RECOMMENDATION REPORT

Transcription

1 DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING RECOMMENDATION REPORT City Planning Commission Date: June 11 th, 2009 Time: Place: After 8:30 a.m. City Hall, 10 th Floor 200 N Spring St Los Angeles, CA Joint Public Hearing: No Public Hearing Required Expiration Date: June 29, 2009 Appealable: Further action at Joint Public Hearing of the City Council and CRA/LA Board of Commissioners Case No.: CEQA No.: Related Cases: CPC CRA SCH No (FEIR and Addendum) N/A Council No.: 1 and 14 Plan Area: Boyle Heights, Northeast Los Angeles CRA Plan: Redevelopment Plan for the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area Certified NC: Boyle Heights GPLU: Various Zoning: Various Applicant: Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles Representatives: Donna DeBruhl-Hemer, Project Manager and Robert Manford, Senior Project Manager - CRA staff. PROJECT LOCATION: PROPOSED PROJECT: Irregulary-shaped portions of predominantly commercial and industrial areas that are generally bounded by the Los Angeles River to the west to the City of Monterey Park to the east, and from the City of Vernon city limit and Interstate 10 Freeway to the south to Valley Boulevard and Alhambra Avenue to the north; a portion of the proposed project area therefore lies within unincorporated Los Angeles County territory and within the community of East Los Angeles. Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan for the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area, pursuant to Community Redevelopment Law, including the creation of a biomedical focus area, by merging the Redevelopment Plan with the Redevelopment Plan for the Whiteside Project Area (located in unincorporated Los Angeles County territory), and to enable the creation of a Joint Powers Authority for the focus area. REQUESTED ACTIONS: 1. ADOPT a finding, pursuant to Section of the California Community Redevelopment Law, of conformity of the proposed Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan for the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area, attached as Exhibit B-1 ( Amendment ), with the City s General Plan, including the Housing Element and applicable Community Plans.

2 CPC CRA Page 2 2. FIND that the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, CRA/LA, as the lead agency, certified a Final Environmental Impact Report, FEIR, (SCH No ), Exhibit A-2, for the existing Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area on September 17, FIND that the City Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the information contained in the FEIR (SCH No ) and Addendum (Exhibit A-3) for the proposed Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project, as prepared by CRA/LA, the lead agency for the proposed Amendment, in its finding of conformity with the General Plan, and transmit the FEIR and Addendum to the City Council for consideration and appropriate action. 4. FIND that, pursuant to Section of the Government Code, the acquisition and disposition of land, the vacation and abandonment of streets, the authorization of public buildings or structures, as authorized by the proposed Amendment in the hereinafter defined Merged Project Area conforms to the General Plan. (This determination shall not be deemed to constitute prior approval by the City Planning Commission that may be required by law for specific projects within the Merged Project Area). 5. ADOPT the Staff Report as the Commission s Report on this matter. 6. ADOPT the attached findings. 7. RECOMMEND that the City Council approve and adopt the proposed Amendment. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: 1. ADOPT a finding, pursuant to Section of the California Community Redevelopment Law, of conformity of the proposed Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan for the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area, attached as Exhibit B-1 ( Amendment ), with the City s General Plan, including the Housing Element and applicable Community Plans. 2. FIND that the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, CRA/LA, as the lead agency, certified a Final Environmental Impact Report, FEIR, (SCH No ), Exhibit A-2, for the existing Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area on September 17, FIND that the City Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the information contained in the FEIR (SCH No ) and Addendum (Exhibit A-3) for the proposed Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project, as prepared by CRA/LA, the lead agency for the proposed Amendment, in its finding of conformity with the General Plan, and transmit the FEIR and Addendum to the City Council for consideration and appropriate action. 4. FIND that, pursuant to Section of the Government Code, the acquisition and disposition of land, the vacation and abandonment of streets, the authorization of public buildings or structures, as authorized by the proposed Amendment in the hereinafter defined Merged Project Area conforms to the General Plan. (This determination shall not be deemed to constitute prior approval by the City Planning Commission that may be required by law for specific projects within the Merged Project Area). 5. ADOPT the Staff Report as the Commission s Report on this matter. 6. ADOPT the attached findings. 7. RECOMMEND that the City Council approve and adopt the proposed Amendment.

