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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Specific Plan - Including a Dry Cleaning Business o • � U " CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH I � COUNCIL - ADMINISTRATOR COMMUNICATION HUNTINGTON BEACH Honorable Mayor/ Chairman & Michael T. Uberu ILA- DOWNTOWN ^� � To City Council/Agency Members From City Administrato MASTER PLAN January 28, 1991 Subject Date Attached for your information is a copy of the Request for Council Action dated December 3, 1990 outlining the schedule for approval of a revised Downtown Specific Plan. As outlined in the schedule, the Redevelopment Work Study Session scheduled for January 29, 1991 will be an opportunity for staff to discuss the analysis of the Village Concept and receive direction and guidance from the City Council. MTU/BAK:jar 8402r m c s nmrn a 9 w E " REQUES f FOR CITY COUNCIL- ACTION December 3 , 1990 r Date Submitted to: Honorable Mayor and City Council Memb rs � YTV-e-,A— Submitted by: Michael T. Uberuaga, City Administrator z Prepared by: Michael Adams, Director of Community Devel p ent Subject: DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN REVISION AND UPDATE : <� Consistent with Council Policy? ( Yes ( ] New Policy or Exception Statement of Issue, Recommendation, Analysis, Funding Source, Alternative Actions, Attachments: STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Transmitted for your information is a schedule for the planning efforts needed to update and revise the Downtown Specific Plan . RECOMMENDATION: Direct the planning staff to, "Continue their, efforts to update the Downtown Specific Plan . " ANALYSIS: Staff has recently held a series of comprehensive meetings in an effort to redefine the Downtown Specific Plan. The adopted Downtown Specific Plan contains development standards, which are inconsistent with the goals which have been articulated by the City Council . Further, the, projects built to date, -(Pavil.lion, Townsquare, Pier Colony, etc . ) represent a scaled down version of what is permitted by code . Planning staff has set an ambitious schedule in order to regain the momentum needed ' to continue the redevelopment downtown. Council may wish to defer action on projects in the. downtown core area until February, 1991., to allow for a dialogue to take place as .to the direction in which the downtown redevelopment effort should take. Listed below is a proposed schedule : December , 1990 - Introduce schedule for Downtown Master Plan. What is the. Vision for the Downtown Core? What is the Village Concept? Review of Adopted Downtown Master . Plan. January, 1991 - Staff Finalizes Concept for the Downtown Plan. January 22 , 1991 - Study Session with City ` Council to Discuss Staff ' s Analysis of the Village Concept . Receive Direction and Guidance from the City Council . January 23 , 1991 - Study Session with Planning Commission. February 4 , 1991 - Staff Presents a Paper to the City Council which Outlines Conceptual Changes to the Downtown Specific , Plan. February, 1991 - Staff Meets with the Various Civic Organizations to Discuss New Development Standards . February 14 , 1991 - Staff Presents Conceptual Plan to the Planning Commission . February 26 , 1991 - Study Session with Planning Commission to Review New Development Standards for the Downtown Specific Plan*. These Standards will Implement the Concepts Discussed in January, 1991. March 5 , 1991 - Planning .Commission Public Hearing on Updated Downtown Specific Plan. April 1, 1991 - City Council Public Hearing on Updated Downtown Specific Plan. June, 1991 - Coastal Commission Takes Action on Local Coastal Plan Amendment . FUNDING SOURCE: Not applicable . V RCA 12/3/90 -2- (7904d) i ALTERNATIVE ACTION: Direct planning staff to, "Modify schedule as determined by the City Council . " MTU:MA : HZ : ss .3 RCA 12/3/90 -3- (7904d). CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH • INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION HUNTINGTON BEACH V Wc�o/ � C TO: Paul D'Alessandro, Deputy City Atto ey FROM: Howard Zelefsky, Planning Director DATE: September 29, 1993 SUBJECT: DRY CLEANING BUSINESS-411 MAIN STREET The Following is a chronology of events that led to the establishment of the dry cleaning business at 411 Main Street: ❑ April 29, 1993 1. Applicants apply for Certificate of Occupancy for a dry cleaning business at Planning and Zoning counter and submit approved clearance letter for Air Quality Management District. 2. Applicants informed of code restriction against plants in downtown area. 3. Applicants question meaning of a dry cleaning "plant." 4. After consultation with planning staff members; applicants informed that the meaning of a dry cleaning "plant" is a dry cleaning business that does not receive clothes from other dry cleaning establishments and that all cleaning is kept on-site. 5. Applicants inform staff that the dry cleaning establishment will conform with the above requirement. 6. Application for the Certificate of Occupancy for dry cleaning plant approved by planning staff. ❑ Late May 1. Planning staff contacted by dry cleaning businesses in downtown area and informed of existing prohibition against dry cleaning plants. ❑ May 28, 1993 1. Tenant improvement plans for mechanical, plumbing and electrical submitted. ❑ July 7, 1993 1. Planning.commission approves Downtown Specific Plan amendments that eliminate prohibition against dry cleaning plants. /D ►- y�L ,�/��QQ�1 /`t ❑ July 15, 1993 1. Applicants receive a letter from planning staff that states in part, "until such time that the new Downtown Specific Plan is amended,the dry cleaning unit shown on your tenant improvement plans will not be permitted to be installed. However, the pressing and heating equipment shown on the tenant improvement plans are allowed to be installed pursuant to both the current and proposed Downtown Specific Plans." 