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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 07-12 CC MIN236 MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL. CITY, CALIFORNIA July IL, 1974 11 The adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of National City was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Mayor Morgafi. ROLL CALL Council members present: Camacho, Dalla, Pinson, Reid, Morgan. Absent: None. Administrative officials present: Campbell, Gerschler, Asst. City Attorney Marks, Osburn, Stenberg. THE PROPOSED REVISION OF THE NATIONAL CITY GENERAL PLAN was considered at this time. Moved by Camacho, seconded by Pinson, to rescind the last two motions made last Tuesday evening; Vice Mayor Camacho read the two motions: (1) all properties shown in yellow (throughout the City with the exception of the properties just voted on) be limited to maximum of one dwelling unit per lot; (2) the motion be amended to in- clude the yellow between 4th and 2nd Streets which are_predominately single family now be included in the one unit per lot. Carried by unanimous vate: Planning Director Gerschler said he would present the ideas (for the General Plan Revision) which began with the Consultants (Duncan and Jones) and which went through the Planning Commission; he would answer any questions; he would try to explain any issues that Council wanted explained; he was not proposing high density, low density, residential or commercial. There was discussion. Planning Director Gerschler said he has identified each of the maps on display by a letter; he will refer to these letters as he refers to a particular map; Map B is the Planning Commission's proposed General Plan map (it amended a map prepared by the consultant); what the Planning Commission did to make it different was to substantially reduce the permitted densities all" over town; the Planning Commission cut down the density in all resi- dential situations; the existing General Plan, the 1965 Plan, ran the density as high as 60 units per acre; the Commission proposed a maxi- mum of 40 units per acre; in some cases it was dropped from a maximum of 60 to a maximum of 10 (between Second, Diubion, National and High- land); the area off Scott Drive and Pig Court was dropped from 30 to 10; on Alpha Drive it was 15 and they dropped it down to 10 dwelling units per acre; O. D. Arnold Estates showed 7 dwelling units per acre and they dropped it to 5. There was discussion regarding densities and residential zoning. Mr. Gerschler said in the central part of town the density has been dropped from 30 to 10; what the Commission has attempted to do is to tailor down the density in R-4 zones primarily; it was clear throughout the 19 meetings that the apartment issue was National City's No. 1 problem; it was written into the contract with the consultant; communications with the consultant time after time pointed to the idea that this is the thing that National City is most concerned about; the Commission then asked him to tailor down the density to the economic breaking point to allow natural attrition of redevelopment (an old house is retired and finally wears out and some- thing new is built in its place); the Commission's concern about cut- ting it off was, if you don't allow the natural replacement of houses, then perhaps you create blight, a house will stay too long on that piece of property; that is what they used as their rule of thumb for these lower densities. Planning Director Gerschler said the problem is demonstrated on the Duncan Jones' land use survey; (pointing) these areas have quite a mixture of single family, duplexes and apartments; the Commission was concerned about a block where you have such a mix- ture...whether or not you are going to see single family dwellings 7/12/74 237 being built in such an area. There was discussion regarding zoning areas for apartment houses and not crowding them in on the single family areas. Mr. Gerschler continued the Planning Commission started with those properties zoned R-1, a neighborhood where there was low density; the zoning code now only allows one house per lot; there would be no problem in showing it on the General Plan under nomencla- ture where it says 1 to 5 dwelling units per acre, or 6 to 10 dwelling units per acre, by adding a note allowing only "one dwelling unit per lot" in R-1 zoned property; this would make it clear to the whole world. Mr. Gerschler said if a limitation of one dwelling unit per lot is put on property now zoned R-4, if you go back and rezone prop- erty now zoned R-4 to R-1, on the land use map you will find they are already substantially multiple family; this would create the difficult position of zoning down existing apartment houses from R-4 to R-l; this means they are put into a nonconforming use status which in most cases would kill a loan; if they try to get a loan to remodel or refurbish or improve the property, generally nonconforming use will kill a loan on the property; another problem is should they burn down, they cannot rebuild; even if they burn out partially, they cannot rebuild; the question is would this lot be valuable for single family purposes. There was discussion in regard to R-4 being zoned back to R-1. Plan- ning Director Gerschler said if Council still feels that there should be a belt of R-1 along the north and east boundaries of the City, Council could consider the property between Division and Second from Highland, behind the Delta Park project, maybe some of the properties on Harbison behind the Paradise Valley Hospital; looking at the land use map (F) you find very few apartment houses; there are about 8 to 10 in the entire area. There was discussion. Mr. Gerschler said if Council were dealing with raw land there would be no problem; the limitations Council must face deal with the existing uses; some of the neighborhoods are loaded with multiple family dwellings to the point where there will never be single family residences in those neighbor- hoods again; by overzoning you will get an overkill; you will run the risk of stopping redevelopment; when zoning is