Shafter recognizes that its develop- vehicular access, including the provi- ment policies can significantly affect the rate at sion of traffic calming measures, which new schools must be built, and that cer- where appropriate, in the vicinity of tain strategies, such as joint use of facilities, schools; can be employed to facilitate school construc- Maximizing the joint use of facilities by tion and use to the mutual benefit of the City and local districts. As a result, close coopera- the City and local school district (in- tion between the City and local school districts cluding joint school/park sites and, where feasible, joint use of athletic is essential both for the districts and the City. fields, community meeting facilities, and provision of child and senior care Objective facilities) by developing joint funding Provision of schools in locations that are for such facilities through a combina- readily accessible to student populations, tion of school district and City sources, along with sufficient facilities to provide provided that City contributions to joint educational services without overcrowding. facilities are consistent with the availability of such joint facilities to meet Policies non-school recreational and other community needs; 1. Cooperate with the Richland School District, Norris School District, Kern Designing attractive facilities to serve County High School District, and other as neighborhood and community local districts to facilitate the acquisition of gathering places, and contribute to sites and the construction of school neighborhood identity and pride; facilities such that all school-age children have access to uncrowded school facilities Requiring reasonable reservation of providing superior educational appropriate locations for development of new schools as part of new devel- opportunities. opment; and 2. Require new development to provide necessary funding and/or capital Regularly exchanging information on (1) the status of development review improvements to mitigate projected impacts on school facilities, as determined and construction, (2) the capacity of by the responsible school district. area schools, (3) the status of site ac- quisitions by the districts, and (4) ap- 3. Require new development to pay all plicable student generation factors by legally established fees, participate in type of development. land-based financing districts established 6. Maintain land development regulations by local school districts for the acquisition and development of school sites with permitting the development of public and adequate, permanent classroom space, or private educational facilities at appropriate provide equivalent capital improvements, locations within the Planning Area. as required by school districts serving the 7. Provide incentives for the provision of de- site. veloper assistance to local school districts

April 4, 2005 4-4

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

beyond nominally required mitigation fees. provision of tranquil settings for picnicking, The objective of such incentives is that the walking, and relaxation. combination of required fees and incen- 4. Develop athletic fields and specialized tives provides a full contribution propor- recreation areas to accommodate the tional to the needs of the proposed devel- growing community needs for such opment for all school-related facilities to facilities. serve the proposed project. 5. Provide incentives for private individuals to 4.7 Parks and Recreation donate land and funds for park development to the City by establishing a The provision of parks and recreational facili- means to accept tax-deductible donations, ties is a high community priority and an indica- which may also include donation of tor of residents’ quality of life. Park and recrea- equipment and facilities. tion facilities within the Planning Area are provided by four entities: the City of Shafter, the 6. Recognize that high quality maintenance Shafter Recreation and Park District, North and upkeep of park facilities is necessary Bakersfield Recreation and park District, and for the economic health of the community, the Kern County Park and Recreation De- and place appropriate priority on park partment. The North Bakersfield Recreation maintenance. and Park District covers the southeastern por- 7. Locate new park facilities so that they are tion of the Planning Area along a ½-mile wide th visible from adjacent streets and strip north of 7 Standard Road. Kern County neighborhoods to increase safety and provides regional park facilities. enhance visual quality.

Objective 8. In addition to the provisions of the Quimby Act, pursue use of park fees through Maintain a system of parks, specialized grants and land-based financing districts. recreational facilities, and natural open spaces of sufficient size and variety, and in the 9. Establish a minimum size for new parks of appropriate locations, to serve the needs of two (2) acres or more. Shafter residents of all ages, encompassing 2.5 acres of improved public parkland per 4.8 Fire Protection 1,000 population. The City of Shafter contracts with the Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) for fire pro- Policies tection services. The KCFD provides response 1. Provide a comprehensive system of to all fire and life safety emergencies includ- recreation and park facilities and services ing, but not limited to, fires, hazardous materi- needed by various segments of the City’s als, vehicle accidents, rescues, airplane population, and make these facilities and crashes, bomb threats, and medical aid. services easily accessible and affordable Within the Planning Area, fire prevention ser- to all users. vices are provided from Station 32, located at 325 Sunset Avenue in Shafter. This station 2. Require new development to provide land operates three shifts, each staffed full-time by and improvements to meet the City’s paid personnel, consisting of one captain, one parks and recreation objective or pay fees engineer, and one firefighter. Station 61, lo- in lieu of the provision of improved cated at 6400 Fruitvale Avenue, is currently parkland. and would continue to be the station serving 3. Provide passive and active elements the southeastern portion of the Planning Area. within neighborhood and community parks This station contains both an engine company to meet the needs of citizens of all ages and a ladder company, each with a full-time and interests, and thereby ensure that the captain, engineer, and firefighter. Station 61 need for lands for sports fields and also operates three shifts (48 hours on-duty). informal play is balanced with the

April 4, 2005 4-5

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

The Kern County Fire Department uses a Tentative maps; travel distance of 2.0 miles for a fire engine Commercial and Industrial projects; and 3.0 miles for a ladder truck as the stan- and dard response distance. Responses to the Shafter/Minter Field Airport in the eastern por- Multiple family residences, in excess tion of the Planning Area and to the ITTC in of four units. the southern portion of the Planning Area cur- 4. Work with the KCFD to provide high rently exceed 7.0 miles of travel, resulting in response times in excess of 10 minutes. quality fire protection services to area residents and businesses. The City’s role should include, but not be limited to: Any emergency incident within the Planning Area would result in the response of the three Determining the appropriateness of closest fire engines. This would provide a station location sites; minimum of 10 firefighters on any structure fire (3 firefighters from each station, and 1 battal- Enforcement of building codes to re- ion chief). The specific engines responding to duce fire hazards; an emergency incident would depend on the Collection of any mitigation fees es- location of the incident. tablished by the fire department to construct needed additional station(s) Because the majority of land surrounding the within the Shafter Planning Area; City is either developed or cultivated, there is Supporting the KCFD in providing only a slight wildfire threat. funding for personnel costs to staff

stations within the City; and Objective Requiring reasonable reservation of Maintain competent and efficient fire appropriate sites for new fire stations prevention and emergency fire, medical, and as part of new development. hazardous materials response services with first responder capability in order to minimize 5. Through the development review process, risks to life and property by responding to 80 ensure that adequate water for fire flows percent of all emergency fire, medical, and can be provided to individual projects. hazardous materials calls within five minutes 6. In cooperation with the KCFD, conduct an on a citywide basis. annual assessment of the adequacy of fa-

cilities and services serving Shafter, per- Policies sonnel and staffing needs, and capital 1. Work with the Kern County Fire needs, based on anticipated growth and Department to site new fire stations such the level of service standard. that all of the area planned for urban 7. Provide the KCFD with timely information development will be within a two mile on development proposals and projected response distance of a fire station. levels of future growth so that it can main- 2. Prior to approval of discretionary tain appropriate long-term master plans development projects, require written and refine the delivery of service and fa- verification from the Kern County Fire cilities to maintain performance standards. Department that a five minute response 8. Require implementation of fire protection time can be maintained for 80 percent of measures, such as non-combustible roof- emergency fire, medical, and hazardous ing materials and fire sprinklers in high fire materials calls on a citywide basis. hazard facilities. 3. Involve fire department personnel in the review process for new development 4.9 Police Protection proposals by referring project requests to the County Fire Department for review and Police services within the Planning Area are comment. Projects to be reviewed include: provided by three agencies: the Shafter Police Department, Kern County Sheriff’s Depart-

April 4, 2005 4-6

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

ment, and California Highway Patrol. The ef- development to reduce the potential for forts of these three agencies are coordinated crime. These include, but are not limited to ensure adequate police protection services to: are provided to residents and businesses. Providing well-lighted and visible

streets and street names, entrances, Police protection services within the incorpo- addresses, recreation areas, and rated limits of the City of Shafter are provided parking areas; by the Shafter Police Department, which maintains a force of uniformed officers and a police Limiting access into and between supervisor on a 24 hour per day, 7 days per buildings to reduce escape routes and week basis. make undetected entry difficult;

Providing landscaping that permits Police protection services within unincorpo- surveillance of open areas and entry- rated areas are provided by the Kern County ways, and does not create places for Sheriff’s Department from its Buttonwillow concealment; Substation, which provides service to unincorporated County areas south and west of the Within non-residential developments, City and its McFarland Substation, which designing access systems to allow serves unincorporated areas north and east of emergency vehicle access around the City. Unincorporated County areas south buildings to the greatest extent possi- of 7th Standard Road are patrolled by officers ble; and from the Sheriff’s “Rosedale Substation.” Within non-residential developments, eliminating the potential for access to The California Highway Patrol (CHP) provides roofs by pallets, flag poles, etc. traffic enforcement on major roads, State highways, and freeways within the Planning 3. Involve the Shafter Police Department in Area. Heavily traveled roadways within the the development review process by refer- Planning Area include State Route 99, State ring development requests to the Police Route 43, Lerdo Highway and 7th Standard Department for review and comment. Road. CHP patrols within the Planning Area 4. Promote community involvement in crime originate from the CHP’s Bakersfield Area Of- prevention by: fice. Promoting the establishment and op- Objective eration of neighborhood watch and business watch programs; and Reduce the risk of crime and provide security to Shafter residents and businesses through Working with area schools to maintain maintenance of an active police force of 1.2 to educational programs aimed at pre- 1.5 officers per 1,000 population, physical venting gang and drug-related activi- planning strategies, and a high level of public ties. awareness and support for crime prevention. 4.10 Public Services and Facilities Policies Requirements 1. As part of the annual budget and capital A number of approaches are available for fi- improvements program, assess crime pre- nancing the expansion of needed public facili- vention and law enforcement services, ties. Having developers finance and construct and evaluate the adequacy of Shafter’s infrastructure is the typical method used facilities and services, personnel and staff- throughout Shafter and the State for “on-site” ing needs, and capital needs, based on infrastructure. In some cases, however, large- anticipated growth and the level of service scale facilities are needed that will be shared standard. by more than one development. These large- 2. Provide basic requirements and incentives scale facilities sometimes involve improving for the provision of design features in new facilities used by existing development and

April 4, 2005 4-7

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

can also involve large portions of the City. Policies When such facilities are needed, it may be 1. Require new development projects to fund financially or legally infeasible to require one public facilities and infrastructure, either developer to construct or finance the facilities directly or through participation in a land- up-front. In response, cities can offer “reim- based financing district, as necessary to bursement agreements” to promote equity and mitigate their public services and facilities offset the cost to individual developers of up- impacts. sizing infrastructure or providing facilities that would serve other developments. Under such 2. Ensure that, in the event services or off- an agreement, developers who provide up- site capital facilities are impacted by exist- front facilities that benefit other, future, devel- ing uses, the new development will not fur- opment projects would be reimbursed for the ther impact services and facilities that are increased up-front expense by subsequent being provided to existing development. developments as they occur. 3. Consider the use of special assessments Some communities use development impact as a means of financing infrastructure for future development where the establish- fees to fund large-scale or “backbone” facilities. Impact fees equitably spread the cost of ment of land-based financing would equi- new facilities among those who create the tably spread infrastructure costs. need. However, development fee systems 4. Levy mitigation requirements in proportion sometimes do not collect sufficient fees to ini- to each development’s anticipated im- tiate construction ahead of need. Development pacts. Where infrastructure is required to fees also require regular maintenance to en- be installed in excess of a development’s sure that the fees being charged are reasona- proportional mitigation requirement, utilize bly related to the impacts of individual devel- benefit districts over the area to be bene- opment projects, and that they are sufficient to fited by the infrastructure or provide reim- actually build the facilities they are intended bursement to the development for excess for. cost.

Where multiple developments or a combina- 5. Maintain a Capital Improvement Program, tion of existing and future development areas designed, in part, to ensure that public need to share major infrastructure, and where service performance standards are met no individual development could reasonably and/or maintained, and to address the afford to provide such major infrastructure on needs of existing development. its own, assessment districts provide a third 6. Encourage infill development which util- means of financing. The use of assessment izes existing infrastructure, as well as the districts can lead to situations where newer planning and development of large-scale, portions of the City receive a higher level of self-sufficient, mixed-use communities facilities than do older areas by virtue of pay- with integrated phasing and financing of ing higher taxes (in the form of assessments) public facilities than other portions of the City. 4.11 Coordination with Service Objective Agencies To ensure the expansion of public facilities Some of the services and facilities (e.g., occurs in an equitable manner, and that new schools, and sewage treatment) provided to development pays for the facilities required to Shafter residents and businesses are provided support the development without impacting by special districts, and not by the City. To services provided to existing residents and ensure the adequacy of such services and businesses. facilities requires the cooperation between the City and the outside agencies providing these services within the City.

April 4, 2005 4-8

General Plan 4.0 Public Services and Facilities Program

Objective To maintain coordinated implementation of Shafter’s planning and development review programs with the expansion of services and facilities provided by outside agencies within the City.

Policies 1. Provide relevant services with timely information on the developments being reviewed by the City, and involve these agencies in the review process. 2. On an annual basis, meet with service agencies operating within the City of Shafter to review the relationship between the City’s growth projections and the agencies’ ability to provide services and facilities.

April 4, 2005 4-9

General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

5.0 Housing Program

GOAL housing element law in response to rapidly increasing housing prices. As a result, each To provide adequate affordable housing for city and county must analyze local housing existing and future Shafter residents, regard- needs, and provide a realistic set of programs less of their economic level or special housing to meet those needs. The State housing policy needs. that sets forth this requirement includes the following: 5.1 Introduction Regional Location a. “… The availability of housing is of vital Statewide importance, and the The City of Shafter (population 13,692 in 2004 early attainment of decent housing according to the State Department of Finance) and a suitable living environment for is located in the San Joaquin Valley, in the every California family is a priority of northwest portion of Kern County south of Tu- the highest order.” (Section 65580, lare County. Shafter is within a short driving State of California Government Code.) distance of several metropolitan areas. To the north are the Cities of Fresno (100 miles), b. “… The early attainment of this goal Sacramento (270 miles), and San Francisco requires cooperative participation of (265 miles). To the south are the Cities of Ba- government and private sectors in an kersfield (12 miles) and Los Angeles (130 effort to expand housing opportunities miles). and to accommodate the housing needs of Californians of all economic Agricultural fields and open space, a typical levels.” (Ibid.) characteristic of towns in the San Joaquin Val- c. “… Local and State governments have ley, physically separate Shafter from these a responsibility to use the powers neighboring communities. Irrigated agriculture, vested in them to facilitate the im- the signature characteristic of the Valley, is provement and development of hous- found throughout the Valley on its highly fertile ing to make adequate provision for the alluvial soils. housing needs of all economic segments of the community.” (Ibid.) Shafter’s location within the San Joaquin Val- ley region is shown in Figure 5-1. Shafter’s d. “… In carrying out this responsibility, Planning Area is shown in Figure 5-2. each local government also has the responsibility to consider economic, Background and Purpose of the Housing environmental, and fiscal factors and Program community goals set forth in the Gen- eral Plan and to cooperate with other Many Californians with average or less than local governments and the State in average incomes find it difficult to secure ade- addressing regional housing.” (Ibid.) quate affordable housing. Since the early 1980s, the problem of finding adequate hous- The City of Shafter is therefore required to: ing for lower income groups has been com- pounded by high housing costs, lack of readily Identify and analyze the current and pro- developable land in many communities, and jected housing needs of “all economic the decreased ability of the State and Federal segments of the community;” governments to fund housing programs. Evaluate current and potential constraints Although general plan housing elements were to meeting those needs, due both to mar- mandated by State legislation enacted in ketplace and government operations; 1967, the State undertook a major revision of

April 4, 2005 5-1 155

117878 46 65 43

PROJECT KERN SITE COUNTY

Shafter Bakersfield 58 58 178 Kern County

119 14 d a

o 58 R

99 e g d i R

r e l

5 e Taft e h 33 W

166 Mojave 58

138 Lancaster

Ventura Palmdale 33 County 5 138

14 Santa 150 Clarita 126 Los Angeles County Ventura 210 405405

FIGURE 5-1

0 6 12 N City of Shafter General Plan MILES Regional Location R:\CSH130\Graphics\General Plan\regional.cdr (4/06/05) LEGEND GENERAL PLAN AREA BOUNDARY

Dresser Ave PLANNING AREA

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE Jack Ave CITY LIMITS

C e nt Merced Ave ra l V a ll ey H w y

Fresno Ave ?ÿ

Tulare Ave AÃ Shafter/Minter Field

Lerdo Hwy

F RI AN Los Angeles Ave T- KE RN C A U NA P L & Riverside St S S an P ta F R e R W y B N Orange St S F R R

Burbank St CA LLOW AY C ANAL San Diego St

Imperial St ?ÿ

7th Standard Rd

c Wasco Ave

Poplar Ave D Beech Ave Beech

c Scaroni Ave

Shafter Ave e

Z FIGURE 5-2

0 5000 City of Shafter General Plan FEET Planning Area BASE MAP SOURCE: KERNCOG

R:\CSH130\GIS\GeneralPlan\planningarea-5-2.mxd (04/06/05)

General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Assess the availability of land suitable for Citizen Participation residential use and opportunities for en- The legislature requires that local housing ergy conservation in residential develop- elements be prepared with the participation of ment; all economic segments of the community. The Set forth objectives, policies, and pro- preparation of the Housing Program included grams that set forth a five-year schedule the following citizen participation activities: of actions to meet identified housing needs,1 and to remove governmental and A workshop with local affordable housing non-governmental constraints on the pro- providers and housing/farm worker inter- duction of housing, the administration of ests; land use and development controls, provi- Public notices and announcements; and sion of regulatory concessions and incentives, and the utilization of appropriate Public hearings, including the Planning Federal and State financing and subsidy Commission and City Council. programs and, when available, funds in a low and moderate-income housing fund of To ensure that all economic segments of the a redevelopment agency; and community, including lower income individuals and organizations, are involved in the devel- Address needs for emergency shelter for opment of the Housing Program, the City of the homeless. Shafter encouraged the following organiza-

tions to attend the community workshop: Housing has been, and will continue to be, one of the basic needs that must be accom- Housing Authority of the County of Kern modated within the City of Shafter. The purpose of the Housing Program is to ensure that Self Help Enterprises adequate provisions are made for meeting the Bingley Homes housing needs of all economic segments of the community. The Shafter Housing Program Center for Race Poverty and the Environ- has been prepared in accordance with the ment requirements of State law (Article 10.6 of the Government Code, Sections 65580 through Bethany Homeless Center 65589.5. Section 65588 of the California Gov- County of Kern Planning Department ernment Code), which requires that housing elements be updated not less frequently than United Farm Workers every five years. Each revision must describe California Rural Assistance League the progress made on achieving the goals and objectives of the previous housing program Bank of America (element). San Joaquin Bank

Wells Fargo Bank Union Bank Washington Mutual Bank

1 “Identified housing needs” include production of new housing to meet the needs of new households of all Definition of Terms economic segments of the community, conservation Several terms are used throughout the Hous- of existing sound housing, improvement of existing substandard housing, protection of existing housing ing Program that have particular meanings affordability, promotion of equal housing opportuni- under California law. The following presents ties, and meeting the needs of identified “Special definitions of key terms to facilitate under- needs” groups (e.g., elderly, homeless, large fami- standing of the Housing Program. Words ap- lies, farm workers, one-parent households, handicapped). The needs of the homeless are also re- pearing in italics in a definition are defined quired to be addressed in municipal housing ele- elsewhere in this section. ments.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Existing (Housing) Need: The unmet poten- transportation, health care, and child care. The tial demand for affordable housing in a com- rate of overpayment is measured by the pro- munity; assumed to be the number of very portion of households spending more than 30 low- and low-income households that are percent of their gross income on housing overpaying for housing (spending more than costs. The problem of overpayment by very 30 percent of their gross income on housing low- and low-income is often cited as an indi- costs). cator of housing assistance needs.

