PC 2019-03-05_09a General Plan Annual Report
MEMORANDUM
TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: TERESA McCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BY: MATTHEW DOWNING, PLANNING MANAGER
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE 2018 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT
DATE: MARCH 5, 2019
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
The General Plan Annual Report is an informational document identifying work
completed in the previous year to implement the City’s General Plan. It is an
informational document only and once received and filed by the City Council is filed with
the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and California Department of Housing
and Community Development.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
Financial impacts include staff time and resources to prepare the Annual Report.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Planning Commission receive and file the 2018 General Plan
Annual Report (the “Annual Report” or “Report”) for final acceptance by the City
Council.
BACKGROUND:
California Government Code Section 65400 requires all cities to file a General Plan
Annual Report to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR). The purpose
of the Report is to monitor the City's implementation of the General Plan over time, to
help identify statewide trends, document progress in meeting the City’s share of
regional housing needs, and inform local decision makers. Prior to submittal to the
state, the Annual Report must be presented to the City Council for review and
acceptance. As a procedural matter, the Annual Report is being brought to the Plann ing
Commission for receipt and acceptance prior to the Council given the role of the
Commission as one of the "keepers" of the General Plan.
The City's General Plan was adopted in October 2001. A number of activities have been
undertaken that implement the goals and policies of the General Plan since that time,
including the optional elements adopted by the City. The last major update of the
General Plan was completed in January 2017, with the approval of the E. Cherry
PLANNING COMMISSION
CONSIDERATION OF 2018 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT
MARCH 5, 2019
PAGE 2
Avenue Specific Plan project. No further updates to the General Plan occurred during
2018.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
The Annual Report provides an overview of the activities completed or currently being
undertaken during 2018 to implement or update the General Plan. During the 2018
calendar year, no amendments to the General Plan were adopted. Activities have been
conducted to continue work toward updating the Circulation Element and Pa rks and
Recreation Elements of the General Plan, while other opportunities to implement the
General Plan were completed as they became available. It should be noted that the
Annual Report is not a comprehensive list of activities undertaken by the City dur ing
2018.
The City’s Annual Report is formatted into two (2) sections:
Section 1: Introduction, including the legal requirements of the Annual Report
and status of the adopted Elements of the General Plan; and
Section 2: Summary of Activity for 2018.
Please note that the tables reporting housing data are derived from spreadsheets
provided by the State, with limited formatting functionality. These digital spreadsheets
will be submitted in their native file format, resolving blurry image issues.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Commission’s consideration:
1. Receive and file the General Plan Annual Report for final acceptance by the City
Council; or
2. Provide direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
The City will be providing the State with data in compliance with the California
Government Code.
DISADVANTAGES:
There are no disadvantages identified with filing the Annual Report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State
CEQA Guidelines, it has been determined that this item is not subject to CEQA Per
Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines, regarding the common sense rule that where it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility of a significant effect on the
environment, an activity is not subject to CEQA.
PLANNING COMMISSION
CONSIDERATION OF 2018 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT
MARCH 5, 2019
PAGE 3
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2. At the time of report publication, no comments
have been received.
Attachment:
1. 2018 General Plan Annual Report
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 1
General Plan Annual Report
2018
ATTACHMENT 1
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 2
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
City Council
Caren Ray Russom, Mayor
Kristen Barneich, Mayor Pro Tem
Jimmy Paulding
Keith Storton
Lan Georg
Planning Commission
Glenn Martin, Chair
Frank Schiro
Jamie Maraviglia
Andrea Montes
Ken Sage
Community Development Department
James A. Bergman, City Manager
Teresa McClish, AICP, Community Development Director
Matthew Downing, AICP, Planning Manager
Andrew Perez, Assistant Planner
Contact Information
City of Arroyo Grande
Community Development Department
300 E. Branch Street
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Phone: (805) 473-5420
Website
www.arroyogrande.org
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 3
Contents
Section 1 - Introduction .................................................................................................................. 4
A. Purpose of the Annual Report ................................................................................................ 4
B. Purpose of the General Plan ................................................................................................... 4
C. Status of the Adopted Elements of the City’s General Plan ................................................... 4
Land Use Element (Adopted October 2001) ............................................................................... 6
Circulation Element (Adopted October 2001) ............................................................................ 7
Housing Element (Adopted March 2016) ................................................................................... 7
Agriculture, Conservation, and Open Space Element (Adopted October 2001, Amended June
2007)............................................................................................................................................ 7
Safety Element (Adopted October 2001) .................................................................................... 8
Noise Element (Adopted October 2001) ..................................................................................... 8
Economic Development Element (Adopted October 2012) ....................................................... 8
Parks and Recreation Element (Adopted October 2001) ............................................................ 8
Section 2 – Summary of Activity – 2017 ......................................................................................... 9
Planning Commission .................................................................................................................. 9
Building and Life Safety Division ................................................................................................. 9
Planning Division ......................................................................................................................... 9
General Plan Policies and Programs .......................................................................................... 11
Appendix A – Housing Element Reporting Forms ......................................................................... 12
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 4
Section 1 - Introduction
A. Purpose of the Annual Report
This report reviews the activities that took place to implement the Arroyo Grande General Plan
between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. This report fulfills the requirements of
Section 65400 of the California Government Code, which requires the City to file an annual
report addressing the status of the General Plan and progress made toward goals and
objectives. This annual report provides a means to monitor the success of implementing the
General Plan and determine if changes need to be made in the plan or its implementation
programs. The City is required to file the annual report with the Office of Planning and Research
(OPR), as well as to their legislative bodies. The legislative body for Arroyo Grande is the City
Council.
