The City Council hereby finds and determines as follows:
A.
On April 8, 1986, the resident voters of the City of Dixon approved an initiative ordinance which authorized but did not require the City Council to limit annual residential growth in the City
to a number of new dwelling units equal to three (3%) percent or less of the total number of housing units existing on December 31st of each prior calendar year, said limitation to begin in [1986] the year of the adoption of said measure. |
A copy of said initiative ordinance is on file in the office of the City Clerk and is commonly known as and referred to as "Measure B." Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is the intent of the City Council to implement the three percent (3%) growth limitation in Measure B.
B.
Measure B states that:
the unit [growth] limit is intended to be designated within the limits of the City's General Plan Goals, Objectives and Policies, in order to arrive at an approximate mix of eighty (80%) percent single family housing units (including single family attached duplex units) to twenty (20%) percent multiple dwelling units. |
C.
In addition, Measure B is made subject to certain exceptions set forth in Paragraph Nos. 4 and 5 of the "findings," which are included within the adopted text of Measure B.
D.
Paragraph No. 4 of the findings included the following exception to the residential dwelling unit growth limit:
In cases where the new number of units to be built in any one year (being a number equal to three (3%) percent of the dwelling units existing in the City during the previous year) is found by the Council to be insufficient for a particular Residential Development Project, when considered with other proposed units to be built during any one year, an exception may be made for a larger number of units in any one year, provided that (a) such exceptions do not occur more than two years in a row, and provided (b) in no case will the total number of units approved exceed the average of three (3%) percent per year over each consecutive five year period, and (c) that exceptions will be made only for the below-listed categories and criteria, as follows: |
1. Public Services. Where the costs of public services, utilities, infrastructure or school construction borne by a particular residential project and required by the City, are found by the Council, on the evidence presented to it, to prevent such project from being economically feasible, considering the number of dwelling units allowed to be built together with such public services, et cetera, an exception may be granted by the Council; |
2. Regional/Community Housing Needs. Where, on the evidence presented, the Council finds it necessary to increase the number of residential units to be built in any one year above said three (3%) percent to meet regional/community housing needs, an exception may be made by the Council. |
E.
Paragraph No. 5 of the findings provides that its residential growth limitations do not apply to "Any Planned Development or Unit thereof that received the approval of the City Council prior to the enactment of this measure." It also exempted "Housing projects in the Central Dixon Redevelopment Area."
F.
On August 11, 1987, the City Council adopted its Resolution No. 8759 which provided the City Council, City staff and prospective residential developers with limited procedures and standards for use in the implementation of Measure B. Subsequent to the adoption of Resolution 8759, the City Council adopted additional resolutions and entered into development agreements, all of which were intended by the City Council to allocate residential development allotments to various residential subdivisions within the City for specified multi-year periods commencing with the enactment of Measure B in 1986 and concluding with the 2000 calendar year.
G.
At a consolidated municipal election held on April 12, 1988, the City's electorate considered Measure D, an advisory measure relating to the implementation of Measure B. In deciding Measure D, the electorate was asked to determine whether a policy which limited the carry-over of unused residential housing allotments by developers from the year in which they were first granted into future years was "Not Restrictive Enough," "Fair" or "Too Restrictive."
The policy considered permitted a developer to carry over into the next calendar year only so many unused allotments as, when totaled with the residential housing allotments issued in that next calendar year, would total one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the allotments actually used in the prior year. A plurality of forty-three and seven-tenths percent (43.7%) of the electorate considered the policy to be "Fair." Approximately thirty-seven percent (37%) of the electorate desired a more restrictive view of carry-overs and considered it to be "Not Restrictive Enough." Only nineteen and one-half percent (19.5%) of the electorate sought a more liberal carry-over policy or considered it to be "Too Restrictive."
The City Council has considered the results of this advisory vote on Measure D in determining the extent and manner in which the allotment pool provided for in this chapter should operate. The allotments issued by the City will be usable by the developer to whom they are issued only during the calendar year in which they are issued. Only a limited basis for extending the life of the allotment is provided for. However, the allotments which are not used are not completely extinguished. Instead, they remain available for reallocation during the next four (4) calendar years. If not allocated and used after five (5) years, the allotments are usable only for affordable housing.
The City Council considers this procedure to be consistent both with Measure B and Measure D.
H.
Paragraph 7 of Measure B provided that it would be in effect until the year 1996, when it would again be placed on the ballot for reconsideration by the City electorate. At the general municipal election on November 5, 1996, Measure B was reconsidered by the City electorate and was reaffirmed by more than a majority of the City electorate voting on the ballot measure.
I.
