HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 PCSR New Energy Conservation Element General Plan - OF�DU6
i9,~ "' �• 0 STAFF REPORT
� � PLANNING COMMISSION
LIFO 910-\'
DATE: May 27, 2014
TO: Planning Commission
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING: PLPA-2014-00025 New Energy Conservation
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, new Water Resources Element,
and a new Energy Conservation Element. The City Council prioritized the preparation of these
elements to occur over a multi-year timeframe. The revisions to General Plan, the new
Economic Development Element, and the new Water Resources Element were approved in
2013. At this meeting, the Planning Commission is being asked to make a recommendation to
the City Council on the new Energy Conservation Element, which contains background
information on energy supply, demand, and energy efficiency and conservation efforts in Dublin
as well as policies related to energy conservation in both new and existing public and private
development projects.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1) Receive Staff presentation; 2) Open the
public hearing; 3) Take testimony from the Applicant and 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 Energy Conservation Element.
Submitted By I viewed By
Principal Planner Assistant Community Development Director
COPIES TO: File Q
ITEM NO.:C!•
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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, a new Water Resources Element, and a new Energy Conservation Element. The City
Council prioritized the preparation of these elements over multiple years. The revisions to the
General Plan and the Economic Development Element were approved by the City Council on
April 16, 2013, and the Water Resources Element was approved on June 18, 2013. The
proposed Energy Conservation 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 Energy Conservation
Element and make a recommendation to the City Council.
New Chapter 13: Energy Conservation Element
The City of Dublin does not control the supply or the delivery of energy to customers, nor does
the City control cost and pricing mechanisms related to energy supply and delivery. The City
does not manage or operate any energy generation or distribution facilities. However, the City
works in collaboration with the agencies that provide these services, and therefore the scope of
the Energy Conservation Element reflects this reality. The scope of City influence extends
mainly to promoting and encouraging sustainable and reliable energy generation, supporting the
education efforts of other agencies, and promoting energy conservation among business and
residential users. The Energy Conservation Element is intended to guide these efforts.
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 is taking an active role in encouraging and
promoting energy conservation at every level, and to consolidate information and polices related
to energy supply, conservation programs underway, and opportunities for future improvements.
The Energy Conservation Element contains background information on energy supply and
service in Dublin as well as Guiding and Implementing Policies in the following subject areas:
1. Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Existing Development
2. Energy Efficiency and Conservation in New Development
3. Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Public Facilities
The Draft Energy Conservation 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 Energy Conservation Element (Attachment 1).
CONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, SPECIFIC PLAN AND ZONING ORDINANCE:
The nipw , •ergy Conservation Element has been reviewed for internal consistency with other
Elemnt� >he General Plan. The Element has also been reviewed for consistency with the
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Downtown Dublin Specific Plan, Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, Dublin Village Historic Area
Specific Plan and the Dublin Zoning Ordinance; no inconsistencies were found.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
In accordance with State law, a Public Hearing Notice was published in the Tri-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 Energy
Conservation 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
Energy Conservation Element 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 Energy Conservation Element, with the
draft City Council Resolution attached as Exhibit A and the Energy
Conservation Element attached as Exhibit A-1.
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