Title:
Title
2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program
End
FileID
File ID: 2020-01567
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution approving the 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program.
Contact: Greg Sandlund, Acting Planning Director, (916) 808-8931, Community Development Department
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Commission Recommendations
3-Resolution
4-Exhibit A - 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program
5-2040 General Plan Vision & Guiding Principles
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On August 13, 2020, the Planning and Design Commission reviewed various recommendations from its Ad Hoc Committee, one of which included how the Commission and the City Council could establish/prioritize policy focus areas and action items. These priorities would be considered as part of an annual Planning and Zoning Work Program, which would be adopted by the City Council each year in January. The process would be as follows:
1. August Planning and Design Commission Meeting: During the Director’s report, staff will remind Commissioners to start thinking of their policy priorities.
2. September Planning and Design Commission Meeting: Staff presents the draft one-year work program, answers questions, and then receives comments and recommended policy initiatives.
3. October Planning and Design Commission Meeting: Staff presents the recommended work program with additional analysis on any commissioner-recommended policy initiatives. The report will indicate whether the current work program:
a. already encompasses the recommended policy initiatives;
b. includes the recommended policy initiatives and what policy initiative may need to be postponed; or
c. does not include the recommended policy initiative for the coming year.
The Commission would then forward its recommendations to the City Council.
4. December Law and Legislation Committee: Staff presents the recommended work program highlighting the recommended changes by the Planning and Design Commission.
5. January City Council Meeting: Staff recommends the City Council adopt the Annual Planning and Zoning Work Program that reflects recommendations from the Planning and Design Commission and Law & Legislation Committee.
Policy Considerations: The 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program should reflect the goals of the 2035 General Plan and the adopted Vision and Guiding Principles of the 2040 General Plan Update (Attachment 3). Staff recommends that the Commission, Law & Legislation Committee, and City Council reflect on these policies when considering the Planning and Zoning Work Program.
GOAL LU 1.1 Growth and Change. Support sustainable growth and change through orderly and well-planned development that provides for the needs of existing and future residents and businesses, ensures the effective and equitable provision of public services, and makes efficient use of land and infrastructure.
GOAL LU 1.2 Sustainable Sacramento Strategy. Support statewide and regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fund transportation improvements, and meet housing needs.
GOAL LU 2.1 City of Neighborhoods. Maintain a city of diverse, distinct, and well-structured neighborhoods that meet the community’s needs for complete, sustainable, and high-quality living environments, from the historic downtown core to well-integrated new growth areas.
GOAL LU 2.2 City of Rivers. Preserve and enhance Sacramento’s riverfronts as signature features and destinations within the city and maximize riverfront access from adjoining neighborhoods to facilitate public enjoyment of this unique open space resource.
GOAL LU 2.3 City of Trees and Open Spaces. Maintain multi-functional “green infrastructure” consisting of natural areas, open space, urban forest, and parkland, which serves as a defining physical feature of Sacramento, provides visitors and residents with access to open space and recreation, and is designed for environmental sustainability.
GOAL LU 2.4 City of Distinctive and Memorable Places. Promote community design that produces a distinctive, high-quality built environment whose forms and character reflect Sacramento’s unique historic, environmental, and architectural context, and create memorable places that enrich community life.
GOAL LU 2.5 City Connected and Accessible. Promote the development of an urban pattern of well-connected, integrated, and accessible neighborhoods corridors, and centers.
GOAL LU 2.6 City Sustained and Renewed. Promote sustainable development and land use practices in both new development, reuse, and reinvestment that provide for the transformation of Sacramento into a sustainable urban city while preserving choices (e.g., where to live, work, and recreate) for future generations.
GOAL LU 2.7 City Form and Structure. Require excellence in the design of the city’s form and structure through development standards and clear design direction.
GOAL LU 2.8 City Fair and Equitable. Ensure fair and equitable access for all citizens to employment, housing, education, recreation, transportation, retail, and
Economic Impacts: The 2021 Planning Program includes initiatives that will facilitate and promote sustainable and equitable economic development.
Environmental Considerations: The proposed 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program will guide staff’s efforts and ensure that staff is working on council’s top priorities for the year. Council’s approval of the work plan does not constitute a project approval for any of the items listed in the work plan; rather, the plan simply focuses staff’s efforts consistent with the council’s direction. The items listed on the work plan may be amended or ultimately not adopted by the council. Environmental review will be conducted on each of the proposed projects prior to consideration by the Council. Accordingly, the proposed 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), consistent with CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(b)(5) (organizational and administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment) and 15378(b)(2) (continuing administrative and maintenance activities).
Sustainability: The 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program includes initiatives that will facilitate sustainable land use patterns and transportation options that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and mitigate impacts to our surrounding environment.
Commission/Committee Action: On September 24, 2020, Staff presented the draft 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program to the Planning and Design Commission and received comments. The Commission’s recommendations and staff’s response can be found in Attachment 2. Multiple commissioners recommended that the City adopt a comprehensive update to its parking regulations at the same time as the 2040 General Plan. The 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Plan now includes that initiative as “Commission-directed.” On October 22, 2020, the Commission unanimously forwarded the recommended 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program to the City Council for adoption.
On December 1, 2020 the Law and Legislation Committee reviewed the draft Planning and Zoning Work Program and recommended a new initiative to evaluate how planning staff does outreach and engages the community. Staff will report back to the Planning & Design Commission and Law & Legislation Committee in late 2021 with the results of this evaluation, which will include changes to outreach methods and priorities.
Rationale for Recommendation: The development of an annual Planning and Zoning Work Program will help the Staff, Commission, and City Council to collectively prioritize initiatives considering competing interests and limited staff resources. Additionally, the Planning and Zoning Work Program will help to inform the public and decision makers about the work that is being done by City Planning Staff.
Financial Considerations: The 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program assumes the use of existing staff resources, multi-year operating projects, and secured grant funding. As proposed, the 2021 Planning and Zoning Work Program does not assume any additional general fund resources will be required.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable