HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 Annual Report - Planning Department fool
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION 1
A. What Planning Departments Do 1
1. The General Plan 2
2. The Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance 3
3. Planning in a Regional Context 3
4. The Entitlement Process 3
B. The Public Judicial Bodies 5
1. The City CouncU 5
2. The Planning Commission 5
3. The Zoning Administrator 6
4. The Design Review Board 6
5. The Subdivision Committee 7
6. The Environmental Assessment Committee 7
7. Additional Committees 7
SECTION II: THE YEAR IN REVIEW 8
A. Current Planning 8
1. Pacific City 10
2. Bella Terra Mall 11
3. The Strand 11
4. Toyota Dealership 12
5. Beachmont Plaza Remodel 13
6. Target 13
B. Advance Planning 14
1. Seawater Desalination Facility 14
2. Surplus School Purchasing Plan 15
3. Bolsa Chica Mesa Annexation 16
4. Timeshares in the Coastal Visitor Zone 16
5. Ascon Landfill 17
C. Code Enforcement 18
SECTION III: ORGANIZATIONAL LAYOUT 20
2005 ANNUAL REPORT
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
This document reports the activities of the Huntington Beach Planning Department for calendar
year 2005. This annual report is in compliance with the California Government Code requirement
that such reports be filed with the local agency's decision-making bodies. This annual report serves
a dual purpose by specifying the transactions conducted by the Planning Department throughout
2005 and characterizing the degree to which the City's approved General Plan complies with State
General Plan Guidelines. In addition, this report provides the Planning Department the opportunity
to describe the organizational and procedural aspects of the planning and development review
process.
A. What Planning Departments Do
Successful urban planning considers local identity, respect for natural, artistic and historic heritage,
an understanding of the "urban grain" or "townscape," pedestrians and other modes of traffic,
utilities and natural hazards, such as flood zones. Planners are important in managing the growth of
cities, applying tools like zoning to manage the uses of land, and environmental review to mitigate
the impacts of development on the community.
Planning is a broad discipline of policy planning,development review and zoning code enforcement.
At its most basic level, City Planning implements California State law for the development and
maintenance of a comprehensive General Plan and the corresponding Zoning Code as well as
reviewing and processing applications for various development projects based upon these
documents. Traditional planning departments contain two or three separate sections to perform
these functions. The City of Huntington Beach Planning Department follows this traditional model
and is comprised of the following sections:
• Advance Planning, which maintains the General Plan, various long-term goals, long-
term projects, and policy documents and conducts environmental review,
• Current Planning,which reviews and processes development applications according to
the General Plan and Zoning Code;
• Code Enforcement/Nerghborhood Preservation, Code Enforcement enforces
municipal codes pertaining to substandard housing, property maintenance and land-use
in an effort to upgrade residential properties to the standards set forth in the Uniform
Housing Code; Neighborhood Preservation is a preventative approach focusing on
education and community partnerships to help communities to address local conditions
and to improve the quality of life.
Planning departments also function in broader roles as advocates for social and economic equity,
proponents for quality urban design and environmental protection, and facilitators for the public
and political decision-making processes.
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
1. The General Plan
California State law requires that each city prepare and adopt a comprehensive, long-term General
Plan for its future development. State law requires that the day-to-day decisions of a city follow
logically from and be consistent with the General Plan. However, cities can apply flexibility and
local control to best determine the specific needs of the community and the populace.
The General Plan is intended to be a far-reaching policy document defining how the city perceives
itself now and in the future. The General Plan is intended to be a roadmap for a city, providing a
framework for zoning and entitlement standards. In this regard, the General Plan constitutes an
important medium through which the Planning Department and the various Boards, Commissions
and Councils affect social,economic and physical change.
i General Plan
C'in of Huntington Beach
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
Speciac Plans
The purpose of a Specific Plan is to provide for the orderly development and improvement of a
defined area in the City. The Specific Plan is established to guide the development of an area that is
characterized by its unique location,geographic features,land uses and ownership patterns.
The Specific Plan becomes existing zoning policy, development standards and descriptive maps for
that area. Additionally, the Specific Plan provides for creativity at the individual project level, and at
the same time ensures that developments will ultimately combine to create a cohesive community.
Where the Specific Plans are silent, the Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance will
govern.
