HomeMy WebLinkAboutRequest to Update and Develop Objective Standards for Develo (2) oNTi Gtp" 2000 Main Street,
Huntington Beach, CA
92648
City of Huntington Beach 48
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File #: 23-043 MEETING DATE: 1/17/2023
Subject:
Submitted by Councilmember McKeon - Request to Update and Develop Objective Standards
for Development within the City
Recommended Action:
Direct the City Manager to retain the required consultant(s) to work with Community Development
Department, Fire Department, Public Works Department and the City Attorney's Office to update the
Municipal Code including the Zoning, building and fire codes to reflect improved objective standards
for development, including removing any references to "alternative means and methods" from the fire
code with respect to multifamily development and, to return to City Council by end of March with
proposals for improved objective development standards.
Attachment:
1. Memo
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 1 Printed on 1/11/2023
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CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
CITY COUNCIL MEETING—COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS REPORT
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CASEY MCKEON, CITY COUNCILMEMBER
DATE: JANUARY 17, 2023
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO UPDATE AND DEVELOP OBJECTIVE STANDARDS FOR
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY
The State's recent housing laws (beginning in 2017 and through present) represent an overly
ambitious and unjustified effort to increase housing - including in already-developed cities like
Huntington Beach.
Such cities that are nearly built out, like Huntington Beach, have for many decades been
carefully planned, zoned, and developed with extensive careful considerations for the
following: infrastructure for roadways, storm systems, waste management systems; adequate
water supplies to homes and businesses; public safety,fire response and access to homes and
businesses, police response to homes and businesses; structure and aesthetic compatibility;
safety and security of churches and schools; preservation of open space, wetlands, beaches,
and parks; and so much more.The State's unjustified housing proliferation mandates through
housing laws, especially since 2017, are a direct threat to the health, safety, and well-being of
cities and the City's landscape and precious natural resources.
In fact,the City knows through the fire code expert and traffic expert retained by the City in
defending one of its housing lawsuits, that both experts would not have recommended or
supported the Elan project at Beach and Ellis.
To that end, the City of Huntington Beach, in its effort to continue to protect the citizens, their
private property, safe access to public property, and the City's natural resources, must update
and create objective development standards in its zoning and building code. The City must also
update its specific plan areas including fire code and traffic management designed to protect
the environment and protect the health and safety of the community. This update should
include removing any subjective standards from the Municipal Code with respect to multifamily
developments like "alternative means and methods" in the City's fire code. As an example, it
seems logical that objective development standards should not allow multi-story residential
buildings to occupy nearly every foot of the (newly-developed) property, but then require the
use of neighboring private or public properties to provide large fire truck ladder access to that
newly-developed property. The City should create a new zoning code section that sets forth
the objective development standards (like Section 237.12 of the current zoning code) ensuring
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developments uphold health and safety standards and can be evaluated based on well-defined
objective criteria.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Direct the City Manager to retain the required consultant(s) to work with Community
Development Department, Fire Department, Public Works Department and the City Attorney's
Office to update the Municipal Code including the Zoning, building and fire codes to reflect
improved objective standards for development, including removing any references to
"alternative means and methods" from the fire code with respect to multifamily development
and, to return to City Council by end of March with proposals for improved objective
development standards.
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