In 1995 and 1996, the City annexed to its territory a total of one thousand three hundred thirty-two (1,332) acres of largely vacant agricultural lands to provide future growth areas for both residential developments and nonresidential developments. Prior to annexing these areas, the City adopted amendments to its 1993 General Plan which provided plans for streets, highways, and public and private land uses within these future growth areas.
J.
One of the future growth areas, consisting of approximately two hundred ten (210) acres, is known as the "Southpark Annexation Area." It is depicted in the General Plan as providing building sites for approximately six hundred eighty (680) single-family residential dwellings and one hundred thirty (130) multifamily residential dwelling units.
The Southpark Annexation Area is currently undergoing additional environmental review and consideration for amendments to the General Plan and zoning in anticipation of near-term commencement of residential development. As part of this process, the City will strive to meet the Measure B target of twenty percent (20%) multifamily housing and that mechanisms are considered in the entitlement process that ensure the development of multifamily housing concurrently with the development of any adjacent single-family housing.
K.
A second future growth area, consisting of approximately four hundred seventy-seven (477) acres, is known as the "Southwest Annexation Area." It is depicted in the draft Southwest Dixon specific plan as providing building sites for approximately five hundred ninety (590) low density residential dwelling units and six hundred thirty-one (631) medium density residential dwelling units, or a total of one thousand two hundred twenty-one (1,221) low and medium density dwelling units, in addition to providing commercial and employment uses.
L.
A third future growth area, consisting of six hundred forty-three (643) acres, is known as the "Northeast Annexation Area" and contains no residential land uses and is depicted in the General Plan and the Northeast Quadrant specific plan as being available for development for commercial and industrial uses.
M.
In 1996, the annexation of the Southpark Annexation Area and the Southwest Annexation Area (referred to herein as "the future residential growth areas") to the City was challenged by a statutory validating proceeding filed in Solano County Superior Court. This litigation was filed by a private party pursuant to Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 860. It named various parties, including the City, the Solano Local Agency Formation Commission ("LAFCO") and private landowners, as defendants, respondents and real parties in interest. In 1998, the litigation was resolved in favor of the City and Solano LAFCO through entry of a judgment by the Solano County Superior Court. That judgment was subsequently affirmed on appeal by the California Court of Appeal (First District).
N.
The City General Plan and its housing element have established a set of goals, objectives and policies ("guidelines") to guide the City in matters relating to development within the future growth areas including the future residential growth areas of the City. Those guidelines include:
The City shall maintain the 'small town character' of Dixon to some extent... The provisions of Measure 'B' currently define the upper limits of permissible growth, and while these have general support, voters in the future may act to refine some of their aspects. |
The City shall phase development in an orderly, contiguous manner in order to maintain a compact development pattern and to avoid premature investment for the extension of public facilities and services. New urban development shall occur only in areas where municipal services are available and where adequate service capacity exists. In areas where proposed development would require major new facility expansion to ensure the provisions of municipal services, adequate service capacity should be in place prior to the approval of the proposed development. |
The City shall manage growth to the extent that the local service networks can support it. |
The City shall focus future growth initially in areas already designated as appropriate locations for such growth, in the interest of providing services in the most cost-effective manner. |
The City shall encourage new residential development that is compatible with the City's predominately low density, small town character and scale. |
The City shall identify adequate residential development sites which will be made available through appropriate zoning and development standards, with public services and facilities needed to facilitate and encourage the development of a variety of housing for all income levels, including rental housing, factory built housing, emergency shelters and transitional housing in order to meet the community's housing goals. |
The City shall regulate new residential housing development so as to foster a variety of housing types, densities and costs (including low- and moderate-income units) to meet the current and future housing needs of all Dixon residents while preserving the character of the individual neighborhoods. |
The City shall work toward the historic balanced mix of housing types and densities, in accordance with the eighty (80%) percent low density, single family distribution defined in Measure 'B' as the basis for annual limits for housing construction approvals. |
The City shall allow the housing supply to expand at a maximum rate of three (3%) percent per year, based upon the total numbers of units existing in the City as of the last day of the preceding year, in accordance with Measure B. |
The City shall permit moderate density residential development, characterized by smaller lot sizes and greater proportion of attached housing units, in those portions of the Planning Area characterized by a transition from single family residential to multiple family or non-residential uses. |
O.
In anticipation of future residential and nonresidential growth in the three (3) annexation areas listed above ("the future growth areas"), the City has been engaged in a process of capital improvement planning to ensure the provision of the essential public infrastructure needed for such growth, including, but not limited to, domestic water service facilities, storm drainage water facilities, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, streets, highways, freeway interchanges, railroad grade separations, public parks, public recreational facilities, and public administrative and safety facilities and equipment. The City has also evaluated the estimated costs associated with the financing of such essential public infrastructure and facilities and the financial resources available to the City to finance the costs of constructing such essential public infrastructure and facilities.
