HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.1 - PUBLIC HEARING: Kent Property General Plan Amendment and Rezoning (PLPA-2019-00002)Page 1 of 6
STAFF REPORT
PLANNING COMMISSION
DATE: January 26, 2021
TO: Planning Commission
SUBJECT:
PUBLIC HEARING: Kent Property General Plan Amendment and
Rezoning (PLPA-2019-00002)
Prepared by:Robert Smith, Associate Planner
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Planning Commission will consider a General Plan Amendment and Rezoning of a
1.5-acre property located at 6207 Sierra Court known as the Kent property. The
proposal includes an amendment to the General Plan land use designation of the
property from Business Park/Industrial to Retail/Office and Automotive and an
associated Rezoning from Light Industrial (M-1) to General Commercial (C-2). Pursuant
to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City prepared an Initial
Study/Negative Declaration for the proposed project. The Planning Commission will
review the proposed project and make a recommendation to the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct the public hearing, deliberate and adopt a Resolution recommending that the
City Council: 1) adopt a Resolution adopting the Initial Study/Negative Declaration and
amending the General Plan land use designation at 6207 Sierra Court from Business
Park/Industrial to Retail/Office and Automotive; and 2) adopt an Ordinance approving
the Rezoning from Light Industrial (M-1) to General Commercial (C-2).
Background
The 1.5-acre Kent property is located at the northeast corner of Dublin Boulevard and
Sierra Court as shown in Figure 1 and is currently developed with an existing 16,117 -
square-foot one-story building with an existing commercial use. The property is currently
designated Business Park/Industrial in the City’s General Plan and is within the M -1
(Light Industrial) zoning district as shown in Figures 2 and 3 below.
5.1
Packet Pg. 8
Page 2 of 6
Figure 1: Vicinity Map
Figure 2. Existing General Plan Land Use
5.1
Packet Pg. 9
Page 3 of 6
Figure 3. Existing Zoning Map
The property is generally surrounded by industrial uses to the north, public/semi -public
uses to the south (Dublin Civic Center and Dublin Sports Ground), and
retail/office/automotive uses to the east and west, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Adjacent Uses
Existing Use Land Use Designations
North Charmet Tile (flooring store) McGoldrick Milling
Company, Inc. (building materials supplier)
Business Park/Industrial
South Dublin Sports Grounds, Dublin Civic Center Parks/Public Recreation
East Dublin City Center Shopping Center (Sahara Market,
Sahara Kabob Grill, Funks Autoworks, Russian School
of Mathematics, and Harvey’s Cleaners)
Retail/Office and
Automotive
West NAPA Auto Parts California Custom Carpets, Inc. Retail/Office
On February 15, 2019, the City Council adopted a Resolution, approving the initiation of
a General Plan Amendment Study to evaluate changing the land use designation of the
approximately 1.5 acre site from Business Park/Industrial to Retail/Office and
Automotive to allow for commercial uses similar to the neighboring properties to the
east and west along Dublin Boulevard. The property owner originally requested the
initiation of this amendment to provide greater flexibility in re-tenanting the then vacant
building. They subsequently signed a lease. However, the City continued to process the
application as an economic development tool to provide flexibility for the existing tenant
as well as future tenants.
Proposal
The following are the proposed project approvals as set out in the Planning Commission
Resolution recommending City Council approval (Attachment 1):
5.1
Packet Pg. 10
Page 4 of 6
• General Plan Amendment from Business Park/Industrial to Retail/Office and
Automotive; and
• Rezoning from Light Industrial (M-1) to General Commercial (C-2)
As described above, the project site is already developed and no new development (i.e.,
demolition, construction, change in site access) is currently proposed.