applied to a General Plan you cannot ignore the existing uses. Moved by Pinson, seconded by Camacho, one dwelling unit per lot in the 1 to 5 and 6 to 10 density in R.1 on Map B. Carried by unanimous vote. There was further discussion. Moved by Pinson, seconded by Camacho, from A to Highland and between Division and 4th the residential prop- erty will be R-1 zoning; Council is not considering the commercial property. Carried by unanimous vote. Moved by Morgan, seconded by Camacho, all the lots on the south side of Division from Highland to 805 and all the lots between J and Laurel from Division to 4th zoned R-1. Carried by the following vote, to -wit: Ayes: Camacho, Dalla, Reid, Morgan. Nays: None. Abstaining: Pinson, There was discussion. Moved by Camacho, seconded by Reid, that Buckey Lana and that area that is now R-1 remain that way on the map. Carried by unanimous vote. There was discussion. Moved by Morgan, seconded by Pinson, this area between Paradise Drive and Beaucham 's a artment house R-4 ro ert from 12th on the north side and 9th on the south side be deli*nested as R-1. Carried by unanimous vote. There was discussion. Moved by Morgan, to make this area that is va- cant west of Rachel on 17th to Lanoitan R-1. Mr. Gerschler said between loth and 17th there is no problem; between 17th and 18th there are a lot of apartments; if it is described from 16th to 17th, there is no problem. Motion died for lack of second. Moved by Morgan, seconded by Pinson, Council designate from l6th to 17th and authorize Mr. Gerschler to look that over and if anything on the south side of 17th can be left as R-1 it will be left as R-1. Carried by unanimous vote. 7/12/74 238 Mayor Morgan recognized Lucille Bagwell, 0. W. Cotton Company (who appeared before Council 7/9/74 regarding Nellie Fuller's property, east of "R1i Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets, to seek a change in density from 11 to 15 units to 16 to 20 units per acre on the prop- erty.) Mr. Gerschler said this property is surrounded by vacant property and mostly single family. Mayor Morgan said he cannot vote a higher density in there; he will take a look at it. Councilman Reid said with the freeway and where this property is located is not a good place for R-1 homes. Councilman Dalia said Council action today reflected a dissatisfaction with apartments; he is not sure the problem stemmed from the density of the zoning; it might have stemmed from past ordinances that were inadequate. Planning Director Gerschler said this was discussed in the text of the General Plan; the open space ordinances have been up- dated; the quality of construction of apartment houses has been improved; after the new General Plan is adopted and we will be dealing with a new, lower density pattern, it may be timely to have another look at an architectural review; he has had some recent conversations with the City Attorney and there has been progress; it will probably be suggested that a block where the property owners are willing to cooperate be taken for an overlay design, that we bring in the property owners and sit down with them and work out the design; it may go so far as some redevelopment; there are areas where it could happen; if they could get a few areas to become pacesetters, he would prefer this method to a Review Board. There was discussion of a mandatory review of the General Plan. Mr. Gerschler said he has asked Council to adopt a policy asking his department to prepare an annual progress report on the General Plan, asking the Planning Commission to prepare a 5-year general review, keeping in mind that an overhaul of this type will have to be done in about 20 years. Moved by Pinson, seconded by Camacho, to have semi-annual ports on the implementation of the General Plan from the Planning Director. Carried by unanimous vote. Planning Director Gerschler said under State law the General Plan can be amend- ed three times a year; Council is not limited as to how many times it can be discussed; the law says you can only make an amendment three times a year; three days a year (he gave Council a schedule of those dates); the resolution that amends the General Plan could include any number of accumulated individual cases; you can only adopt a resolution three times. Mayor Morgan said he would like to see a map, before the General Plan is adopted, showing where the R-1's are going to be. Mr. Gerschler said he would prepare a map along these lines. the There was discussion in regard tcy Hodge property (on Highland south of 30th St.) which is presently zoned industrial and shown as industrial on the proposed plan. Mr. Gerschler said it was on the existing zoning map that way; it was that way on the existing General Plan; it was not discussed. Moved by Morgan, seconded by Reid, to designate the Hodge property west of Highland as business (commercial) zone. Carried by unanimous vote. In answer to a question about the area of 18th to 23rd, to A to D, Planning Director Gerschler said there is quite a mixture there; he would like to take another look at this before making a recommendation. (Mrs. Bagwell rose to leave and the Mayor advised her that next Tuesday evening Council would act on the Fuller property.) Moved by Morgan, seconded by Pinson, to authorize Planning Director Gerschler to make a study and see if any other areas in National City he would recommend to stay R-1 and bring a report to Council as soon as possible. Carried by the following vote, to -wit: Ayes: Camacho, Pinson, Reid, Morgan. Nays: Dalla. Mr. Gerschler said after adoption of the General Plan, Council will have two kinds of rezoning to do; the zoning of R-.4 down to R-1 and the other is to attach density overlay zones; the site plan review tech- nique has been instituted since he came to the City; in this, his 7/12/74 239 department denies plans that do not meet the density standard; after the General Plan is adopted, it will be a matter of firm zoning; once a density overlay zone is adopted for any piece of property, there is no way a building permit can be issued for that property for more den- sity unless there is a