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Home My WebLink About2014-08-20; Planning Commission; ; SP 09-01A|SP 09-01B - WESTFIELD CARLSBAD The City of Carlsbad Planning Division A REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION Item No. Application complete date: June 30, 2014 P.C. AGENDA OF: August 20, 2014 Project Planner: Jason Goff Project Engineer: Jeremy Riddle SUBJECT: SP 09-01(A)/SP 09-01(B) – WESTFIELD CARLSBAD – Request for a recommendation of approval of two Specific Plan Amendments to the Westfield Carlsbad Specific Plan that 1) removes all provisions from the Specific Plan allowing for digital signs; and 2) amends the Use Classifications: Table 4 of the Specific Plan to include as a permitted use Automobile Dealerships for electric cars only and Automobile Service and Repair of electric automobiles when ancillary to an existing automobile dealership within the Westfield Carlsbad Specific Plan on property generally located west of El Camino Real and bisecting Marron Road in Local Facilities Management Zone 1. The City Planner has determined that the proposed amendments are exempt from the provisions of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule) and City of Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 19.04.070(A)(1)(c), general rule exemption 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. I. RECOMMENDATION That the Planning Commission ADOPT Planning Commission Resolutions No. 7068 and 7069 RECOMMENDING APPROVAL of Specific Plan Amendment SP 09-01(A) and Specific Plan Amendment SP 09-01(B) based upon the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein. II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND On July 23, 2013, the City Council adopted the Westfield Carlsbad Specific Plan (WCSP), which replaced Precise Plan 24 (inclusive of amendments A–K) and became the new zoning document for Westfield Carlsbad, a regional shopping center. The WCSP is responsible for defining allowed uses and establishing a comprehensive set of development standards and design guidelines for Westfield Carlsbad as well as implementation procedures to facilitate future redevelopment, revitalization, and ongoing operations. A. SP 09-01(A) Included within the WCSP are sign standards specific to Westfield Carlsbad. Of these specific standards, one allows for digital signs subject to the City Council’s approval of a conditional use permit. This provision was consistent at the time with a Sign Ordinance amendment (ZCA 11-03) going forward to allow digital signs in regional commercial centers (i.e., Westfield Carlsbad and Car Country Carlsbad) located within a Regional Commercial (R) General Plan Land Use designation that have frontage on a freeway (i.e., Interstate-5 or State Route 78). The WCSP, falling within the R Land Use designation, included such provisions. However, on March 25, 2014, in their review of the Car Country Carlsbad Specific Plan Amendment (SP 19(J)), the City Council denied the Specific Plan Amendment provisions to allow digital signs at Car Country Carlsbad and further directed that the previously adopted provisions to allow digital signs at the above-noted regional commercial centers be deleted from the Sign Ordinance and that staff initiate an amendment to the WCSP to remove any provisions or allowance for digital signs. 1 SP 09-01(A)/SP 09-01(B) – WESTFIELD CARLSBAD August 20, 2014 Page 2 On June 12, 2014, the California Coastal Commission approved the City’s Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA 11-04) for the Sign Ordinance Amendment (ZCA 11-03) subject to the City adopting the suggested modifications to delete the provisions that would have allowed digital signs within the City. On April 24, 2014 staff initiated Specific Plan Amendment No. SP 09-01(A) in accordance with City Council’s direction. This amendment consists of two text changes to pages 5-4 and 5-7 of the Specific Plan, which are included as exhibits to Planning Commission Resolution No. 7068. Removal of text is presented in a strikethrough type format, while new additional text is shown in boldface, underlined type format. B. SP 09-01(B) In addition to the above, Westfield submitted Specific Plan Amendment No. SP 09-01(B) on May 6, 2014, requesting to add two (2) new uses to the Use Classifications: Table No. 4 found on page 3-2 of the WCSP. This would add “Automobile Dealerships” to the existing Retail Uses category with specific provisions to allow for “Electric cars only and up to 10 outside parking spaces for