Analysis
The current General Plan land use designation of Business Park/Industrial allows for
non-retail businesses (e.g., research, limited manufacturing and distribution activities,
and administrative offices) that do not involve heavy trucking or generate nuisances due
to emissions, noise or open uses The proposed General Plan land use designation of
Retail/Office and Automotive designation allows general commercial, retail and service
uses and typically includes shopping centers, stores, restaurants, business and
professional offices, motels, service stations, and the sale of auto parts, as well as,
automobile/vehicle sales and service, auto body shops, and similar auto-focused uses.
The current Light Industrial (M-1) zoning is compatible with the current General Plan
land use and allows light industrial uses in proximity to major transportation corridors.
Use types permitted in the Light Industrial district include ambulance service, laboratory,
office, parking lot/garage, light industrial, printing and publishing, research and
development, trucking terminal, warehousing and distribution, and similar related uses
as well as accessory restaurant and retail uses. The proposed General Commercial (C-
2) zoning is compatible with the proposed General Plan land use and would allow
commercial uses along major transportation corridors and intersections. Examples of
permitted uses include banks and financial institutions, building material sales, car
wash/detailing, copying and blueprinting, drive-in/drive-through business, health
services/clinics, hotel/motel, hospital/medical center, personal services, plant nursery,
repair shop, retail, shopping center, and similar related uses.
The proposed General Plan Land Use Map and proposed Zoning Map are shown in
Figures 4 and 5 below.
5.1
Packet Pg. 11
Page 5 of 6
Figure 4. Proposed General Plan Land Use
Figure 5. Proposed Zoning Map
The proposed amendment to the General Plan land use designation and Rezoning
would be compatible with existing commercial development and the neighborhood
character of the area. Additionally, the existing building design is not well suited for
5.1
Packet Pg. 12
Page 6 of 6
many of today’s light industrial users with large store front and customer parking facing
Dublin Boulevard. Both the design of the building and its location have predominantly
drawn interest from commercial users. The proposed change in land use and zoning
would respond to the market and the existing building and better facilitate use of the
existing site.
The project site is currently occupied by an existing commercial business, which
modified its commercial operation in order to comply with the currently Light Industrial
zoning and offers only a limited show room . Amending the General Plan and Zoning
Map would provide added flexibility to this business and future businesses to offer a
robust retail component to their operation. With implementation of the General Plan
Amendment and Rezoning, the property would be allowed expanded land uses and an
opportunity to provide complementary commercial activity consistent with its location
along Dublin Boulevard.
Consistency with General Plan, Specific Plan and Zoning Ordinance
The proposed project would be consistent with the General Plan in that it recognizes
that there will be a natural evolution of land uses and land use changes over time. The
proposed General Plan Amendment would be consistent with nearby commercial land
uses and would create continuity along Dublin Boulevard between the project site and
neighboring properties. No specific plans apply to the project site. In additio n, the
proposed Rezoning would be consistent with the intent of the C -2 zoning district, which
provides for the continued use, expansion, and new development of general commercial
use types along major transportation corridors and intersections, such as Dublin
Boulevard.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State CEQA
Guidelines and City of Dublin CEQA Guidelines and Procedures require that certain
projects be reviewed for environmental impacts and when applicable, environmental
documents be prepared. The City’s environmental consultant, LSA, prepared an Initial
Study in accordance with CEQA requirements. Based on the Initial Study (IS), the City
determined that the proposed project would not have a significant impact on the
environment and a Negative Declaration (ND) was prepared. The IS/ND is attached as
Exhibit A to Attachment 1 of this staff report.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
In accordance with State law, a public notice was mailed to all property owners and
occupants within 300 feet of the proposed project site to advertise the project and the
upcoming public hearing. A public notice also was published in the East Bay Times and
posted at the Civic Center.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution Recommending City Council Approval
2. Exhibit A to Attachment 1 – Initial Study, Negative Declaration
3. Exhibit B to Attachment 1 – City Council Resolution for General Plan Amendment
4. Exhibit C to Attachment 1 – City Council Ordinance for Rezone
5.1
Packet Pg. 13