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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-24; City Council; 20334; Barrio Land Use Study Grant ApplicationCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# MTG. DEPT. 20.334 8/24/10 CED Authorization to submit Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program Application to the State of California Strategic Growth Council for Barrio Area Land Use Study DEPT. DIRECTOR CITY ATTORNEY CITY MANAGER 0"-" RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council ADOPT Resolution No. 2010-209 . AUTHORIZING the filing of an application for Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program funds through the State of California Strategic Growth Council for the Barrio Area Land Use Study, and committing to provide the resources necessary to complete the project. ITEM EXPLANATION: The purpose of Sustainable Communities Planning Grant program is to foster the development of sustainable communities throughout California. It is designed to help local governments meet the challenges of adopting land use plans and integrating strategies in order to transform communities and create long term prosperity. The primary goal is to develop and implement plans that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating sustainable communities and achieve the following objectives, which include (but are not limited to): improve air and water quality, promote equity, increase housing affordability, increase infill and compact development, revitalize urban and community centers and reduce automobile usage and fuel consumption. The Sustainable Communities Planning Grant is funded by Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act Of 2006. It authorizes the Legislature to appropriate over $66 million for planning grants and planning incentives that reduce energy consumption, conserve water, improve air and water quality, and provide other community benefits. The grant program has three funding cycles, and $22 million is available for grant funding in this cycle. The grant has been divided into "focus" areas, and the city is eligible to apply for grant funding under Focus Area #1: Local Sustainable Planning. The intent of Focus Area #1 is to support the development and implementation of effective and/or innovative local plans that support the State's AB 32 greenhouse gas emissions targets and implement SB 375, while creating sustainable communities. Examples of eligible proposals include (but are not limited to) specific plans and infill plans. Staff recommends that the city pursue funding for a planning grant to study and implement land use changes in the Barrio based on smart growth and sustainability planning principles. The study area is generally located south of the Village area between Interstate 5 on the east and the NCTD railroad tracks on the west, and extending southward to Tamarack Avenue (see Exhibit 2 for location map). DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Corey Funk, 760-602-4645 corey.funk@carlsbadca.gov FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. . / COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED >6 DENIED CT CONTINUED D WITHDRAWN D AMENDED D CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC D CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN D RETURNED TO STAFF D OTHER - SEE MINUTES D Page 2 There has been significant community interest in additional planning for this 128-acre district for quite some time. The area was the subject of an uncompleted master planning effort in the mid-1990's, and more recently the city has received a number of requests from community members to begin such revitalization study efforts again. Stakeholders have advocated that despite the significant facility improvements the city has made in recent years, private investment in the area is unlikely to occur until land use and development regulations are updated to respond to current conditions. In July of last year, at the city's recommendation, the San Diego Association of Governments Board of Directors added the Barrio area to its list of countywide Smart Growth Opportunity Areas. Additionally, the city's 2005-2010 Housing Element identifies programs to provide incentives for reinvestment in the Barrio, both as a means to improve the quality of life for current residents and to meet a portion of the city's future housing needs. At their workshop in July of this year, the City Council reaffirmed that the Housing Element programs would be implemented concurrently with the Envision Carlsbad Phase 2 work program. As part of Envision Carlsbad, the Council directed staff to conduct early public outreach in the Barrio and to pursue grant opportunities to perform focused planning for the Barrio. The Barrio Area Land Use Study would identify, evaluate and, as appropriate, implement changes in order to encourage private reinvestment in the area. Such changes that the study may consider would be increasing residential densities, creating provisions for mixed-use and non-residential development in appropriate locations, addressing the area's historic roots, and recommending streetscape improvements to enhance the district's walkability and connection to Village shopping and the transit center to the north. The study would consider mixed use development standards and residential densities consistent with smart growth planning principles and achieve regional housing needs objectives contained in the 2005-2010 Housing Element (Program 2.1, Adequate Sites). Consistent with the City Council's recent direction, the study would include a public participation component as land use options are evaluated and recommendations formulated. The study may result in adoption of a master plan or specific plan for the Barrio. FISCAL IMPACT: There would be incidental staff time associated with preparing the grant application and, if awarded, staff time associated with administering grant requirements. There is the potential fiscal benefit of up to $170,000 in grant funding to reimburse costs associated with preparing the Barrio Area Land Use Study and associated implementing policy actions. While this program requires no minimum local funding match, grant proposals will be evaluated in part to the extent that they are leveraged with additional in-kind (e.g. staff time) or cash resources. The Envision Carlsbad Phase 2 work program approved by the City Council on July 27th included funding for some focused public outreach and issues identification for the Barrio area. The previously appropriated funding attributed to these tasks, as well as a proportionate share of General Plan/Local Coastal Program/Zoning Code update and environmental review costs, is approximately $25,000 and would satisfy the "local match" criterion. Page3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Application for grant funds is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). If funding is awarded, subsequent preparation of the land use plan and associated General Plan and Zoning amendments, and any recommended infrastructure improvements will undergo environmental review in conjunction with the Envision Carlsbad Program Environmental Impact Report. EXHIBITS: 1. City Council Resolution No. 2010-209 2. Location Map of Barrio Planning Area. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 23 T RESOLUTION NO. 2010-209 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANT AND INCENTIVES PROGRAM UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 (PROPOSITION 84) FOR THE BARRIO AREA LAND USE STUDY, STATING THE ASSURANCE OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the program shown above; and WHEREAS, the Strategic Growth Council has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program, establishing necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the Strategic Growth Council require a resolution certifying the approval of an application by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad before submission of said application to the State; and WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the development of the proposal. Carlsbad: 16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of 1. Approves the filing of an application for the Barrio Area Land Use Study in order to become a sustainable community; 19 2. Certifies that the City of Carlsbad understands the assurances and certifications in the application; 3. Certifies that the City of Carlsbad will have sufficient funds to develop the 20 21 .. Barrio Area Land Use Study or will secure the resources to do so; 22 4. Certifies that the Barrio Area Land Use Study will comply with any applicable laws and regulations; and 24 5. Appoints the City Manager, or his/her designee, as agent to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including but not limited to applications, 25 agreements, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the ., aforementioned project.26 27 '" 28 '" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 24th day of August, 2010, by the following vote to wit: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard and Blackburn. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ATTEST: LORRAINE (SEAL) Exhibit 2 Barrio Area Land Use Study Boundary Map CHRISTIANSEN WY GRAND AV( ...-,(--1 1 .,; Vicinity Map City of Carlsbad J:\Requests\Planning\3866231_09