B. Purpose of the General Plan
The General Plan is the foundation development policy document of the City of Arroyo Grande.
It defines the framework by which the physical, economic and human resources of the City are
to be managed and utilized over time. The General Plan is available for public review at City Hall
and on the City’s website.
As an informational document, the General Plan acts to clarify and articulate the intentions of
the City with respect to the rights and expectations of the public, property owners, and
prospective investors and business interests.
C. Status of the Adopted Elements of the City’s General Plan
State law requires that the General Plan include seven elements. These mandatory elements
must cover the following topics: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Safety, Noise, Conservation,
and Open Space. State law allows the City to adopt any additional general plan elements that
the City deems necessary. The City has adopted the Parks and Recreation, Agriculture, and
Economic Development Elements as optional elements, which have the same decision making
weight as the mandatory elements. Additionally, the elements of the general plan may combine
elements as it deems necessary. The City of Arroyo Grande General Plan combines Agriculture,
Open Space, and Conservation elements into a single element. The following is a breakdown of
the City’s General Plan:
Arroyo Grande
GP Elements
Required GP
Elements Examples of Topics Covered
Agriculture, Conservation
and Open Space Element
Agriculture
(Optional)
Define policy for the protection of significant
natural resources, providing the setting or
context for urban land use development and
incorporated City areas.
Conservation
Open Space
Fringe and Urban Area
Land Use Element
Land Use Provides for the types, density or intensity,
design and distribution of existing and potential
City areas.
Circulation/Transportation Circulation Identifies the street pattern and other circulation
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 5
Arroyo Grande
GP Elements
Required GP
Elements Examples of Topics Covered
Element infrastructure and transportation systems
needed to support the uses identified Land Use
Element.
Housing Element Housing Identifies and provides an analysis of existing and
projected housing needs, an evaluation of
housing constraints, a statement of goals,
policies, quantifiable objectives and financial
resources, and scheduled programs for the
preservation, improvement, and development of
housing.
Safety Element Safety Provides for the protection of lives and property
from the adverse effects of natural and man-
caused hazards.
Noise Element Noise Identifies the sources and outlines policy to
protect land uses against adverse noise levels
associated with necessary circulation and related
activity.
Economic Development
Element
Economic
Development
(Optional)
Defines the objectives, policies and proposals for
improved employment, business retention and
expansion, and fiscal growth of the community.
Park and Recreation
Element
Parks and
Recreation
(Optional)
Outlines these public facilities and services
desired to support the City and area residents,
businesses, and visitors’ leisure-time activities.
The City’s General Plan was comprehensively updated in October 2001. The City’s last major
update of the General plan was completed in January 2017, with the City’s approval of the E.