display and test driving purposes and a maximum of 45 outside parking spaces for inventory at a secured location.” The other would add “Automobile Service and Repair” to the existing Accessory and Support Uses category with specific provisions to allow for “service and repair of electric automobiles only when ancillary to an existing automobile dealership.” This amendment is included as an exhibit to Planning Commission Resolution No. 7069. Table A below includes the General Plan designations, zoning and current land uses of the project site and surrounding properties. TABLE A Location General Plan Designation Zoning Current Land Use Site Regional Commercial (R) General Commercial (C-2) Regional Shopping Center North City of Oceanside Special Commercial (SC) and Civic Institutional (CI) City of Oceanside Specialized Commercial - Highway Oriented (CS-HO) and Public & Semi Public (PS) Parking Lot, Sewer Treatment Plant, Buena Vista Creek, South Vista Way, Commercial Businesses, Haymar Drive and SR-78 South Open Space (OS) and Residential Medium-High Density (RMH) Open Space (OS) and Planned Community (P-C) Open Space and Multiple- Family Residential East Local Commercial (L) Local Shopping Center (CL) El Camino Real and Carlsbad Plaza Shopping Center West Open Space (OS) and Regional Commercial (R) General Commercial (C-2), General Commercial with a Qualified Development Overlay (C-2-Q) and Open Space (OS) North County Plaza Shopping Center, Buena Vista Creek and Jefferson Street SP 09-01(A)/SP 09-01(B) – WESTFIELD CARLSBAD August 20, 2014 Page 3 III. ANALYSIS The proposal is subject to the following plans, ordinances and standards as analyzed within the following section of this staff report: A. General Plan Land Use Element - Regional Commercial (R) Land Use Designation; B. Westfield Carlsbad Specific Plan (SP 09-01(A)); C. Westfield Carlsbad Specific Plan (SP 09-01(B)); D. General Commercial (C-2) Zone (C.M.C. 21.28); and E. Growth Management Ordinance (Local Facilities Management Plan Zone 1). The recommendation for approval of this project was developed by analyzing the project’s consistency with the applicable regulations and policies. The project’s compliance with each of the above regulations is discussed in detail in the sections below. A. General Plan The first of two (2) amendments to the WCSP (SP 09-01(A)) removes all provisions for the allowance of any digital signs consistent with the City Council’s recent decision not to allow for digital signage on properties located within the R Land Use designation that have frontage on a freeway (Interstate-5 or State Route 78) or anywhere else in the City. This amendment is consistent with Commercial Objective B.3 of the General Plan Land Use element requiring the City to establish and maintain commercial development standards for signs, among other things, to ensure that all existing and future commercial developments are compatible with surrounding development. As discussed above, the City Council on March 25, 2014 found that digital signs were not generally a compatible land use anywhere within the City. Specifically, digital signs are not compatible with the City’s “village character.” Removal of these provisions to allow digital signs will ensure that existing and future commercial developments are compatible with surrounding development. Furthermore, this amendment is consistent with the Land Use Element of the General Plan based on the City’s overall goal of maintaining and enhancing its visual appeal for residents, visitors and tourists. This can be accomplished by preventing the degradation of visual quality which can result from excess signage (including digital signs). The second Specific Plan Amendment (SP 09-01(B)) proposes to allow as a permitted use at Westfield Carlsbad, automobile dealerships for the sale of electric cars only and automobile service and repair of electric cars only when ancillary to an existing automobile dealership. The General Plan Land Use designation for the WCSP area is Regional Commercial (R). The Land Use Element of the General Plan describes regional commercial centers as those that provide shopping goods, general merchandise, automobile sales, apparel, furniture, and home furnishings anchored by two or more department stores. Therefore, SP 09-01(B) is consistent with the Land Use Element of the General Plan. B. Westfield Carlsbad Specific Plan Amendment 09-01(A) Specific Plan Amendment 09-01(A) is a City initiated amendment to the WCSP proposing to remove all provisions from