HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-09_cityofsanrafael_ff3967ccccb38f9a915a9feac439af5cCITY OF
Community Development Department— Planning Division
P. 0. Box 151560, San Rafael, GA 94915-1560
PHONE: (415) 485-3085/FAX: (415) 485-3184
Meeting Date: June 9 2015
Agenda Item
Case Numbers: P15-001
Project Paul Jensen- 415.485.5064
Planners: Raffi Boloyan- 415.485.3095
REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT: San Rafael General Plan 10 -Year Status Report — Review of San Rafael General
Plan 10 -Year Status Report; City of San Rafael, project proponent; File No(s),: P15-001
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The San Rafael General Plan 10 -Year Status Report provides a summary of the progress made over the
past decade to implement policy and program actions and recommended updates based on input
received from the City's department directors. The proposed program changes described in the Report
will be used to prepare General Plan Amendments and Land Use Map edits, which will be brought back
to Planning Commission for review and recommendation to City Council for adoption.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Planning Commission take the following action:
1. Open public hearing and accept public comment.
2. Review and comment on the San Rafael General Plan 10 -Year Status Report,
3. Provide consent for staff to use the final Report to move forward with General Plan Amendments.
4. Recommend the plan to City Council for review.
BACKGROUND
San Rafael's General Plan was adopted in 2004. Since then, the General Plan has been amended
numerous times in response to changing circumstance and requirements that necessitated updates.
These changes included the adoption of the Sustainability Element, update of Housing Elements for the
4th and 5th cycle RHNA, completion of Station Area Plans, loss of Redevelopment, as well as other
actions taken through the course of implementing the General Plan. This 10 -Year Status Report was
prepared with input from members of a Working Group consisting of representatives from many City
departments.
The State monitors General Plan implementation for cities throughout the State through Annual Progress
Reports from cities, however San Rafael is a charter city and is not required to submit annual reports.
This report reviews progress towards the implementation of General Plan policies and programs through
a multiple year perspective, providing the opportunity to assess the approaches, challenges and
accomplishments of General Plan implementation.
The recommendations on program modifications in this report would serve as guidance for updates to
General Plan Elements. All text changes to policies and programs would require a General Plan
Amendment, which will follow this 10 -year review as a separate project.
REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION - Case No: P15-001
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Page 2
The San Rafael 10 -Year Status Report is an assessment of the progress in implementing programs of
the 2004 General Plan. Each of the Elements of the City's General Plan was evaluated, with a focus on
programs with short-term timeframes to determine the progress each program. Additionally, programs
with long-term timeframes, where notable accomplishments have been made, were noted in the Report.
This Report will lay the foundation and provide direction for updates to the General Plan through General
Plan Amendments and Land Use Map edits that will follow.
ANALYSIS
In general, the majority of programs are being carried forward with little to no change, either due to the
success of the program, continued work that is required, or opportunities to take action on the program
over the 10 -year period. Changes to programs fall into three general categories: completion (and
required removal), deletion, and revision. A brief description of the state of programs in each Element is
as.follows:
✓ Land Use — In general, programs in this Element, both with long term and short term timeframes,
can be continued with minor updates. Seven out of ten short term programs are being continued.
The Land Use Element contains a number of actions that call for the implementation of long-term
and ongoing actions, including the continued implementation residential and non-residential
regulations, reuse of school sites, ensuring compatibility of land uses, providing adequate sites for
uses, and encouraging lot consolidation. Continuing these programs would be appropriate.
✓ Housing — With the adoption of the 2015-2023 Housing Element on January 5, 2015, the policies
and programs do not require further change. Through the Housing Element update process,
policies and programs were evaluated and refined to meet projected housing needs. The section in
this 10 -Year Status Report provides a look at how the current programs of the Housing Element
were derived from the previous programs in the 2009-2014 Housing Element: whether programs
were continued, modified or consolidated.
✓ Community Design — Programs in this Element best fit a long term timeframe. More than half of
the programs were designated as long term programs. Of the ones planned for short-term
implementation, action on programs has been on incremental improvements to achieve objectives.
The completion of Station Area Plans and the Canalfront Conceptual Design plan have contributed
to the implementation or partial implementation of programs. Work has been done to amend the
zoning regulations for commercial and light/industrial districts, expand landscape requirements, and
add lighting standards to the code.