Family: A household consisting of two or Policy: A broad statement, consistent with a more persons who are related by blood or goal, which guides and shapes actions in or- marriage or who constitute a single bona fide der to achieve an objective under that goal. housekeeping unit. Consistency with Other General Plan Pro- Future (Housing) Need: New construction grams needed to provide housing for all income The Housing Program is being updated con- groups that will accommodate new house- currently with a comprehensive update of the holds (growth), replace housing inventory lost General Plan to ensure consistency between to demolition or other causes, and achieve a the documents. The California Government vacancy rate that will allow the housing market Code requires that General Plans contain in- to operate efficiently and provide mobility op- tegrated, consistent sets of goals and policies. portunities. The Housing Program is, therefore, affected

by development policies contained in the Land Goal: A statement describing the desired con- Use Program and Transportation Program. dition that should exist in the housing envi- The proposed goals and policies of the Hous- ronment. A goal is typically not stated in quan- ing Program have been reviewed for consis- titative terms, in contrast to an objective. tency with the other programs of the updated

General Plan. As a result, the Housing Pro- Household: All the persons who occupy a gram is internally consistent with the balance single dwelling unit, such as a detached of the General Plan. As portions of the Gen- house, townhouse, or apartment. A household eral Plan are amended in the future, the pro- may consist of one person, unrelated individu- grams of the General Plan, including the als, or a family. Housing Program, will be reviewed to ensure

internal consistency is maintained. Housing Production Needs: See existing need and future need. Format of the Housing Program

Objective: The numerical target for some The Shafter Housing Program is organized measurable outcome to be achieved by the into four sections in addition to this introduc- end of the planning period (2007). Objectives tory section. must be stated for the rehabilitation, conservation, and development of housing. Section 5.2 includes a discussion of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the previ- Overcrowding: A household living in a hous- ously prepared Housing Program, and the Ci- ing unit that lacks sufficient space to meet ba- ty’s progress in implementing the goals and sic needs of daily living. It is measured by the policies of the previous program. ratio of persons to rooms in a housing unit (excluding bathrooms, kitchens, and halls). A Section 5.3 provides a detailed analysis of unit is considered overcrowded if the number housing needs, resources, and constraints in of persons exceeds the number of rooms. the City of Shafter. Included in this analysis is an inventory of population, households, and Overpayment: A household that is paying housing characteristics, including an evalua- more for housing than it can reasonably afford, tion of housing affordability. given other life necessities such as food,

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Section 5.4 sets forth an analysis of housing Appropriateness and Effectiveness of the opportunities and constraints. The discussion Existing Housing Program’s Goals, Objec- of housing opportunities focuses on an evalua- tives Policies and Its Implementation tion of land available for the development of This section evaluates the effectiveness of the new housing within Shafter. The discussion of goals, objectives, policies, and actions of the housing constraints addresses those factors 1993 Housing Program. There were many fac- that serve as barriers to the construction of tors that affected the City’s ability to meet the affordable housing. These include both gov- goals and objectives it established in 1993, ernmental and market constraints to the pro- including the effects of an ongoing recession, duction of housing. the availability of State and Federal funding,

and staffing needs. Since the adoption of the Section 5.5 presents housing goals, policies, 1993 Housing Program, several programs and and action programs to address the housing projects have been completed. Between 1993 needs of existing and future residents of the and August 2002, 691 dwelling units were is- City. While goal and policy statements are sued permits for construction within the City. general in nature, the housing programs are specific actions necessary to achieve the The following provides a review of each action goals and policy statements adopted in princi- program defined in the 1993 Housing Pro- ple. The City’s quantified objectives for con- gram. The review summarizes the success or struction, rehabilitation, and preservation fol- failure of each program. If a program was un- low the discussion of housing actions. successful, a summary of the reasons has

been provided. Section 5.6 includes all the tables referenced in the preceding five sections. Programs to Conserve and Improve Existing

Housing include the following: 5.2 Progress Report Introduction Mortgage Assistance Program. Through the development review process, continue Section 65588(a) of the Government Code to publicize the California Housing Fi- requires that each city shall review its housing nance Agency Mortgage Assistance Pro- element as frequently as necessary to evalu- grams, which provide below-market inter- ate all of the following: est mortgage loans for home purchase, purchase and rehabilitation, and rehabili- 1. The appropriateness of the housing goals, tation-related mortgage refinancing. No objectives, and policies in contributing to quantified objective was adopted. the attainment of the State housing goal. 2. The effectiveness of the housing element Recommendation. Implement and/or in attainment of the community’s housing continue the existing development re- goals and objectives. view program.

3. The progress of the city in implementation Home Improvement Program. Coordi- of the Housing Program. nate with Kern County to market the Home Improvement Program in English and The City of Shafter’s existing Housing Pro- Spanish. This program provides residen- gram was adopted in September 1993. The tial rehabilitation assistance to low-income purpose of this Chapter is to evaluate the ef- property owners, through low-interest fectiveness of Shafter’s Housing Program, the loans, deferred payment loans, and loans progress in the implementation of the existing for mobile home repair. Housing Program, and the appropriateness of existing Housing Program goals, objectives, Recommendation. Implement and/or policies, and programs. continue the program.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Rental Rehabilitation Program. Adver- residents to control their housing costs. tise the Rental Rehabilitation Program The City shall provide housing brochure through brochure material at the public information at the public counter and direct counter, and market the program in coop- program applicants to the appropriate eration with Kern County. County contact for specifics regarding program availability and qualifying criteria. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. Home Access Grant Program. Provide informational brochures on the Home Ac- Section 8 Program. The City shall con- cess Grant Program at the public counter. tract with the Kern County Housing Au- This program provides grants of up to thority to administer the Section 8 Certifi- $2,000 to low- and moderate-income cate/Voucher Program, which extends handicapped households to pay for unit rental subsidies to low-income families modifications to improve accessibility. and elderly persons who spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. The Recommendation. Implement and/or City will encourage apartment owners to continue the program. list available rental units with the County Housing Authority for potential occupancy Affordability Conservation Programs in- by tenants receiving Section 8 Certificates. clude the following: Recommendation. Implement and/or HOME Program. Encourage Kern County continue the program. to pursue HOME funds on behalf of the City of Shafter. The HOME Program will Fair Housing Program. To enhance ac- provide funds for affordable rental and cessibility to fair housing services, the City homeownership in Shafter. HOME funds shall participate in the Community Devel- must be invested in affordable housing ini- opment Block Grant Program and post a tially occupied by low-income households Fair Housing Program poster at City Hall, (80 percent of the median income or provide brochures at the public counter, lower) and 90 percent of the rental funds and provide periodic advertisements in the must be invested in housing initially occu- local paper. pied by families with incomes below 60 percent of the median. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. At-Risk Housing Unit Program. The City shall indicate to the owners of units that Mobilehome Park Assistance Program. are at risk of converting, the City’s contin- The City shall conduct outreach to adver- ued interest in working with owners and tise and facilitate the use of the Mobile- non-profit organizations to preserve the at- home Park Assistance Program, offered risk units as affordable to low-income by the State Department of Housing and households within the City of Shafter. Community Development. This program provides financial and technical assistance The City shall coordinate with tenants of to mobilehome park residents who wish to buildings where the owners have filed a purchase their mobilehome parks and Notice of Intent to Convert to inform them convert the parks to resident ownership. of their rights and ownership possibilities Loans are made to low-income mobile- under the Low Income Housing Preserva- home park residents or to organizations tion and Resident Homeownership Act formed by park residents to own and/or (LIHPRHA). Consider working with the operate their mobilehome parks, allowing California Coalition for Rural Housing in

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

this process and provide technical assistance to tenants wishing to pursue resi- Recommendation. Implement and/or dent council ownership. continue the program.

The City shall maintain regular contact Section 515 Rental Housing Program. with the Kern County Housing Authority The City shall inform prospective apart- and Self Help Enterprises and with any ment developers about the Farmers Ad- other public or non-profit agencies that ministration Section 515 Rental Housing express and interest in purchasing and/or Program, which provides long-term financ- managing units at risk, and assist them in ing and rental assistance payments on the acquisition or establishing manage- behalf of lower income households to de- ment of the units if they are sold. Where velopers of new rental housing. feasible and appropriate, provide technical assistance to these organizations. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. Section 502 Programs. The City shall encourage prospective apartment devel- Programs to Assist in Low/Moderate- opers to attend a Farmers Administration Income Housing Development include the orientation session on available funding following: for Section 502 programs and place program brochures at the public counter. This Rental Housing Construction Program. program provides direct loans for the pur- Conduct a study to evaluate the use of chase, relocation, or rehabilitation of own- Rental Housing Construction Program ership housing to lower income house- (RHCP) funds, as provided through holds at interest rates as low as one per- Propositions 84 and 107, to construct new cent and with down payments as low as rental units for low-income households zero percent of cost. whose income is at or below 80 percent of the median income in the County. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. Recommendation. Implement and/or continue the program. Year Round Farm Worker Housing. The City shall support the efforts of the Farm- California Self-Help Housing Program. ers Home Administration and the County The City shall coordinate with Self-Help Housing Authority to develop additional Enterprises to promote the California Self- farm worker housing in Shafter. The Kern Help Housing Program, which assists low- County Housing Authority, in cooperation and moderate-income households in with the Farmers Home Administration building or rehabilitating their homes, by operates and maintains housing units for providing technical assistance grants to year round and seasonal low-income farm non-profit corporations and local govern- laborer families. ments for administrative and support services they then provide to self helpers. Recommendation. Implement and/or These services include: continue the program.

• Training and supervision of self-help Development Review Program. Through builders; this program, the City of Shafter will continue to encourage developers to utilize • Loan packaging and counseling; innovative building techniques, such as • Self-help workshops; and modular construction techniques and pre- fabricated internal systems, as well as • Office costs associated with self-help such cost-cutting ownership patterns such housing projects.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

as condominiums, where consistent with ous courses of action which are available land use patterns, quality design stan- in the event of an alleged violation of fair dards, and zoning ordinances. housing laws.

Recommendation. Implement and/or The Kern County Fair Housing Division continue the program. implements various outreach and marketing programs to inform the public of fair Density Bonuses. The City shall imple- housing and to assist with housing-related ment City Ordinance No. 434 “Density Bo- problems where appropriate. The Division nuses and Other Incentives for Low In- distributes 200 informational flyers per come and Senior Housing” to implement month to housing providers. The Division State law and to encourage development advertises its toll-free telephone number of affordable housing. The City’s ordi- throughout the County. The Division has nance specifies the following regulatory prepared a housing resource guide con- concessions, which may be provided in taining information pertaining to all hous- conjunction with the density bonus: ing-related services provided throughout Kern County. The guides are “regional- • Reduction in site development stan- ized” and distributed throughout the vari- dards or a modification of zoning code ous portions of the County. requirements or architectural design requirements including, but not limited Recommendation. Implement and/or to, a reduction in setback and building continue the program. square footage requirements and reduced parking requirements; Other Housing Programs • Approval of mixed use zoning in con- HOPE Program: The City shall encourage the junction with the housing project; and County Housing Authority and other eligible groups to apply for HOPE funds for utilization • Other regulatory incentives or conces- in the City of Shafter. These funds aid tenants sions, which result in identifiable cost of eligible properties to purchase units, and aid reductions. first-time homebuyers to purchase properties

held by Federal, State, or local governments. The City shall inform residential develop-

ment applicants of opportunities for den- Recommendation. Implement and/or sity increases and the possibility of re- continue the program. duced development standards to provide

for an increase in privately sponsored af- Homeless Shelter/Transitional Housing fordable housing. Zone Amendment: In order to accommodate

any present and future needs of the homeless Recommendation. Implement and/or in Shafter, the City of Shafter will amend its continue the program. zoning ordinance to allow for homeless shel-

ters within commercially zoned districts and Equal Housing Opportunities Program: transitional housing within R-3 and commer- The Fair Housing Division is funded cially zoned areas. There is a sufficient supply through the U.S. Department of Housing of available sites within commercially zoned and Urban Development’s Community and R-3 zoned areas in Shafter. Commercially Development Block Grant (CDBG) pro- zoned and R-3 districts are located within rea- gram and serves all of unincorporated sonable access to local community services, Kern County and all CDBG non- including government offices and transporta- entitlement municipalities. The State Fair tion services, and will not require unusually Employment and Housing Department en- high site development costs. The zoning ordi- forces fair employment and housing laws, nance will be amended to permit the develop- educates the general public of its housing ment of, or conversion to, a homeless shelter rights, and informs the public of the vari-

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

or transitional housing subject to an approved needs shall include the locality’s share of conditional use permit. the regional housing need.

2. An analysis and documentation of house- Recommendation. Implement and/or hold characteristics, including level of continue the program. payment compared to ability to pay and

housing characteristics, including over- Migrant Farm Worker Housing: The special crowding and housing stock condition. housing needs of many farm workers stem from the generally low wages and the instabil- 3. An inventory of land suitable for residential ity associated with the agricultural industry. development, including vacant sites and The northern Kern County area is economi- sites having potential for redevelopment cally based in agricultural production. In 2000, and an analysis of the relationship of zon- 588 Shafter residents (17.1% of employed ing and public facilities and services to persons 16 years and older) were employed these sites. as farm workers, nearly all of whom are likely to have affordable housing needs. 4. An analysis of potential and actual governmental constraints upon the mainte-

Due to the magnitude of the farming industry nance, improvement, or development of in Kern County, large numbers of migrant farm housing for all income levels, including land use controls, building codes and their workers are employed during the various harvest seasons. There is farm worker housing enforcement, site improvements, fees and located in the City of Shafter, the complex is other exactions required of developers, and local processing and permit proce- owned and managed by the Kern County Housing Authority. dures. The analysis shall also demonstrate local efforts to remove governmental constraints that hinder the locality from The Housing Authority of the County of Kern (HACK) would be the appropriate entity to es- meeting its share of the regional housing tablish additional migrant farm worker housing need. in the Shafter area. HACK should investigate 5. An analysis of potential and actual non- potential siting and funding for an additional governmental constraints upon the main- migrant farm worker housing project in the tenance, improvement, or development of Shafter area. housing for all income levels, including the availability of financing, the price of land, Recommendation. Implement and/or and the cost of construction. continue the program. 6. An analysis of any special housing needs, 5.3 Needs Assessment such as those of the handicapped, elderly, large families, farm workers, families with Introduction female heads of households, and families and persons in need of emergency shel- Section 65583(a) of the California Government ter. Code requires that a General Plan Housing Program include an assessment of housing 7. An analysis of opportunities for energy needs and an inventory of resources and con- conservation with respect to residential straints relevant to the meeting of these development. needs. The assessment and inventory must 8. An analysis of existing assisted housing include the following: developments that are eligible to change

from low-income housing uses during the 1. An analysis of population and employment next 10 years due to termination of sub- trends and documentation of projections sidy contracts, mortgage prepayment, or and a quantification of the locality’s exist- expiration of restrictions on use. ing and projected housing needs for all in-

come levels. These existing and projected

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Employment and Population Characteris- a generation of new adults is sometimes tics forced to move away from its community in order to seek starter (often rental) housing. In Total Population. The California Department Shafter’s case, most of the resident population of Finance estimated the 2003 population of is either between 5-19 years (29.8%) or 25-44 the City of Shafter to be 13,343. In the ten years (29.2%). years between 1990 and 2000, the population of Shafter increased from 8,409 to 12,736, an In addition, many small communities find that average of 433 persons per year (5.1% annu- the types of housing that were well suited to ally). During the same ten-year period, the young families are not particularly well suited housing stock increased from 2,641 to 3,624 to seniors and empty nesters (non-senior units, an average of 98 units per year (3.7%). adults whose children have grown and started Table 5.3.A1 shows population and housing their own households). Thus, seniors and growth in Shafter between 1990 and 2003. empty nesters often look to sell their homes,

and move into housing that is smaller and bet- Population Projection. The most recent ter suited to their needs. Sometimes suitable growth projections adopted by the Kern Coun- housing for such older adults is not available cil of Governments (COG) indicate that popu- in the community where they made their lation growth in the Shafter Planning Area will homes, and they are forced to move to other be approximately 215 persons annually or 1.2 areas. Typically, a new generation of young percent through 2030. The number of house- families moves into the community, causing holds will also increase accordingly (46 the school-age population to increase, and households annually or 1.1%), as shown in beginning the cycle anew. Table 5.3.B.

As noted above, not only does a community’s Age Distribution. Understanding age distribu- demographic makeup change over time, so do tion in the community is important because it its housing needs. If it is important to the affects the housing market. A declining num- community to retain its young and elderly ber of young children can result in a change in populations, it is important that a variety of the types of housing units being sought. Child- housing types and styles of residential devel- less adults tend to have a higher combined opment be provided, including rental and income and prefer certain amenities, increas- starter housing, as well as housing for young ing the demand for condominiums or units in growing families, empty nesters, and the eld- planned unit developments. An elderly popula- erly. tion creates a demand for units with common recreation facilities and easy access to com- In 2000, 40 percent of Shafter’s population mercial, medical, and transportation facilities. was under the age of 20, while 9.4 percent of Inflationary pressures within the housing mar- the population was 65 years old or over (Table ket can create disadvantages for the elderly 5.3.C). This indicates that Shafter is still within on fixed incomes. its “growth” stage, attracting young families.

Population growth projections for the City indi- It is typical that small communities, such as cate that this trend toward attracting young Shafter, which are designed for and attract families will continue for the next 20 years. young families, experience a particular demographic cycle. As the community matures, its Ethnicity. Table 5.3.D provides the 1990 and school-age children grow up and begin form- 2000 Census breakdowns of the racial and ing their own households. Often, mature ethnic distribution of the City of Shafter by communities that emphasized single-family percentage of the population. Table 5.3.D housing during their growth phases do not shows that there are some differences in the have a sufficient supply of housing that is af- way that ethnicity was tabulated in the two fordable to these emerging households. Thus, Censuses, primarily in the tabulation of “His- panic.” In the 1990 Census, “Hispanic” was 1 Housing Program Tables are found at the end of this treated as an ethnic characteristic, separate chapter.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

from the racial characteristics being tabulated. Shafter’s households was non-family house- Thus, “Hispanic” residents were also catego- holds with more than one occupant. rized as being a member of the “white,” “black,” “Native American,” “Asian,” or “other” Shafter’s existing population per household as race. In the 2000 Census, “white,” “black,” identified in the 2000 Census (3.68) is high, “Native American,” “Asian,” and “other” are relative to: treated as ethnicities. Thus, in the 2000 Cen- sus, “Hispanic” residents are not also catego- Kern County (3.03) rized by race. Tulare County (3.28)

Employment Characteristics. The civilian Fresno County (3.09) labor force includes those people who are employed (except in the armed forces), and Kings County (3.18) those people who are unemployed, but con- Southern California region (3.13) sidered to be actively looking for work. People who have never held a job, people who have According to Kern COG’s most recent projec- stopped looking for work, and people who tions, Kern County’s population per household have been unemployed for a long period of is projected to increase from 3.03 to 3.17 by time are not considered to be in the labor 2030; likewise, Shafter’s population per force. The 2000 Census states that of the household is projected to increase from 3.68 8,474 persons 16 years and older living within to 4.35 by 2030. the City of Shafter 4,355 or 51.4 percent are in the labor force. Kern COG estimates that in Although the current population per household 2000 there were 12,273 jobs within the City of within Shafter is 3.68 persons, future residen- Shafter. The job projections for the year 2030 tial development, particularly within the south- within the current City limits of Shafter are eastern portion of the study area, is antici- 30,259, this is an increase of 600 jobs per pated to be more similar in its population per year (or 4.9% increase per year). Thus, household characteristics to the development Shafter’s jobs-to-household ratio is projected projected for the Metropolitan Bakersfield area to increase from 2.83 in 2000 to 5.30 in 2030. than to the population per household existing in Shafter. Thus, it is anticipated that the popu- The employment industries in the Shafter area lation per household within and adjacent to are very diverse. The California Employment Shafter’s existing core area will remain ap- Development Department (EDD) breaks down proximately 3.7, while population per house- the employment statistics by Metropolitan Sta- hold within the southeastern portion of the tistical Area (MSA). The City of Shafter is in- planning area will be 3.2. cluded in the Bakersfield MSA. Table 5.3.E depicts the diversity of employment opportuni- Income. The Kern COG 2000 Regional Hous- ties within the Shafter area. The industry sec- ing Allocation Plan breaks the County into nine tors of Government, Services, Trade, and different planning areas. The City of Shafter is Farming are almost even in the quantity of included in Planning Area 3, which consists of people that each industry employs. census tracts 39, 40 through 44, and 46 through 50. Four incorporated cities are in the area: Delano, McFarland, Shafter, and Wasco. Household Characteristics Planning Area 3 has the lowest family income Average Household Size. The 2000 Census reports that there were 3,289 households in of all the planning areas in the County. Median the City of Shafter, with an average household family incomes were more than $10,000 below size of 3.68. Of these households, it is esti- that of Kern County as a whole. Table 5.3.F mated that 2,771 (84.3%) were family house- shows that low- and very low-income families represented nearly 60 percent of families in holds, while 433 households (13.2%) were individuals living alone. The balance of Planning Area 3. This indicates that the City provides housing for a much higher percent-

