A.

The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures for adoption, maintenance, and administration of specific plans in accordance with the provisions of Sections 65450 through 65457 of the California Government Code, and as may be required for the implementation of the general plan.

B.

The purpose of a specific plan is to establish policies and development standards that address area-specific issues. Specific plans are intended to carry out the general plan in one of three ways:

1.

By providing clearer definition of planning policy applicable to the specific plan area; and/or

2.

Regulating land use for a particular geographic area in greater detail than that provided by Title 17 (zoning); and/or

3.

Bringing together detailed policies and regulations into a focused development scheme.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

Specific plans are intended to:

A.

Provide a planning framework to guide future public and private developments and promote flexibility while ensuring a coherent community design.

B.

Encourage creative approaches to the use of land, through variation in the location of buildings and the appropriate mix of land use activities and dwelling types.

C.

Promote and create public and private open space as an integral part of land development design.

D.

Provide development regulations for an area without changing citywide ordinances.

E.

Provide the ability to respond to changing conditions in the specific plan area without the need for a zoning ordinance amendment.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

The following shall serve as a guide for the appropriate use of specific plans:

A.

Where unique results or treatments are desired or in areas having sensitive environmental qualities; and/or

B.

Where there is a complicated mixture of conditions such as new development, deteriorated structures, underutilized land and mixed uses; and/or

C.

Where there is a need to incorporate considerable detail in a proposed development project that would justify its approval; and/or

D.

Where it is more cost-effective to include with the proposed project a master environmental impact report so that subsequent projects within the specific plan area would require no further environmental documentation, or require only focused environmental reports.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

Specific plans shall be consistent with the general plan.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

A.

Specific plans shall be consistent with the density standard prescribed by the general plan. Transfer of density may occur in the specific plan provided that the total density attributable to the specific plan area shall not be exceeded, except as specified in Subsection 17.46.050.B.

B.

As an incentive to preserving large areas of protected open space, preserving historically and culturally significant resources, and/or developing inclusionary housing programs for the provision of affordable housing, the city council may approve a density bonus, subject to the provisions in Chapter 17.39 (density bonus).

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

A specific plan may include written text, maps, diagrams, and descriptions of allowable uses. At a minimum, specific plans shall include:

A.

A statement of the relationship of the specific plan to the general plan.

B.

A map indicating the distribution, location, and extent of land uses, including open space, within the area covered by the plan.

C.

All permitted uses and land use densities.

D.

Standards and criteria by which development will proceed, and standards for the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable.

E.

A map and/or text specifying the proposed distribution, location, extent, and intensity of major components of public and private transportation, sewage, water, drainage, energy, and other essential facilities in the specific plan area.

F.

Public works projects, programs, and implementation measures necessary to carry out the specific plan's stated purpose.

G.

A program of implementation measures, including regulations, programs, public works projects and financing measures necessary to carry out these provisions of the specific plan.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

A.

Application Filing and Processing. Applications for a specific plan shall be filed and processed in accordance with Chapter 17.42 (zoning compliance certificates-conditional use permits-variances). Additionally, for all specific plan applications, including amendments to existing specific plans, a general plan amendment shall be processed. The general plan amendment application shall be processed concurrently with the specific plan application and shall be subject to the processing and noticing requirements outlined in Chapter 17.48 (amendments).

B.

Application Fees. Application fees shall be collected in accordance with Chapter 17.42 (zoning compliance certificates-conditional use permits-variances).

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

Specific plans shall be approved by the city council. The city council is authorized to approve, conditionally approve, modify, or deny a specific plan application.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

The planning commission shall hold a public hearing to make a recommendation on specific plan applications. The planning commission's recommendation shall be forwarded to the city council. The city council shall hold a public hearing prior to acting on a specific plan application.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

Prior to approving a specific plan as prescribed by this chapter, the approving authority shall make all the following findings:

A.

The specific plan is consistent with the intent of the goals and policies of the general plan as a whole and is not inconsistent with any element thereof.

B.

The specific plan prescribes reasonable controls and standards for affected land uses to ensure compatibility and integrity of those uses with other established uses.

C.

The specific plan provides reasonable property development rights while protecting environmentally sensitive land uses and species.

D.

The specific plan provides for the protection of the health, safety, and/or general welfare of the community.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

A.

Upon approval of the final specific plan by the city council, the land use map shall be amended to identify the area covered by the plan. The city council's approval of the final specific plan and the establishment of zoning shall be by ordinance.

B.

The approved final specific plan shall be filed in the office of the city clerk and in the community and economic development department.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

Specific plans may be amended or repealed in the same manner as originally adopted.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)

Development standards, procedural regulations and other provisions of this code shall apply within a specific plan except where they conflict with provisions of the specific plan.

(Ord. No. 756, § 2, 10-4-2023)