The purpose of this chapter is to provide a process for preparing, processing, reviewing, adopting, and amending specific plans in compliance with Government Code Section 65450 et seq., or as that section may be amended or replaced from time to time.
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
A. 
General Plan implementation. After the Council has adopted the General Plan, or any amendment to the General Plan, the Department may, or as directed by the Council, shall prepare or cause the preparation of specific plans for the systematic implementation of the General Plan.
B. 
Specific plan adoption.
1. 
Specific plans, including any associated conditions, programs, regulations, and proposed legislation shall be adopted by ordinance in compliance with Government Code Article 8 and Section 65453(a).
2. 
A specific plan shall replace the base zone(s) for the subject property, and the development standards and guidelines identified in the specific plan shall take precedence over the general standards and guidelines contained in this Development Code.
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
A. 
Specific plan required. A specific plan shall be required in compliance with Section 17.230.010 (Purposes of Special Purpose Zones), and shall be prepared, processed, approved and implemented, or disapproved in compliance with this chapter.
B. 
Flexibility and innovation. A specific plan is designed to provide for flexibility, innovative use of land resources and development, a variety of housing and other development types, and an effective and safe method of pedestrian and vehicular circulation.
C. 
Commission and Council review. An application for a specific plan shall be considered by the Commission and Council.
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
A specific plan or its amendment may be initiated in the following manner:
A. 
Council. By the Council with or without a recommendation from the Commission;
B. 
Commission. By the Commission; or
C. 
Property owner(s). By an application filed by the owner(s) of one or more parcels that would be the subject of the specific plan. If initiated by a property owner(s), the following is strongly encouraged.
1. 
Pre-application conference. A pre-application conference with the Pre-Development Review Committee before the filing of a specific plan application is strongly encouraged, in compliance with Section 17.600.040 (Application Preparation and Filing).
2. 
Neighborhood meeting(s). A neighborhood meeting is strongly encouraged with surrounding property owners and arranged by the project proponent(s).
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
If initiated by a property owner(s), the specific plan application or an amendment shall comply with all of the following.
A. 
Filing. An application for a specific plan shall be filed and processed in compliance with Chapter 17.600 (Permit Application Filing and Processing). The application shall include the information and materials specified by the Department for specific plan applications, together with the required fee in compliance with the City's Planning Fee Schedule. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide evidence in support of the finding required by Section 17.635.080 (Adoption of Specific Plan), below.
B. 
Project review procedures. Following receipt of a completed application, the Director shall investigate the facts necessary for action consistent with the purpose of this chapter.
C. 
Notice and hearings.
1. 
Public hearings shall be required for the Commission's recommendation and the Council's action on a specific plan or an amendment.
2. 
The public hearings shall be scheduled once the Director finds the application complete in compliance with Section 17.600.070 (Initial Application Review).
3. 
Notice of the public hearings shall be given and the hearings shall be conducted in compliance with Chapter 17.710 (Public Hearings).
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
If initiated by a property owner(s), the specific plan application shall comply with all of the following.
A. 
Organization of specific plan. The applicant shall prepare a draft specific plan for review by the City that includes detailed information in the form of text and diagram(s), organized in compliance with Government Code Section 65451.
B. 
Required information. The following information shall be provided:
1. 
The distribution, location, and extent of land uses proposed within the area covered by the specific plan, including open space areas;
2. 
The proposed distribution, extent, intensity, and location of major components of public and private circulation/transportation, drainage, energy, sewers, solid waste disposal, water, and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the specific plan area and needed to support the proposed land uses;
3. 
Standards, criteria, and guidelines by which development would proceed, and standards for the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable;
4. 
A program of implementation measures, including financing, regulations, programs, and public works projects, necessary to carry out the proposed land uses, infrastructure, and development and conservation standards and criteria;
5. 
A discussion of the relationship of the specific plan to the goals, policies, and actions of the General Plan; and
6. 
Additional information deemed to be necessary by the Director based on the characteristics of the area to be covered by the specific plan; applicable goals, policies, and actions of the General Plan; or any other issue(s) determined by the Director to be significant.
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
If initiated by a property owner(s), the draft specific plan shall be processed in the same manner as required for General Plans by state law, and as follows.
A. 
Director's evaluation.
1. 
After the filing of a draft specific plan, the Director shall review the draft plan to determine whether it is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
2. 
If the draft plan is not in compliance, it shall be returned to the applicant with written specification(s) as to why it does not comply, and with suggested revisions to ensure compliance.
3. 
When a draft plan is returned by the applicant to the Department and the Director determines it is complete and in compliance with this chapter, the plan shall be deemed to be accepted for processing, in compliance with Section 17.600.070 (Initial Application Review).
B. 
Environmental review required. The draft specific plan shall be subject to environmental review as identified in Section 17.600.090 (Environmental Review).
C. 
Notification and consultation with California Native American tribes required.
1. 
In compliance with Government Code Section 65352.3 and prior to the adoption or amendment of a specific plan, proposed on or after March 1, 2005, the City shall conduct consultations with California Native American tribes that are on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission for the purpose of preserving or mitigating impacts to features, objects, or places described in Public Resources Code Sections 5097.9 and 5097.993 that are located within the City's jurisdiction.
2. 
From the date on which a California Native American tribe is contacted by the City in compliance with this subsection, the tribe shall have 90 days in which to request a consultation, unless a shorter timeframe has been agreed to by that tribe.
3. 
Consistent with the guidelines developed and adopted by the State Office of Planning and Research in compliance with Government Code Section 65040.2, the City shall protect the confidentiality of information concerning the specific character, identity, location, and use of those features, objects, and places.
D. 
Staff report. A written staff report shall be prepared for the draft specific plan that shall include detailed recommendations and, if appropriate, suggested changes to the text and/or diagrams of the specific plan, as determined to be necessary to make it acceptable for adoption.
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
A. 
Mandatory finding for adoption. A specific plan may only be adopted if first found consistent with the General Plan in compliance with Government Code Section 65454.
B. 
Method of adoption. The specific plan shall be adopted by ordinance in compliance with Government Code Section 65453(a).
C. 
Findings for projects under a specific plan. No local public works project may be approved, no tentative map or parcel map for which a tentative map was not required may be approved, and no Development Code Text or Zoning Map amendment may be approved within an area covered by a specific plan unless it is first found consistent with the adopted specific plan in compliance with Government Code Section 65455
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)
A. 
Process for amendment. A specific plan may be amended through the same procedure specified by this chapter for the adoption of a specific plan.
B. 
Mandatory finding for amendment. A specific plan may only be amended if first found consistent with the General Plan in compliance with Government Code Section 65454.
C. 
Frequency of amendments. The specific plan may be amended as often as deemed necessary by the Council in compliance with Government Code Section 65453.
(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)