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age of low- and moderate-income households available that are suitable for disabled per- than do other communities in the County. Ta- sons. ble 5.3.F illustrates the differences in income distribution between the City of Shafter and The 2000 Census demonstrates that Shafter Kern County. The City currently provides its has a total of 2,363 (21.8%) residents aged 5 “fair share” housing for lower income house- and over with disabilities. Over half of all resi- holds. dents over the age of 65 are disabled. Table 5.3.H compares the percentage of adults in Housing Tenure. According to the 2000 Cen- Shafter who have a disability to the same fig- sus, of the 3,289 households in Shafter, a total ures for Kern County as a whole. of 1,983 are owner-occupied (60.2%), as shown in Table 5.3.G. Special Housing Needs: Single-Parent Households, Including Those with Female Overcrowding. According to both California Heads of Household. The number of single- and Federal standards, a housing unit is con- parent families, especially those headed by a sidered overcrowded if it is occupied by more female, has increased in recent decades. than one person per room (excluding kitchens, These families often have special housing bathrooms and halls). Occupancy by more needs, including a strong demand for afford- than 1.5 persons per room constitutes “se- able housing because of the income limita- vere” overcrowding. In 1990, 32.9 percent of tions of single-earner households. In 2000, of renter households and 9.8 percent of owner the 2,771 family households within the City of households were defined as overcrowded. Shafter, 2,112 were married couple house- The 2000 Census states that the average holds (64.2%) and 446 were single-parent household size is 3.68 and the average family households headed by females (13.6%). size is 3.99. These are both much higher than the Kern County average. Special Housing Needs: The Elderly and Households Headed by the Elderly. As of As discussed in Chapter 5.0, the City of 2000, 8.3 percent of Shafter’s residents were Shafter is implementing several programs to age 65 or older. The percentage of older resi- lower the rate of overcrowding. These pro- dents in Shafter is lower than that of Kern grams are designed to ensure available resi- County (9.4%). In addition, 950 of the City’s dential sites to meet the needs of the larger households, or 28.9 percent, had an individual household, obtain grants to assist in housing over 65 years old. Most of these individuals large households, prioritize building inspec- are living in owner-occupied housing units tions and funding opportunities, and increase (66.8%), which is 20.2 percent of the total the number of affordable housing units in the number of owner-occupied housing units in City, which will lower the occurrence of fami- the City of Shafter. Hence, 33.2 percent of the lies doubling up within residential units. elderly are living in rental units. This percentage reflects 15.2 percent of the total rental Special Housing Needs: Disabled Persons. housing within the City. Additionally, as indi- Disabled persons often have special housing cated in Table 5.3.H, half of the elderly that needs. Depending on the type of disability, are living within the City have disabilities. these may include housing located in close Therefore, there is a need within the City for proximity to transit, retail and commercial ser- affordable purchase housing for the elderly, vices, and their workplaces. Other needs may which is equipped with handicapped access involve modifications to the housing unit itself, and facilities. such as ramps, lowered sinks, grip bars, and wider doorways. Curb cuts, ramps, and eleva- Housing affordability is an important consid- tors in multistory buildings assist persons with eration for the elderly, as many are on fixed walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs in gaining incomes. Housing designed specifically for the access to their living units, common areas, elderly is typically made up of apartments and and the street. A variety of housing types, both small detached units with one or two, and rental and owner-occupied, should be made sometimes three bedrooms. Housing projects

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for the elderly are often constructed at higher Program 3.2.1: Housing Opportunities for densities than other types of housing, and of- Special Needs Groups. ten include some units designed for handi- Program 3.2.3: Remove Constraints on the capped residents. The primary considerations Production of Housing for in evaluating sites for elderly housing are prox- Disabled Residents. imity to shopping, social services, public transportation, and health care; compatibility Special Housing Needs: Large Families. with adjacent land uses; and cost. Secondary According to 2000 Census data, Shafter had considerations involve proximity to recreation 1,052 households consisting of five or more and churches, special amenities such as trees persons, representing 32 percent of the City’s and views, and the absence of detrimental households. Table 5.3.I, shows the number of conditions such as traffic, noise, and industrial households of different sizes in Shafter. The land use. Using these criteria, the most likely share of large households is considerably sites for senior housing in Shafter would be in higher in Shafter than the Kern County aver- the downtown area. age, 18.8 percent. Among large families, the

proportion that is renting is much higher in The City has several methods of meeting the Shafter than it is Countywide (12.5% versus housing needs of the disabled elderly resi- 7.5%). Shafter, therefore, has a much higher dents. For example, the City does not maintain demand for large rental units than the County additional building requirements that would as a whole. hinder the development of housing for disabled residents. The City facilitates the devel- Special Housing Needs: Group Quarters. In opment of housing for persons with disabilities 2000, Shafter had 644 residents living in group by being able to waive development standards quarters, representing 5.0 percent of City resi- for ADA retrofit projects. Also, the City is pro- dents. Of the residents identified as living in posing a program to facilitate the development group quarters, 560 were identified as being of housing for persons with disabilities by util- “institutionalized.” These 560 persons are in- izing redevelopment funds and using Title 24 mates at the Lerdo Prision, which is located at regulations to provide for accessibility. In addi- 17635 Industrial Farm Road north of Lerdo tion, there are several programs that are in- Highway and east of State Route 99. The tar- cluded within this Housing Program in Section get number of prisoners to be housed in this 5.5 that will help the City meet this housing facility is 600. An additional 465 persons are need. These programs include: housed at the City-operated California Correc-

tional Facility. Program 1.2.1: Monitor At-Risk Projects.

Program 2.1.1: Partnership Program. Special Housing Needs: Farm Workers. Agricultural employment continues to be a Program 2.1.2: Affordable Housing Program significant economic activity in Kern County. A Inventory; Pursue Available precise estimate of the number of agricultural Projects. workers in Shafter is currently unavailable due Program 2.1.3: Support Non-Profit Housing to seasonal and annual variation. However, Sponsors. the 2000 Census identifies 588 (17.1% of employed adults) farm workers as living within the Program 2.2.3: Use of Density Bonuses. City of Shafter. This is much higher than Kern Program 2.2.4: Priority Permit, Entitlement County as a whole, which in 2000 was 6.7 Processing and Building In- percent. Within the City of Shafter, the U.S. spections for Lower Income Department of Agriculture operates year-round Housing Projects. farm worker housing. There is a total of 100 Program 2.3.4: Housing for Existing Very units, which are all three-bedroom units that Low- and Low Income Resi- rent for $340 per month. The Kern County dents. Housing Authority owns and manages three affordable housing complexes in Shafter that accommodate farm workers.

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Social service agencies located in Bakersfield Problems associated with farm worker housing include Kern Linkage, Bethany Services Ba- typically include severe overcrowding and kersfield Homeless Center, and the Bakers- substandard living conditions. There is typi- field Rescue Mission. Kern Linkage serves cally a particular need for housing units that Kern County’s mentally disabled homeless. can accommodate large families. Specific pro- Their assistance consists of information refer- grams, which would assist in meeting farm ral, case management, counseling, and a va- worker housing needs are detailed in Section riety of other services to the homeless men- 5.5. These programs include: tally ill.

Program 2.1.1: Partnership Program. The Bethany Services Bakersfield Homeless Center serves a large number of people from Program 2.1.2: Affordable Housing Program the Shafter area. The Center provides over Inventory; Pursue Available 12,000 meals monthly and provides shelter for Projects. up to 166 people daily. Overnight stays for a Program 2.1.3: Support Non-Profit Housing month or longer can be accommodated by the Sponsors. Center. The Center provides medical and dental care, clothes and supplies, and a school Program 2.2.3: Use of Density Bonuses. program for children. Program 2.2.4: Priority Permit, Entitlement Processing, and Building In- The Bakersfield Rescue Mission serves single spections for Lower-Income men and adult women. The Mission serves Housing Projects. over 18,000 meals and sleeps 8,000 people Program 2.3.4: Housing for Existing Very Low per month. The Mission has a one-year pro- and Low-Income Residents. gram for people who are trying to make substantial changes in their lives. In this program, Program 3.2.1: Housing Opportunities for the participants live in the Mission for one year Special Needs Groups. and are provided both mental and physical assistance. The Mission provides for medical, Due to the seasonal changes in the farming dental, and nutritional needs; in addition to industry, large numbers of migrant farm work- drug and alcohol classes, parenting classes, ers are employed during the harvest seasons. financial accountability classes, and job finding Migrant farm worker housing is located within assistance. Shafter, this complex is owned and managed by the Kern County Housing Authority. A Special Housing Needs: Assisted Housing housing program pertaining to the establish- at Risk. State law requires an analysis and a ment of additional migrant farm worker hous- program for preserving federally assisted ing in the Shafter area by the Housing Author- housing developments eligible for conversion ity of the County of Kern is included in this to market rents (“at-risk” units). The purpose of Housing Program. this analysis is to identify programs that the City can implement to preserve federally as- Special Housing Needs: Persons and Fami- sisted housing units that will prevent or mini- lies in Need of Emergency Shelter. Due to mize tenant displacement and will preserve the transient nature of the homeless, the pre- the local affordable housing stock. There are cise number of homeless individuals in Shafter no assisted housing projects, within Shafter is difficult to determine. Shelter assistance for that are administered by HUD. the homeless is not available in Shafter; however, there are several homeless shelters lo- The following assisted housing projects, within cated in Bakersfield, approximately 20 miles the City of Shafter, are administered by the south of Shafter. No shelter beds, hotel/motel Housing Authority of the County of Kern. Ac- vouchers, or units of transitional housing are cording to the Housing Authority of the County currently available in Shafter. of Kern, all of the listed projects will continue

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to be funded for the next ten years; therefore, review of current rental rates within Shafter, a they will continue to retain their affordability. two-bedroom rental unit in Shafter can be rented for $350 to $460 per month, with three- Terra Vista. This 35-unit complex was bedroom units renting for approximately $450 built in the late 1960s and consists of 7 to $750 per month (utilities not included). Al- one-bedroom, 20 two-bedroom, 4 three- lowing 30 percent of gross income for housing bedroom, and 4 four-bedroom units. costs, a Shafter household would have to earn $15,000 to $19,000 annually to afford the av- USDA Shafter. This Rural Development erage two-bedroom rental unit and $18,000 to Program location consists of 100 three- $28,000 to afford the average three-bedroom bedroom units. rental unit in Shafter at market rates. Thus, the North Shafter Farm Labor Center #5. average market rate two-bedroom rental units This project consists of 84 units that are all are affordable to very low-income, three- between two and four-bedroom units. member households, and the average market rate three-bedroom rentals are affordable to some very low-income, four-member house- Housing Characteristics holds. Additionally, the review of rental housing within the City found at least four apart- Housing Inventory. As shown in Table 5.3.J, ment complexes, which were designated for the California Department of Finance identified low-income households, where rent was set at 2,641 dwelling units within the City of Shafter, 30 percent of the household’s gross income. in 2000. Within the City, 77 percent of units are detached single-family homes and over 6 Existing Housing Needs percent are located in structures of five or more units. This mix reflects the community’s Income Groupings. State law requires that small-town character. housing needs be determined in such a way as to ensure that the shelter requirements of Housing Conditions. The 2000 Census iden- all income groups be identified, not just those tified 43 dwelling units (1.3%) within the City of household with incomes high enough to com- Shafter as lacking complete plumbing facilities pete effectively in the private marketplace. and 8 dwelling units (0.2%) as lacking com- Housing need is distributed into four income plete kitchen facilities. In addition, 238 (7.2%) categories related to the County median dwelling units do not have telephone service. household income: very low, low, moderate, Generally, housing within the City is in good and above moderate income. condition with few deteriorated or dilapidated dwellings. As used in State housing law, “very low,” “low,” “moderate,” and “above moderate” in- Housing Cost and Rents. Housing costs in come are based on the County’s median in- Shafter are about the same as the Kern come: “moderate” income means average in- County average. According to the California come for the County, and “low” income is sim- Association of Realtors (which does not list ply below average. State law requires that four Shafter specifically), the median price for a income levels must be considered in determin- home in Kern County in January 2004 was ing future housing needs. The income levels $134,000, and in Bakersfield it was $140,000. that are defined in relation to the median in- With conventional financing and current inter- come in the County are identified in Table est rates (about 7% on a 30-year conforming 5.3.L. mortgage), the monthly payment on a $140,000 mortgage would be $931. Compari- The annual household income limit for each son with the figures in Table 5.3.K shows that income group is determined by applying the moderate-income households can afford the above percentages to the Kern County median median home price in Shafter. income, as reported by the California Depart- ment of Housing and Community Develop- Rental housing is often a lower-cost alterna- ment. Within Kern County, a family of four with tive for lower-income households. Based on a a household income of $39,300 to $58,900 is

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considered to be of “moderate” income. A fam- unit offered for $950 per month is considered ily of four with a household income of $24,550 to be affordable to a low-income household. to $39,300 is considered to be “low” income in Thus, within Shafter, the housing market is Kern County. Previously referenced Table producing sale homes at prices that are af- 5.3.K shows the median income and income fordable to some low and all moderate-income limits for each income group for household of residents, and rental units that are affordable one to four persons in Kern County. to low- and very low-income residents. As stated previously, there are at least four Because large numbers of households have apartment complexes within the City which two or more wage earners, it is often over- were designated for low-income households, looked that many single-wage earner house- where rent is set at 30 percent of the households often fall into low or moderate-income hold’s gross income. categories. Thus, households with a single wage earner who is employed, for example, as Even though it is shown above that housing a cook, file clerk, or bank teller, would likely affordable to “lower income” groups has rela- fall into the very low income category. Simi- tively low sale prices and rental rates, the pri- larly, households with a single wage earner mary housing affordability issue facing the City who is employed as a teacher, truck driver, of Shafter is still the provision of affordable nurse or secretary would likely fall into the low housing for existing very low-income house- income category, while a household with a holds within Shafter. The 2000 Census dem- single wage earner who is employed as a po- onstrates that 29.8 percent of homeowners lice officer, accountant, or engineer would and 41.1 percent of renters within the City of likely fall into the moderate income category. Shafter are paying more than 30 percent of their gross income on housing costs. Housing Affordability. The monthly housing payment that a household is considered to be Future Housing Needs able to afford is determined by its household Regional Housing Needs. Section 65584 of income. For purposes of housing affordability the Government Code requires that the ap- planning, a household is expected to be able propriate Council of Governments determine to spend up to 30 percent of its monthly in- each locality’s share of the region’s existing come on housing. Table 5.3.M shows the and future housing needs. Kern COG, which is monthly payments that households in each responsible for cities and unincorporated ar- income group within Kern County are able to eas within Kern County, released a Regional afford. This does not include utilities, and can Housing Allocation Plan, adopted in May be applied to both mortgage payments (princi- 2001. This document identifies future housing pal interest, taxes, insurance) and rent. Table needs through the Kern COG region. “Future 5.3.N translates those maximum housing housing need” is defined as the number of payments into purchase prices for a four- additional housing units needed to meet pro- person household. The affordability analysis in jected increases in the number of Shafter Tables 5.3.M and 5.3.N has been compiled households between 2000 and 2007 to: using the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2004 Income Accommodate projected growth in the Limits and an affordability level of 30 percent number of very low-, low-, moderate-, and of gross income for housing. above moderate-income households;

As can be seen from these tables, because of Compensate for housing demolitions and Kern County’s relatively low median income, other inventory losses; and housing that is affordable to “lower income” groups has relatively low sale prices and Achieve a vacancy rate at the end of 2007 rental rates. For example, a home that is of- that allows the market to operate efficiently (4-6%). fered for sale at $134,000 in Shafter is considered to be affordable to some low and all moderate-income households, while a rental According to the Kern COG, Shafter’s projected need for new housing construction be-

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tween 2000 and December 2007 is 700 units. were constructed in the City of Shafter. The The vast majority of these units is needed to affordability of these new dwelling units and accommodate growth in the number of house- remaining housing needs is presented in Ta- holds. Less than 3 percent is needed for each ble 5.3.P. The numbers listed in Table 5.3.P of the purposes of compensating for housing are based on the average sales or rental price units that have been lost and maintaining a compared to income. Housing sales prices vacancy rate that facilitates choice in the were determined by estimates from City build- housing market. Table 5.3.O shows the housing records, information from developers, and ing need for each income category, as deter- a review of actual sale prices. The affordability mined by Kern COG. and pricing of these dwelling units within income groups is depicted in previously refer- Avoidance of Impaction. State housing law enced Table 5.3.N. Based on Table 5.3.N and requires that in allocating future housing the information gathered from developers and needs by income level, the local Council of sales records, the number of units constructed Governments avoids further “impaction,” which within each income group in Table 5.3.P is is the concentration of lower income house- believed to be accurate. holds. Cities with a percentage of lower income households that is higher than the re- 5.4 Housing Resources and gional average are called “impacted” jurisdic- Constraints tions. Kern COG Regional Housing Needs Assessment deals with the “avoidance of im- Introduction paction” within cities by reducing projected Section 5.4 contains data and analysis per- needs for housing affordable to lower income taining to the resources and constraints affect- households and increasing projected needs ing the maintenance, improvement, and de- for housing units that are affordable to higher velopment of housing in Shafter. The analysis income households that are allocated to im- focuses on four major topics: pacted jurisdictions. The opposite adjustment is made in the allocation to non-impacted ju- Availability of sites for residential devel- risdictions. opment (vacant land study/developable acres). According to Kern COG’s assessment, 59 percent of Planning Area 3 households are in Potential and actual governmental con- the very low- and low-income categories. By straints on housing (e.g., land use con- comparison, in Kern County as a whole, 40 trols, fees, etc.). percent of households are in these categories. Potential and actual non-governmental Regionally, the figure is 25 percent. Thus, constraints on housing (e.g., land prices, Shafter is impacted as defined in State law. As construction costs, and the availability of shown in Table 5.3.O, 40 percent of Shafter’s financing). identified new housing needs was allocated by Kern COG to Shafter to very low and low- Opportunities for energy conservation with income households. An additional 60 percent respect to new development. of identified new housing needs was allocated by Kern COG to moderate and above moder- Availability of Sites for Residential ate-income households. Thus, over half of Development Shafter’s new housing needs were determined Physical and Environmental Constraints by Kern COG to be needed for moderate- and include the following: above moderate-income households. Areas of Steep Slopes: Landslides and slope New Housing Already Constructed. From stability do not affect the City of Shafter since the beginning of the period covered by the it is flat in topography. 2000 Regional Housing Allocation Plan (May 2000) through the end of April 2004, 329 sin- Fault Zones: No faults have been mapped gle-family housing units and two duplexes immediately near Shafter, but several major

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faults can be found in Kern County. Therefore, accommodating its “fair share” of regional the City is not designated in a special study housing growth, as expressed in the Regional zone under the Alquist-Priolo Act. Housing Allocation Plan.