the Specific Plan for any allowances of digital signs consistent with City Council direction on March 25, 2014 and the Sign Ordinance. As stated above, this amendment consists of two text changes to pgs. 5-4 and 5-7 of the Specific Plan. Digital signs, with their innovation and ability to offer enhanced flexibility for keeping up with modern trends, may be consistent with a modernized and revitalized Westfield Carlsbad as envisioned by the goals of the WCSP; however, they are not in keeping with the Specific Plan objective of establishing development standards (including for signage) to ensure that future SP 09-01(A)/SP 09-01(B) – WESTFIELD CARLSBAD August 20, 2014 Page 4 redevelopment is compatible with the Carlsbad General Plan, as discussed in “A” above. Therefore, this amendment is consistent with the WCSP. Despite this action, other aspects of the WCSP, such as enhanced design guidelines, flexible development standards and review processes, which allow for quick and efficient continuous improvements in response to market conditions, remain in effect to insure that Westfield Carlsbad is modernized and revitalized in accordance with Specific Plan goals and objectives. C. Westfield Carlsbad Specific Plan Amendment 09-01(B) Specific Plan Amendment 09-01(B) is a Westfield initiated amendment to the WCSP that proposes to add two (2) new uses to the Use Classifications Table No. 4 found on pg. 3-2 of the Specific Plan. This amendment includes adding “Automobile Dealerships” to the existing Retail Uses category with the following specifications: “Electric cars only and up to 10 outside parking spaces for display and test driving purposes and a maximum of 45 outside parking spaces for inventory at a secured location.” The other would add “Automobile Service and Repair” to the existing Accessory and Support Uses category with the following specifications: “Service and repair of electric automobiles when ancillary to an existing automobile dealership.” It is being requested that both of these uses be considered permitted uses. Westfield Carlsbad has access to a parking field consisting of 6,076 parking spaces where 4,602 parking spaces are required. With a surplus of 1,474 parking spaces, there is adequate parking onsite to accommodate these future uses. The proposed uses are consistent with the Specific Plan Goals and Objectives as shown in Table B below: TABLE B GOAL/OBJECTIVE PROPOSED USES Goal 3: Establish Westfield Carlsbad as a prominent regional retail center attractive to high quality retailers and fueling economic growth in the City while satisfying current consumer needs on a regional scale. The proposed uses broaden the list of existing uses allowed by the Specific Plan and contribute to the objective of providing a full range of goods and services offered at Westfield Carlsbad, which could further establish Westfield Carlsbad as a prominent regional retail center for the residents of Carlsbad and the surrounding community. Objective 5: To offer a full range of goods, services and entertainment to the residents of Carlsbad and the surrounding community. D. General Commercial (C-2) The underlying General Commercial (C-2) Zone development standards and permitted uses were superseded by the development standards and permitted uses of the WCSP and therefore are not applicable to Westfield Carlsbad except where specifically noted in Use Classifications Table 4 of the WCSP. Auto repairing is a permitted use in the C-2 zone. However, neither digital signs nor automobile sales are permitted within the C-2 zone. However, through the specific plan process, similar to the Car Country Carlsbad Specific Plan (SP 19(i)), automobile sales have been permitted consistent with the R General Plan Land Use designation. The applicant in this case is requesting to amend Use Classifications Table 4 of the WCSP to allow automobile dealerships and service facilities as it relates specifically to electric cars only. As previously discussed, the proposed amendment to delete digital signs from the WCSP is consistent with the C-2 zone. SP 09-01(A)/SP 09-01(B) – WESTFIELD CARLSBAD August 20, 2014 Page 5 E. Growth Management Ordinance (Local Facilities Management Zone 1) The project area is located within Local Facilities Management Zone 1 in the northwest quadrant of the City. The Specific Plan amendment project does not have any impacts on public facilities. All required infrastructure is already in place to serve the WCSP. IV. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The City Planner has determined that the project is exempt from the provisions of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule) and City of Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 19.04.070(A)(1)(c), general rule exemption 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 proposed revisions to the Specific Plan are similar to minor Zoning Ordinance amendments and therefore are exempt from environmental analysis. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Planning Commission Resolution No. 7068 (SP 09-01(A)) 2. Planning Commission Resolution No. 7069 (SP 09-01(B)) 3. Location Map 4. Disclosure Statements EL CAMI NO REALCALL E CABALLEROFOREST AVCALLE ARROYOPLAZA DR DOREET WY MARRO N R D HAYMAR DR CIRCULO SANT IAGO SOUTH V IS T A WYMONROE STGROVE AV WI N T E R GREEN DR HOSP WYAVENIDA MAGNIFICA SP 09-01(A) / SP 09-01(B) Westfield Carlsbad SITE MAPEL CAM REALC A R LSB AD VILL AGE DR CARLSBA D BLL A COSTA AV PALOM AR AIRP ORT R D MELR OSE DRAVIARA PY RAN CHO S AN TA FE RDCOLL EGE BLEL CAMI NO REALSITE «~' ~ CITY OF DISCLOSURE STATEMENT PE 1{A) Development Services Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue {760) 602-4610 www.carlsbadca.gov CARLSBAD Applicant's statement or disclosure of certain ownership interests on all applications which will require discretionary action on the part ofthe City Council or any appointed Board, Commission or Committee. The following information MUST be disclosed at the time of application submittal. Your project cannot be reviewed until this information is completed. Please print. NOte:' . -._ ·· : ·;· ·· ,:·11 ' :. _ .... ·1-/1:_ ·;: .•. ' ·::=.. 'r_ :;!i;_ ' Jk .. ,_ ··:, '., :.:;, ;,:>:;·'I g-erson i$ detlned,~s ·:~rY ii)dividual, !iW· ¢D:tr<?rtner5pip, j<?liJt ve~Wr~, ·~~~()Ci~tioi1;'~9pi$J,c?iub, frat~fdcil' §rgaiJi;;~!ian, ()otpijratjq~. e$tate; tru~.ti' ~<'J.~ei~~r,;syl\Qit;~t<?, ~~ thi!3'!jnd, any oth¢t "9llrtY;J}ii,~ !i'!l<! G9t!rlfy;, city;riWbiqip~litY,',djstnct q(ot,~f3rpolitical ~ubdiv)plopori'j)ly citpi>r gi:G\if.l, or t;ombi.riatiof1.i!c;ri~9 ~ifa.uhit.~. : 1.:: :"!!.:!<;!:;!(. -:~· ··:r. ;!!:;:-· :: ~-·_'··.~;:! -·::;,_;,:,'>:·: . , ;; _-.:':J-:::}';:]li!:.:. ·::.~; .; ·:!·:;:;: ," )'ij. ,i!:!: <:::.:' . :i: ! .. :,.:...:·!!!!:;:< ·;;!··:~;ij;_:. ,: .';: :l 'A 'efit1ii m~y o;,j'"'' . 'thi~ ddBilmt!"t'':howeiiiir:. thli IE. '''l:lj' name a' d' el1tl!Ytbtthe a·· !itaht 'an't!~" ro ·lim! owner ~m~$h)6 -p~QVia~Q B~~~v~&.l· · ···!~i~:r:,n; . =· • ''·.·: .i!'r .. · 9 · ).;; ·· · :::: · ·~. ·;·::: :;=:1i!r ·;; ·!· : .. ,i -PP .. ·:;::. -·-· p_ · P. ::t:!i ·,;::. · · ---· 1. APPLICANT (Not the applicant's agent) Provide the COMPLETE, LEGAL names and addresses of ALL persons having a financial interest in the application. If the applicant includes a corporation or partnership, include the names, titles, addresses of all individuals owning more than 10% of the shares. IF NO INDIVIDUALS OWN MORE THAN 10% OF THE SHARES, PLEASE INDICATE NON-APPLICABLE (N/A) IN THE SPACE BELOW. If a publicly-owned corporation, include the names, titles, and addresses of the corporate officers. (A separate page may be attached if necessary.) Person Corp/Part. ___________ _ Title. _ __,A......,u"'--"'~"'· ~==o:::.:_-Title. ____________ _ Address'-----------Address, ____________ _ 2. OWNER (Not the owner's agent) P-1{A) Provide the COMPLETE, LEGAL names and addresses of ALL persons having any ownership interest in the property involved. Also, provide the nature of the legal ownership (i.e., partnership, tenants in common, non-profit, corporation, etc.). If the ownership includes a corporation or partnership, in<;lude the names, titles, addresses of all individuals owning more than 1 0% of the shares. IF NO INDIVIDUALS OWN MORE THAN 10% OF THE SHARES, PLEASE INDICATE NON-APPLICABLE (N/A) IN THE SPACE BELOW. If a publicly-owned corporation, include the names, titles, and addresses of the corporate officers. (A separate page may be attached if necessary.) Peffion ________ -T-~- Title ,JtL ~ Corp/Part. ___________ _ Title. _____________ _ Address. _________ _ Address, ____________ _ Page 1 of2 Revised 07/10 Attachment To Disclosure Statement P-l(A) Plaza Camino Real Name and Address of Applicant: Name and Address of Applicant's partners: PLAZA CAMINO REAL 2049 Century Park East, 41" Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 PCRGP,L.P. 2049 Century Park East, 41" Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Plaza Camino Real LLC 2049 Century Park East, 41st Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Westfield