The City of Huntington Beach has 13 adopted Specific Plans and is in the process of preparing two
additional specific plans.
2. The Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance
The purpose of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (ZSO) is to implement the goals and visions
of the General Plan. ZSO implementation occurs in many forms, including regulations for density
limits, setback standards, landscaping provisions, parking requirements, building square footage to
parcel size ratios (floor area ratios) and provisions for creation of new building sites.
While the ZSO allows certain development types, others are required to undergo entitlement
approval from one of the public judicial bodies, such as the Zoning Administrator or Planning
Commission. This development review process provides an opportunity for the public as well as the
decision-making bodies to approve,alter,or deny a project.
3. Planning in a Regional Context
Regional Planning has grown in significance as a policy setting focus. The entire planning process
now occurs within a continually changing environment encompassing the city and the region to
which it belongs. Cities are increasingly required by law to coordinate with surrounding cities and
counties and to participate in plans that have regional, as well as local goals. A city may work with
Federal, State, and/or county agencies (such as CalTrans or Orange County Transportation
Authority) to create solutions for issues having regional importance, such as traffic. The planning
process will continue to evolve as cities assess and assert their roles in the regional planning process.
4. The Entitlement Process
Processing development applications for entitlements is one of the principle responsibilities of the
Planning Department. Development may be requested on a small scale by a homeowner wishing to
make minor building or fence modifications, or on a large scale by a developer wishing to master
plan a project of several acres. The development entitlement process distinguishes between various
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
levels of development requests and applies the appropriate level of public notification and response,
review and analysis.
Most development requests begin with the submittal of plans at
the zoning counter. Zoning counter personnel may approve
minor requests such as room additions, block walls, patio
covers or similar projects when the proposed project meets the
criteria of the ZSO. Major projects or those requiring
discretionary entitlements are submitted at the zoning counter
and processed for action by a public judicial body, as
-- determined by the ZSO.
Most projects approved at any level of the City are appealable to the next higher level of
discretionary authority. Projects acted upon by the Zoning Administrator are appealable to the
Planning Commission and projects acted upon by the Planning Commission are appealable to the
City Council.
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
A The Public Judicial Bodies
1. The City Council
The City Council is comprised of seven members who are elected by the citizens of Huntington
Beach to a four-year term. Most planning projects acted upon by the City Council are either appeals
of a Planning Commission decision or legislative changes that are automatically forwarded from the
Planning Commission to the City Council for final action.
Examples of legislative changes include general plan amendments, zoning map and zoning text
amendments, and precise plans of street alignments. City Council action on any project is final,
unless the project is located in the appealable area of the Coastal Zone. In such a case the project
may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission for final determination.
The City Council meets every first and third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers building at the City Hall complex. The City Administrator, City Attorney and all
department heads attend City Council meetings. These meetings are also televised live on HBTV
Channel 3.
2005 City Councilmembers were:
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• Jill Hardy—Mayor
• Dave Sullivan—Mayor Pro-Tern
e
• Keith Bohr r
• Gil Coerper
• Debbie Cook
• Cathy Green
• Don Hansen \
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2005 Huntington Beach City Council Members
2. The Planning Commission
The Planning Commission is comprised of seven members who are appointed by the City Council
members. Each City Council member appoints one commissioner to this quasi-judicial body that is
empowered by State law and the City Council.
The Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in
the Council Chambers. Study sessions are frequently held at 5:15 p.m. prior to the meeting. The
Planning Commission study session is open to public attendance but is not a public hearing. The
Planning Commission follows Roberts Rules of Order and their own By-Laws. Support staff to the
Planning Commission includes the Planning Director (or an appointee) who serves as the Secretary
to the Commission, a Deputy City Attorney serving as legal counsel, and various City staff members
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
from the Planning Department, Public Works Deparnnent, and Fire Department. The meetings are
televised live on local cable HBTV Channel 3.
Projects typically acted upon by the Planning Commission are major development
proposals, tentative tract maps, zoning map amendments, zoning text
amendments, general plan amendments, and various similar applications.
In reviewing a project, the project planner consults with various City
departments as well as the appropriate regional and state agencies. =-
Environmental assessments are conducted concurrently with each =
project analysis. The review process for a Planning Commission item
normally requires four to six months.