3 CPC CRA Page 3 S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning (signature on file) Dave Gay, Principal City Planner (signature on file) Faisal Roble, Senior Planner (signature on file) Rogelio Flores, City Planner Telephone: (213) ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC: * The exact time this report will be considered during the meeting is uncertain since there may be several other items on the agenda. Written communications may be mailed to the Commission Secretariat, 200 N. Spring Street, Room #272, Los Angeles, CA (Phone No ). While all written communications are given to the Commission for consideration, the initial packets are sent out the week prior to the Commission s meeting date. If you challenge these agenda items in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing agendized herein, or in written correspondence on these matters delivered to this agency at or prior to the public hearing. As a covered entity under Title II of the American s with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability, and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to this programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive living devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or other services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request no later than three working days (72 hours) prior to the meeting by calling the Commission Secretariat at (213)

4 CPC CRA Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Background and Summary... Page 5-6 Key Elements... Page 6 Environmental Clearance... Page 7 Recommendation... Findings... Page 7 Page 7 Exhibits: A B Environmental Documents A 1 Addendum (dated August 2007) to the existing Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), SCH No , for the Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project. A 2 FEIR, SCH No , for the Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project. A 3 Addendum (dated September 2008) to the existing FEIR, SCH No , for the Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project. Redevelopment Plan Documents B 1 Proposed Amendment to the existing Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project (v ). B 2 Existing Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project. C Maps C 1 C 2 C 3 C 4 C 5 C 6 Existing Adelante Redevelopment Project Area. Existing Whiteside Redevelopment Project Area. Proposed Merged Project Area BioMed Tech Focus Area Existing General Plan (Community Plan) Land Uses within the existing Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area. Updated Redevelopment Plan Permitted Uses within the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area.

5 CPC CRA Page 5 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY An Amendment to the existing Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project has been proposed by the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles ( CRA/LA ). The main purpose of the proposed Amendment ( Amendment ), is to maximize redevelopment potential for mixed use, housing, retail and new job growth by merging the existing Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Plan / Project Area ( Adelante Plan ) with the existing Whiteside Redevelopment Plan / Project Area ( Whiteside Plan ). Upon review and approval of the Amendment by the City Planning Commission, including the finding that the Amendment conforms to the General Plan, it will be referred to the CRA/LA Board of Commissioners and the City Council, which will conduct a joint public hearing on the Amendment prior to taking appropriate action. If the CRA/LA Board of Commissioners and City Council approve the Amendment, the Amendment will then take effect. The CRA/LA has prepared the Amendment and requests that the City Planning Commission review and adopt a finding on the conformity of the Amendment with the City s General Plan and Housing Element, in accordance with Section of the California Community Redevelopment Law (Health and Safety Code Section et seq.). In addition, in accordance with Government Code Section 65402, the CRA/LA requests that the City Planning Commission adopt a finding that the acquisition and disposition of land, the vacation and abandonment of streets, the authorization of public buildings or structures, as authorized by the Amendment in the Merged Project Area, conforms to the General Plan. In accordance with Section of the California Community Redevelopment Law, the CRA/LA requests that the City Planning Commission makes its report and recommendation to the City Council on the Amendment and recommend that the City Council approve and adopt the Amendment. The existing Adelante Plan (Exhibit B-2) was adopted by the City Council of the City of Los Angeles on March 28, Its primary goal is to eliminate blight and preserve and increase employment, training, business and investment opportunities through redevelopment programs. The existing Project Area for the Adelante Plan (Exhibit C-1) lies entirely within City of Los Angeles boundaries and is located immediately east of Downtown Los Angeles, within the Northeast Los Angeles and Boyle Heights Community Plan Areas; the Project Area is irregularly-shaped and consists of approximately 2,164 acres of predominantly industrial and commercial areas from the Los Angeles River to the eastern City limit (Indiana Street), and from the southern City limit with City of Vernon to North Main Street, Valley Boulevard and Alhambra Avenue, continuing to the City limit with City of Alhambra; therefore all east-west commercial streets in Boyle Heights (such as Cesar Chavez Avenue, First Street, Fourth Street and Whittier Boulevard) and the industrial areas along the south, east and northeast portions of Boyle Heights fall within the Project Area. The redevelopment activities of the Adelante Plan fall within the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles City Council and the CRA/LA. The existing Whiteside Plan was adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles on October 17, Its primary goal is to eliminate blight and enhance the long-term economic well-being within the Whiteside Project Area. The existing Whiteside Project Area (Exhibit C-2) consists of predominantly industrial land uses and is located entirely within unincorporated Los Angeles County territory alongside the Interstate 10 Freeway and west of the Interstate 710 Freeway; the Whiteside Project Area is irregularly shaped and consists of approximately 171 acres; it is generally bounded by the City of Los Angeles communities of Boyle Heights on the west, Lincoln Heights on the north, and unincorporated Los Angeles County territory to the south, and the City of Monterey Park on the east. The redevelopment activities of the Whiteside Plan fall within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission. The Amendment will merge the existing Whiteside Plan with the existing Adelante Plan, creating an overall Merged Project Area (Exhibit C-3). The Amendment will also create a Focus Area within the Merged Project Area, for biomedical and biotechnological uses (Exhibit C-4). Because the Focus Area will straddle

