HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-074 AdoptHistZoningDublnVlg
AGENDA STATEMENT
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE: January 11, 2005
SUBJECT:
ATTACHMENTS: 1.
2.
RECOMMENDATION: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
PUBLIC HEARING: PA 02-074 Adoption of a Historic Overlay Zoning
District Ordinance and Design Guidelines for the Dublin Village
Historic Area. The Project includes approval of the Dublin Village
Historic Area Design Guidelines and the following amendments to Title 8 of
the Dublin Municipal Code: Creation of Zoning Ordinance Chapter 8.62,
Historic Overlay Zoning District Site Development Review; Amendment to
Chapter 8.104, Site Development Review; and an amendment to the Zoning
Map to add an overlay zoning designation to the Historic Area.
Report Prepared by: Kristi Bascom, Associate Planner tÀV
3.
Map of original Development Moratorium area
Map of Proposed Historic Overlay Zoning District area and Zoning
Map Amendment
Resolution recommending City Council approval of the Dublin
Village Historic Area Design Guidelines (Exhibit A) and the
following amendments to Title 8 of the Dublin Municipal Code:
Creation of Zoning Ordinance Chapter 8.62, Historic Overlay
Zoning District Site Development; Amendment to Chapter 8.104,
Site Development Review; and an amendment to the Zoning Map to
add an overlay zoning designation to the Historic Area. (Exhibit B.)
Open the Public Hearing and receive Staff presentation.
Take testimony from the Public.
Question Staff and the Public.
Close the Public Hearing and deliberate.
Adopt Resolution (Attachment 3) recommending City Council
approval of the Dublin Village Historic Area Design Guidelines and
the following amendments to Title 8 of the Dublin Municipal Code:
Creation of Zoning Ordinance Chapter 8.62, Historic Overlay
Zoning District Site Development; Amendment to Chapter 8.104,
Site Development Review; and an amendment to the Zoning Map to
add an overlay zoning designation to the Historic Area.
BACKGROUND:
For several years, the City Council has been considering how to take a more proactive approach to
building the historic Dublin Village settlement area around Donlon Way into a cohesive district to better
highlight Dublin's historic resources. In 2001, the City Council authorized Staff to prepare a Specific Plan
for the area, and work has been done over the past two years to achieve this goal.
In January 2004, the City Council adopted a one-year development moratorium in the Historic Dublin
Village settlement area around Donlon Way, Dublin Boulevard, and San Ramon Road to prevent
COPIES TO:
Property Owners
DHPA
Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
ITEM NO. '? ~)
construction that could negatively impact the ongoing historical area planning work (See Map of Original
Development Moratorium area, Attachment I). The intent of the moratorium was to give the City time to
prepare and adopt a Specific Plan with design guidelines to protect and preserve the historical resources in
the area and further enhance the area with historically-compatible development.
While work on the Specific Plan and design guidelines commenced, the City Council also concurrently
moved forward with another goal for Fiscal Year 200412005, which was to commission a land appraisal
for the Dublin Square Shopping Center at 11759 Dublin Boulevard, comprising 4.22 acres in the heart of
the proposed Specific Plan area. The Dublin Square property was one of the six sites identified as a
potential location for future parks in Dublin in order to correct the City's anticipated 5.3-acre parkland
deficit as detailed in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The results of the Dublin Square appraisal and
environmental site assessment will allow the City Council to determine the feasibility of acquiring the site
for park purposes. If the City Council determines that it is desirable to designate the site for a park, a
programming study and General Plan Amendment Study would follow.
Because the appraisal and environmental site assessment has not been finalized, Staff felt it was
appropriate to hold off on completing the Specific Plan until after this issue was resolved and it was clear
whether the site would be designated for public or private uses. Because the development moratorium
expires on January 21, 2005 and the Specific Plan would not be adopted before that time, Staff felt it
would be important to have the design guidelines component of the Specific Plan in place so that any
development proposed for the area would be reviewed for compatibility with the historic resources as
intended by the City Council.