P.
The City Council desires to finance such essential public infrastructure in a manner which is fair and just to both the current residents and businesses of the City and to the future residents and businesses whose essential public infrastructure needs, as depicted in the General Plan and its ongoing capital facilities planning, will need to be addressed by the City as development occurs in the future growth areas. The City Council has now adopted, and will routinely update, a "Facilities and Equipment Study" containing the detailed financial information needed to assist the City Council in establishing the various financing mechanisms that will be needed to fund the future construction of certain items of infrastructure and equipment required for the development of the future growth areas.
Q.
At present, the City has only limited storm drainage capacity available to it to service the future growth areas. The City has prepared a storm drainage report which depicts and describes the storm drainage requirements for both its current urbanized areas and the future growth areas. Providing a solution for the storm drainage needs of the City may, at a minimum, require the City to enter into an agreement or agreements with other public agencies which provide for the disposal of such storm waters.
R.
The solution to the storm drainage needs of the City will also require the City to finance and construct storm drainage facilities to transport, detain, and possibly treat storm drainage waters emanating from the future growth areas. The process by which these storm drainage issues are to be resolved has been tentatively determined, but until such matters are finally resolved, necessary agreements reached with other public agencies, and the required storm drainage is constructed, the City will have only limited capacity to serve the future growth areas.
S.
The City operates a wastewater collection and treatment system (the "wastewater system") under permits issued by the State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board – Central Valley Division ("the RWQCB"). In 1997, the RWQCB issued a cease and desist order requiring the City to comply with the requirements of the permits that it has issued for the operation of the wastewater system. Although the City has made major improvement to the wastewater system since that date in an effort to bring its operations into full compliance with those permits, the staff of the RWQCB has advised the City staff it believes that certain conditions of the RWQCB permits relating to protection of groundwater are not being met by the City.
T.
Extensive tests are now being undertaken by the City to determine if it is complying with these conditions as required by the RWQCB. If the City is not complying with these conditions, further extensive improvements to the wastewater system may need to be made in order to bring the City into compliance with the permit conditions. The present uncertainty relating to these matters suggests that until they are resolved in a manner acceptable to the RWQCB, the City will have only limited capacity in its wastewater system to serve the future growth areas.
U.
The City Council is desirous of ensuring that essential public infrastructure and facilities for urban development in the future growth areas will be available at the time particular developments in the three (3) future growth areas are proposed to the City and that the appropriate financing, necessary for the construction of this infrastructure, is likewise available. The City Council is also concerned that the City has the staff and financial resources available to provide needed public services, such as police protection and fire protection, to the future growth areas when those services will be needed.
V.
The Dixon Unified School District has revised its facility plan for the present and future primary and secondary schools serving the present urbanized areas of the City and the growth areas in which future residential development will occur. School enrollment will increase as urban growth occurs in the future residential growth areas. The district presently has not identified all necessary sources of local funding for its future educational infrastructure needs and consequently its ability to provide service to the future residential growth areas is limited. The City Council desires that development of the future residential growth areas will not unnecessarily impact the educational infrastructure operated by the District.
W.
The City's fair share of the housing needs determination of the San Francisco Bay region, as adopted by the Association of Bay Area Governments ("ABAG") for the 1988 to 1997 period, was six hundred ninety-nine (699) units. The City was able to meet that need during that period notwithstanding the residential growth restriction in Measure B.
X.
The City's fair share of the housing needs determination of the San Francisco Bay region, as adopted by the Association of Bay Area Governments ("ABAG"), for the 1999 to 2006 period is one thousand four hundred sixty-four (1,464) units. The City should, given favorable economic conditions, be able to meet the allocated housing need assigned to it by ABAG during the 1999 to 2006 period notwithstanding the residential growth restrictions contained in Measure B.
Y.
The City General Plan and its housing element recommend a variety of programs and policies intended to provide housing for very low income households, low income households and moderate income households including, but not limited to, the following:
The City shall assist in the development of adequate housing to meet the needs of low and moderate income households. |
The City shall address and assist, to the extent possible, special housing needs, such as those of handicapped [by which the State law means Persons with disabilities], elderly, large households, farm workers, families with female heads of household and families in need of emergency shelter. |
The City shall recognize the need for alternative styles and types of housing, and support the development of townhouses, split-lot duplexes, condominiums and apartments in suitable locations, subject to appropriate review considerations. |
The City shall encourage the provision of moderately priced housing in all larger scale development, so as to avoid a concentration of such housing in any one area. |
Use Measure B to implement the goals and policies of the Housing Element and to achieve quantified objectives for housing units within each income category. |
Establish affordable housing objectives consistent with the Regional Fair Share Allocations; Revise Measure B annual allocation procedures to provide incentives for performance. |
Establish an annual objective for lower-income housing units as Measure B allocations are determined. Establish a City policy that gives priority for allocations to development projects that include multifamily sites or otherwise fulfill the established lower-income housing objectives. |
Utilize the Measure B allocation process to designate a portion of the available allocations for either rental or owner-occupied projects which will provide lower-income units. |
Allocate at least twenty (20%) percent of future residential development permits under Measure B to multiple-family housing. |
The City shall encourage and assist non-profit housing providers, both public and private, to reduce development costs in order to increase production of below-market-rate housing. |
Z.
