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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1995 1115 CC REG ITEM 08JA G E N D A R E P O R T C I T Y O F M 0 0 R P A R R TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Jaime Aguilera, Director of Community Deborah S. Traffenstedt, Senior Planner iTC ` :ORPARK, CALTC ^" City Council Meet ng of %f - f4' 199 DATE: November 6, 1995 (CC Meeting of 11- 15 -95) SUBJECT: CONSIDER INITIATING GENERAL PLAN LAND USE ELEMENT AND ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS TO CREATE A NEW OPEN SPACE LAND USE DESIGNATION AND ZONE DISTRICT THAT PROVIDES FOR MORE PROTECTION OF NATURAL OPEN SPACE AREAS, TO INCLUDE POLICY LANGUAGE WITHIN THE LAND USE ELEMENT RELATIVE TO PROTECTION OF GREENBELT AND OTHER OPEN SPACE BUFFER AREAS WITHIN THE CITY'S AREA OF INTEREST, AND TO ACCOMPLISH ZONING CODE MATRIX, TABLE 17.20.050, CORRECTIONS Background Section 17.60.020.A.1 of the Zoning Code provides that an amendment may be initiated by the adoption of a Resolution of Intention by the City Council requesting the Planning Commission to set the matter for study, hearing, and recommendation within a reasonable time. The same process is followed for City initiation of a General Plan amendment. The reasons for the proposed initiation of an amendment of the General Plan and Zoning Code are discussed below. Discussion Since the update of the Land Use Element in 1992, staff has become concerned that the existing open space land use designations and zone districts do not provide adequate protection for lands meant to remain in a natural condition. For example, uses allowed by zoning clearance, administrative permit, and conditional use permit in an Open Space Zone include, but are not limited to, the following: agriculture 1 single - family dwelling unit per 10 to 40 acres guest house or second dwelling unit farm workers housing contractors service and storage yards and buildings air fields and landing pads cemeteries churches communication facilities fire stations Honorable City Council November 6, 1995 Page 2 mineral resource development public utility facilities including offices and service yards campgrounds golf courses riding stables waste treatment facilities To ensure that certain open space areas are actually preserved as a natural area without development, there should be a land use designation and zone district that would be more restrictive as to allowed land uses. The new land use designation and zone district would then need to be adopted for open space areas within the City that were created for the express purpose of preserving those lands in a natural condition, such as in Mountain Meadows and Campus Hills. Another open space issue is the type of development that should be allowed in the Tierra Rejada Greenbelt and other rural buffer areas, within the City's Area of Interest, that act as a separation between cities. The County's Zoning Code allows for even more uses in the Open Space zone than what is listed above in this report. There have been past development proposals in the Tierra Rejada Greenbelt for a Renaissance Fair, child care center, recycling center (Worm Concern), and golf driving range, and there have been inquiries from current and potential property owners for radio towers, a cemetery, and golf courses. Typically, the City has responded that only agricultural and rural residential land uses (1 dwelling unit per 10 acres minimum lot size) that do not require urban services are acceptable. Having actual goal and policy language in the City's General Plan, that clarifies the City's position in regard to what types of land uses should be allowed within open space buffer areas, would allow staff to provide a consistent response when reviewing County project proposals. Staff is also proposing miscellaneous Zoning Code Matrix corrections, such as requiring a conditional use permit for a nursery operating in a residential or open space zone. Recommendation Adopt a resolution initiating a General Plan amendment and Zoning Code amendment. Attachment: Draft Resolution 00 1.934