One item to note is that Staff is recommending that the boundary for the Dublin Village Historic Area and
Overlay Zoning District be revised from the original moratorium area boundary (As shown in Attachment
I) to include only those properties located west of San Ramon Road (As shown in Attachment 2). After
further study and analysis of the original boundary area, Staff and the Design Guidelines consultants
agreed that the area should include only those properties with the closest ties to the City's most relevant
historic resources, and to include those properties east of San Ramon Road with limited historical
significance would dilute the integrity of the district. The Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
unanimously approved a recommendation to change the boundary area as well.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This project is divided up into 2 main components: the Design Guidelines and the three associated Zoning
Ordinance amendments to implement the Design Guidelines. All actions are explained in more detail
below.
Dublin Village Historic Area Design Guidelines
Staff has been working with RBF Consultants since August 2004 to craft guidelines for the Dublin Village
Historic Area. The intent of the Design Guidelines is to ensure that future development in the area
recaptures elements of the historic character and image that once defined Dublin Village. The Design
Guidelines are presented in Exhibit A of Attachment 3 to this Staff Report.
RBF Consulting began the process of developing the Design Guidelines by preparing an eXIstmg
conditions and opportunities/constraints analysis for the area and consulting with the Heritage and
Cultural Arts Commission at a study session in September 2004 to review the Commission's vision for the
future of the area. RBF then prepared a draft version of the guidelines that contained the following
components:
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Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Chapter 3:
Chapter 4:
Chapter 5:
Chapter 6:
Introduction, explanation of the purpose of the document and how it shall be used
An overview of the original Dublin Village settlement area and vision for the future of
the area
Commercial and Mixed Use Guidelines (including architectural, site planning, signage,
lighting, and landscape guidelines)
Residential Guidelines (including architectural, site planning, lighting, and landscape
guidelines)
Guidelines for Historic Resources (applicable only to those historic resources listed in the
Chapter)
Streetscape and Public Space Guidelines (including guidelines for community gathering
spaces, streetscape furniture and amenities, and public improvements)
The Draft document was reviewed by the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission at their meetings on
November 18, 2004 and December 9, 2004 and the Commission voted unanimously to recommend
approval of the Design Guidelines (with the revised boundary) to the City Council.
In approving the attached Resolution (Attachment 3), the Planning Commission will be recommending
that the City Council approve the Dublin Village Historic Area Design Guidelines.
In order to ensure that the Design Guidelines are complied with, Staff is proposing the following
amendments to Title 8 of the Dublin Municipal Code:
I. The Creation of Zoning Ordinance Chapter 8.62, Historic Overlay Zoning District Site
Development Review (following approval of the Dublin Village Historic Area Design Guidelines);
2. An Amendment to Chapter 8.104, Site Development Review; and
3. An Amendment to the Zoning Map to add an overlay zoning designation to the Historic Area.
Creation of the new Chapter 8.62 of the Dublin Municipal Code (Historic Overlay Zoning District Site
Development Review)
In lieu of completing the Specific Plan at this point in time, Staff is instead proposing to adopt an overlay
zoning district that will serve to implement the Dublin Village Design Guidelines and provide the
mechanism for ensuring compliance with that document. The full text of the Overlay Zoning District is
included in the draft City Council Ordinance, which is Exhibit B of Attachment 3 to this Staff Report. In
summary, the new Chapter 8.62 of the Zoning Ordinance states that any new development or construction
in the Dublin Village area shall be subject to a Site Development Review process specific to the Historic
Overlay Zoning District and that the project shall be reviewed for substantial compliance with the Dublin
Village Design Guidelines (which are explained in more detail below). Chapter 8.62 also states the
findings that must be made in order to approve a project in the Historic Overlay Zoning District and
outlines the review and approval process, which is nearly identical to the City's standard Site
Development Review process (Chapter 8.104 of the Zoning Ordinance).
The Dublin Village Historic Overlay Zoning District is a designation that will exist on the properties in the
area in addition to the base Zoning District that each property in the Historic District retains (i.e. C-O, C-
1, PD, R-M, etc.). The base Zoning District contains all information regarding permitted and
conditionally permitted uses, development standards, and regulations, while the Historic Overlay Zoning
designation provides a mechanism to review development on any of the properties in the District for
substantial compliance with the Dublin Village Historic Area Design Guidelines.
In approving the attached Resolution (Attachment 3), the Planning Commission will be recommending
that the City Council authorize the creation of the new Historic Overlay Zoning District.
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Amendment to Chapter 8.104 of the Dublin Municipal Code (Site Development Review)
Staff proposes to add the following paragraph to the Site Development Review section of the Zoning
Ordinance under Section 8.104.030 (Projects subject to Site Development Review):
"8.104.030.H: Historic Overlay Zoning District Site Development Review. Any
development in the Historic Overlay Zoning District (as indicated on the Zoning Map) shall
be reviewed in accordance with and subject to Chapter 8.62, Historic Overlay Zoning District
Site Development Review, in addition to this Chapter."
In approving the attached Resolution (Attachment 3), the Planning Commission will be recommending
that the City Council authorize amending Chapter 8.104 of the Municipal Code and adding a new Section
8.104.030.H.
Amendment to the Zoning Map to add an Overlay Zoning Designation to the Historic Area
In order to indicate which properties the Historic Overlay Zoning District Ordinance applies to, the Zoning
Map needs to be amended to include the overlay district. The revised Zoning Map will still indicate the
base zoning district for each property (i.e. C-O, PD, R-M, C-1), but will also indicate the area in which the
Historic Overlay zoning regulations apply (See Attachment 2).
In approving the attached Resolution (Attachment 3), the Planning Commission will be recommending
that the City Council amend the Zoning Map to add an overlay zoning designation to the Historic Area.
ENVIRONMENT AL REVIEW:
Staff recommends that adoption of this ordinance be determined to be exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). Section 15061(b)(3)
states that CEQA applies only to those projects that have the potential to cause a significant effect on the
environment. This adoption of this ordinance is an activity that is exempt from CEQA because the
ordinance does not, in itself, allow the construction of any building or structure, but it sets forth the design
guidelines that shall be followed if and when a building or structure is proposed to be constructed or a site
is proposed to be developed under existing entitlements. This ordinance, therefore, has no potential for
resulting in significant physical change in the environment, directly or ultimately.
CONCLUSION:
The proposed amendments to Title 8 of the Municipal Code will provide a suitable mechanism to
implement the Dublin Village Historic Area Design Guidelines in the absence of an adopted Specific Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission, Open the Public Hearing and receive Staffs presentation;
Take testimony from the Public; Question Staff and the Public; Close the Public Hearing and deliberate;
and Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 3) recommending City Council approval of the Dublin Village
Historic Area Design Guidelines and the following amendments to Title 8 of the Dublin Municipal Code:
Creation of Zoning Ordinance Chapter 8.62, Historic Overlay Zoning District Site Development Review;
Amendment to Chapter 8.104, Site Development Review; and an amendment to the Zoning Map to add an
overlay zoning designation to the Historic Area.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICANT:
LOCATION:
GENERAL PLAN/
SPECIFIC PLAN
DESIGNATION:
EXISTING ZONING
AND LAND USE:
City of Dublin
100 Civic Plaza
Dublin, CA 94568
Assessor Parcel Numbers 941-1560-009-01,941-1560-007-01, 941-0113-
003-01, 941-0113-154,941-0040-006-16,941-1550-004,941-1550-005-02,
941-1550-003-02, 941-1550-001-12, 941-1550-001-02, 941-1560-001-01,
941-1560-002-02, 941-0040-006-1 0, 941-1560-003-04, 941-1560-001-02,
941-1560-006, 941-1560-005, 941-1560-003-03, 941-1550-002-02, and
941-1550-001-10
Various
Various
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