2. Applicants submit tenant improvement plans for a one-hour fire wall separation. ❑ July 16, 1993 1. Applicants meet with Counter Supervisor to discuss July 15 letter. Applicants referred to the Planning Director. ❑ July 19, 1993 1. Applicants meet with Planning Director to discuss the letter of July 15, 1993 and to explore options. Three options were discussed with the applicants: a. operate as a dry cleaning establishment with no on-site cleaning capabilities; or b. wait until a final resolution is reached on the Downtown Specific Plan to determine if the prohibition against dry cleaning plants is deleted; or c. post a bond and enter into an agreement to guarantee the removal of the dry cleaning equipment if the Downtown Specific Plan is not amended to allow cleaning plants. The applicants indicate that they wish to consult with their attorney before deciding which option to choose. ❑ July 20, 1993 1. Applicants inform Staff that they wish to pursue the bond option and that they are aware of the situation with the present code and proposed code amendment. 2. Estimated cost for removal of dry cleaning unit is determined. 3. Applicants informed, by letter, of the process and required materials needed to proceed with construction of the dry cleaning plant. 4. Request for City Attorney to draft an agreement between the City and the Applicants guaranteeing removal of the dry cleaning unit if the Downtown Specific Plan is not amended to allow plants. ❑ July 30, 1993 1. Applicants sign agreement and post bond with the City. ❑ August 10, 1993 1. Electrical permits'issued 2. Tenant improvement plans for one-hour fire wall issued. ❑ ,August 25, 1993 1. Application for sign permit submitted Chronol.DOCBJ 2 ❑ August 27, 1993 1. Plumbing and Mechanical permits issued ❑ September 13, 1993 1. Sign permit issued ❑ September 17, 1993 1. Planning Director responds to citizen and council inquiries regarding the dry cleaning establishment by letter(See attached). ❑ September 29, 1993 1. Legal opinion*from Gail Hutton to Michael Uberuaga. ❑ Present outstanding issues 1. 'Final inspection and approval of electrical,plumbing,mechanical and building permits. 2. Issuance of certificate of occupancy. CC Michael Uberuaga, City Administrator Ray Silver,Deputy City Administrator.,- Attachment Chronol.DOCBJ 3 0 City .of Huntington Beach. t 2000 MAIN STREET CALIFORNIA 92648 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Building 536-5241 Planning 536-5271 . Housing 536-5271 September 17, 1993 Karin Brunskow Main Street Cleaners 504 Main Street Unit A Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Subject: Dry Cleaniy:g Establishment, 411 Main Street Dear Ms. Brunskow: I am recently in receipt of your letter dated August 14, 1993, inquiring about the dry cleaning establishment located at 411 main Street. I will explain the history behind the changes to the Downtown Specific Plan and the establishment of the Dry Cleaning Plant at 411 Main Street. The existing Downtovm Specific Plan (adopted in 1983) specifically precludes operation of a dry cleaning "plant" in the downtown area. However, dry cleaning plants are allowed throughout the city in commercially zoned properties. It should be noted that the zoning ordinance does not provide a definition for dry cleaning plant. As you may know, the Business and Professions Code definition for dry cleaning plants was changed in 1987. The former definition used a ratio of wholesale dry cleaning to retail customers to define "plant." The Business and Professions Code, amended the definition for dry cleaning plants in 1987 to read: "...includes any premise, building, room or establishment commonly known in the,trade as a cleaning plant or cleaning and dyeing plant, equipped to perform the service of dry cleaning by immersion only, in a volatile, commercially moisture-free solvent, and including self-service or coin-operated equipment in whole or in part." Even thoueh this definition has not been adopted by ordinance, it does provide a useful guide. Karin Brunskow September 17, 1993 Page 2 Changes to the Downtown Specific Plan began in February 1991, when the Department of Community Development submitted a Downtown Master Plan concept paper to the City Council for discussion. A series of study sessions were then held with the Planning Commission and.City Council to solicit input and receive direction on the potential changes to the Do,,Nnto-%Nm Specific Plan. On May 20, 1991, the City Council directed staff to prepare a code amendment to implement the village concept. In September 1992,the Planning Commission conducted their first hearing on the Downtown Specific Plan. In the course of the next ten (10) months the Planning Commission held eleven (11)public hearings; sponsored two (2)public workshops at the Art Center and received feedback from three (3) chamber of commerce.meetings. On July 7, 1993, the Planning Commission approved the amendments to the specific plan Which included eliminating the prohibition against plants and recommended adoption by the City Council. On September 7, 1993, the City Council discussed the amendments in study sessions in order to gain a better understanding before going to public hearing. On April 29, 1993, a Certificate of Occupancy was issued to 411 Main Street for a dry cleaning establishment. Sometime after the Certificate of Occupancy was issued. I received a call from Andy Stupin (your landlord), about a dry cleaning plant being established.. On July 15, 1993, the operators of the dry cleaning establishment received a letter from staff-which states in part "until such time that the new Downtovm Specific Plan is amended,the dry cleaning unit shown on your tenant improvement plans will not be permitted to be installed. HoNvever,,the pressing and heating equipment, shovk-n on the tenant improvement plans are allowed to be installed pursuant to both the current and proposed Downtown Specific Plans." Unfortunately, prior to this July 15, 1993 letter being sent, the new business operators had received delivery of their dry cleaning equipment. The business owner of 411 Main Street has executed an agreement�that requires the posting of a bond to insure the removal of the dry cleaning equipment if the Do,-Nmtown Specific Plan is not amended to remove the prohibition against dry cleaning plants. At this time NVe do not know what the City Ce,.mcil's position is on the issue. I xill notify _ you of future public hearing dates in order for you to speak direc'ly to the City Council. Karin Brunskow September 17, 1993 Page 3 Please call me at your convenience if you wish to discuss this matter at greater length. Sinc tng ylefs irector HZ:kjl xc: Michael T. Uberuaga, City Administrator Ray Silver, Assistant City Administrator Councilman Ralph Bauer Gail Hutton, City Attorney (k1011)