Cherry Avenue Specific Plan project. The following is a list of updates to the General Plan since
the document’s adoption:
Amendment No. Date Type Project
GPA 02-001 November 2003 Land Use Map Parkside Residences
GPA 02-002 June 2003 Land Use Map Berry Gardens Subarea 2
GPA 03-001 April 2003 Land Use Map Village Core Extension
GPA 03-002 September 2003 Land Use Map Agriculture Designations
GPA 03-003 March 2004 AG/C/OS Conversion of Prime Ag
Land, Farmworker
Housing, and Ag
Conservation Easements
GPA 04-001 Withdrawn by
applicant
Land Use Map Alder House
GPA 04-002 August 2004 Land Use Map Noyes Road Properties
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 6
Amendment No. Date Type Project
GPA 04-003 March 2005 Housing Element Housing Element Update
GPA 06-001 August 2006 Land Use Map Castillo Del Mar
GPA 06-002 November 2006 Circ & Parks and
Rec Elements
Bike and Pedestrian Plan
GPA 06-003 November 2007 Land Use Map S. Elm Multi-Family
Designation
GPA 06-004 February 2007 Land Use Map Sunset Drive
GPA 07-001 June 2007 AG/C/OS Creek Protection Policies
GPA 07-002 November 2007 Housing Element Affordable Housing
Requirements
GPA 07-003 Placed on hold due to
competing priorities
AG/C/OS Conservation Element
Update
GPA 09-001 September 2009 Land Use Map 2009 Land Use Map
Cleanup
GPA 09-001B October 2009 Land Use Map Pearwood Annexation
GPA 11-001 Withdrawn by
applicant
Land Use Map Hillcrest
GPA 11-002 October 2013 Housing Element 2007-15 Housing
Element
GPA 12-001 Withdrawn by
applicant
Land Use Map Alder House
GPA 12-002 July 2012 Circulation
Element
Bicycle and Trails Master
Plan
GPA 12-003 October 2012 Economic
Development
2012 Economic
Development Element
GPA 14-001 March 2014 Land Use Map Heights at Vista Del Mar
Annexation
GPA 14-002 October 2015 Land Use Element Courtland/Grand
GPA 14-003 March 2016 Housing Element 2014-19 Housing
Element
GPA 15-001 January 2017 AG/C/OS Creek
Map
Land Use Map
E. Cherry Avenue Specific
Plan
The following is a brief overview of actions taken in 2018 relative to each individual Element:
Land Use Element (Adopted October 2001)
No text amendments to the Land Use Element occurred in 2018.
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 7
Circulation Element (Adopted October 2001)
No text amendments to the Circulation Element occurred in 201 8. The Community
Development Department is currently working on an update to the Circulation Element and
environmental review document with an estimated public draft being available in fall 2019.
Housing Element (Adopted March 2016)
No text amendments to the Housing Element occurred in 201 8. The Community Development
Department spent time during 2018 processing a development application for the construction
of twenty (20) low-income housing units on S. Halcyon Road and eight (8) very-low housing
units on Brisco Road. Additional time was spent as part of the Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA) update group, tasked with providing a recommendation on the number of
housing units needed to be provided by the City during the upcoming Housing Element cycle .
Additional information associated with implementation of the Housing Element is available in
Appendix A. For reference, below are the City’s current RHNA allocations. This is a
representation of future housing needs for all income levels and while the City must plan for
this allocation in its Housing Element, the City is not currently required to produce these units.
Income Level RHNA Allocation by Income Units Permitted 2014 – 2018
Very Low 60 0
Low 38 10
Moderate 43 0
Above Moderate 101 107
Total 242 117
The following units were entitled, permitted, and/or finaled in 2018. This is compared to the
number of units permitted in 2017. With changes in reporting requirements for the State,
future Annual Reports will have comparable data between the current and previous years :
Income Level Entitled Permitted Finaled
2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018
Very Low
NA
8 0 0
NA
0
Low 20 4 0 0
Moderate 0 0 0 0
Above
Moderate 10 37 35 53
Total 38 41 35 53
Agriculture, Conservation, and Open Space Element (Adopted October 2001,
Amended June 2007)
No text amendments to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Open Space Element occurred in
2018.
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 8
Safety Element (Adopted October 2001)
No text amendments to the Safety Element occurred in 2018. The City is part of a countywide
team, which successfully obtained grant funding to produce a countywide Hazard Mitigation
Plan.
Noise Element (Adopted October 2001)
No text amendments to the Noise Element occurred in 2017.
Economic Development Element (Adopted October 2012)
No text amendments to the Economic Development Element occurred in 2017. The City is
currently working on the East Grand Avenue Master Plan in order to increase implementation
of the plan and investment by property owners.
Parks and Recreation Element (Adopted October 2001)
No text or map amendments to the Parks and Recreation Element occurred in 201 8. The City
has neared completion of a public review draft of the current Parks and Recreation Element
update. It is anticipated that the update will be adopted by the City Council in 2019.