Areas Subject to Flooding. There are five The City is currently proposing to annex an distinct areas within the City of Shafter Plan- area located in the southeast part of the planning Area that are designated as a 100-year ning area into the existing City. The southeast flood zones. These areas are generally lo- annexation area is approximately 7,555.2 cated between Lerdo Highway and East Euclid acres. This annexation will allow for growth Avenue; at the northwest corner of Los Ange- and urban development to the southeast and les Street and Thompson Street; the east side north of the existing limits. The proposed an- of Central Valley Highway between Burbank nexation will allow for residential development Street and 7th Standard Road; the east side of and will provide the availability of additional Central Valley Highway between East Lerdo housing for residents of Shafter. The overall Highway and Central Avenue; and along the plan for development of this area will be coor- east side of Central Valley Highway between dinated with individual landowners and has the East Lerdo Highway and Los Angeles Street. potential to improve the quality of life for both the existing and future City residents. All new development is required to install on- site storm drain systems. In 2000, the City of As shown in Table 5.4.A, currently residen- Shafter Department of Public Works expanded tially zoned property within Shafter’s City limits the sump located at Rodriguez Avenue to alle- has the capacity for 270 additional housing viate potential flood hazards. Additionally, the units. The analysis used to determine the City of Shafter Department of Public Works housing capacity shown in Table 5.5.A (next has proposed a 3-acre sump to collect storm- section) is based on built capacities and is an water on the southeast corner of Los Angeles accurate portrayal of the number of units that Street and Beech Avenue. can be developed. The density used to calculate the development capacity is net acres, Agricultural and Open Space Issues: Ap- which includes any infrastructure improve- proximately 86 percent of the land within the ments required to the vacant parcels. As pre- Planning Area (39,940 acres) is currently agri- viously noted, Kern COG’s Regional Housing cultural lands. Some of these lands are re- Allocation Plan indicates that there is a restricted from being converted to developable maining need for 367 dwelling units within the lands. Of these agricultural lands, there are City of Shafter through the end of this Housing 26,653 acres under Williamson Act Contract Program period (2007), as shown in Table and 2,228 acres within Farmland Security 5.3.P (previous section). Zones, which prevent development and/or conversion to different land uses.1 It is important to note that the proposed Gen- eral Plan states that a maximum of 13,954 Inventory of Land Suitable for Residential dwelling units shall be permitted on the 3,125 Development. State law requires that an in- acres within the Specific Plan area included in ventory of lands suitable for the development Table 5.4.B (16.61 persons per acre). of housing be undertaken in the resources and constraints portion of a community’s Housing Table 5.4.C identifies the anticipated break- Program. The objective of this analysis is to down of housing by economic group that demonstrate that the community is capable of would result from build out of the existing Shafter City limits. This breakdown is based

1 on the following criteria. Williamson Act contracts are for a 10-year period and Farmland Security Zones are for a 20-year period. These contracts are automatically renewed each Rural density housing will likely be afford- year unless a notice of non-renewal is filed with the able to mostly above moderate-income managing governmental agency. In that case, the households and a few moderate-income land use restrictions remain in effect until the remain- households. ing nine years of the contract have elapsed.

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Most low-density (single-family) housing will be affordable to moderate income Farm worker housing is permitted in all zones households, but some (30 percent) will be except for commercially zoned districts, which affordable to low-income households and require a Conditional Use Permit, per Section 5 percent will be affordable to very-low in- 17.66 of the Zoning Ordinance. The Condi- come households. This appears to be a tional Use Permit procedure is also required conservative estimate, since the median for second units on single-family lots; or for home price in Kern County is $134,000. more than one single-family and/or multi-unit As shown in previously referenced Ta- structure in the R-2, R-3, and M-P zones. ble 5.3.N, a four-person family at the up- per end of the low-income range in Kern Essentially, the Conditional Use Permit proce- County can afford up to a $147,752 home, dure is the same as a site plan review process and a family in the moderate-income whereby the City reviews the proposal for range can afford up to a $221,403 home. compliance with City standards and adequacy First-time homebuyers can utilize FHA and as to building setbacks, parking landscaping VA loans, which are available at a low in- and development standards set forth in the terest rates and small down payments, zoning ordinance. No differentiation in proce- which would, in turn, increase the mort- dures or standards is made as to whether the gage. Other programs that help first-time residential proposal is multiple-family, more homebuyers include density bonus given than one single-family structure on a parcel, or to developers within new housing tracts, designated farm worker housing. which allow developers to construct smaller units to attract the first-time buyer. In an attempt to minimize governmental constraints on housing for persons with disabili- Medium and medium-high density rental ties, the City of Shafter allows group homes housing will be affordable to both low- and for persons with disabilities in all residential very low-income households. This type of zones. Group homes for persons with disabili- higher density dwelling unit with zero lot ties may be subject to a conditional use per- lines substantially reduces the cost or rent mit, depending upon the number of residents of the home as compared to the larger lot within the home. Shafter requires development size single-family homes. pursuant to the Uniform Building Code, and

does not maintain additional building require- Table 5.4.D shows that by applying these cri- ments that would hinder the development of teria, Shafter has plenty of capacity available housing for disabled residents. The City facili- for low-income housing units existing zoning tates the development of housing for persons within the City limits; however, there is cur- with disabilities by being able to waive devel- rently a shortage of capacity for very low- opment standards for ADA retrofit projects. In income households. With the implementation addition, the City is proposing a program to of the density bonus ordinance, encouraging facilitate the development of housing for per- the use of second units, and annexation of the sons with disabilities by utilizing redevelop- proposed area, the City will be able make up ment funds and using Title 24 regulations to the difference in affordability within zones and provide for accessibility. provide an adequate number of dwelling units for very low-income households. In addition, Limits to Physical Expansion of the City of Table 5.4.D shows that the annexation areas Shafter. The ultimate limits to Shafter’s legal provide ample housing capacity for all house- boundaries and urban expansion within its holds. The development capacity numbers in Planning Area are dependent upon local politi- Table 5.4.D are an accurate portrayal of the cal factors and geologic constraints. The City quantity of units that can be developed on va- of Shafter is surrounded by lands that are cur- cant lands within the City of Shafter under the rently under County jurisdiction. There are ar- current zoning ordinance. The density used to eas to the north and southeast of the City lim- calculate the development capacity is net its that Shafter is currently proposing to annex. acres, which includes any infrastructure im- The purpose of this proposed annexation is to provements required to the vacant parcels.

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provide room for residential land use devel- facilitate or hinder the development of housing opment and employment development oppor- for all economic segments of the community. tunities associated with the International Trade and Transportation Center (ITTC) and State Density Bonus. The City adopted a density Route 99, a major transportation corridor. bonus ordinance in accordance with the existing provisions of State law. The ordinance Shafter’s sphere of influence, established by provides for up to a 25 percent density bonus Kern County’s Local Agency Formation Com- for housing development that will meet one of mission (LAFCO) marks the City’s projected the following qualifications: ultimate boundary. The sphere of influence is primarily a planning tool that helps communi- Housing Development for Lower Income ties and public agencies project future service Households: At least 20 percent of the needs. The City has no direct land use control units must be for lower income house- within those portions of the sphere of influence holds. that are outside of the City limits. However, the Housing Development for Very Low In- City may comment on development proposals come Households: At least 10 percent of which are proposed by the County within the the units must be for very low-income City’s sphere of influence. households.

Shafter is currently proposing an annexation to Housing Developments for Senior Citi- the City limits. This annexation would add ap- zens: At least 50 percent of the units must proximately 7,555.20 acres (or 11.81 square be for qualifying residents. miles) to the existing City. The proposed annexation encompasses land areas that are Condominium Conversions for Low or adjacent to the City. The first area is directly Moderate-Income Households: At least 33 percent of the units must be for low or north of downtown Shafter and is within the existing sphere of influence. The purpose of moderate-income households. this proposed annexation area is to provide Condominium Conversions for Lower In- room for a new public school campus and to come Households: At least 15 percent of provide for residential land use development the units must be for lower-income house- near the City’s center. The area is approxi- holds. mately 255 acres and is proposed for development at a density of 3.5 dwelling units per The ordinance states that a development will acre. Another proposed annexation area is in be given either a density bonus of 25 percent the southeast of the planning area, adjacent to over the otherwise maximum allowable resi- 7th Standard Road. The annexation of this dential density under the General Plan and area will allow for residential development and zoning ordinance or the City will provide other development opportunities associated with the incentives of equivalent financial value based International Trade and Transportation Center upon the land cost per dwelling unit. Density (ITTC) and State Route 99, a major transpor- bonuses are negotiated on a case-by-case tation corridor. The City is planning to prepare basis between the City of Shafter and the de- a Specific Plan for this area. The development veloper. Where a development meets these capacity of this annexation area is shown qualifications, the ordinance requires the City above in Table 5.4.D. to provide at least one other regulatory concession and/or incentive, unless a finding is Land Use Controls made that the additional concession and/or The City of Shafter exercises a number of land incentive is not required to provide the afford- use controls that directly affect the developable housing. ment of housing. Some of these programs place certain restrictions on housing develop- Development Requirements. The City of Shafter’s requirements for off-site improvement, while others encourage housing production. It is the purpose of this section to evalu- ments are standard for small communities ate the extent to which these standards may within Kern County. The off-site improvements

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within and adjacent to housing tracks include ing, the minimum unit size, and the standard standard street widths, curbs, gutters, and of 6,000 square feet for the minimum lot size sidewalks. Water and sewer lines from the for the R-3 zone are designed to facilitate the development are required to be connected to development of higher density housing com- the nearest city water and sewer main lines. plexes. Within these complexes, the parking Within the City of Shafter, there are no infra- requirement and the minimum unit size re- structure issues that would hinder residential quirement would accommodate maximum al- development. Required on-site improvements lowable densities. The R-3 zone smaller lots, for residential development are determined such as lots that are 6,000 square feet, can largely by the zoning of the property. There still be used for multifamily residential units; are six basic residential zoning districts in the however, the maximum allowable density City of Shafter, corresponding to General Plan would not be achieved due to the development land use designations: standards.

Rural Residential, Building Codes. Building codes are not a se- rious constraint to residential development. Rural Community; Building inspections in Shafter are conducted Very Low Density by the City’s building inspectors, for approval of new construction for occupancy, and to re- Low Density; spond to specific complaints. New construc- Medium Density; and tion is required to meet the standards of the Uniform Building Code, which was last revised Medium-High Density. in 1997.

The Zoning Ordinance establishes lot dimen- Minimum Size Requirements for Dwelling sion and setback requirements for structures Units and Rooms. The City of Shafter main- in each residential zoning district. Table 5.4.E tains minimum size requirements for dwelling shows the Zoning District Development Stan- units. There are no local amendments added dards for the City. Table 5.4.F shows parking to the Uniform Building Code. The minimum requirements for residential units as estab- size for dwelling units is measured on the out- lished by the Zoning Ordinance. Shafter’s re- side of walls, and excludes basements, ga- quirements for on-site improvements as ex- rages, carports, exterior courtyards, and pressed in the Zoning Ordinance are typical of porches. These are modest requirements and California communities, and are not consid- are substantially smaller than what is currently ered to be unusually restrictive as a constraint being produced in market rate housing. Mini- on the development of housing. Shafter’s mum dwelling unit sizes are as follows. maximum lot coverage and setback standards do not constrain the maximum density allow- Single-family de- able within the various residential districts. 850 square feet tached homes Even at the minimum permitted lot size, the

City’s lot coverage and setback standards Dwelling units within a multifamily structure: would accommodate maximum allowable residential densities. 1 Bedroom 650 square feet Within the R-3 zoning district, Table 5.4.E 2 Bedrooms or larger 850 square feet shows one dwelling unit permitted for each 1,500 square feet of lot area. This identifica- “Bachelor” apartments (450 square feet) are tion of lot area per dwelling unit is simply permitted in areas designated in the General showing how many units per acre the lot area Plan for “Medium,” “Medium High,” and “High” standards allow. For example, zones R-1, R-2, density residential development. and R-3 all require a minimum lot area of 6,000 square feet. Within the R-3 zone, this These standards are modest, and do not un- would allow a maximum of 29 dwelling units reasonably add to the cost of housing within per acre. The development standards for park- the City.

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exceed) the design standards of the neighbor- Mobilehome and Manufactured Housing hood. Development Standards. The City of Shafter permits manufactured dwellings to be used as Second Dwelling Units. Within Low (R-1) single family residences outside of designated density residential zoning districts, the City mobilehome parks if the home is certified un- permits an additional dwelling unit to be sited der the National Mobile Home Construction on a parcel subject to approval of a Condi- and Safety Act of 1974, and if it meets the fol- tional Use Permit and the following standards: lowing standards: The lot upon which the secondary residen- The manufactured home shall be installed tial unit is to be established shall be a on a permanent foundation system pursu- minimum of 7,500 square feet and shall ant to Section 18551 of the California not be subdivided unless it meets the Health and Safety Code; and minimum requirements for subdivision. The manufactured home is no older than The existing principal dwelling on the lot ten years from the date application is shall contain a minimum gross area of made for an installation permit; and 1,100 square feet. The manufactured home has a width Only one secondary residential unit may greater than sixteen feet; and be created per legal lot. The manufactured home complies with the The total floor area of the secondary unit following architectural requirements: may not exceed 900 square feet or 50 percent of the total floor area of the exist- a. A minimum 3 inches vertical to 12 ing principal dwelling, whichever is inches horizontal roof pitch; and greater. b. Shingles customarily utilized in the The secondary unit shall contain separate construction of conventional single- kitchen and bathroom facilities and have a family dwellings; and separate entrance. c. A minimum one foot eave around the entire perimeter of the manufactured The existing principal dwelling on the lot shall be occupied by the property owner. home as measured from the vertical wall surface; and The secondary residential unit shall com- d. Non-reflective siding material custom- ply with the development standards for the arily utilized in the construction of zoning district in which it is located. conventional single-family dwellings Two off-street parking spaces shall be which shall extend to ground level; provided for the second unit. and The secondary unit shall be constructed in e. Siding material utilized as skirting accordance with the provisions of the lat- shall be the same in construction ma- est adopted edition of the Uniform Building terials, composition, and color as the Code. siding material utilized on the exterior wall surface of the manufactured The secondary unit shall be constructed in home. such a manner as to be compatible with the existing principal dwelling unit and These standards permit the placement of mo- neighborhood in terms of design, height, bilehomes that comply with Federal HUD material, and landscaping. standards to be sited on single-family lots The principal entrance to the secondary upon permanent foundations. The intent of the unit shall not be visible from the street. ordinance is to ensure that mobilehome units are structurally safe and conform to (but not to

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The secondary unit shall comply with ap- the permit approval expires and re- plicable health standards and shall be ap- application and issuance of new permit is proved by the City. required if work is to continue, unless there is an application for a six month ex- Mobilehomes shall not be utilized as sec- tension. ondary residential units nor shall secon-

dary residential units be permitted for lots Multiple Family (attached) Dwellings: where the existing principal dwelling unit is

a mobilehome. • Construction and Site Plans submitted to Building Division. Processing and Permit Procedures. Devel- opment review also affects housing costs. Be- • Prior to plan check, the proposal is sent to cause of holding costs, the longer it takes for a Planning to determine CEQA status; if not development proposal to be approved, the exempt, an Initial Study is generally re- higher the development costs. In the City of quired for projects containing more than Shafter, an application for a residential project three units or two or more residential containing about 20 units typically requires a structures. processing time (from filing of the initial appli- • A conditional use permit is required in all cation to Final Map approval) of 90 to 120 R-2, R-3 and all commercial zones for days. However, actual processing time varies residential projects containing more than according to the size and scope of the project, five units in a single structure or more than as well as the time taken by the developer to one structure. prepare the final map, improvement plans, and other project-related documents. While the • Project plans are circulated to all City de- City attempts to process development applica- partments and County Fire Department. tions in a timely and efficient manner, some • Planning Commission approval or denial, delays are outside the control of the City. De- or any condition of approval or environ- lays in processing can occur if environmental mental determination, may be appealed to review, pursuant to California Environmental the City Council upon payment of an ap- Quality Act (CEQA), requires an EIR to be peal fee. prepared. At times, approval from State or other agencies may also be required for cer- • Total processing time for a conditional use tain types of projects. The typical application permit without an appeal is generally four procedure for both single-family and multifam- to six weeks. ily residential units is as follows: Governmental Factors Single Family Dwellings: Funding Availability. The City of Shafter

does not have the financial resources or suffi- • Floor plans, construction plans and Site or cient staff to undertake major housing assis- Plot Plan is submitted to Building Division. tance programs without substantial backing by • Site Plan is sent to Planner for Zoning Kern County, the State, and Federal agencies. compliance review; either stamped ap- Existing funding for Federal and State pro- proved or sent back for corrections. grams is not sufficient to meet Statewide demand, which, in turn, limits the City’s ability to • Approved site plan is sent to Building Divi- meet its needs. Therefore, the limitations on sion; after corrections are submitted and availability of outside assistance programs act approved, fees are collected and verifica- as a constraint to the provision of affordable tion of payment of school fees, develop- housing. ment impact fees per Ordinance, utility

connections, and issues construction per- Public Services and Facilities. The provision mit upon payment of permit fees. of public services (especially water, sewers, • Permit is valid for six months, if no work and flood control) does not constrain the pro- commenced and inspections requested, duction of new housing below the number pro-

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jected by the current Regional Housing Alloca- as a result of inflation, increased demand due tion Plan. Currently, State laws governing mu- to population immigration, and decreasing nicipal funding limit the ability of cities to pro- land supply. This increase has an adverse vide infrastructure out of ongoing revenues. As effect on the ability of households, particularly a result, new development is generally re- low- and moderate-income households, to pay quired to “pay its own way” with regard to pub- for housing. lic facilities such as water, sewer, drainage, parks, and roadway facilities. In accordance Land costs of single-family residential lot in the with AB 1600, the City has enacted a devel- City of Shafter, as of 2001, typically are opment impact fee program (as shown in Ta- $25,000 to $40,000, depending on the size of ble 5.4.G) to ensure new development pays the parcel and the extent of improvements only for its impacts and not for existing defi- contained on the lot. According to the most ciencies caused by prior development. recent information available from the California Association of Realtors, single-family home The City of Shafter, like many communities, prices in the City are priced around $134,000. has determined that its public works systems Based on these estimates, land costs in the must not be overburdened by new develop- City represent from about one-quarter to one- ment. A capital improvements program that third of the selling price of a home. identifies and prioritizes such needs as industrial and residential infrastructure improve- Construction Costs. The availability of capi- ments, water storage facilities, new sewer tal to finance new residential development is a trunk lines, as well as regional park develop- significant factor that can impact both the cost ment and street improvements, provides a and the supply of housing. There are two guide for allocating public funds in the most types of capital involved in the housing mar- productive directions. ket: (1) capital used by developers for initial site preparation and construction, and (2) capi- Fees and Exactions. The fees and exactions tal for financing the purchase of units by required of a development to pay for the public homeowners and investors. facilities associated with the residential development pose a potential constraint to housing In general, financing for new residential devel- production. Two types of fees are charged by opment in Shafter at the present time (2004) is the City of Shafter, and discussed below: de- readily available at very reasonable interest velopment impact fees and planning process- rates. The current low interest rates have ing fees. Previously referenced Table 5.4.G proven to be a benefit to the production of identifies the applicability of impact fees. housing by facilitating affordable construction financing and mortgage rates. A comparison of Shafter’s typical residential planning fees in relation to nearby communi- Local Banks: There are several local banks in ties is shown in Table 5.4.H. Delano, Wasco, Shafter. As a result, there is a variety of sin- and Shafter are small residential communities. gle-family and multiple family home loans It can be seen from Table 5.4.H that Shafter’s available in the Shafter area. Interest rates are planning fees are generally comparable to currently competitive, and are similar to those other small cities in its vicinity. Thus, fees and available in other communities throughout the exactions do not pose a constraint on new San Joaquin Valley. Interest rates for single- residential development. family and multiple family construction loans are variable. Non-Governmental Factors VA, FHA, and conventional loans are avail- Land Costs. The price of land is a significant able. The local banks do not currently have ingredient in the total cost of housing. Devel- any programs specifically oriented toward the oped land costs typically account for about construction of affordable housing, other than one-quarter of the total cost of a home. Land those that are sponsored by governmental costs in California and Kern County have consistently been increasing since World War II