2005 Planning Commissioners were:
• Steve Ray-Chairperson • Flossie Horgan/Randy Fuhrman
• Robert Dingwall—Vice Chair • Tom Livengood
• Elizabeth Burnett • John Scandura
• Devin Dwyer
3. The Zoning Administrator
The Zoning Administrator is a senior staff planner appointed by the Planning Director. Mary Beth
Broeren,Principal Planner,was the Zoning Administrator during this time period. Current Planning
staff is assigned to review projects and make recommendations for approval, revision, or denial as
appropriate. Zoning Administrator meetings are held Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m.
Projects typically acted upon by the Zoning Administrator are small multi-family developments,
single-family construction in the Coastal Zone, commercial and industrial developments; tentative
parcel maps, and minor variances. Any required environmental assessment is conducted concurrent
with the planning analysis. The review process normally takes two to three months before an
application is acted upon by the Zoning Administrator for review.
4. The Design Review Board
The Design Review Board reviews development proposals for their aesthetic value, architectural
style, and landscape to ensure a quality physical design. The Board reviews all projects in
redevelopment zones, all City specific plans (such as the downtown area), and
other areas designated by the City Council. The entire length of Beach
Boulevard is a recent example of such a designated area. The Design Review
Board acts in both an advisory capacity to the City Council, Planning
Commission, Zoning Administrator and City staff, as well as a final decision
making body. The Design Review Board generally meets on the second
Thursday of each month and is composed of five members appointed by the
City Council consisting of two City residents, one Planning Commissioner, a
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
representative from the Department of Public Works, and a representative from the Planning
Department. During 2005, the Design Review Board reviewed 35 projects.
5. The Subdivision Committee
State Law and the ZSO establish the Subdivision Committee. Its membership consists of three
Planning Commissioners and a representative from the Fire, Public Works, and Planning
Departments. The Subdivision Committee reviews each tentative map for compliance with the
Subdivision Map Act as well as City standards and policies. The Committee is advisory to the
Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission and City Council, and conducts its review prior to
final action by the decision-making body. Meetings are held on an as-needed basis.
6. The Environmental Assessment Committee
The Environmental Assessment Committee is composed of one staff member from Planning,
Public Works and the City Attorney's office. Environmental assessment checklists are submitted for
projects that are not exempt according to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and
require further analysis. After discussing impacts and mitigation measures, the Committee makes
recommendations regarding the necessity of the preparation and advertisement of an Environmental
Impact Report, Mitigated Negative Declaration or Negative Declaration for a project. The
Environmental Assessment Committee typically examines a project very early in the process so that
the appropriate CEQA public review period can be advertised prior to action by the decision-
making body. The committee meets on an as-needed basis.
Z Additional Committees
Apart from the decision-making and advisory bodies described above, Planning staff serves as
liaisons to a variety of other boards and committees. These groups are typically advisory to the
Planning Commission and City Council regarding single-issue topics. Others are County or
regionally sponsored groups geared toward larger regional issues. In 2005, Planning staff interacted
with the following groups:
• Development Assistance Team
• Downtown City Council • School District/City Council
Subcommittee Issues Subcommittee
• Economic Development • Oakview Task Force (Code
Committee Enforcement)
• Environmental Board • Public Nuisance Task Force (Code
• Executive Team Enforcement)
• NESI Ad-Hoc Committee • Waterways and Beaches
• Orange County Council of Committee (Code Enforcement)
Governments • Citywide Water Quality
Management Plan Subcommittee '
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
SECTION II: THE YEAR IN REVIEW
The following section reviews the accomplishments in 2005 of each of the three sections of the
Planning Department. A brief outlook for what is expected in 2006 is also provided for each
section.
A. Current Planning
The Current Planning Division is primarily responsible for reviewing and analyzing planning and
environmental aspects of proposed development projects. Minor projects such as conforming room
additions, patio covers and fences are approved at the zoning counter. More complex projects
typically are processed through either the Zoning Administrator or the Planning Commission, with
most projects going to the City Council only on appeal. Current Planning applications consist
primarily of conditional use permits, tentative parcel and tract maps,variances, coastal development
permits, sign code exceptions, planned sign programs, and applications requiring approval of the
Design Review Board.
As a project planner reviews and analyzes an
application, meetings are held between the
applicant, Planning staff and other City
departments to address issues. By the time a
project reaches the Zoning Administrator or
Planning Commission, the majority of issues have
been resolved and the project may have been
through several substantial revisions.
The following is a summary of 2005 accomplishments by the Current Planning
Division:
Counter Services:
d An estimated 9,000 telephone and 14,000 walk-in inquiries were received.
d Received 515 applications for zoning entitlement processing
d Performed 2,2%plan checks for zoning compliance;59 grading and 53 landscaping plans.
• Processed 3 final parcel maps,3 final tract maps and 19 Lot Line Adjustments.
d Development Assistance Committee -reviewed 10 issues or conceptual plans.
d Issued 10 letters confirming property exemption from flood insurance.
d Issued 40 zoning conformance letters.
d Received over 1,200 calls inquiring about flood information.
d Mailed approximately 15,000 flood information brochures to properties in HB floodplain.
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
Entitlement Processing:
d Processed 21 applications to the Planning Commission and discussed 45 items at Study
Session.
d Processed 75 applications to the Zoning Administrator.
on Processed 35 applications to the Design Review Board and 2 to the DRB Secretary.
d Mailed approximately 30,500 public hearing notices.
The following table indicates the number of projects received at the Zoning Counter in 2005. Please
note that some of the items listed under the Planning Commission are actually Advance Planning
items such as General Plan Amendments and General Plan Conformances.
2005 APPLICATIONS
Type of Application QLIMIMN 'kpe of Application Quantity
Address Assignment 98 Precise Plan of Street Alignment 0
Administrative Permit 18 Planned Sign Program 9
Appeals (PC&CC) 8 Preliminary Plan Review 1
Approval in Concept 0 Residential Animal Permit 0
Categorical Exclusion 0 Sign Code Exception 4
Certificate Of Compliance 0 Site Plan Review 1
Coastal Development Permit 20 Special Permit 2
Conditional Use Permit 45 Specific Plan Review 0
Continuance 1 Temporary Activity Permit 69
Design Review Board 36 Temporary Sign Permit 138
Entitlement Plan Amendment 8 Temporary Use Permit 1
Environmental Assessment 8 Tentative Parcel Map 4
Environment Impact Report 0 Tentative Tract Map 1
General Plan Amendment 3 Time Extension 9
General Plan Conformance 5 Variance 8
Initial Plan,Zoning Review 17 Zoning Compliance Letter 35
Limited Sign Permit 0 Zoning Map Amendment 2
Local Coastal Program Amendment 1 Zoning Text Amendment 4
Lot Line Adjustment 15 To
Lot Applications 571
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
L Pacific City
The Pacific City site is the last major parcel in the downtown area to be developed. It is a vacant
thirty-one acre site that is bounded by Pacific Coast Highway, First Street, Huntington Street, and
Atlanta Avenue. The developer, Makar Properties, originally purchased the property in 1998 with a
goal of creating a development that added to the appeal of Huntington Beach as a tourist
destination. In 2002 Makar submitted applications for a Tentative Tract Map, Coastal Development
Permit, Conditional Use Permit, Special Permit, and a Pacific City Conceptual Master Plan. The
proposed project is
fulfilling the vision of the
Downtown Specific Plan
im F3 :" (DTSP) by proposing a
•PAI II I( III} -
i°' mix of visitor-serving
commercial uses to
s I rh complement the
� downtown commercial
i ry r i1J core.
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The request proposes the
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division of the site into
three parcels. One of the
m� » " V -' parcels (17.2 acres) will be
for residential
condominium purposes
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and the other two parcels
(4.12 acres and 6.47 acres)
are for a commercial/retail/restaurant/entertainment/office/hotel development. Located along the
southern portion of the property is the proposed 400-room, eight-story hotel, which is compatible
with the 12-story Waterfront Hilton hotel. A wide spectrum of visitor opportunities resulting from
this project adds to the destination resort image the City has created. North of the commercial
promenade are 516 residential units proposed in a mix of two, three and four story buildings
designed per requirements of the DTSP to be compatible with surrounding residential development.
The residential parcel will include a 2.03-acre Village Park/open space area dedicated for public
usage. The project entitlements were approved by the City Council in June 2004.
In 2005, the Planning Department completed mitigation monitoring — Archaeological, Biological
and Site Remediation — for the site. The developer spent the rest of 2005 preparing the site for
construction, including soil xemediation. Grading and street improvements are slated to begin in
2006.