America Limited Partnership 2049 Century Park East, 41 ''Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Westfield U.S. Holdings, LLC 2049 Century Park East, 41st Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Name and Address of Owner: Same as Applicant above. Name and address of Owner's partners: Same as Applicant above. List of Officer's Names: See Unanimous Consent of the Board of Manager of Westfield Holdings, LLC attached hereto as Exhibit A. Address of all Officers: c/o Westfield, LLC 2049 Century Park East, 4151 Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 [Owner/Applicant signature appeal'S on next page.] Disclosure Statement P-I (A) Plaza Camino Real April25, 2014 Page2 EXHIBIT A List of Officers «~ ~ CITY OF DISCLOSURE STATEMENT P-1(A) Development Services Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue (760) 602-4610 www.carlsbadca.gov CARLSBAD Applicant's statement or disclosure of certain ownership interests on all applications which will require discretionary action on the part of the City Council or any appointed Board, Commission or Committee. The following information MUST be disclosed at the time of application submittal. Your project cannot be reviewed until this information is completed. Please print. N~~e;,. ..·.··· . ·• . .. .. T < ... · . . .. · .. ··. . ·· .·. · ·.. .. .. · ;. · ... ' Person is d~fineg a.s "Any individu~l, firm. c~-partnership; jointventure, associatiqn, ~ocial_club, frat<;lrnal organization, .corporation, estate, trust. rE)ceiver, syndicate;•.inthis. and any ()!her county, city and county/ city municipality, district or other political subdivision or any other group or combination acting as a unit." Agents _lllay sign this document; ~OWE)Ver, the ~~~al name an_d ~ntityof the applicant~ndJr6J~rfy qwner must IJ.e provJded below, · " · 1. APPLICANT (Not the applicant's agent) Provide the COMPLETE, LEGAL names and addresses of ALL persons having a financial interest in the application. If the applicant includes a corporation or partnership, include the names, titles, addresses of all individuals owning more than 10% of the shares. IF NO INDIVIDUALS OWN MORE THAN 10% OF THE SHARES, PLEASE INDICATE NON-APPLICABLE (N/A) IN THE SPACE BELOW. If a publicly-owned corporation, include the names, titles, and addresses of the corporate officers. (A separate page may be attached if necessary.) Person See Attachment. Corp/Part ___________ _ Title. ___________ _ Title. _____________ _ Address _________ _ Address. ___________ _ 2. OWNER (Not the owner's agent) P-1 (A) Provide the COMPLETE, LEGAL names and addresses of ALL persons having any ownership interest in the property involved. Also, provide the nature of the legal ownership (i.e., partnership, tenants in common, non-profit, corporation, etc.). If the ownership includes a corporation or partnership, include the names, titles, addresses of all individuals owning more than 10% of the shares. IF NO INDIVIDUALS OWN MORE THAN 10% OF THE SHARES, PLEASE INDICATE NON-APPLICABLE (N/A) IN THE SPACE BELOW. If a publicly-owned corporation, include the names, titles, and addresses of the corporate officers. (A separate page may be attached if necessary.) Person See Attachment. Corp/Part. ___________ _ Title ___________ _ Title. _____________ _ Address _________ _ Address ____________ _ Page 1 of2 Revised 07/10 3. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OR TRUST If any person identified pursuant to (1) or (2) above is a nonprofit organization or a trust, list the names and addresses of ANY person serving as an officer or director of the non- profit organization or as trustee or beneficiary of the. Non ProfitfTrust N/A Non ProfitfTrust, _________ _ Title,__ __________ _ Title, _____________ _ Address. __________ _ Address, ___________ _ 4. Have you had more than $500 worth of business transacted with any member of City staff, Boards, Commissions, Committees and/or Council within the past twelve (12) months? DYes 0 No If yes, please indicate person(s): ___________ _ NOTE: Attach additional sheets if necessary. I certify that all the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. See Attachment. Signature of owner/date CMF PCR LLC/Rory A. Packer, Assistant Secretary Print or type name of owner See Attachment. Signature of applicant/date Print or type name of applicant Signature of owner/applicant's agent if applicable/date CMF PCR LLC/Rory A. Packer, Assistant Secretary Print or type name of owner/applicant's agent P·1(A) Page 2 of2 Revised 07/10