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agencies, such as the Community Reinvest- ment Act. Equity: Equity, which is the money or capital invested in the project, reduces the amount As a result of relatively low interest rates, local needed to be financed with a first and/or sec- banks report that refinancing of existing ond mortgage. Although equity financing can homes has been popular; however, such refi- be derived from several sources, affordable nancing has not affected the availability of housing partnerships depend greatly on the loans for home purchases. syndication of low-income housing tax credits. Ownership of these projects is usually struc- Affordable Housing Financing. Funding for tured as limited partnerships; corporate or in- affordable housing currently requires financing dividual investors are the limited partners who for a first mortgage, second mortgage, and rely on the tax credits for market returns. equity. An overview of each funding source is presented in the following paragraphs. Community Development Department: The Community Development Department has a First Mortgage: Because of their low rents, total budget of $2,122,021 for 2003/2004. affordable housing projects are financially ca- Within that total is $429,344 allocated for Low pable of generating enough money to make Moderate Income Activities and projects. monthly payments on only a relatively small These funds will be utilized in several ways to first mortgage – often as low as 20 to 25 per- assist in very low and low-income housing decent of total project cost. For the first mortgage velopment. Approximately $315,000 will be lender, subordinated debt increases a pro- spent upon operations and debt service to- ject’s loan-to-value and debt coverage ratios ward bonded money that has been previously to acceptable levels, reducing risk and in- used to develop low-income housing within the creasing the likelihood of obtaining private City. The current budget provides $65,000 for debt financing. The amount of the first mort- the purchase of property and rehabilitation of gage that can be supported is a function of the dilapidated dwelling units and the develop- net operating income of the project. Tax- ment of low-income units. An additional exempt bond proceeds are sometimes used $50,000 has been set aside to provide for for permanent financing of low-income hous- miscellaneous improvements within lowing projects. income neighborhoods. All of these funds will be used in cooperation with low-income hous- Second Mortgage (Gap Financing): A sec- ing developers to facilitate the development or ond mortgage is frequently necessary to par- rehabilitation of new units. The City expects to tially fill the gap between total project costs record approximately $300,000 per year for and the amount that can be supported by the the next three fiscal years to the low and mod- first mortgage. A below-market second mort- erate income set aside funds. gage provided by State or local governments or philanthropic organizations could be struc- Opportunities for Energy and Water tured with a low interest rate, no interest de- Conservation ferred payments, or as a due-on-sale loan. A discussion of energy conservation opportu-

nities is required to be included in housing The maker of the second mortgage often pre- elements by the California Government Code fers subordinated debt rather than a project Section 65583(a)(7). Utilities and related en- grant even though the former entails added ergy expenditures are a major component of a risk. The mortgage usually contains restric- household’s total shelter costs. Within the City, tions to ensure that the property serves low- 97.7 percent of all households have some income families; otherwise it becomes due form of space heating, 98.7 percent have and payable. Local funds are often used to complete plumbing facilities, and 99.9 percent provide “soft seconds” – mortgages whose have electrical connection according to 2000 principal and interest payments may be de- Census data. As an integral part of providing ferred until cash flow is available or the project housing, these utilities can represent a claim is refinanced or sold. in household income ranging from 15 to 40

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

percent of total housing costs, or higher, con- extends the capacities of municipal water sidering current and anticipated increases in wells and the local sewage treatment plant. energy costs. Thus, efforts to reduce energy More conservative landscape watering sched- and water consumption can significantly bene- ules and less wasteful watering systems make fit Shafter households. significant contributions to lower water demand. Inside the home, low-flow shower- The most effective home conservation meas- heads, low-flow toilets and efficient clothes ures are those that reduce the biggest user of and dishwashing appliances are useful in energy: space heating. Most utility companies stemming the need for water. However, by agree that actions to reduce air infiltration are changing personal habits regarding water use the most cost-effective ways of minimizing (e.g., shorter showers, not pre-rinsing dishes, space heating requirements. Weather- etc.), reductions in water use can be achieved stripping, caulking, duct wrapping and attic at little or no cost. and wall insulation are all ways to reduce such energy consumption. In addition, furnaces 5.5 Goals, Quantified Objectives, equipped with setback thermostats and elec- Policies, and Programs tronic (“pilotless”) ignition can further reduce costs. This is now required in all new residen- The intent of the Housing Program is to en- tial construction by the Uniform Building Code. sure that the housing needs of all economic segments of the community will be met Water heating is another major energy user. through the year 2007. The housing goals and Insulation blankets for water heaters, pipe in- policies included in the Shafter Housing Pro- sulation, and water saving showerheads are gram, as well as the actions that the City will simple, add-on measures that can lower, both undertake to meet its housing needs, are dis- energy bills and water consumption. More cussed in this Chapter. A summary of actions, elaborate measures include solar water heat- including identification of funding sources, re- ing systems that supplement the traditional sponsible entities, and time frames for imple- water heater. mentation, is also presented.

New housing construction is another area for In evaluating the prior Housing Program, the ensuring efficient energy use. Homes that are City analyzed the programs it undertook, and sited to maximize solar and wind orientation evaluated why implementation of some pro- can significantly reduce long-term energy grams was more successful than others. Ac- needs. Further, such homes can be equipped cordingly, the City has included in this pro- with energy-saving appliances which also gram (element) those actions it believes can lower energy and water consumption. A bal- successfully be implemented and that reflect ance must be achieved between the short- the best use of the City’s resources. term costs of building energy-efficient homes and the long-term benefits they provide. How- Shafter’s quantified housing objectives are ever, many design, construction, and land- presented below, along with housing goals, scaping techniques are available which help policies, and implementing programs. reduce energy consumption. Some add little or no cost to the housing unit, but have not been Quantified Objectives adopted by developers and contractors. Ex- The City of Shafter has designed a number of amples include avoiding east- and west-facing implementing programs that will focus City lots, reducing north-facing window areas, us- resources on meeting its projected housing ing drought-resistant landscaping, and em- needs. The City recognizes that there are a ploying paving materials that generate less number of factors impacting the provision of heat. affordable housing and that it will not be able to meet all projected needs during the plan- Water conservation is a significant issue for ning period. Accordingly, the City of Shafter both individual households and the City. Lower has identified its quantified objectives for new water consumption reduces monthly bills and construction and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

of existing units will be achieved through the Responsible Agency: Community City’s efforts to link property owners with Development Department. available financial assistance programs. Units Implementation Schedule: June that are rehabilitated are units that are con- 2006 and every two years thereafter. verted from non-affordable to affordable by acquisition of the units or the purchase of af- Non-Quantified Objective: Mainte- fordability covenants. The City’s conservation nance of an inventory of available quantified objective is based upon projected sites for use in discussions with poten- activities of the Community Development De- tial developers. partment and City efforts to assist and coop- Funding Source: General Fund / Re- erate with nonprofit, private, and other public development Funds. entities to preserve as well as provide additional affordable units. The conservation of 1.1.2 Second Unit/Accessory Units: Ac- dwelling units requires one-to-one replace- tively encourage the use of second ment of any housing units demolished due to units in single-family residential areas public or private action, the provision of stable in meeting the City’s very low-, low- zoning to preserve affordable housing, and the and moderate-income housing objec- long-term affordability restrictions on assisted tives where such second units would rental units. neither adversely affect nor alter the character of the surrounding single- The City has established its quantified objec- family neighborhood. The City will en- tives on the basis of Kern Council of Govern- courage the use of second units by ments (Kern COG) regional housing needs providing information and forms that projections for the City of Shafter for the pe- will inform the community of require- riod of 2000-2007 (Table 5.5.A). Overall, it is ments for second units and help to fa- the objective of the City of Shafter that a suffi- cilitate the approval process. cient number of market-rate housing projects take advantage of the affordable housing in- Responsible Agency: Community centives offered to these projects to achieve Development Department. 15 percent of the housing developed in the Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. City being affordable to lower-income households (5% very low income, 10% low income). Quantified Objective: Development of ten second dwelling units through Goals, Policies, and Implementing Pro- the end of 2007. grams Funding Source: No cost to the City. Goal 1 Code Enforcement: The existing Provide a diversity of housing opportunities to Housing Program sets forth a code enhance the City’s living environment and to enforcement program to ensure the satisfy the shelter needs of Shafter residents. health and safety of the City’s residents. Policy 1.1. Provide adequate residential sites for the production of new for-sale and rental Policy 1.2. Ensure the supply of safe, decent, residential units for existing and future resi- and sound housing for all Shafter residents. dents. Implementing Programs Implementing Programs 1.2.1 Monitor At-Risk Projects: One year 1.1.1 Biennial Evaluation: Conduct a bi- prior to each required Housing Pro- ennial update of the City’s inventory of gram update, determine the status of available sites, and take appropriate financial incentives for assisted hous- action to ensure an ongoing supply of ing projects to determine whether in- available sites at appropriate densities come restrictions on such projects are to meet projected housing needs. “at risk” of being lifted, thereby termi-

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

nating the “affordability” of the project. Responsible Agency: Community Where assisted housing projects are Development Department. “at risk,” develop strategies to pre- Implementation Schedule: Prepare serve their affordability. a brochure of available programs by Responsible Agency: Community January 2006. Update every two Development Department based on years thereafter. HUD and HCD documents. Non-Quantified Objective: Through Implementation Schedule: January public education, the public’s ability to 2006. use programs will be enhanced and other specific quantified objectives will Quantified Objective: Retention of be easier to achieve. existing affordable housing stock through early identification and action Funding Source: CDBG. regarding “at risk” units. 1.2.4 Housing Condition Survey: Maintain Funding Source: CDBG. a current housing condition survey of

all housing units within the City. This 1.2.2 Housing Rehabilitation Program: survey should include the number of Assist applicants in accessing home units in need of rehabilitation or re- rehabilitation loans for low- and mod- placement. erate-income housing, and self-help housing projects. The City will assist Responsible Agency: City Building applicants in accessing rehabilitation Official. loans by creating brochures that iden- Implementation Schedule: Ongoing tify what loans are available and the with a comprehensive update one processes by which these loans are year prior to the next Housing Pro- granted. In addition, City staff will program update (2007). vide technical review of forms to ensure that applicants have provided all Non-Quantified Objective: Maintain essential information. current information on housing conditions within the City to assist in target- Responsible Agency: Community ing rehabilitation programs. Development Department. Funding Source: General Fund. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.

Quantified Objective: Adequate as- 1.2.5 Rental Rehabilitation Program: Pro- sistance to meet the quantified objec- vide financial assistance to owners of tives contained in previously refer- rental property to rehabilitate substan- enced Table 5.5.A. dard units to enable such units to remain affordable following rehabilita- Funding Source: General Fund, Re- tion. The City will provide financial as- development Funds, available housing sistance by applying for CDBG funds programs. and the Community Development De-

partment will allocate funds for rental 1.2.3 Community Education Regarding rehabilitation. The use of these funds the Availability of Rehabilitation will ensure that rental properties will Programs: Provide information to not deteriorate and still remain afford- very low- and low-income households able. and other special needs groups regarding the availability of rehabilitation Responsible Agency: Community programs through neighborhood and Development Department. community organizations, and through Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. the media.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Quantified Objective: Provide finan- Policy 2.1. Assist and cooperate with non- cial assistance to owners of five rental profit, private, and public entities to maximize properties to rehabilitate substandard opportunities to develop affordable housing. units. Implementing Programs Funding Source: HUD Rental Reha- bilitation Funds, CDBG, and Redevel- 2.1.1 Partnership Program: The City will opment Funds. meet regularly with nonprofit, private and other public entities to examine 1.2.6 Code Enforcement: Provide ongoing opportunities for cooperative efforts to inspection services to review code vio- expand the City’s supply of affordable lations on a survey and complaint ba- housing. sis. Examples of code violations in- Responsible Agency: Community clude families living in illegal units, Development Department. such as garages and recreational vehicles, construction of illegal buildings, Implementation Schedule: Conduct households living in unsafe buildings, first meeting within one year of Hous- abatement of vehicles, and water con- ing Program adoption, annually there- servation violations. after. Responsible Agency: Building Offi- Non-Quantified Objective: Familiar- cial. ize nonprofit, private, and other public entities involved in the production of Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. affordable housing with the City of Non-Quantified Objective: Elimina- Shafter and thereby facilitate interest tion of code violations within Shafter. on the part of these entities in developing affordable housing in Shafter. Funding Source: General Fund. Funding Source: Private sources, Policy 1.3. Provide incentives for energy con- CDBG. servation measures in new housing. 2.1.2 Affordable Housing Program Inven- Implementing Program tory; Pursue Available Projects: Explore and inventory the variety of 1.3.1 Energy Conservation Program: In potential financial assistance pro- concert with Pacific Gas & Electric grams from both the public and private (PG&E) and The Gas Company, im- sectors to provide more affordable plement an energy conservation pro- housing units. The Community Devel- gram. opment Department will provide assis- Responsible Agency: City Building tance to the City in preparation of ap- Official, in association with PG&E. plications for potential financial assis- Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. tance programs. Additionally, the Community Development Department, Non-Quantified Objective: Minimize on an annual basis, will specify which costs of space heating and cooling in programs will be applied for by the new and existing dwelling units. City. All available local, State, Federal, Funding Source: General Fund, and private affordable housing pro- PG&E, and The Gas Company. grams for new housing and for the conservation and/or rehabilitation of Goal 2 existing housing will be pursued, including, but not limited to the follow- Provide housing that is affordable to all eco- ing. nomic segments of the community. California HCD Farmworker Hous- ing Grant Program (for develop-

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

ment or rehabilitation of for-sale rehabilitation of apartments for and rental housing for farm work- farm workers and lower-income ers). households). Calhome Program (to assist in the Section 8 Housing Assistance development of for-sale housing (rent subsidies for very low- for lower-income households). income households). FDIC Affordable Housing Program Section 223(f) Mortgage Insur- (assistance for rehabilitation costs ance for Purchase/Refinance (for and closing costs for lower- acquisition and development of income households). new rental housing). HELP Program (for preservation Section 241(a) Rehabilitation of affordable housing and rehabili- Loans for Multi-Family Projects tation of housing). (for energy conservation and rehabilitation of apartments). Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) (for rehabilita- World/BRIDGE Initiative (lower in- tion of lower- income and senior terest construction financing for housing). lower-income and farm worker housing). HUD Single-Family Property Dis- position Program (for rehabilitation Responsible Agency: Community of owner-occupied housing). Development Department. Loan Packaging Program (for de- Implementation Schedule: The velopment and rehabilitation of af- Community Development Department fordable housing for farm workers, will apply for potential financial assis- lower-income households, and tance one year from the adoption of seniors). the Housing Program to assist special needs groups. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (for development of Quantified Objective: The Commu- rental housing and preservation of nity Development Department will ap- existing affordable housing for ply for the following grants for poten- large family units). tial financial assistance: (1) project to assist in the provision of housing ac- McAuley Institute (for new housing cessible for disabled residents (either or rehabilitation of housing for new housing or retrofit of existing low- lower-income and farm worker income housing), (2) grants to assist households). in the provision of housing for farm Mercy Loan Fund (for new hous- workers, (3) grant to assist the reha- ing or for rehabilitation of housing bilitation of existing low-income hous- for the disabled and lower-income ing, and (4) two grants to assist the households). provision of housing for large families and reduce overcrowding. Neighborhood Housing Services (for rehabilitation of housing for Non-Quantified Objective: Maximize lower-income households). the City’s and public ability to access Proposition 84 (for development governmental and private housing or conversion and rehabilitation of programs and thereby facilitate achievement of other Housing Pro- existing facilities for migrant farm worker housing). gram objectives. Funding Source: Community Devel- Rural Community Assistance Cor- poration (for new rental housing or opment Department.

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2.1.3 Support Non-Profit Housing Spon- within three months after completion sors: Support non-profit corporations of analysis. Conduct a follow-up re- in their efforts to make housing more view annually thereafter. affordable to very low- and low- Non-Quantified Objective: Minimize income households. This effort will in- the costs of residential development clude supporting grant applications, within Shafter attributable to the time it identifying available sites for housing takes to review development applica- development, and City involvement in tions and plans and ensure that City the development of such sites. standards do not act to constrain the Responsible Agency: Community production of affordable housing units. Development Department. Funding Source: General Fund. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. 2.2.2 Density Bonus Ordinance: Monitor Non-Quantified Objective: By sup- statutory requirements for municipal porting these entities in their efforts, density bonus requirements. increase the production of affordable housing to meet other objectives of Responsible Agency: Community the Housing Program. Development Department. Funding Source: Private sources, Implementation Schedule: Check Community Development Department, currency of City density bonus provi- and CDBG. sions against State law by January 2006, and annually thereafter. Policy 2.2. Review and modify all standards Non-Quantified Objective: Ensure and application processes to ensure that City that City density bonus provisions standards do not act to constrain the produc- comply with State requirements. tion of affordable housing units. Funding Source: General Fund. Implementing Programs 2.2.3 Use of Density Bonuses: Grant den- 2.2.1 Maintain a Streamlined Application sity bonuses for the provision of af- Process: Continue efforts to stream- fordable housing units as required by line and improve the development re- State law. The City will promote the view process, as well as eliminate any use of density bonuses by providing unnecessary delays and restrictions in information and brochures to develop- the processing of development appli- ers, which explain the benefits and cations. In addition, the City will ana- opportunities to both developers and lyze and determine whether its devel- residents in utilizing the density bonus opment standards in the R-3 zone program. create any constraints on the development of higher density housing. If Responsible Agency: General Fund, any constraints are found in these ar- Development Applicants. eas, the City will initiate actions to ad- Implementation Schedule: Ongoing dress these constraints. as requests are made. Responsible Agency: Community Non-Quantified Objective: Facilitate Development Department, City Engi- the achievement of Housing Program neer, and Building Official. objectives for the provision of new Implementation Schedule: Conduct housing for all economic segments of a review of permitting and review pro- the community. cedures and development standards Funding Source: Community Devel- within 6 months of the adoption of the opment Department, available hous- Housing Program, and initiate any ing programs. needed policy or ordinance provisions

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within the City’s current processing 2.2.4 Priority Permit, Entitlement Proc- and permit procedures. essing, and Building Inspections Funding Source: CDBG, General for Lower-Income Housing Pro- Fund. jects: The City will give priority to low- , very low-income, and large rental unit housing projects for permitting, Policy 2.3. Facilitate the development of new entitlement processing, and building housing for all economic segments of the inspections that are carried out during community, including lower-, moderate-, and various stages of the construction above moderate-income households. process. Implementing Programs Responsible Agency: Building Offi- cial. 2.3.1 Community Information: Undertake a program to provide information to Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. the community about annual incomes Non-Quantified Objective: Minimize for typical occupations and the equiva- the cost of providing affordable hous- lent “buying power” of these incomes ing by reducing time waiting for in- in today’s housing market, including spections to be completed. the annual income ranges of “very low-,” “low-,” and “moderate-“ in- Funding Source: Building Permit Fees, General Fund. comes, and of the typical occupations that fall into these categories. 2.2.5 Review and Revise Processing and Responsible Agency: Community Permit Procedures: The City will re- Development Department. view and revise processing and permit Implementation Schedule: Complete procedures and the extent of discre- materials and initiate education pro- tionary review for all residential program by January 2006. jects. This review and following revi- sions will ensure that the City proce- Non-Quantified Objective: Promote dures are appropriate and provide the community understanding of “afford- appropriate level of discretionary re- able housing” and “low-“ and “moder- view. The City will determine which ate-“ income, thereby reducing poten- policies and ordinances hinder the de- tial community resistance to affordable velopment of housing. The City will housing development. then initiate actions to address these Funding Source: Community Devel- constraints, including removing the opment Department. constraints or providing reasonable

accommodation for housing through a 2.3.2 Marketing Materials: Prepare mar- ministerial process. keting materials to be provided to the Responsible Agency: Community building industry, outlining opportuni- Development Department. ties for the development of new above moderate-income single-family hous- Implementation Schedule: Complete ing within Shafter. analysis within six months of the adoption of the Housing Program, and Responsible Agency: Community initiate any needed policy or ordinance Development Department. provisions within three months after Implementation Schedule: Complete completion of the analysis. marketing materials by January 2006 Non-Quantified Objective: Facilitate and update annually thereafter. and encourage the development of Non-Quantified Objective: Promote housing by removing the constraints development of needed above mod-

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

erate-income housing to meet quantified objectives for new housing to 2.3.5 Review the Potential for an Inclu- meet the needs of that income group. sionary Housing Policy: The City will assess the potential for implementa- Funding Source: General Fund. tion of an inclusionary housing policy.