2 Bella Terra Mall
The former Huntington Center mall is a regional shopping mall located on approximately 63 acres at
Beach Boulevard and the I-405 Freeway in the City of Huntington Beach. The City's General Plan,
updated in 1996, required a specific plan to be developed with unique design and architectural
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
standards for this property. Accordingly, Specific Plan No. 13 was adopted by the City Council on
August 7,2000.
The Mall consists of approximately 1 million square feet.
Opening in phases, the majority of pads have secured
tenants. The Kohl's Department Store opened in March
2003. The 20-screen Century Theaters opened in
November 2005. New restaurants include California
Pizza Kitchen, Islands, Pei Wei Daphne's Greek Cafe,
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Pomodoro Italian Cucina, Kabuki, and will soon include
King's Fish House and the Cheesecake Factory. Other
new tenants include REI, T-Mobile, Cost Plus World
Market,Ulta,Jamba Juice,Peet's Coffee,and EB Games.
In addition to the retail establishments, the center
features two public art sculptures, an entertainment plaza with open-air amphitheater, an open-space
Plaza with rolling lawn and water gardens, as well as numerous paseos and intriguing walkways.
Construction is anticipated to be complete in 2006.
3. The Strand
In 1999, CIM Group proposed a large mixed-use development downtown. Bounded by Pacific
Coast Highway, Walnut Avenue, Sixth Street, and the alley between Fifth and Main Streets, The
Strand will include retail, restaurants, offices, and a 149-room hotel, for a total of 226,536 square
feet, with a 411-space
subterranean parking
structure. This project
will bring new life to the
downtown area by f� '
adding an expanded
commercial area with :i
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modern architecture. A
public open-space terrace
from the second floor of
the hotel provides spectacular coastal views,
and serves as an „r
attractive destination for
visitors to Huntington t
Beach.
Conceptual Rendering of the Strand
In late 2002, the City Council approved the project, and it received final approval by the California
Coastal Commission in January 2003. In 2004 the contractor worked on the drawings for
construction and also submitted utility plans. All existing underground utilities were relocated to the
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
surrounding street system during 2005. CIM Group, the developer, and Bovis Lend Lease, the
contractor,will begin demolition, site surveying,and equipment mobilization in January 2006.
4. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP
Toyota submitted an application to construct a new sales office and service building at their existing
dealership at 18881 Beach Boulevard. This project is a proposal for the replacement of the existing
vehicle sales and service building and improvements with a new 39,500 sq. ft. vehicle sales and
service building with an attached 162,650 sq. ft. vehicle storage garage and associated site
improvements. The proposed facility will provide capacity for up to 465 vehicles (including 201
required customer and employee parking spaces). The project is being developed in stages to
accommodate the continued operation of the existing vehicle sales and service. As part of the
project, a sales and service building will be constructed on the south portion of the site. The sales
area will consist of two stories of sales, showroom and offices.
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Di¢ital Simulation of the Re-Built ToVota Dealership
Additionally, the existing vehicle sales and service building will be demolished and a new structure
will be constructed. In order to accommodate city design standards, the automobile storage parapet
heights are stepped from the to a single story element at the east face of the structure. When
construction is completed on the second phase parking structure, a bonded metal panel clad canopy
with service writers at the ground level will be constructed adjacent to the sales and service building
constructed in the first phase.
The Design Review Board (DRB) reviewed the proposed project and approved the project on
February 10, 2005. The project was approved by the Zoning Administrator on April 13, 2005, and
subsequently, the Planning Commission approved the Conditional Use Permit (No. 04-31) and the
Mitigated Negative Declaration (No. 04-09) on May 24,2005. At the end of 2005,Toyota was in the
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
process of finalizing their remaining technical documents and is anticipated to begin construction
once the final documents are submitted.
5. BEACHMONT PLAZA
Originally filed in August 2001 and entitled in
June 2002, the developers of the Beachmont
Plaza remodel gained traction with their
project in 2005. The project, located at the
Northeast comer of Brookhurst and Adams,
received grading permits on August 30, 2005.
Building permits will be issued in January Orr
2006.
