A. 
Authority for Specific Plans. Pursuant to California Government Code § 65450 et seq., the City Council is authorized to prepare, adopt and implement Specific Plans for areas within the incorporated City boundary and/or the Woodland General Plan urban limit line.
B. 
Purpose of Specific Plans. The Specific Plan process provides an opportunity for unique and imaginative planning standards and regulations not provided through the application of standard zones. The Specific Plan should encourage the creative and imaginative planning of integrated, mixed-use developments which provide for a balance of residential, commercial, industrial, open space, and support land uses. A Specific Plan prepared in accordance with the requirements in this chapter is intended to serve as a policy and regulatory document, with policy direction and project development concepts consistent with the General Plan, and the development standards and zoning included to address the unique situations within the Specific Plan area to provide regulatory controls. Once approved, a Specific Plan will include the zoning standards for the properties within the Specific Plan boundaries. Thus, a Specific Plan must contain sufficient detail to implement provisions and to describe to developers how properties within the Plan area may be developed.
C. 
Intent.
1. 
Pursuant to State law, after the City Council has adopted a General Plan, the Director may, or if so directed by the City Council shall, prepare Specific Plans for the systematic implementation of the General Plan for all or part of the area covered by the General Plan. Specific Plans shall be utilized to implement the policy and intent of the General Plan and shall not be used to circumvent the General Plan process in which general development policy is determined. The preparation and processing of Specific Plans shall be a collaborative effort. As such, the City, applicant, and other agencies shall work collaboratively to create a plan that conforms to the General Plan goals and policies.
2. 
This section is intended to apply to areas designated "Specific Plan Areas" in the General Plan. As an integral part of the Specific Plan process described in this chapter, applicants shall comply with all infrastructure master plans adopted or being considered by the City pursuant to the General Plan, including, but not limited to, water, sewer, storm drainage, traffic, and parks.
3. 
In the event there is a discrepancy between standards adopted within a Specific Plan and comparable regulations of the City Zoning Code, the standards and regulations made part of the Specific Plan shall prevail.
D. 
Fees. All costs associated with review and processing of Specific Plans shall be the responsibility of the applicant. Upon the submittal of a formal Specific Plan application, the applicant shall be required to deposit and maintain an amount determined by staff to be sufficient to cover the estimated cost to process the application, including staff time, environmental review, consultant's and attorneys' fees and other costs. All deposits shall be made pursuant to a written agreement in a form approved by the Director for advance of funds.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024)
A Specific Plan shall be established by ordinance, and each Specific Plan shall include at a minimum the requirements for a Specific Plan established in California Government Code § 65451. In addition, the Specific Plan shall include the information provided on the application form and checklist for a Specific Plan submittal. It is expressly intended that information for projects which are long-term in nature or for which detailed planning may occur at a later date may provide some information at a conceptual level. If required elements are not provided, or are provided at a conceptual level, the Specific Plan shall include a schedule or program for providing these items and may be conditioned to require the provision of these items prior to the approval of development projects within the Specific Plan.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024)
A. 
Initiation Procedures. A Specific Plan shall be initiated by the City Council by the adoption of a resolution of intention. Specific Plans may be initiated for any lands located within the urban limit line of the General Plan; however, the City will not process a Specific Plan located in an area impacted by flooding until such time that a flood solution design has been approved and funding has been allocated.
B. 
Request for Specific Plan Process. A request for preparation of a Specific Plan may be made by a qualified applicant or by the City.
1. 
City. In the case of a City initiated and prepared Specific Plan, the City shall prepare a staff report to the City Council addressing the submittal requirements included in the "Request to Prepare a Specific Plan" for other applicants.
2. 
Applicants. A qualified applicant identified in § 17.96.020, Application Forms and Fees, wishing to use a Specific Plan to implement General Plan policy shall petition the City requesting permission to prepare a Specific Plan for their project. The applicant shall file a "Request to Prepare a Specific Plan" with the Director and shall pay the appropriate fees. The applicant is not required to own or otherwise control the majority of the property requested to be included within the Specific Plan area.
C. 
Pre-Initiation Conference. Upon receipt of the petition, the Director shall schedule a pre-initiation meeting with the applicant within 30 days to review the Specific Plan process. Upon review of the petition, the Director has the discretion to propose enlargements or modifications to the proposed Specific Plan boundaries and scope of the project in order to facilitate comprehensive planning.
D. 
Preparation of Staff Report Recommending Disposition of Petition. The Director shall prepare a staff report, including a recommendation to accept or deny the petition.
E. 
Consideration by Planning Commission. The petition and staff report shall be scheduled as an item on the agenda of a Planning Commission meeting. No noticing or public hearings are required for a petition for a Specific Plan. The Planning Commission shall make a recommendation to the City Council on whether the petition should be accepted or denied. Their recommendation should state whether they think the proposed boundaries of the Specific Plan area are appropriate and consistent with policies of the General Plan. The Director shall transmit the Planning Commission's written recommendation and complete record of the application to the City Council.
F. 