The goal of an inclusionary housing 2.3.3 Meet with Potential Developers: Ac- policy would be to increase the supply tively seek out, and conduct an annual of affordable housing for moderate to meeting with potential developers of very low-income families. This policy downtown infill sites, as well as poten- would encourage developers to con- tial developers of above moderate- struct a certain percentage of new income housing as a means of gener- dwelling units as affordable housing. ating interest on their part to undertake residential projects within the Responsible Agency: Community City. Development Department. Responsible Agency: Community Implementation Schedule: Initiate Development Department, City Man- review within six months of the adop- ager. tion of the Housing Program. Implementation Schedule: Hold first Non-Quantified Objective: Increase meeting by the end of March 2006, set the supply of affordable housing for up a schedule, and meet annually moderate- to very low-income fami- thereafter. lies. Non-Quantified Objective: To create Funding Source: General Fund. interest on the part of potential developers of downtown infill sites and of Goal 3 above moderate-income housing as a Provide equal housing opportunities for all means of facilitating achievement of residents of Shafter. quantified objectives for the develop-

ment of housing for these income Policy 3.1. Encourage and support the en- groups. forcement of laws and regulations prohibiting Funding Source: General Fund. discrimination in lending practices and in the sale or rental of housing. 2.3.4 Housing for Existing Very Low- and Low-Income Residents: Utilize Implementing Program CDBG funds for infrastructure im- 3.1.1 Cooperative Association: Continue provements and available Federal, State, and local housing development to refer cases and questions to HACK programs to undertake development for enforcement of prohibitions on discrimination in lending practices and in of housing project for Shafter’s existing very low- and low-income house- the sale or rental of housing. Addition- holds who are living in dwellings that ally, the City will create a brochure in English and Spanish, explaining how are in need of replacement. complaints can be filed. The brochure Responsible Agency: Community will be available at City Hall in the Development Department. Community Development Department Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. and throughout the community in places such as public libraries, com- Quantified Objective: Housing assis- munity centers, local social centers, tance to 100 existing very low- or low- and other public locations. income Shafter residents. Responsible Agency: Community Funding Source: CDBG and Rede- Development Department. velopment Funds.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Implementation Schedule: This bro- tional housing), family counseling, and chure will be completed one year from employment programs/job referrals for the date of Housing Program ap- the homeless. Additionally, the City proval. will analyze and determine whether its development policies and processing Non-Quantified Objective: City as- procedures facilitate development of sistance to eliminate housing discrimi- emergency shelters and transitional nation within the community. housing. If any constraints are found, Funding Source: General Fund. the City will initiate actions to address these constraints, including removing Policy 3.2. Assure the provision of housing the constraints and providing reason- opportunities for those residents of the City able means of facilitating accommoda- who have special housing needs, including tions intended for emergency shelters farm workers, the elderly, disabled, large fami- and transitional housing. lies, and the homeless. Responsible Agency: Community

Development Department, Kern Implementing Programs County Housing Authority, private as- 3.2.1 Housing Opportunities for Special sistance agencies. Needs Groups: Provide housing op- Implementation Schedule: Ongoing portunities to meet the special housing coordination with agencies serving the needs of farm workers, elderly, dis- homeless. Complete analysis within abled, large families, and the home- six months of the adoption of the less (see also Program 2.1.1) by giv- Housing Program, and initiate any ing priority funding to development needed policy or ordinance provisions projects that include a component for within three months after completion special needs groups in addition to of the analysis. other lower-income households. The City will implement priority, based on Non-Quantified Objective: Develop community needs, to ensure adequate housing self-sufficiency for those who housing for all residents within special are currently homeless by working needs groups. The City will also priori- with appropriate agencies to imple- tize Redevelopment Funds based ment housing and employment pro- upon the needs of the community. grams. Facilitate development of emergency shelters and transitional Responsible Agency: Community housing within Shafter. Development Department. Funding Source: FEMA, HUD, HCD, Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. CDBG, private funds. Non-Quantified Objective: Maximize opportunities to address the housing 3.2.3 Remove Constraints on the Produc- needs of special needs groups within tion of Housing for Disabled Resi- the City. dents: The City will analyze and determine whether its development poli- Funding Source: State and Federal cies and ordinances create any con- housing funds, Redevelopment straints on the development, mainte- Funds, CDBG. nance, and improvement of housing

intended for persons with disabilities, 3.2.2 Coordination with Agencies serving consistent with Senate Bill 520, which the Homeless and Ensure that De- was enacted January 1, 2002. The velopment Standards Facilitate analysis will include an evaluation of Emergency Shelters and Transi- existing land use controls, permit tional Housing: The City shall coop- processing procedures, and building erate with public and private agencies codes. If any constraints are found in to develop housing (including transi-

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

these areas, the City will initiate actions to address these constraints, including removing the constraints or providing reasonable accommodation for housing intended for persons with disabilities. Responsible Agency: Community Development Department. Implementation Schedule: Complete analysis within six months of the adoption of the Housing Program, and initiate any needed policy or ordinance provisions within three months after completion of the analysis. Non-Quantified Objective: Remove constraints on the production of housing for disabled residents. Funding Source: CDBG, General Fund.

5.6 Tables Tables are displayed in order referenced, beginning on the following page.

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Section 5.3 Tables Table 5.3.A – City of Shafter Population and Housing, 1990-2003 Year Population Increase Housing Units Increase 1990 8,409 – 2,641 – 1991 9,679 1,270 2,995 354 1992 10,271 592 3,029 34 1993 10,771 500 3,166 137 1994 10,908 137 3,218 52 1995 10,831 -77 3,242 24 1996 10,925 94 3,278 36 1997 11,024 99 3,311 33 1998 11,182 158 3,364 53 1999 11,600 418 3,520 156 2000 12,736 1,136 3,624 104 2001 12,902 166 3,644 20 2002 13,070 168 3,679 35 2003 13,343 273 3,747 68 Source: California Department of Finance, City/County Population and Housing Estimates 1991-2003 with 1990 U.S. Census

Table 5.3.B – Projected Population Within the Planning Area, 2000-2030 Year Population Households Persons Per Household 2000 18,266 4,332 4.22 2010 20,361 4,822 4.22 2020 22,498 5,287 4.26 2030 24,721 5,701 4.34 Source: Kern Council of Governments, April 2002.

Table 5.3.C – City of Shafter Age Distribution, 2000 City of Shafter Kern County Number Percentage Number Percentage Under 5 years 1,355 10.6 55,012 8.3 5-19 years 3,800 29.8 176,001 26.6 20-24 years 1,008 7.9 46,965 7.1 25-44 years 3,724 29.2 198,446 30.0 45-64 years 1,814 14.3 123,046 18.6 65 years and over 1,056 8.3 62,175 9.4 TOTAL 12,757 100.0 661,645 100 Source: 2000 Census

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Table 5.3.D – City of Shafter Ethnicity, 1990, 2000 1990 Percentage 2000 Percentage White 55 44.5 Hispanic – 68.1 Black (African American) 0.3 1.6 Native American 0.6 1.2 Asian, Pacific Islander 0.4 0.4 Other Race 43.7 48.4 Two or More Races – 3.8 TOTAL Hispanic Origin (any race) 49.7 – Source: 1990, 2000 Census

Table 5.3.E – Industry Employment in the Bakersfield MSA Industry Percentage Farm 18.3 Mining 3.4 Construction 4.9 Manufacturing 3.9 Trade 18.6 Finance, Insurance, Property 2.9 Business Services 9.3 Government 22.0 Educational and Health Services 9.2 Leisure and Hospitality 7.5 TOTAL 100 Source: EDD, November 2001

Table 5.3.F – Comparison of Planning Area 3 and Kern County Household Income1 Area 3 Kern County Median Family Income $21,627 $ 31,633 Number Percentage Number Percentage Very Low Income <$15,826 4,573 33 30,633 23 Low Income $15,816-25,306 3,562 26 23,301 17 Moderate Income $25,306-37,690 2,583 19 27,115 20 Above Moderate Income >$37,690 3,152 23 54,929 40 TOTAL 13,870 100 135,978 100 1 Based on 1990 Census data. Source: Kern COG, 2000

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Table 5.3.G – Housing Tenure Type of Unit Number Percentage Owner-Occupied Housing Unit 1,983 60.2 Renter-Occupied Housing Unit 1,313 39.8 TOTAL 3,289 100 Source: Census 2000

Table 5.3.H – Persons With Disabilities, 2000 Shafter Kern County Number Percentage Number Percentage Persons aged 5-20 4,065 100 183,308 100 With a disability 352 8.7 15,912 8.7 Persons aged 21-64 5,812 100 333,186 100 With a disability 1,504 25.9 85,318 25.6 Percent employed – 30.7 – 47.7 Persons aged 65 and over 965 100 60,264 100 With a disability 507 52.5 28,394 47.1 Source: 2000 Census

Table 5.3.I – Shafter Household Size by Housing Tenure, 2000 Household Size (Number Total House- Percentage of To- of Occupants) Owner-Occupied Renter-Occupied holds tal Households 1 202 233 435 13.2 2 551 173 724 22.0 3 297 234 531 16.1 4 294 261 555 16.8 5 260 219 479 14.5 6 134 119 253 7.7 7 or more 245 74 319 9.7 TOTAL 1,983 1,313 3,296 100.0 Source: Census, 2000

Table 5.3.J – Composition of the Housing Stock, 2003 City of Shafter Kern County Housing Type Number of Units Percentage Number of Units Percentage Single Family, Detached 2,887 77.0 165,513 68.3 Single Family, Attached 177 4.7 8,581 3.5 2 to 4 Unit Structure 234 6.2 20,556 8.5 5 or More Unit Structure 238 6.4 23,723 9.8 Mobile Home 211 5.6 23,849 9.8 TOTAL 3,747 100.0 242,232 100 Source: California Department of Finance, City/County Population and Housing Estimates, January 1, 2003.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Table 5.3.K – Kern County Median Income and Income Limits by Household Size Household Size 1 2 3 4 County Median Income $34,350 $39,300 $44,200 $49,100 Income Group Very Low $17,200 $19,650 $22,100 $24,550 Low $27,500 $31,400 $35,350 $39,300 Moderate $41,250 $47,100 $53,000 $58,900 Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, Income Limits, February 2004.

Table 5.3.L – Household Income Groupings Income Group Percentage of County Median Income Very Low <50% Low 50% to 80% Moderate 80% to 120% Above Moderate >120%

Table 5.3.M – Maximum Affordable Monthly Housing Payment by Household Size, 2004 Household Size Income Group 1 2 3 4 Very Low $430 $491 $553 $614 Low $688 $785 $884 $983 Moderate $1,031 $1,178 $1,325 $1,473

Table 5.3.N – Housing Affordability in Kern County for a Household of Four Income Category Purchase Price at 7% Interest Rate Monthly Rent Very Low ($24,550 or less) Less than $92,289 Less than $614 Low ($24,551 - $39,300) $92,289 - $147,752 $615 - $983 Moderate ($39,301 - $58,900) $147,752 - $221,403 $984 - $1,473 Above Moderate (More than $58,900) More than $221,403 More than $1,474 The criteria defined for ownership affordability assumes one-third of annual income is available for housing, less 10% of housing cost for taxes and insurance, a fixed-rate 30-year mortgage at 7% interest. Rental housing affordability assumes a two-bedroom apartment and that 30% of annual income is available for payment of annual rent.

Table 5.3.O – Housing Needs by Income Category, 2000-2007 Income Category Number of Units Percentage Very Low 161 23 Low 119 17 Moderate 140 20 Above Moderate 280 40 TOTAL 700 100 Source: Kern COG, 2000 Regional Housing Allocation Plan.

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Table 5.3.P – Remaining New Housing Construction Needs as of May 2004 Income Group RHNA Housing Need Units Constructed Remaining Need Very Low 161 14 147 Low 119 274 -155 Moderate 140 35 105 Above Moderate 280 10 270 TOTAL 700 177 367 Source: City of Shafter

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Section 5.4 Tables Table 5.4.A – Development Potential of Vacant Lands Planned for Residential Development within the Current City Limits and Sphere of Influence Current City Limits Current Sphere of Influence Housing Housing Ca- Residential Land Use Category Density Acres Capacity Acres pacity Rural Residential 0.4 – – 0.22739 0 Rural Community Residential 1.0 – – 2.81507 2 Very Low Density Residential 3.5 – – - 0 Low Density Residential 5.0 17.98522 89.9261 Medium Density Residential 10.0 2.00199 20.0199 – – Medium High Density Residential 20.0 – – TOTAL – 19,98721 110 – 2 1 Dwelling Units/NET Acre. Density and capacity of rural parcels are expressed based on maximum allowable development potential. The actual build out of these areas depends on the specific physical characteristics of individual sites.

Table 5.4.B – Development Potential of Lands Proposed for Annexation Residential Land Use Category Density Acres Housing Capacity Rural Residential 0.4 179.83 71 Rural Community Residential 1.0 29.70 29 Very Low Density Residential 3.5 228.56 1,009 Specific Plan Area Suburban Residential 4.0 125 500 Low Density Residential 7.26 1,233 8,952 Low Medium Residential 10.0 83 830 High Medium Residential 17.42 44 766 High Density Residential 25.0 41 1,025 TOTAL 13,182 Note: Housing Capacity in Table 5.4.B is not included in Table 5.4.A.

Table 5.4.C – Distribution of Housing Affordability by Residential Density Rural Very Low Low Medium Medium-High Very Low Income 5% 50% 75% Low Income 5% 30% 30% 20% Moderate Income 10% 30% 45% 20% 5% Above Moderate 90% 65% 20% Income

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Table 5.4.D – Distribution of Available Development Capacity Very Low Low Moderate Above Moderate Total Hous- Income Income Income Income ing Units Within Current City Limits Low Density Residential 8 51 77 33 169 Medium Density Residential 27 16 11 53 Medium-High Density Residential 36 10 2 48 Total Capacity within Current City Limits 71 77 90 33 270 Remaining Need (per Table 5.3.P) 147 -155 105 270 367 Surplus/ (Deficit) within City Lim- its (76) 232 (15) (237) (97) Within the Sphere of Influence (SOI) Rural Residential/Rural Community 23 204 227 Very Low Density Residential 137 821 1,779 2,737 Low Density Residential 44 266 400 178 888 Total Capacity within SOI 44 403 1,244 2,161 3,852 Surplus/ (Deficit) from City Limits (76) 232 (15) (237) (97) Surplus/ (Deficit) after inclusion of SOI area (32) 635 1,229 1,924 3,755 Within the Proposed Annexation Areas Rural Residential/Rural Community 10 90 100 Very Low Density Residential 50 303 656 1,009 Suburban Residential 150 250 100 500 Low Density Residential 448 2,686 4,028 1,790 8,952 Low Medium Residential 42 249 374 166 830 High Medium Residential 575 153 38 766 High Density Residential 769 205 51 1,025 Total Capacity within Annexa- tion Areas 1,834 3,493 5,054 2,802 13,182 Surplus/ (Deficit) from City Limits (76) 232 (15) (237) (97) Surplus/ (Deficit) after inclusion of annexation area 1,758 3,725 5,039 2,565 13,085

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Table 5.4.E – Zoning District Development Standards Mobilehome Park Land Use Activity Estate (E) Low (R-1) Medium (R-2) High (R-3) (M-P) Maximum Units Net/Acre 4du/ac 7du/ac 14du/ac 29du/ac 14du/ac Lot Area (square feet) 10,890 6,000 6,000 6,000 108,900 Lot Area per Dwelling Unit (square feet) 10,890 6,000 3,000 1,500 3,000 Lot Width (feet) 90 60 60 60 200 Front Setback, Main Structure (feet) 25 25 20 15 25 Front Setback, Street- Facing Garage (feet) 25 25 20 15 25 Rear Setback (feet) 5 5 5 5 5 Side Setback (each) 5 5 5 5 5 Side Setback (street side) 10 10 10 10 10 Structural Parcel Coverage (maximum) 50% 50% 60% 60% 65% Distance Between Main Structures (feet) 10 10 10 10 10 Distance Between Acces- sory Structures (feet) 10 10 10 10 10 Main Building/ Structure 35 feet or 35 feet or 35 feet or 3 45 feet or 4 Height (Maximum) 3 stories 3 stories stories stories 25 feet or 2 stories Maximum Accessory 35 feet or 35 feet or 35 feet or 3 45 feet or 4 Building/ Structure Height 3 stories 3 stories stories stories 25 feet or 2 stories

Table 5.4.F – Residential Off-Street Parking Standards Residential Type Off-Street Parking Standard Single family detached 2 spaces for each unit Mobile home parks 2 spaces for each unit Multifamily residential 2 spaces for each unit

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Table 5.4.G – Development Impact Fee Applicability for Residential Projects Storm Transpor- Dwelling Unit Park1 Public Sewer Water Drain tation New Unit O O X O O X Second Unit/Granny Flat O O X O O X Replacement Unit (no new connections) O O O O O O Addition to Existing Unit O O O O O O Remodel O O O O O O Connect Existing Unit to Water and O O X O O X Sewer Change Size of Existing Water Meter (Pay difference in cost of meters) Annex Existing Unit to City2 – – O – – O Move Unit into or Within City X X X X X X Notes: X Fee required. O No fee required. 1 Park Fees are only assessed on new lots in residential subdivisions per the Quimby Act Provisions. 2 Existing unit annexed into the City are assessed for only water and sewer impacts and meter fees if connections to the City services are made.

Table 5.4.H – Comparison of Planning Fees Fee Type Delano Wasco Shafter $1,678 + LAFCO fees of Annexation $2,000 $1,500 $825 General Plan Amend- $750 + $10/acre $500 $574 ment Conditional Use Permit $450 $400 $540 Zone Change $600 $500 $574 Specific Plan Cost + $500 $400 $520 + Actual Cost Variance $150 $275 $570 $500 up to 600 lots + Tentative Tract Map $1,500 + $15/lot $1,850 + $25/lot $4.00/additional lot $500 up to 600 lots + Tentative Parcel Map $1,500 + $15/lot $1,850 + $25/lot $4.00/additional lot Exemption - $30 Exemption $100 IS & Draft NegDec $350 NegDec $50 Environmental Fees EIR Cost + 15% for Ad- EIR $2,800 deposit + actual ministrative Overhead costs

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General Plan 5.0 Housing Program

Section 5.5 Tables Table 5.5.A B Quantified Objectives, 2000-2007 Program Very Low Low Moderate Above Moderate Total New Construction 161 119 140 280 700 Rehabilitation 22 10 – – 32 Conservation 22 10 – – 32 Source: Kern COG, May 2001

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General Plan 6.0 Environmental Management Program

6.0 Environmental Management Program

GOAL Managed production of resources (e.g., land in agricultural and oil pro- To identify limits on the natural resources duction); needed to support existing and future development within the City and its study area, and Outdoor recreation; ensure that these resources are managed and Public health and safety; and protected. Preservation of natural resources. 6.1 Introduction Objective The Environmental Management Program addresses the conservation, management, and Maintain and preserve a comprehensive open use of the natural resources and open space space system and its associated natural re- found in Shafter’s Planning Area. These resources by protecting agricultural and oil pro- sources include water, soils, minerals, biologi- duction lands where appropriate; providing cal habitats and wildlife, and scenic, cultural, parks for active and passive recreation; and by and energy resources. preserving natural, scenic, and other open space resources. As Shafter expands and its population grows along with its employment base, the need to Policies balance competing needs for environmental 1. Establish a comprehensive system of conservation and open space/agricultural land open space that is available to the public, preservation with a growing demand for water including facilities for organized recreation; and energy resources as well as land for active informal play; passive recreation; housing and employment for all economic and enjoyment of the natural environment. segments of the community will become more acute. 2. Protect the viability of lands for agricultural use through the policies set forth in Sec- Thus, this portion of the General Plan provides tion 2.4 of the General Plan Land Use a plan for managing the resources that are Program. used by urban development (e.g. water, min- 3. Maintain a permanent agricultural/open eral, and energy resources) and protecting space buffer around central Shafter, in- resources that may be adversely affected by cluding a broad buffer between central continued development (e.g., biological and Shafter and lands within the southeastern wildlife habitats, soils, and cultural, scenic, and portion of the Planning Area. air resources). The program set forth in the Environmental Management Program is de- 6.3 Water Resources signed to ensure that the management and use of resources does not affect the long-term A large groundwater basin covering over 1.5 viability of Shafter’s environment, minimizes million acres underlies most of the southern impacts on natural and open space resources, San Joaquin Valley, including the City of and promotes public awareness of environ- Shafter, and has been providing water for the mental issues facing the City. area since the early 1900s. This basin is re- plenished by the natural runoff from the Sierra 6.2 Open Space Nevada Mountains, as well as through seep- age from the many irrigation canals that import Open space is not “unused” or simply “unde- water into the area from other regions of the veloped” land, but fulfills critical functions State. Shafter’s drinking water is derived from within the community, including: the aquifers within the basin, and is pumped to

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General Plan 6.0 Environmental Management Program

the surface by a system of groundwater wells 4. Work with the North of the River Sanitation operated by the City. District to facilitate the use of reclaimed wastewater. Objective 5. As a part of the City’s environmental re- Provide adequate water supplies to meet pre- view process, evaluate potential water sent and future needs for domestic consump- consumption of proposed uses, identifying tion and emergencies, while obtaining maxi- uses that will consume large quantities of mum benefit from limited water resources. water, and apply appropriate mitigation measures to reduce water consumption. Policies 6. Cooperate with Kern County to ensure 1. Promote water conservation through ap- that all development projects within the plication of appropriate landscaping and Planning Area comply with discharge site planning techniques which may in- permit requirements established by the clude: Regional Water Quality Control Board. Use of drought-tolerant vegetation in 7. Secure supplemental water supplies as landscaping in new subdivisions and needed to avoid groundwater overdraft. commercial/industrial developments. 8. Protect existing water recharge facilities Use of reclaimed water for large-scale from incompatible land uses to ensure irrigation and for dust control during their continuing operation. grading where such water can be 9. Protect the existing groundwater basin by economically delivered; and promoting informational programs on ways Installation of computerized irrigation to reduce water usage in homes and busi- controllers and drip irrigation systems. nesses. 2. To ensure that land use changes will not 10. Protect surface waters from the potentially adversely affect the Groundwater basin, adverse impacts associated with urban applicants for General Plan and zoning runoff. ordinance amendments shall provide a 11. Promote the multiple use of surface water factual statement of the following: resources, such as combining water re- Current water demand: The amount charge capacity in flood control basins, of water necessary to support devel- recreational areas, and waterfowl habitat opment under existing general plan areas. and zoning designations. Proposed water demand: The amount 6.4 Biological Habitats and Wildlife of water necessary to support devel- Resources opment under the proposed General The Shafter Planning area has been devel- Plan and zoning designations. oped with agricultural, urban, and petroleum Potential conservation: The amount production uses. Native vegetation that is pre- of water that can be conserved by ap- sent within the area consists of widely scat- plication of water conservation tech- tered remnants of grassland and saltbush niques in the proposed project. scrub. Habitat for “Species of Special Con- cern” may remain in the Rio Bravo Oil Field Water from new sources: the amount outside the high-intensity production area. The of water necessary that can be spe- canals that cross the Planning Area have little cifically committed to this project. or no marsh or riparian cover. Agricultural 3. Require new development to be equipped ponds that exist within the Planning Areas are with water conservation devices, including primarily kept clear of vegetation and do not dual water systems where reclaimed have significant habitat value for breeding or wastewater can be economically provided. foraging wildlife.