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According to the approved plans, portions of _ -
the aging center will be demolished to make
room for a new 55,000 square-foot Ralph's BEA C H .,o N T P LA Z A
Supermarket and an 11,000 square-foot
freestanding pad building. The remaining Savon building will be treated with a new plaster finish, a
new pitched concrete-tile roof, decorative columns and other architectural enhancements. In
addition, the entire parking lot will be reconfigured, including decorative paving treatments at
driveway entrances and new landscaping provided throughout. The project also includes a public art
display. The project had been delayed due to the competing interests of the property owners, and
due to the grocery store employee strike.
6. TARGET
The newly rebuilt 129,356 sq.ft. Target Department
store located at the southwest comer of Brookhurst
and Adams held its Grand Opening on Sunday,
October 9, 2005. In 2003, Target submitted a
proposal to demolish the entire structure and replace it
with a new building more typical of other Target
stores, designed to fit Target's needs and provide
better service to the customers.
After being initially approved by the Zoning
Administrator, the project was appealed twice: first to
the Planning Commission and then to the City
Council,with Council approving it in July 2004.
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
B. Advance Planning
The Advance Planning Division is responsible for maintaining the General Plan,processing General
Plan amendment requests, zone changes, code amendments, environmental documents, precise plan
of street alignments,and preparing various special studies of public policy nature. Advance Planning
is typically involved in processing legislative and policy oriented projects to the Planning
Commission and City Council,rather than development projects.
In 2005,Advance Planning was involved in the following on-going and recurring projects:
• Floodplain Management Activities
• Orange County Projections 2006 population and employment Projections
• Environmental Assessment Committee
• Processing affordable housing covenants
In 2006, Advance Planning will be working on annexation and entitlement for the Brightwater
Project at Bolsa Chica, updating the General Plan Circulation Element, working on the
neighborhood compatibility issues, finalizing the Edinger Corridor Specific Plan, amending the
Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance relative to the new density bonus laws, creation of an affordable
housing in-lieu fee and processing environmental documentation for LeBard Park expansion,
Newland Street Residential project, the Wainer-Nichols project and the General Plan Circulation
Element Update. Advance Planning will also be working to fix inconsistencies between the zoning
and General Plan designations throughout the City.
Advance Planning worked on a number of special projects in 2005. These projects involve unique
areas in the City, as well as different planning documents. The following is a description of work
that occurred on the various special projects.
1. SEAWATER DESALINATION FACILITY
The project, proposed by Poseidon Resources Corporation, consists of the construction and
operation of a 50 million gallon per day seawater desalination facility within the City of Huntington
Beach. The facility would consist of seawater intake pretreatment facilities, a seawater desalination
plant utilizing reverse osmosis technology, product water storage, two pump stations, materials
storage tanks, and 42 to 48-inch diameter product water transmission pipeline possibly up to 10
miles in length in Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa. The facility would utilize existing AES
Huntington Beach Generating Station (HBGS) seawater intake and outfall pipelines for its
operations. The proposed desalination facility is located on an 11-acre portion of the 22-acre HBGS
facility located at 21730 Newland Street,off Pacific Coast Highway.
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
Entitlements for the
Poseidon Desalination
Facility were submitted
in January 2002. in
The City Council
certified the
Recirculated
Environmental Impact
Report (REIR 00-02)
on September 6, 2005.
Certification of the
REIR means that the
City deems the =_
environmental review
as satisfactory, but is 40'
not a permit to proceed
with construction.
Consideration the `
development Simulated View of Poseidon Facility next to existing AES plant
entitlements, Conditional
Use Permit (CUP 02-04) and Coastal Development Permit (02-05) were continued three times by
the City Council in 2005.
2. SURPLUS SCHOOL SITE PURCHASING PLAN/GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE OF WARDLOW
AND LAMB SCHOOL SITES
The disposal of surplus school property that qualifies as park or recreational open space is regulated
by the Naylor Act. This Act gives the City first priority to acquire a surplus school site but requires
the City to adopt a Surplus School Property Purchasing Plan prior to such acquisition. On March
22nd the City of Huntington Beach received formal notification from the Fountain Valley School
District of their intent to sell two school sites: 10251 Yorktown Avenue (Lamb School) and 9191
Pioneer Drive (Wardlow School). Concurrent with the March 22°d notice, the District submitted a
request for a General Plan Conformance regarding the District's proposed disposal of property, as is
required by the State. The purpose of the General Plan Conformance is to determine if the
District's proposed disposition of the two school sites is consistent with the City's General Plan.