Consideration by City Council. The petition and staff report shall be scheduled as an item on the agenda of a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Upon scheduling the petition at a meeting of the City Council, the Director shall conduct an initial notification of the meeting. This notification shall be sent to all property owners within the Specific Plan area, as well as those within 300 feet of the Specific Plan boundaries. The City Council may act to deny the petition or accept the petition directing that the applicant and the City prepare a Specific Plan for the area as proposed by the applicant, or as recommended in the staff report prepared by the Director, or as the City Council may otherwise determine. If the City Council accepts the petition, the Council shall adopt a resolution initiating the Specific Plan process, may direct the formation of a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and may consider formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024)
A. 
Application. A qualified applicant shall submit an application for a Specific Plan on a form prescribed by the Director as prescribed in § 17.96.020, Application Forms and Fees. The Planning Commission or City Council may direct that specific information be provided at the time initial application is submitted. The application for a Specific Plan shall include accompanying diagrams and other pertinent information regarding proposed amendments to appropriate plans or proposals to amend zoning regulations. These diagrams and other information may consist of conceptual land use diagrams and objectives describing the proposed intent of urbanization. At a minimum, the Specific Plan should contain text and diagrams as specified in California Government Code § 65451. Project applicants should seek guidance from the Director prior to submitting an application for a Specific Plan.
B. 
Environmental Review. The City shall review the Specific Plan application and may identify information and technical studies necessary to complete an environmental review in compliance with CEQA.
C. 
Citizen's Advisory Committee. The City Council may appoint a Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) to assist in the preparation and/or review of any Specific Plan proposal.
D. 
Technical Advisory Committee. As directed by the City Council, the City may convene a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of representatives of key City departments and other agencies to review and advise on technical matters of consequence to the Specific Plan. The TAC shall meet with the applicant as necessary to discuss key project issues and shall review technical matters as appropriate. The TAC shall provide the applicant with information regarding City policy, standards, and guidelines in response to the proposed Specific Plan. The City has the authority to determine the adequacy of documents pursuant to subsection E, Preparation.
E. 
Preparation. Prior to the preparation of the plan or other technical studies, the applicant shall meet with appropriate City staff and/or the TAC to review assumptions, methodology, data and information resources, time frame and scope of work. These items shall be prepared to the satisfaction of the Director. The Specific Plan and accompanying technical documents and studies may be prepared by the applicant or applicant's representative. The Specific Plan, and related technical documents are subject to the review and approval of the City. The Director has the authority to require revisions to technical information deemed necessary. In the event that consensus between the applicant and the City is not reached, the Director may require that alternatives to the plan be prepared and submitted for review. These alternatives may be required in order to meet the policies of the General Plan.
F. 
Staff Review of Draft Documents. In order to initiate the City's formal application review process, the applicant shall indicate in writing the submittal of a formal "request to initiate staff review" along with all appropriate draft documents, such as draft technical studies and the draft Specific Plan. During its review, City staff may find the documents incomplete and may request additional information. The project shall not proceed further until all additional information is deemed adequate and complete.
G. 
Public Review and Comment. Following publication of the CEQA environmental document, the environmental document shall be circulated for public review and comment as provided by State law and the City's procedures for preparation and processing of environmental documents.
H. 
Planning Commission Consideration of Specific Plan.
1. 
The Planning Commission shall conduct at least one public hearing on a proposed Specific Plan and make recommendations to the City Council in conformance with the provisions of § 17.96.090, Conduct of Public Hearing.
2. 
Public Notice. At least 10 days before the date of public hearing, the Director shall provide notice as specified in § 17.96.080, Public Notice. Notice of the hearing also shall be mailed or delivered to any local agencies expected to provide essential facilities or services to the property that is the subject of the Specific Plan.
3. 
Recommendation to Council. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall make a recommendation on the proposed Specific Plan to the City Council on whether to adopt, reject or modify the proposed Specific Plan or amendments. The recommendation shall include the reasons for the recommendation and findings related to the supporting the recommendation. The Director shall transmit the Planning Commission's written recommendation and complete record of the application to the City Council.
I. 
City Council Consideration of Specific Plan.
1. 
City Council Hearing. After receiving the report from the Planning Commission, the City Council shall hold a noticed public hearing in conformance with § 17.96.090, Conduct of Public Hearing.
2. 
Public Notice. At least 10 days before the date of public hearing, the Director shall provide notice as specified in § 17.96.080, Public Notice. The notice shall include a summary of the Planning Commission's recommendation. Notice of the hearing also shall be mailed or delivered to any local agencies expected to provide essential facilities or services to the property that is the subject of the Specific Plan.
3. 
City Council Action. The City Council shall review the Planning Commission's recommendation. At the conclusion of the hearing, the City Council shall act by resolution to adopt, reject, or modify the Specific Plan or proposed amendment.
4. 
If the City Council, prior to approval of the Specific Plan, desires changes or modifies a major or significant portion of a proposed Specific Plan recommended by the Planning Commission, then the substantial changes and/or modifications must first be referred back to the Planning Commission for consideration, unless the Planning Commission considered similar changes and/or modifications as part of its deliberation.
J. 
Fees for Processing Specific Plans. The City Council may establish as a part of the resolution adopting a Specific Plan a fee or fees to be applied to a Specific Plan area in order to reimburse the City and/or the applicant for the costs of preparation, processing, and administration of the Specific Plan. Actual costs of said preparation and processing of the plan shall be assessed based on relative benefits to the affected property owners.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024)