HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.3 PCSR New Water Resources Element - Gen Plan Or D
/b( X11 STAFF REPORT
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DATE: May 28, 2013
TO: Planning Commission
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING: PLPA-2013-00022 New Water Resources Element
of the General Plan
Report prepared by: Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
One of the City Council's key initiatives for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 was to revise the General
Plan, and to create a new Economic Development Element, Water Resources Element, and
Energy Conservation Element. The revisions to General Plan and the Economic Development
Element were approved earlier this year, and the Energy Conservation Element is scheduled for
review and consideration in the next fiscal year. At this meeting, the Planning Commission is
being asked to make a recommendation to the City Council on the new Water Resources
Element. The Water Resources Element has been written to guide the City's efforts to promote
and encourage water conservation by existing and future business, residential, and public users,
to plan for additional use of recycled water, and to guide efforts to manage the City's stormwater
system.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1) Receive Staff presentation; 2) Open the
public hearing; 3) Take testimony from the public; 4) Close the public hearing and deliberate;
and 5) Adopt a Resolution recommending City Council approval of a General Plan Amendment
to include a new Water Resources Element.
Submitted By Re 40 ed By
Principal Planner Assistant CommunrY Development Director
COPIES TO: File �y
ITEM NO.: D ►
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DESCRIPTION:
The City Council expressed interest in preparing new General Plan Elements that have been
deemed of interest to the community. One of the City Council's key initiatives for Fiscal Year
2011/2012 was to revise the General Plan, and to create a new Economic Development
Element, Water Resources Element, and Energy Conservation Element. The City Council
prioritized the preparation of these elements over multiple years. The revisions to General Plan
and the Economic Development Element were approved by the City Council on April 16, 2013,
and the Energy Conservation Element is scheduled for review and consideration in the next
fiscal year. The proposed Water Resources Element is the subject of this staff report.
State law requires that the Planning Commission review amendments to the General Plan at a
public hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the amendments.
Therefore, the Planning Commission is being asked to review the new Water Resources
Element and make a recommendation to the City Council.
New Chapter 12: Water Resources Element
The City of Dublin does not control the supply or the delivery of water to customers, nor does
the City manage flood control facilities. However, the City works in collaboration with other
agencies that provide these services, and therefore the scope of the Water Resources Element
reflects this reality. The scope of City influence extends mainly to promoting and encouraging
water conservation among business and residential users, implementing measures to help treat
stormwater, as well as managing the stormwater runoff and pipelines that lead to flood control
facilities.
The primary purpose of this element and the reason for including this optional Element in the
Dublin General Plan is to ensure that the City's water resources are sustained and protected,
and to consolidate information and polices related to the conservation and management of
water resources, riparian corridors, and watershed lands. The Water Resources Element also
defines the stormwater facilities needed to serve Dublin at buildout of the General Plan.
The Water Resources Element contains background information on water supply and service in
Dublin as well as Guiding and Implementing Policies in the following subject areas:
1. Water Supply
2. Water Conservation and Efficiency in Existing Development
3. Water Conservation and Efficiency in New Development
4. Water Conservation and Efficiency in Public Facilities
5. Water Quality, Flood Protection, and Stormwater Management
The Draft Water Resources Element is included as Exhibit A-1 to Attachment 1 of this Staff
Report. The document will be formatted in the General Plan design template once the Planning
Commission has reviewed and commented on the document.
Staff is recommending that the Planning Commission adopt a Resolution recommending City
Council approval of a new Water Resources Element (Attachment 1).
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CONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, SPECIFIC PLAN AND ZONING ORDINANCE:
The new Water Resource Element has been reviewed for internal consistency with other
Elements of the General Plan. The Element has also been reviewed for consistency with the
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan, Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, Dublin Village Historic Area
Specific Plan and the Dublin Zoning Ordinance; no inconsistencies were found.
REVIEW BY APPLICABLE DEPARTMENT AND AGENCIES:
The Public Works Department, Environmental Services Division, Dublin San Ramon Services
District and Alameda County Flood Control District (Zone 7) reviewed the project and provided
input where appropriate to ensure the accuracy of the new Water Resources Element.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
In accordance with State law, a Public Notice was published in the Valley Times and posted at
several locations throughout the City. To date, the City has not received any comments on the
proposed amendment to the General Plan to incorporate the Water Resources Element.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State Guidelines and City
Environmental Regulations require that certain projects be reviewed for environmental impacts
and, when applicable, environmental documents prepared. Staff is recommending that the
Project be found exempt from CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3),
because the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which
have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on
the environment, the activity can be found exempt from CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS: 1) Resolution recommending City Council approval of a General Plan
Amendment to include a new Water Resources Element, with the draft
City Council Resolution attached as Exhibit A and the Water Resources
Element attached as Exhibit A-1.
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