The General Plan Conformance does not evaluate alternative uses or land use designations for the
properties.
Although only two sites were designated as surplus,given the likelihood that the number of sites that
have surplus status will increase in the coming years, Planning Staff developed a Surplus School
Property Purchasing Plan ("Plan' that evaluates all 14 closed sites in the City of Huntington Beach.
This approach provides a citywide perspective on the potential loss of open space associated with
the sale of school sites. It also enables the City to comprehend the long-term and geographic issues
relevant to the loss of school sites and provides information to facilitate strategic planning and
acquisition decisions. To the extent that additional school sites are closed in the future, this Plan
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
could be updated to incorporate these sites as well as any changes in City priorities. The Plan was
adopted by the City Council on May 2,2005.
General Plan Conformance 05-06 (Lamb School) and General Plan Conformance 05-07 (Wardlow
School)were adopted by the Planning Commission on September 13,2005.
3. BOLSA CHICA ANNEXATION
On April 14,2005, the California Coastal Commission approved the subdivision and development of
the 105.3-acre Brightwater community consisting of 349 single-family residential units, habitat
restoration and public trails, located primarily on the upper bench of the Bolsa Chica Mesa. The
land is currently unincorporated and under the jurisdiction of Orange County. Development
standards are consistent with the County's standards. The proposed Brightwater development is
within the sphere of influence of the City of Huntington Beach. The development proposes single
family units adjacent to existing
single family residential land uses,
and is contiguous to corporate
boundaries of the City. As a result
of the approval, the City Council
directed staff to prepare a fiscal
study for the annexation of the
project area.
Staff reviewed the fiscal
implications of three scenarios:
annexation prior to development,
annexation following development
and development without
annexation. The findings were
presented to the City Council at a
Study Session on September 19,
2005. The City Council approved a
pre-annexation Memorandum of View from the Bolsa Chica Mesa
Understanding with the developer on
December 12, 2005. The developer is slated to begin grading in March 2006 and have the final
map recorded in May 2006. The first closing is anticipated in March 2007. The City has also
submitted an out of service agreement application to the Local Agency Formation Commission
(L.AFCO) as a prerequisite to formal annexation. In the next year, the Planning Department will
work on a General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan, Zoning Text Amendment, Zoning Map
Amendment,Local Coastal Program Amendment and Environmental Assessment to incorporate the
project into the City's boundaries and develop land-use regulations for the project.
4. TIMESHARES IN COASTAL VISITOR ZONE(DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN—SP5)
In December 2003, the Robert Mayer Corporation filed concurrent applications for a Zoning Text
Amendment (ZTA 03-03), a General Plan Amendment (GPA 03-03) and a Local Coastal Program
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
Amendment (LCPA 03-02) to allow for
the development of Timeshares in the
- . Downtown Specific Plan as a permitted
= use in Districts 7 and 9. The amendments
would establish timeshares as a permitted
use within the General Plan and the two
Downtown Specific Plan districts and
' permit the use on a year round basis.
. } Timeshares are any development wherein
ir j 1 a purchaser receives the right in
perpetuity, for life, or for a term of years,
to the recurrent, exclusive use or
occupancy of a lot, parcel, unit, room(s),
or segment of real property, annually or on some other seasonal or periodic basis, for a period of
time that has been or will be allotted from the use or occupancy periods into which the project has
been divided and shall include,but not be limited to timeshare use, condominium-hotel, or uses of a
similar nature. The result of the proposed amendments would be the possibility of timeshares in the
visitor serving portions of the Pacific City and Waterfront projects. The applicant requested
approval of the amendment to allow for greater flexibility in reaching the visitor serving market.
In 2004, city staff completed the environmental assessment for the project. The entitlements, ZTA
03-03, GPA 03-03, and LCPA 03-02 were approved by the City Council on March 21, 2005. The
California Coastal Commission must also adopt the Local Coastal Program amendment; it is
anticipated that they will action the Local Coastal Program amendment in 2006. Following adoption
by the Coastal Commission, it will enable development proposals to be processed in the future for
these two areas of the Downtown Specific Plan.
5. ASCON LANDFILL
Located at the Southwest Comer of Magnolia and Hamilton, the Ascon Landfill operated as a
landfill from 1938 to 1984. Much of the waste came from oil drilling, especially in the early years.A
group of private companies that formerly owned the site are paying for clean-up activities. The
remediation act plan is still in review with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DISC) for the final clean up of the site.
On May 13, 2005, the DTSC issued a statement of Imminent or Substantial Endangerment (ISE)
Determination for the 38-acre Ascon Landfill site in response to existing berm damage caused by
the heavy rains this past winter. On July 19, 2005, the Director of Planning issued an Emergency
Coastal Development Permit/Administrative Permit for completion of an Emergency Action
Workplan. As a condition of approval, a formal Coastal Development Permit (CDP) must be filed.
Coastal Development Permit No. 05-16 was scheduled before the Zoning Administrator and
approved on August 31, 2005. Berm reinforcement is to be complete by January 2006.
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
C. Code Enforcement/Neighborhood Preservation
In 2005, the Code Enforcement/Neighborhood Preservation Division continued to see success in
its efforts to maintain and improve the quality of life throughout the community through education,
communication, and enforcement action. Over the course of the year, the division opened 3,906
new cases, conducted over 5,550 inspections, and successfully resolved almost 95% of all cases
through voluntary compliance.
Alm
r � •`�°!Via'
s
Before After
Other achievements for 2005 include:
• Initiated 1,313 proactive cases to address code violations they observed while in the field
before receiving an initial complaint from a citizen.
• Issued 195 citations for non-compliance when violators did not respond to requests for
compliance.
• Coordinated efforts with the Public Nuisance Task Force to address 20 nuisance
properties with the cooperation of Police, Fire,Building,Public Works, and the City
Attorney's Office.
• Participated in the launch of the CityView software, designed to enhance Code
Enforcement's ability to track and store data on enforcement cases, and improve access to
information from the Planning,Building,and Treasurer's Departments.
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
Break down of top 10 Code Enforcement Complaints in 2005:
Graffiti Abandoned/lnop
12% Vehicles
10%
Overgrown
Substandard Vegetation
Housing 8°/
12% - Dead Vegetation
5%
Discarded
Furniture
Nuisance Housing 11%
16% "'^e
Rubbish
Accumulation
9%
Const,w/o permit Lawn Parking
9% 8%
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT
SECTION III: ORGANIZATIONAL LAYOUT
The following page describes the organizational layout of the Planning Department at the close of
2005 and identifies individuals or vacancies in each position. The Department is headed by Howard
Zelefsky, Director of Planning, and is divided into three sections: Advance Planning, Current
Planning, and Code Enforcement.
H.B. PLANNING DEPARTMENT
PROPOSED ORGANIZATIONAL TABLE
June 2005
Howard Zelefsky
Director of Planning
Scott Hess,AICP
Planning Manager
Advance e7
odeEnforcement/ CurrentPlanning/
Planning2oning Neighborhood Planning
Administrator Preservation Commission
Mary Beth Brooren I y a Herb Fauland o In ugar
AICP Principal Planner! Administrathre
Princi all Planner Nei h.Preservation Principal Planner Assistant
ane ames Ic as uentes Oun er Ramona o mann
Sr.Code Enforce. 0 eratIonsf Paul Da Veiga Administrative
Senior Planner ate Planner
(112 Time) Officer Plan Check Associ Secretary
ony Duane Wayne Carvalho y u emers
Ricky Ramos Code Enforce Ofcr Ron Santos' Office Assistant
BG)
Associate Planner (CD Associate Planner ociate Planner (Receptionist)
v2 r
AI Brady erglo Martinez Kathryn coo ey
Rosemary Medel Vacant Office Assistant
ociate Planner Code Enforce Ofcr Plan Clftrt�er Associate Planner Code Enforce
Rich Mass! Susan Pierce o c In
Jason Kelley Rami Talleh Office Assistant
Code Enforce Ofcr Plan Checker
Assistant Planner OW14 ria Assistant Planner (112 Tim
Richard Hedden Gary Brunner
Christopher Davis Code Enforce Ofcr Vacant College Intern
Senior Analyst Assistant Planner
art a I asenor
Code Enforce Ofcr Brian Hatfield
(112 Tft"&WBG) Planning Intern
Vacant
Code Enforce Tech
(112 CDBG)
Vacant
Code Enfor.Intern
112 T®ne/ADete Vee
'Unaerfillea Senior Planner
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