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General Plan 6.0 Environmental Management Program

The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hy- Inform the public about existing and pugea), San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis), potential future protection and preser- badger (Taxidea taxus), and spadefoot toad vation programs; (Scaphiopus hammondii) are known to persist Foster community attitudes and be- within agricultural areas in the southern San haviors that protect local plants and Joaquin Valley. There are no natural corridors wildlife; and that wildlife can use to move freely through the Shafter Planning Area, although, common and Encourage community involvement in sensitive wildlife is known to utilize and move protection programs. through agricultural lands and cross highways. 6.5 Mineral Resources Sensitive upland wildlife species of the San Joaquin Valley are known to persist in the The principal mineral resources within the saltbush scrub and grassland areas in the oil Planning Area are oil and natural gas. The fields, since these parcels are usually rela- southern portion of Kern County is a major oil- tively undisturbed, although typically grazed, producing region, with oil fields extending into compared to the surrounding agricultural ar- the southern portion of Shafter’s Planning eas. Area.

Objective Objective Protection of remaining important biological Provide for the proper management of mineral resources within the General Plan study area. resources within the General Plan study area.

Policies Policies 1. Ensure that development proposals, in- 1. Protect areas with significant mineral re- cluding City-sponsored projects, are ana- sources from incompatible uses. lyzed for short- and long-term impacts to 2. Ensure that the development of mineral biological resources. extraction operations minimizes the im- 2. Direct development projects away from pacts that the extraction operation will lands with sensitive biological resources to have on existing and future adjacent land the extent feasible. Where alternative sites uses. are infeasible, unavailable, or otherwise 3. Protect the environment in and around undesirable, require the implementation of mineral processing operations, including: appropriate mitigation measures. Minimizing the visual impacts of the 3. Whenever a biological resources survey is processing operation; undertaken to determine the presence or absence of a threatened or endangered Avoiding, whenever possible, the species, or of a species of special concern large-scale displacement of earth; identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Protecting the watershed from runoff; Service or the California Department of and Fish and Game, require the survey to follow established protocols for the species Minimizing biological resource im- in question prior to any final determination pacts. that the species is absent from the site. 4. The locations of all oil or gas wells on pro- 4. Encourage educational programs to in- posed development sites shall be identi- crease public awareness of the impor- fied in development plans. Project spon- tance of biological resources through pro- sors of development containing existing or grams that: former oil or gas wells shall submit documentation demonstrating that all aban- Promote awareness of local biological doned wells have been properly aban- resources; doned pursuant to the requirements of the

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General Plan 6.0 Environmental Management Program

California Department of Conservation Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources. Santa Fe Foreman’s Home. This structure, constructed in 1889 by the Santa Fe Railroad 6.6 Cultural Resources to house railroad foremen, was the first home built in Shafter. It is located at the corner of The Shafter Planning Area has been cultivated Central Avenue and Santa Fe Way. since the late 1800s. Along with mining activities and urban development, these activities The Shafter Historical Society has been re- have disturbed much of the surface of the land sponsible for preserving the Green Hotel and in the Planning Area. There may remain, how- the Shafter Depot. ever, subsurface archaeological sites that are undisturbed. There are several remaining his- Paleontological resources are recognized as torical structures and/or sites in the Shafter nonrenewable resources significant to our cul- area, including the following. ture, and are afforded protection by Federal, State and local environmental guidelines. The Shafter Cotton Research Station. The 120- Planning Area has received sediments from acre center was established in 1922. The cot- the Coast Ranges to the west, the Sierra Ne- ton variety developed at the station resulted in vada Mountains to the east, and to a lesser the widespread cultivation of premium cottons degree from activity on the San Andreas Fault in the San Joaquin Valley for a worldwide system. These sediments contain different market. The Station is listed in the National species of fossils, reflecting the different peri- Register of Historic Places and is a California ods of deposition. The vertebrate fossils found Point of Historical Interest. in these formations are significant as defined under State and Federal citations. They are Shafter/Minter Field Airport. This air facility also important because they help provide was built and maintained to train military pilots dates concerning rates and frequency of fault during World War II. It was originally regis- activity, and the timing and rates of rise on tered by the State as an historical site for the such major mountain ranges as the Sierra Ne- role it played in the War. An air museum has vada. been established to preserve artifacts from World War II. Objective

Site of the Flight of the Gossamer Condor. Preserve archaeological, paleontological, and A plaque at Shafter Airport commemorates the historic resources within the Shafter Planning occasion of the world’s first man-powered Area for the benefit and education of future flight to complete the “Kremer Circuit,” a fig- residents. ure-eight around two pylons one-half mile apart. Policies 1. Require new developments to analyze, Shafter Depot. This structure, located at the and therefore avoid or mitigate impacts to corner of State Route 43 and Lerdo Highway, archaeological, paleontological, and his- was erected in 1917, and has been restored to toric resources in accordance with appli- its original state. Many pieces of Shafter’s his- cable CEQA guidelines and provisions of tory, including a railroad office complete with the California Public Resources Code. furniture and equipment and pre-World War II farm machinery, are on display. 2. Require that areas found to contain significant artifacts or fossils be examined by The Green Hotel. This structure was built in a qualified consulting archaeologist or pa- 1913 by the Kern County Land Company to leontologist for recommendations concern- accommodate prospective buyers. It is the ing protection and preservation, imple- oldest commercial building in Shafter, and has menting those recommendations as part been restored. The Hotel is listed in the Na- of the mitigation measures required for the tional Register of Historic Places and is a Cali- project. fornia Point of Historical Interest.

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General Plan 6.0 Environmental Management Program

3. As a standard condition of approval for District and the California Air Resources new development projects, require that if Board. cultural or paleontological resources are encountered during grading, alteration of The Shafter-Walker Street air monitoring sta- earth materials in the vicinity of the find be tion monitors ozone and nitrogen dioxide lev- halted until a qualified expert has evalu- els. The next closest monitoring station, the ated the find and recorded identified cul- Oildale-Manor Street station, monitors PM10, tural resources. nitrogen dioxide, and ozone levels. The Ba- kersfield-Golden State Highway station moni- 4. Preserve historic structures and ensure tors carbon monoxide, as well as ozone, nitro- that alterations to historic buildings and gen dioxide, and particulate matter levels. their immediate settings are compatible

with the character of the surrounding The entire Air Basin, including Kern County, is neighborhood. Ensure that specific reha- designated as a severe non-attainment area bilitation projects follow the Secretary of for ozone. Carbon monoxide (Bakersfield- the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Golden State Highway station) and nitrogen 5. Preserve significant historic structures. dioxide (Shafter-Walker Street station) do not Consider various alternatives to demolition equal or exceed relevant State and Federal of these structures, including adaptive re- standards. Particulate matter finer than ten use of historic buildings for contemporary microns, “PM10,” (Oildale-Manor Street station) uses. also exceeds the State and Federal standards.

6. Preserve sites that are eligible for the Na- Objective tional Register of Historic Places, and pursue listing eligible sites in the register. Minimize air pollutant emissions so as to assist in achieving State and Federal air 7. Through the development review process, quality standards. ensure that projects with street frontage adjacent to the Green Hotel, Shafter De- Policies pot, or Santa Fe Foreman’s Home be designed to be sensitive to the character of 1. Require development projects to minimize historic buildings. The project review may the generation of particulate emissions consider: during construction by implementing appropriate dust abatement actions. Scale, height, and massing; 2. Promote land use patterns that provide Fenestration; close proximity between residential Architectural details; neighborhoods and employment/shopping areas to reduce vehicular trip lengths and Building materials; and facilitate walking and the use of bicycles. Site Planning. 3. Encourage developers of large residential and non-residential projects to participate 6.7 Air Quality in programs and to take measures to Shafter is located within the San Joaquin Val- improve traffic flow and/or reduce vehicle ley Air Basin, which is the second largest air trips resulting in decreased vehicular basin in California, stretching 250 miles north emissions. Examples of such efforts may from the Tehachapi Mountains to the San include, but are not limited to the following. Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the north. The - Development of mixed-use projects basin averages 35 miles in width between the that provide housing and employment Coast Ranges to the west and the Sierra Ne- in close proximity and that facilitate vada Mountains to the east. pedestrian and bicycle transportation to work and permit consolidation of Air quality within the air basin is monitored by vehicular trips. the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control

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General Plan 6.0 Environmental Management Program

- Installation of transit improvements and amenities where transit service Objective can be made available, including Reduce reliance on nonrenewable energy dedicated bus turnouts and sufficient sources in existing and new commercial, in- rights-of-way for transit movement, dustrial, and public structures1. bus shelters, and pedestrian easy ac-

cess to transit. Policies - Provision of bicycle and pedestrian fa- 1. Continue to implement Title 24 of the cilities, including bicycle lanes and State Building Code, and provide incen- pedestrian walkways connecting resi- tives to new development to exceed its dential areas with neighborhood energy efficiency standards through in- commercial centers, recreational facili- creased use of passive solar design and ties, schools, and other public areas. day-lighting. 4. Support and facilitate employer-based trip- 2. Promote the use of site design, landscap- reduction programs by recognizing such ing, and solar orientation to decrease the programs as mitigation for traffic and air need for summer cooling and winter heat- quality impacts where their ongoing im- ing. plementation can be ensured. 3. Encourage the installation of energy- 5. Facilitate development of an inter-modal efficient lighting, reduced thermostat set- rail yard serving both the BNSF and UP tings, and elimination of unnecessary light- rail lines as a means of reducing diesel ing in public facilities. emission from long-haul trucks. 4. Encourage the incorporation of recycled 6. As part of the development review process materials in new construction, where fea- for manufacturing facilities, require the in- sible. corporation of best available technologies to mitigate air quality impacts. 5. Facilitate the installation of environmen- tally acceptable forms of small-scale elec- 7. Provide physical separations between (1) trical generation (e.g., micro-turbines, fuel proposed new industries having the poten- cells, photovoltaics, and co-generation re- tial for emitting toxic air contaminants and use of waste heat) where they can be (2) existing and proposed sensitive recep- economically and effectively located within tors (e.g., residential areas, schools, and office parks, industrial facilities, and other hospitals). large buildings.

6.8 Energy Resources 6. Promote coordination of new public facilities with transit services and non- Maintenance of a high quality of life and an motorized transportation facilities, includ- active local economy requires the ready avail- ing bicycles, and design structures to en- ability of affordable energy resources for light- hance transit, bicycle, and pedestrian use. ing, heating, and cooling of structures; power- ing home appliances, office equipment, and industrial machinery; and providing fuel for the movement of people and goods. Electricity and natural gas are the primary sources of household, commercial, and industrial energy, while fossil fuels are the primary source of energy for most modes of transportation. Energy conservation—reducing per capita consumption of nonrenewable energy resources— reduces costs, ensures ongoing availability of 1 supplies, and is also important component of See also policies aimed at reducing the use of non- regional air quality management planning. renewable energy resources by encouraging non- motorized transportation.

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

GOAL Objective Minimize the potential for loss of life, injury, Minimize the potential for loss of life, physical property damage, and economic disruption injury, property damage, and economic disrup- resulting from natural and man-made hazards, tion resulting from an earthquake and other and ensure the ability of emergency services geologic events. to respond rapidly and effectively following a disaster. Policies 1. Require that all new developments comply 7.1 Introduction with the most recent Uniform Building The Environmental Hazards Program contains Code’s seismic design standards. an evaluation of natural and man-made condi- 2. Promote earthquake survival and ability to tions that may pose health and safety hazards function after a major earthquake as the to life and property in Shafter, along with a primary objective in the siting, design, and comprehensive program to mitigate those construction of emergency services facili- hazards. Inherent in this Program is a deter- ties (e.g., fire stations, police stations, and mination of “acceptable risk,” which involves medical facilities). balancing the severity of potential hazards and resulting risks to property and pubic health 3. Encourage the retrofitting of emergency against the feasibility and cost of hazard miti- services and high occupancy structures gation. In many cases, the level of acceptable which could be vulnerable to seismic activ- risk is widely shared throughout the State and ity to meet existing code requirements. nation. For example, the standard for protec- 4. Require geologic and soils reports to be tion from flooding is a nationally accepted prepared for proposed development sites standard, while standards for protection from (including specialized soils reports in ar- earthquake damage are based on the Uniform eas suspected of having problems with Building Code. potential bearing strength, expansion, set- tlement, or subsidence), and incorporate 7.2 Geology and Seismicity the findings and recommendations of The Shafter Planning Area is surrounded on these studies into project development three sides by active fault systems, several of standards. which are less than 10 miles from the Planning The objective of these studies is to Area. In addition, there are faults outside the ensure that the standards of the Uni- San Joaquin Valley, but close enough that a form Building code are met, and that major earthquake could affect Shafter. structures designed for human occupancy are not in danger of collapse or The Shafter Planning Area is subject to mod- significant structural damage with cor- erate to severe ground shaking as a result of responding hazards to human occu- the alluvial soils that underlie the area and its pants. proximity to active faults. Additionally, the thick sedimentary deposits in the Planning Area Where structural damage can be miti- create the likelihood that a strong earthquake gated through structural design, en- or other disturbance in the area could cause sure that potential soils hazards do ground subsidence (typically a gradual settling not pose risks of human injury or loss or sinking of the ground surface with little or no of life in outdoor areas of a develop- horizontal movement). ment site 5. Provide information and establish incentives for property owners to rehabilitate existing buildings using updated construction

April 4, 2005 7-1

General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

techniques to protect against seismic haz- 2. Through the development review process, ards. require construction and dedication of needed drainage and flood control facili- 6. Encourage the purchase of earthquake ties. insurance by residents and businesses. 3. On a regular basis, review and update the 7. Work with PG&E, pipeline companies, and City’s Storm Drain Master Plan to ensure industrial uses to implement measures to that street and storm drain flood control safeguard the public from seismic hazards systems are designed to accommodate associated with high voltage transmission identified storm flows. lines, caustic and toxic gas and fuel lines, and flammable storage facilities 4. Where construction of a retention or detention basin is needed to support new 8. Encourage continued investigation by development, require the development to State agencies of geologic conditions provide for its construction and mainte- within the area to promote public aware- nance. ness of potential geologic and seismic

hazards. 7.4 Airport Installation Land Use 7.3 Flooding and Drainage Compatibility The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 Shafter Airport/Minter Field, providing general calls for identification and mapping of areas aviation facilities and services, is located ap- prone to flooding in major storms. These flood proximately 5 miles east of downtown Shafter, hazard maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate just west of State Route 99. The airport is an Maps (FIRMS), are used by the Federal important asset for the City, providing services Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to such as flight training; supporting area agricul- determine eligibility areas for inclusion in the tural and business operations; and aircraft fu- federal flood insurance program. Except for eling, storage, and maintenance. Based on small areas located within the 100-year flood demand, aircraft hangars are constructed at hazard zones, the majority of Shafter is de- the Shafter Airport/Minter Field for on-site air- fined by FEMA as being subject to minimal or craft storage and maintenance purposes. no flooding. Areas subject to flooding are mainly found on the northeast side of State As is typical of most general aviation airports, Route 43 between Tulare Avenue and Los the dominant type of aircraft based at Shafter Angeles Street and between Burbank Street Airport/Minter Field is the single-engine, pro- and 7th Standard Road. There are some small peller-driven, airplane, comprising 87 percent areas in the southern, developed areas of the of the total. Although the number of helicop- City that are also subject to flooding. ters and twin-engine airplanes has grown, they account for only 3 percent of the total. Addi- Objective tionally, ultralights are based at the airport, but are not counted as aircraft. Currently, there Minimize the potential for loss of life, physical are no business jets based at Shafter Air- injury, property damage, and social disruption port/Minter Field. The Shafter Airport/Minter resulting from a 100-year flood. Field Master Plan projects that aircraft based at the field will increase by approximately 60 Policies percent between 2000 and 2020.

1. Ensure that structures designed for human Meadows Field/Kern County Airport is located occupancy are constructed outside of the east of State Route 99, south of 7th Standard 100-year floodplain as specified by FEMA, Road. The airfield comprises 1,400 acres and unless a special study has been con- serves both commuter airlines and general ducted to ensure that the base floor eleva- aviation. Expansion plans for the airfield in- tion of the structure is located above the clude runway expansion and improvements, 100-year floodplain, and that the structure as well as construction of a new passenger is flood-proofed below that level. terminal northwest of the existing terminal.