6 CPC CRA Page 6 City of Los Angeles and unincorporated County of Los Angeles territories, the Amendment will also enable the creation of a Joint Exercise of Powers Authority ( JPA ), to govern activities within the Focus Area. The Amendment enables the Redevelopment Plan to conduct the following activities within the Focus Area: Attract companies that develop and manufacture medical devices, research instruments and fixtures. These companies tend to provide job opportunities in a wide range of job categories requiring a span of educational attainment, from high school degrees to post-secondary graduate education; Leverage existing local educational opportunities and training programs offered by local institutions (Cal State LA, East LA Community College, LA County/USC Medical Center, USC Health Sciences Campus); Leverage existing local job search, placement and training programs related to biomedical and biotechnology jobs; Develop local specialized-skill training programs and encourage employers to sponsor workforce training programs; Address development challenges, such as the combination of County and City-maintained roads, services and utilities in the area, and address the limited development potential of lots due to their irregular shapes and inadequate sizes; Facilitate coordination across jurisdictions by allowing more flexibility in prioritization and coordination of projects; by helping to fast-track the development and financing processes; and by reducing duplication of tasks required for projects that straddle both jurisdictions. Studies completed by national accountancy and economic consulting firms project that the creation of the Focus Area could generate 8,500 new jobs for local residents; 15,700 jobs for greater Los Angeles County; and $1.3 billion in the local economy. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT The proposed Amendment alters and adds to existing provisions in the Adelante Plan, including the following: Merges the existing Adelante Plan with the existing Whiteside Plan; Creates a Focus Area for biomedical and biotechnology uses ( BioMed Tech Focus Area ) in order to capitalize on development opportunities resulting from Whiteside redevelopment activities, the expanding LA County/USC Medical Center and the USC Health Sciences Campus; Enables the creation of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to facilitate development within the biomedical and biotechnology Focus Area; the JPA would consist of the City of Los Angeles City Council, the CRA/LA, the County of Los Angeles, and the Community Development Department of the County of Los Angeles; Enables the JPA to use tax increments generated within the Focus Area to be used towards either the City portion or the County portion of the Focus Area; Enables the creation of a new community advisory body for the Focus Area; Clarifies the list of public improvements and facilities that can be installed or constructed within or outside the Merged Project Area; Streamlines the review process for certain uses; Creates additional findings required for establishing check-cashing and payday loan uses; auto repair within 500 feet of residential uses; adult uses; and toxic waste storage uses; Clarifies appeal procedures; Incorporates current and future Community Plan land uses and requires that Community Plan land uses supersede land uses permitted by the amended Adelante Plan; The Amendment does not propose any enlargement of the existing Project Areas and it does not alter or modify existing Community Plan land uses. The CRA/LA has used this opportunity to update the map of Permitted Land Uses contained in the Redevelopment Plan to ensure it is consistent with Community Plan land uses.

7 CPC CRA Page 7 ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE The CRA/LA, as Lead Agency, certified a Final Environmental Impact Report ( FEIR ), State Clearinghouse # , for the Redevelopment Plan for the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project on September 17, 1998, and produced an Addendum (dated September 2008) to the Final EIR to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed Amendment. The Addendum demonstrates that no substantial changes will occur that would require major revisions to the Final EIR due to the involvement of new significant effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. The Addendum concludes that no subsequent or supplemental EIR is required. RECOMMENDATION Planning staff recommends adoption of a finding of conformity for the proposed Amendment with the City s General Plan and the transmittal of the FEIR and Addendum to the City Council for consideration and appropriate action. FINDINGS (1) Pursuant Section of the California Community Redevelopment Law, find that the proposed Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan for the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area, attached as Exhibit B-1 ( Amendment ), conforms with the City s General Plan, including the Housing Element and applicable Community Plans; (2) Find that the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, CRA/LA, as the lead agency, certified a Final Environmental Impact Report, FEIR, (SCH No ), Exhibit A-2, for the existing Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area on September 17, 1998; (3) Find that the City Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the information contained in the FEIR (SCH No ) and Addendum (Exhibit A-3) for the proposed Amendment to the Redevelopment Plan of the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project, as prepared by CRA/LA, the lead agency for the proposed Amendment, in its finding of conformity with the General Plan; (4) Find that pursuant to Section of the Government Code, the acquisition and disposition of land, the vacation and abandonment of streets, the authorization of public buildings or structures, as authorized by the proposed Amendment in the hereinafter defined Merged Project Area conforms to the General Plan. (This determination shall not be deemed to constitute prior approval by the City Planning Commission that may be required by law for specific projects within the Merged Project Area).