✓ Economic Vitality — Since the adoption of the 2020 General Plan in 2004, zoning ordinance
amendments have broadened land use allowances for some commercial and industrial zoning
districts. Additional efforts are also underway to streamline land use review and business permits.
Other accomplishments that have been made include adoption of a mobile vendor ordinance,
partial implementation of zoning amendments, and infrastructure improvements.
✓ Circulation Element — In general, progress on programs in this Element is made incrementally
and continuously, although one new policy and program is being proposed to address analysis for
environmental review. A new program responding to SB 743 is being proposed to introduce Vehicle
Miles Traveled (VMT) as a method of analysis for environmental review. It would be appropriate to
continue these programs and incorporate new policy C-5.1 Alternative Measurements of Traffic
Impact and program C-5.Ia. VMT Analysis.
REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION - Case No: P15-001
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✓ Infrastructure — Few major changes have been made within the Infrastructure Element as most
programs are slated to be continued. Many actions are ongoing, such as seeking and establishing
funding, working with the community and utility providers, and overseeing continued maintenance
of infrastructure. One notable change is that a wireless telecommunication ordinance was adopted.
✓ Governance — Few changes are proposed in the Governance Element. Two programs have been
completed and two require minor text amendments. It would be appropriate to continue the
programs in the Element, which promote inclusion, community participation, and City leadership.
✓ Sustainability — Numerous accomplishments have been made in the Element. Ten programs have
been completed in the Sustainability Element, which include an ordinance for charging stations in
private facilities; a wind and solar energy ordinance; green building regulations; parking lot
landscaping standards; a construction debris management ordinance; a single -use bag ordinance;
a commercial and multifamily recycling ordinance; green purchases; and energy audits.
✓ Culture and Arts — About half of the short-term programs have been completed. Further action
mostly requires removing the completed programs from the General Plan.
✓ Parks and Recreation — Most programs are proposed for continuation. With the completion of two
programs, residents can access pools in San Rafael schools and the community has access to
Terra Linda Community Garden and Canal Community Garden. Securing funding sources will be a
continuing action required for many of these programs.
✓ Safety — The Element contains mostly long-term programs. Some amendment changes would be
required, such as recognizing that DART has been replaced by CERT.
✓ Noise — Most programs in the Element are addressed in the long term, since many noise mitigation
measures focus on ongoing review and project evaluation. One completed program allows
residential and mixed use in office and commercial zoning districts.
✓ Open Space -- There are no short term programs for this Element
✓ Conservation — Most programs will remain as ongoing or long-term programs, and short-term
programs generally would be continued. Accomplishments contributing to several ongoing projects
include the adoption of a construction and demolition waste diversion ordinance; development of a
zero waste goal and strategic plan; and formation of a "Green Team" to promote green programs at
City facilities.
✓ Air and Water Quality Element — Programs in the Element may be continued with little change, as
most involve ongoing actions like response to detrimental impacts in development review, outreach
to the public, or cooperation with outside agencies. An ordinance regulating fireplaces and wood -
burning stoves has been completed, and the program is proposed for removal.
DIRECTION
The General Plan 10 -Year Status Report was prepared to provide an assessment of progress and review
of accomplishments made by the City over the past decade. Program implementation was evaluated and
program updates were proposed, with the purpose of setting up General Plan Amendments to make
necessary amendments to the General Plan and related Land Use Map edits following this review. Staff
requests Planning Commission to provide input on the report, offer feedback on proposed program
updates, and direct staff to make any revisions. Staff also seeks consent from the Planning Commission
REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION - Case No: P15-001
Page 4
to take the Report to City Council for approval to move forward with General Plan Amendments and Land
Use Map edits.
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING 1 CORRESPONDENCE
Notice of this meeting was mailed to all Home owners association in the city, the Federation of San Rafel
Neighborhoods and the north San Rafael Coalition, as well as the Chamber of Commerce 15 days prior
to the meeting date. The list of those notified includes representatives from all of the neighborhood and
homeowner associations, special interest groups (environmental, business and housing organizations),
neighboring agencies and utilities.
OPTIONS
The Planning Commission has the following options:
1. Direct staff to make further changes to the Report and return to Planning Commission.
2. Direct staff to make incorporate Planning Commission comments and present to City Council.
EXHIBITS
1. San Rafael General Plan 10 -Year Status Report, Public Review Draft, May 2015 (Previously
distributed to the Planning Commission)