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

7.5 Hazardous Materials Compatibility between an airport and the land Tens of thousands of different chemical com- uses located in the surrounding area can be pounds are currently in use in California, with defined in terms of two considerations: haz- annual introduction of many new and/or modi- ards to flight and safety on the ground. The fied chemical substances. Many of these concern with respect to flight hazards is to compounds are potential contaminates which, avoid land uses that would contribute to avia- if improperly handled, transported, stored, util- tion accidents. There are two potential flight ized or disposed of, can exert harmful effects hazards: physical obstructions to the naviga- to humans and the environment. Potential ble airspace and other land use considerations contaminants can enter the environment that can affect flight safety. The objective in through a variety of pathways such as im- providing safety on the ground is to reduce the proper use or application, improper storage or risk to the occupants of aircraft, as well as to disposal, and accidental discharge. Hazardous people on the ground in the event that an ac- materials are commonly used by all segments cident occurs. Standards for the maximum of society including manufacturing and service allowable height of structures and other ob- industries, commercial enterprises, agriculture, jects around airports are set forth in Part 77 of petroleum extraction, hospitals, schools, and the Federal Aviation Regulations, “Objects households. Affecting Navigable Airspace.” Regulations required by the FAA safeguard the airport’s One method by which local jurisdictions may long-term usability, preventing encroachment regulate the transport of hazardous materials of objects into the surrounding airspace as is the designation of trucking routes through well as protecting lives from the possibility of areas within their control and the implementa- aircraft accidents. Compatibility issues and tion of land use patterns that discourage in- future airport objectives for Shafter Air- dustrial access through or adjacent to residen- port/Minter Field are provided in the August tial areas. Designated truck routes in the 2001 Shafter Airport/Minter Field Master Plan Planning Area include State Routes 99 and Update 43. Because of the location of Shafter’s major

industrial areas, Lerdo Highway and 7th Stan- Objective dard Road also carry large numbers of trucks. Ensure that the land uses surrounding Shafter Two major rail corridors pass through the Airport/Minter Field are compatible with airport Planning Area. The Burlington Northern-Santa operations, and do not pose a safety hazard. Fe (BNSF) Railroad parallels State Route 43 through downtown Shafter. On the eastern Policies edge of the Planning Area, Union Pacific (UP) Railroad parallels State Route 99. Hazardous 1. Manage the uses surrounding airport fa- material transport on railroads, because of the cilities at Shafter Airport/Minter Field and substantial volumes involved, poses a signifi- Meadows Field/Kern County Airport to en- cant hazard should an accident occur. sure their continued safe operation consis-

tent with the provisions of Tables 7.A and The Kern County Fire Department’s Hazard- 7.B (see also Figure 7-1 for airport land ous Materials Team (located at Station 67 in use compatibility zones surrounding Rosedale) would respond to any hazardous Shafter Airport/Minter Field). materials incident within the Planning Area. 2. Facilitate adequate notification regarding Additional fire department units would respond aircraft and airport activities to new busi- as necessary. nesses and residents in areas subject to aircraft overflights. 3. Implement provisions of State regulations addressing airport land uses.

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

Table 7.A – Airport Land Use Compatibility

Zones Prohibited Uses Other Development Normally Accepted Uses Not Normally Conditions Uses1 Acceptable2 A All structures except ones Dedication of avigation Aircraft tie-down apron Heavy poles, large with location set by aero- easement Pastures, field crops, trees, etc. nautical function vineyards Assemblages of people Automobile parking Objects exceeding FAR Part 77 height limits Hazards to flight3 B1 and Schools, day care centers, Large structures along Uses in Zone A Residential subdivi- B2 libraries the extended runway Any agricultural use, sions Hospitals, nursing homes centerline except ones attracting Intensive retail uses 4 Highly noise-sensitive Minimum NLR of 25 bird flocks Intensive manufac- uses dBA in residential and Warehousing, truck turing or food proc- office buildings Storage of highly flamma- terminals essing uses ble materials Dedication of avigation Single story offices Multistory offices easement Hazards to flight3 Hotels and motels C Schools Dedication of overflight Uses in Zone B Large shopping Hospitals, nursing homes easement for residential Parks, playgrounds centers uses Hazards to flight3 Low-intensity retail, Theaters, auditori- offices, etc. ums Low-intensity manufac- Large sports stadi- turing, food processing ums Two-story motels High-rise office buildings D Hazards to flight3 Dedication of overflight All except uses haz- easement for residential ardous to flight uses

Notes: 1. These uses can typically be designed to meet the density requirements and other identified development conditions. 2. These uses typically doe not meet the density and other identified development conditions. 3. See Policy ___. 4. NLR = Noise Level Reduction, which represents the attenuation of sound levels from outside to inside that is provided by the structure. Thus, NLR 25 means that the structure will provide a 25 dBA reduction in interior noise levels from exterior noise sources.

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

Table 7.B – Description of Compatibility Zones

The following general guidelines are used in establishing the compatibility zone boundaries for a civilian airport. Modifications to the boundaries may be made to reflect specific local conditions, such as existing roadways, property lines, and land uses.

A. The boundaries of this Zone are defined by runway protection zones and the airfield’s building restriction lines. Runway protection zone dimensions and locations are set in accordance with FAA standards for proposed future runway location, length, width, and approach type as indicated on an approved Airport Layout Plan. If no plan is approved, the existing runway configuration is used. The building restriction line indicated on an approved Airport Layout Plan is used where such a plan exists. Where no Airport Layout Plan exists, the zone boundary is set at the following distances measured laterally from the runway centerline. Visual runway for small airplanes: 370 feet Visual runway for large airplanes: 500 feet Non-precision instrument runway for large airplanes: 500 feet Precision instrument runway: 750 feet These distances allow structures up to approximately 35 feet in height to remain below the airspace sur- faces defined by FAR Part 77. B1. The outer boundary of the Approach/Departure Zone is defined as the area where aircraft are commonly below 400 feet above ground level (AGL). For visual runways, this location encompasses the base leg of the traffic pattern as commonly flown. On instrument runways, the altitudes established by approach procedures are used. Zone B1 also includes areas within 1,000 feet laterally from the runway centerline. B2. The Extended Approach/Departure Zone includes areas where aircraft are commonly below 800 feet AGL on straight-in approach or straight-out departure. It applies to runways with more than 500 operations per year by large aircraft (over 12,500 pounds maximum gross takeoff weight) and/or runway ends with more than 10,000 total annual takeoffs. C. The outer boundary of the Common Traffic Pattern Zone is defined as the area where aircraft are commonly below 1,000 feet AGL (i.e., the traffic pattern and pattern entry points). This area is considered to extend 5,000 to 10,000 feet longitudinally from the end of the runway primary surface. The length depends upon the runway classification (visual versus instrument) and the type and volume of aircraft accommodated. For runways having an established traffic solely on one side, the shape of the zone is modified accordingly. D The outer boundary of the Other Airport Environs Zone conforms to the adopted Planning Area for each airport.

April 4, 2005 7-5 AIRPORT PROPERTY LINE

CONSERVATION EASEMENT: FIELD CROPS, NO STRUCTURES

ELEMENT 1 CONSERVATION EASEMENT: AGRICULTURAL USES ONLY

AVIGATION EASEMENTS C COMPATIBILITY ZONES C D E RUNWAY B ZONE CLASSIFICATION

C RUNWAY PROTECTION ZONE OR WITHIN A BUILDING RESTRICTION LINE C APPROACH/DEPARTURE ZONE AND B B1 ADJACENT TO RUNWAY A B2 EXTENDED APPROACH/DEPARTURE ZONE C COMMON TRAFFIC PATTERN B D OTHER AIRPORT ENVIRONS D E AIRPORT COMPATIBILITY ZONE D

C E B C

C N 0 1500 3000

FEET

SOURCE: USGS 7.5' QUAD - ROSEDALE AND FAMOSO, REV. 1968 AND SHUTT MOEN ASSOCIATES, 10/24/01 FIGURE 7-1

City of Shafter General Plan

R:\CSH130\Graphics\General Plan\compatibility.cdr (4/06/05) Airport Land Use Compatibility

General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

Objective procedures). These services will primarily be provided by the County. Minimize the negative impacts associated with the storage, use, generation, transport, and Provide public recognition to hazard- disposal of hazardous materials. ous materials users and waste generators who meet or exceed source Policies reduction goals. 1. Implement the provisions of the Kern Provide penalties for facilities failing to County Integrated Waste Management meet minimization objectives, and Plan and the Household Hazardous place funds from these penalties in a Waste component of the City’s Source revolving account for use in educa- Reduction and Recycling Element, tional and emergency services efforts. including, but not limited to, provisions for Require hazardous waste generators pretreatment and disposal, storage, to recycle wastes to the maximum ex- handling, and emergency response. tent feasible. 2. Promote the reduction, recycling, and safe 5. Locate large hazardous waste users and disposal of household hazardous wastes processors only in areas designated for through public education and awareness. “industrial” use. Smaller generators (e.g., 3. Require large hazardous materials users service stations) and medical facilities may to reduce the amount of hazardous waste be sited in other industrial and commercial generated through: areas, consistent with applicable General Plan policies and zoning regulations. The Submittal of a waste minimization plan compatibility of small facilities will be de- for a new large facility or expansion of termined by the types and amounts of an existing large facility creating addi- hazardous materials involved and the na- 1 tional hazardous wastes. ture of the surrounding area. Encouraging existing large facilities to 6. Locate hazardous materials facilities at a prepare waste minimization plans. sufficient distance from populated areas to Requiring new large hazardous waste- reduce potential health and safety im- producing facilities to provide on-site pacts. treatment of recycling of wastes gen- Require risk assessment studies to erated to the maximum extent feasi- determine potential health impacts for ble, and thereby minimize the amount all proposed hazardous waste proces- of hazardous waste being transferred sors and large generators as part of off-site for treatment or disposal. permit application submittals. 4. Encourage reductions in the amount of Maintain a 2,000-foot buffer zone hazardous waste being generated within around all new hazardous waste Shafter through incentives and other processors within which no resi- methods. dences, schools, hospitals, or other Provide educational and technical as- immobile populations, existing, pro- sistance to all hazardous materials posed, or otherwise, would be located, users and waste generators to aid in unless evidence is presented in the their source reduction efforts (e.g., risk assessment study that a larger substitution of less hazardous prod- buffer is needed. ucts and modifications to operating 7. Permit hazardous waste processors based on their relative need in conjunction with the “fair share” approach to facilities siting

contained in the Kern County Hazardous 1 Large facilities are those routinely generating more than 1,000 kilograms of solid hazardous per Waste Management Plan. waste month or 275 gallons of liquid hazardous waste per month.

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

Require a needs assessment as part Prohibit the parking of vehicles trans- of use permit applications for a waste porting hazardous materials on City processor, demonstrating the pro- streets. posed facility will serve a need that 11. Require that hazardous materials facilities cannot be better met in any other within Shafter operate in a safe manner. manner (e.g., source reduction) or at any other location. As a condition of approval for new hazardous materials facilities, require Discourage proposed hazardous access for vehicles carrying hazard- waste facilities processing materials ous materials to be restricted to haz- similar to those treated or stored at ardous materials carrier routes. existing facilities within the County, unless the need for the new facility Undertake inspections of hazardous can be adequately demonstrated. materials facilities as needed (e.g., when an unauthorized discharge into 8. Carefully review and require appropriate City sewers is made), and assist Kern mitigation for pipelines and other channels County in their inspections as re- for hazardous materials. quested. 9. Ensure adequate provision is made for Work with LAFCO to require that sites emergency response to all crises involving for proposed hazardous materials fa- hazardous materials. cilities annex into the City before nec- Require emergency response plans essary municipal services are pro- for all hazardous waste processors vided. and large generators to be submitted 12. Require appropriate design features be as part of use permit applications. incorporated into each facility’s layout to Require training of employees of all increase safety and minimize potential ad- facilities in emergency procedures, verse effects on public health. and that they be acquainted with the Require the provision of spill contain- properties and health effects of the ment facilities and monitoring devices hazardous materials involved in the in all facilities. facilities’ operations. Ensure that pipelines and other haz- 10. Promote the safest possible transport of ardous waste channels are properly hazardous materials through Shafter. designed to minimize leakage and re- Maintain formally designated hazard- quire above ground pipelines to be ous material carrier routes to direct surrounded by spill containment ba- hazardous materials away from popu- sins. lated and other sensitive areas. Give priority to underground storage Locate hazardous waste processors of hazardous materials, unless this as near to waste generators as possi- method is shown to be infeasible. ble, in order to minimize the need for Require hazardous materials storage transport. areas to be located as far from exist- Require transportation analyses for all ing pipelines and electrical transmis- new large generators and processors sion lines as possible. to determine the effect of each facility 13. Facilitate public awareness of hazardous on Shafter’s transportation system, materials by preparing and distributing in and assess and provide mitigation for conjunction with Kern County public infor- potential safety impacts associated mation regarding uniform symbols used to with hazardous materials transported identify hazardous wastes, Shafter’s to and from the site. household hazardous waste collection

April 4, 2005 7-8

General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

programs, and hazardous waste source do to prepare for emergency situations. reduction programs. Provide information to the public about:

Existing environmental hazards in the 7.6 Emergency Services area; Shafter maintains an emergency plan for re- The costs of doing nothing to mitigate sponse to disasters, including but not limited hazards and why all hazards cannot to earthquakes, floods, fires, hazardous spills be eliminated; or leaks, major industrial accidents, major transportation accidents, major storms, air- What the public can and cannot do to plane crashes, civil unrest, and national secu- assist; and rity emergencies. In a disaster, Shafter could experience significant casualties, property What the public can do to protect it- damage, and utility service interruptions, po- self. tentially exceeding the response capabilities of 3. Maintain ongoing emergency response both the City and the County. coordination with surrounding jurisdictions.

The plan outlines the general authority, or- 4. Encourage private businesses and indus- ganization, and response actions for City staff trial uses to be self-sufficient in an emer- to undertake, in compliance with existing law, gency by: when disasters happen. The objectives of the Maintaining a fire control plan, includ- plan are to reduce loss of life, injury, and ing on-site firefighting capability and property losses through effective management volunteer response teams to respond of emergency forces, and: to and extinguish small fires; and

Identifying who is in charge during disaster Identifying personnel who are capable response. of and certified in first aid and CPR. Defining the necessary jobs for disaster 5. Regularly review and clarify emergency response and who is responsible. evacuation plans for dam failure, fire, and hazardous materials releases Ensuring the availability of public services and the continuity of government. 7.7 Noise Providing guidance for disaster education Introduction to “Noise.” Noise is usually de- and training. fined as “unwanted sound,” and is measured in decibels (dB), typically through an “A- Objective weighted” scale, which emulates human hear- 1 Maintain a level of preparedness to respond ing. A-weighted decibels (dBA) are measured adequately to emergency situations to save on a logarithmic scale, representing points on lives, protect property, and facilitate recovery a sharply rising curve. An increase of 10 dBA with minimal disruption. represents a ten times increase in sound energy, and is perceived by the human ear as a Policies doubling of loudness. Thus, a 70 dBA noise level has 10 times the sound energy as a 60 1. Maintain and update, as appropriate, the dBA noise, and will be perceived as being City’s emergency preparedness programs, twice as loud. plans, and procedures to ensure the health and safety of the community in the Except under special conditions, changes in event of an earthquake or other disaster. sound levels of less than 1.0 dBA cannot be 2. Disseminate disaster information to local perceived by the human ear. “Audible in- residents and businesses, describing how creases” in noise levels generally refer to a emergency response will be coordinated,

how evacuation, if needed, will proceed, 1 All sound levels in the General Plan are A- and what residents and businesses can weighted, unless specified otherwise.

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

change of 3.0 dBA or more, since this level than 85 dBA. Exposure to high noise levels has been found to be barely perceptible in affects the entire human body, with prolonged typical exterior environments. A 5.0 dBA noise exposure in excess of 75 dBA increas- change in noise levels is generally the thresh- ing tension, and thereby affecting blood pres- old at which a noticeable change in community sure, functions of the heart, and the nervous response occurs. system. In comparison, extended periods of noise exposure above 90 dBA result in per- For environmental and land use planning pur- manent cell damage. When the noise level poses, several methods of expressing the av- reaches 120 dBA, a tickling sensation occurs erage noise level over a given period of time in the human ear even with short-term expo- have been developed. The predominant aver- sure. This level of noise is called the threshold age noise measurement scales in California of feeling. As the sound reaches 130 dBA, the are the “Equivalent-Continuous Sound Level” tickling sensation is replaced by the feeling of (Leq) and the “Community Noise Equivalent pain in the ear. This is called the threshold of Level” (CNEL), both of which are based on A- pain. A sound level of 140 dBA will rupture the weighted decibels. Leq is the total sound en- eardrum and permanently damage the inner ergy of time-varying noise over a given sample ear. Figure 7-2 identifies common sound lev- period. CNEL is the average sound level oc- els and their sources along with information on curring over a 24-hour period, with a weighting the measurement of noise. factor of 5.0 dBA applied to the hourly Leq for noise occurring from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Noise in Shafter. Major noise sources within (“relaxation hours”), and a 10 dBA adjustment Shafter include “mobile sources” such as for noise occurring between 10:00 p.m. and traffic along State Route 99, 7th Standard 7:00 a.m. (“sleeping hours”). The noise ad- Road, Central Valley Highway, Lerdo justments are added to the noise events oc- Highway, and other major roadways; rail lines; curring during the more quiet evening and and Shafter Airport/Minter Field. Traffic noise nighttime hours to compensate for the added depends primarily on the speed of traffic and intrusiveness that noise has during these percentage of trucks along the route. The hours. amount of traffic along a roadway has a lesser influence on noise levels. Significant Other noise rating scales that are commonly “stationary” sources of noise within Shafter used include the maximum noise level (Lmax), include industrial and commercial which is the highest time-averaged sound development, as well as construction level that occurs during a stated time period, activities. and noise standard in terms of percentile exceedance noise levels (Ln). Lmax reflects peak Objective noise operating conditions, and addresses the Achieve and maintain exterior noise levels annoying aspects of intermittent noise. The appropriate to planned land uses throughout percentile exceedance noise levels are the Shafter, as described below. levels exceeded during a stated period of time.

For example, an L noise level represents the 10 • Residential noise level exceeded 10 percent of the time during a stated period. The L50 noise level Single-Family: 60-65 dBA CNEL within represents the median noise level (exceeded rear yards 50 percent of the time). The L90 noise level represents the noise level exceeded Multifamily: 60-65 dBA CNEL within inte- 90 percent of the time, and is considered the rior open space areas lowest noise level experienced during a moni- • Schools toring period. It is normally referred to as the background or ambient noise level. Classrooms: 60 dBA CNEL Play and sports areas: 70 dBA CNEL Physical damage to human hearing occurs with prolonged exposure to noise levels higher • Hospitals, Libraries: 60 dBA CNEL

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

Figure 7-2 – Noise Levels

• Commercial/Industrial: 65-70 dBA CNEL 3. Minimize motor vehicle noise in residential at the front setback. areas through proper route location and sensitive roadway design. Policies 4. Provide planned industrial areas with truck 1. Implementation of the General Plan noise access routes that are separated from objective policies shall be based on noise residential areas to the maximum feasible data contained in the General Plan EIR, extent. unless a noise analysis conducted pursu- 5. Where new development (including con- ant to the City’s development and envi- struction and improvement of roadways) is ronmental review process provides more proposed in areas exceeding the General up-to-date and accurate noise projections, Plan Noise Objective, or where the devel- as determined by the City. opment of proposed uses could result in 2. Maintain a pattern of land uses that sepa- an increase in noise, require a detailed rates noise-sensitive land uses from major noise attenuation study to be prepared to noise sources to the extent possible, guid- determine appropriate mitigation needed ing noise-tolerant land uses into the nois- to meet the City’s noise objectives, and in- ier portions of the Planning Area so as to corporate such mitigation into project de- achieve the City’s noise objectives. sign and implementation.

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General Plan 7.0 Environmental Hazards Program

6. When new development proposes a po- pacts on adjacent noise-sensitive land tentially significant noise source, require a uses. noise analysis to be prepared. Require appropriate noise mitigation when the proposed project will exceed General Plan noise objectives, or cause an audible (3.0 dBA) increase in noise in areas where General Plan noise objectives are already exceeded as the result of existing development. 7. Utilize site and architectural design features to mitigate noise impacts, where feasible. In addition to sound barriers, consider: Increasing building setbacks to further separate the noise-sensitive use from the noise source. Locating uses that are the most tolerant of noise closer to the noise source and use the buildings housing these uses as noise barriers. Orient delivery, loading docks, and outdoor work areas away from noise- sensitive uses. Place noise-tolerant uses, such as parking areas, and noise-tolerant structures, such as garages, between the noise source and sensitive recep- tor. Cluster office, commercial, or multifamily residential structures to reduce noise levels within interior open space areas. Provide double-glazed and double- paned windows on the side of the structure facing a major noise source, and place entries away from the noise source to the extent possible. 8. Where feasible, use noise barriers (walls, berms, or a combination thereof) to reduce significant noise impacts. Where noise barriers are constructed, require appropriate landscaping treatment to be provided. 9. Continue enforcement of California Noise Insulation Standards (Title 25, Section 1092, California Administrative Code). 10. Regulate the hours of construction activities in order to avoid or mitigate noise im-

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