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 9
Section 2 – Summary of Activity – 2018
The City of Arroyo Grande policies and programs identified in the General Plan include tools
already in place and used on a day-to-day basis in the City. Some of the various tools available
to further the City’s goals and objectives include the City Council’s annual goals and priorities,
Budget/Capital Improvement Program, Specific Plans and Master Plans of Development, Zoning
and Subdivision Regulations, CDBG Funds, etc.
Planning Commission
The City of Arroyo Grande Planning Commission is designated as the "Planning Agency", as
authorized by Section 65100 of the Government Code. The Commission has the discretionary
and advisory responsibilities that are authorized by Chapters 2.18, 16.04, and 16.08 of the
Arroyo Grande Municipal Code.
During 2018, the Planning Commission took action on the following:
Eight (8) conditional use permits;
One (1) lot merger;
Two (2) tentative tract maps;
Two (2) amended conditional use permits;
Three (3) planned sign programs;
Two (2) time extensions;
One (1) certificate of compliance; and
One (1) planned unit development.
In their advisory role, the Planning Commission forwarded recommendations to the City Council
that included two (2) land use entitlements and five (5) amendments to the Development Code.
Building and Life Safety Division
The City’s Building and Life Safety Division reviews project plans, issues permits, and provides
inspection services for compliance with California's building, fire, mechanical, electrical,
plumbing, energy, and disabled access codes, as well as city ordinances.
In 2018, the Building Division received 450 building permit applications and issued 414 building
permits. During the past year, City building inspectors made 1,569 construction and safety-
related inspections associated with building permit activity. The Building Division finaled and
completed 443 building permits in the same period.
Engineering Division
The City’s Engineering Division ensures all construction in the public right-of-way related to land
development entitlements comply with adopted codes and engineering standards. Additionally,
the Engineering Division, in partnership with the Public Works Department, is responsible for
coordinating the implementation of the City’s St ormwater Management Program.
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 10
In 2018, the Engineering Division received 192 permit applications, issued 32 stormwater
permits, and closed out 133 transportation, encroachment, and grading permits. Major work
efforts include the Brisco Interchange Project and environmental review and Bridge Street
Bridge and Traffic Way Bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects.
Planning Division
The Planning Division assists the community, the City Council, and the Planning Commission in
preparing for the City's future growth and development, as well as reviews current
development plans for consistency with local ordinances. The Planning Division administers the
Development Code and deals with transportation, housing, community facilities, public safety,
open space, design, and the use of land.
The Planning Division provides support staff to the Planning Commission, Architectural Review
Committee, and Downtown Parking Advisory Board. Administrative functions include the
scheduling of meetings, preparation of agendas, posting of hearing notices, and preparation of
minutes.
The Planning Division provides land use analysis, environmental review as required under the
California Environmental Quality Act, and prepares staff reports for the aforementioned
Commissions and Committees, including the City Council.
The Planning Division experienced significant personnel changes in 2018, including the
reduction in staff from 5.3 full time equivalent staff to 2 full time equivalent staff. This resulted
in impacts to a number of planning initiatives. Additionally, the City Council disbanded the City’s
Historical Resources Committee, Traffic Commission, and Parks & Recreation Commission to
alleviate impacts on staff resources. As a result, the focus of remaining staff shifted fro m long
range to current planning.
In 2018, the Planning Division received 178 applications for various land use entitlements
(permits), including, Development Code Amendments, land divisions, Conditional Use Permits,
Minor Use Permits, and Sign permits.
In 2018, the Planning Division spent time working on a number of work items. These work items
included:
Regulation of cannabis associated with Proposition 64;
The dissolution of the Historical Resources Committee, Traffic Commission, and Parks
and Recreation Commission;
Active Transportation Program grant application;
Subarea 1 of the East Cherry Avenue Specific Plan;
Expansion and demising of the former Kmart big box store;
The Fair Oaks Avenue/Halcyon Road Mixed Use Project; and
Administration of the City’s Affordable Housing Program.
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 11
General Plan Policies and Programs
Community Development Department staff is currently working on a number of items
specifically related to the General Plan, as referenced above. Prioritized work efforts for the
General Plan include the Circulation Element Update, defining attainable housing (A.14-1),
updating the housing in-lieu fee to be consistent with modern development costs (F.1 -3), the
East Grand Avenue Master Plan (ED7-1.1, LU5-7), the Halcyon Road Complete Streets Plan,
work associated with Camp Arroyo Grande and the Economic Development Strategic Plan
(ED6).
Arroyo Grande General Plan Annual Report - 2018 Page 12
Appendix A – Housing Element Reporting Forms
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