That notwithstanding the foregoing, the City Council recognizes a continuing need to provide opportunities for affordable housing. Therefore, this chapter provides that a residential development allotment not utilized by developers during the five (5) year life of an allotment shall thereafter remain available for the provision of affordable housing. This provision is in conformance with the intent of Measure B in that the overall rate of residential growth since adoption of Measure B would in no event exceed three percent (3%).
AA.
Measure B states that its purpose is as follows:
It is the purpose [of Measure B] to augment the policies of this City as stated in its General Plan and Ordinances, regarding the regulation of residential development. To accomplish this purpose, the City needs to control its annual proposed residential Development to achieve a balanced housing mix. It is the intent of the people of the City of Dixon to realize a steady, controlled rate of balanced residential growth. This controlled growth is to assure that the services provided by the City and other service agencies will be adequate in the foreseeable future. Services should be provided in such a way as to avoid overextension or scarcity of resources of existing facilities, to bring deficient services or facilities up to full operating standards, and utilize long range planning techniques to minimize the cost of the expansion of facilities to the public. |
BB.
It is the intent of the City Council in adopting this Measure B Residential Growth Implementation Plan to implement the purposes of Measure B by providing a process, consistent with the stated intent of Measure B, for the annual allocation and use of residential development allotments for residential development construction in the five (5) year period with the calendar year 2002 being the fifth year in that period and the calendar year 1998 being the first year in that period. The City Council finds that this method of calculating the maximum amount of housing allotments that will be approved by the City Council over any consecutive five (5) year period is consistent with and best implements the stated intent of Measure B that through its implementation a "steady, controlled rate of balanced residential growth be maintained."
CC.
The public health, safety and welfare interests of the residents of the City promoted by the adoption of this Implementation Plan include:
1.
The interests of the City and its residents in ensuring that the essential public infrastructure, facilities and public services provided by the City to the future growth areas are properly and effectively staged and financed in a manner which will, among other factors, not use existing essential public infrastructure and facilities beyond their capacity, and will, to the extent possible, allow the City to bring needed new essential public infrastructure, facilities and services into operation in a cost-efficient and timely manner.
2.
The interests of the City and its residents in ensuring that the Dixon Unified School District will have the time and financial resources necessary to properly and effectively finance, build and staff the educational facilities needed to meet the education needs of the residents of the future residential growth areas.
3.
The interests of the City and its residents in ensuring that residential growth in the future residential growth areas contain the mix of single-family and multifamily units that is contemplated by Measure B.
4.
The interests of the City and its residents in ensuring that a balance of housing types and values will be provided in the future residential growth areas which will accommodate a variety of households, including very low, low and moderate income households.
DD.
The enactment of this chapter will not reduce or adversely affect the housing opportunities of the region of California within which the City is situated and is compatible with State of California housing goals and regional housing needs because it includes inducements for the development of a variety of housing types, including affordable housing, designed to meet the needs of households of all income levels.
EE.
This chapter represents a reasonable balance and accommodation of the public health, safety and welfare interests advanced by growth management as envisioned by Measure B on one hand and the public health, safety and welfare interests advanced by the continued provision of safe, sanitary and affordable housing on the other hand, because it advances the interests set forth in subsection CC of this section, without adversely impacting the City's regional housing obligations as evidenced in subsections V, W and X of this section. To the extent this chapter may be determined to reduce the housing opportunities of the region, the findings contained in subsection CC of this section as to the public health, safety and welfare interests promoted by the adoption of this chapter are hereby found by the City Council to justify any such reduction in the housing opportunities of the region.
FF.
It is the purpose of this chapter to augment the policies of the City as set forth in the City General Plan and to all other plans, ordinances and resolutions adopted by the City Council under the authorization granted to it by Measure B for the regulation of residential growth within certain areas of the City.
GG.
In order to accomplish the above findings and determinations, and to fulfill the intent of Measure B as approved by the City electorate in 1986 and in 1996, the City must be able to effectively and reasonably control the annual rate and residential mix of proposed residential development, on a year-to-year basis over five (5) year cycles.
(Ord. 24-002 § 5 (Exh. A))