zone change; a zone change means they have to pay a fee; they have to have a hearing before the Planning Commission; they have to have a hearing before the City Council; they have to have an amendment made to the General Plan; they have to get an environmental impact report and they have to get an ordinance adopted. There was discussion as to whether low density would prevent the con- struction of a duplex or second dwelling on a large lot. Moved by Morgan, seconded by Pinson, to change the property in Valle Vista, and along 20th between Lanoitan and Prospect and 20th Street east of Valle Vista where it will be R-1 property shown on the map. Councilman Dalla said the City just paid $50,000 for a consultant (he considered the age of the houses, and how long they may be there and all these things that Council is not versed in) the Planning Commission modified it to make it acceptable to National City. Planning Commissioner Al Alvarado was present and said the average lot is 60 by 100 (Valle Vista); the larger ones will be cut by Euclid. Mr. Gerschler said it is shown on the zoning map as R-2; it is on the existing General Plan as 15 dwell- ing units per acre; the Planning Commission recommended cutting that by one-third to a maximumof 10 which would allow two units on a large lot. Carried by unanimous vote. Councilman Dalla asked Planning Director Gerschler about the Center City project; is there a possibility that this will not come to be and if this were to take place, what would be the ramifications? Planning Director Gerschler said at this point the Center City project is just a concept; if the Bonita Plaza gets built there will be some impact on the South Bay Plaza; the South Bay Plaza is only a small part of the Center City concept; the area described in the Center City concept is the core of National City; the core areas of any City are almost traditionally the areas first to feel an economic change; if the pulse of the core is felt, you will usually get a pretty good understanding of the whole economic condition of the community; if Council adopts the Center City concept in this General Plan, next year he will ask that a few dollars be spent to begin to make an economic monitor of what is happening to property taxes, retail sales, building permit records and a whole variety of economic indicators; the following year probably, or four years from now, enough will be known to begin to talk about reuse, redesigning streets, etc; by that time there will probably be interest shown by developers or businessmen in doing some- thing in the area; there will be a demand; the entire economic picture will begin to change; by monitoring it, the City will be up-to-date about three or four years from now and ready to start to design; then the choice will be made as to how to accomplish this; there is no way a planner can be hired today to give reliable information as to what tomorrow holds; there is a big potential for future uses in the area. There was discussion of the area from 19th to the south City limits from N Avenue to Palm Avenue. Moved by Morgan, seconded by Pinson, show oil thq 144$0 09ut,U 9f 19th St., between N and Palm and on both sides of N to the sou:40 Ctty limits as R-iand iaalude Rtasglawai252111aidel down L. and tlen south to t1e Citv 1±nits (amendeLmotioni. Carried by unanimous vote. (Asst. City Attorney Marks left Council Chambers at 5:35 p.m.) Moved by Morgan, seconded by Reid, And adjourn this meeting until 4:00 p.m on Monday and adopt the General Plan on Tuesday night; if there is nothing to discuss the meeting will be closed but this will give Council a chance to look at this new map. Councilman Pinson said Council should work on this some more. (Asst. City Attorney Marks returned at 5:37 p.m.) Moved by Pinson, seconded by Reid, to go acing 10.th the Planning Com- missiocis recommgndAtion on the west side. Carried by unanimous vote. 7/12/74 240 Moved by Pinson, seconded by Camacho, to go along with the Commission's recommendation on all the commercial propert" dations. Carried by unanimous vote. Councilman Pinson,asked if the General Plan would provide for any kind of parking district? Mr. Gerschler said parking districts are like an assessment; they are done by establishing boundaries and have a variety of ways for financing; some of the ways of financing are much like a 19,a Act; a General Plan does not generally show parking districts but areas or neighborhoods that need parking districts; you might, for example, designate an area as needing additional parking, being right for a parking district; after the General Plan is adopted, his office, the City Manager's office and the City Engineer's office could prepare estimates just like they do in a 1911 Act; go out and try to find some interest. Moved by Pinson, seconded by Dalla, to designate National Highland and 8th Street as areas needing parking districts. In answer to Councilman Reid regarding stations outside the City limits for rapid transit Mr. Gerschler said this can probably be handled by not showing specific sites but by drawing circles overlapping the City boundary around the freeway interchange; it is quite likely the park- ing can go on the Department of Transportation's property; the parking district and the transit parking are two different things; he will try to confine the transit parking to freeway property. Carried by un- animous vote. Moved by Reid, seconded by Camacho, to adjourn. till Monday 4:00 p.m. in these chambers. Carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Gerschler said before Council adjourns he would like to know if Council is pretty well through with the map; he has a scheduling problem. Mayor Morgan said Council might do just a little more; he would like to take a second look; if necessary another meeting will be called. The meeting closed at 5:50 p.m. Planning recommen- City City of Nationa lerk City, California The foregoing minutes were approved by the City Council of the City of National City at the regular meeting of July 23, 1974. cy/No corrections 0 Corrections as noted below Mayor, City of Na on 1 City, California