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City Council Staff Report
May 14, 2019
Agenda Item No. 4
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Seimone Jurjis, Community Development Director - 949-644-3232,
sjurjis@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Gregg Ramirez, Principal Planner
PHONE: 949-644-3219, gramirez@newportbeachca.gov
TITLE: Resolution No. 2019-43: Initiation of Planning and Zoning Code and
Local Coastal Program Amendments Related to Residential Massing
and Beach Cottage Preservation (PA2019-070)
ABSTRACT:
The City Council will consider initiating amendments to Newport Beach Municipal Code
NBMC) Title 20 (Planning and Zoning) and NBMC Title 21 (Local Coastal Program
Implementation Plan). The purpose of the amendments is to: 1) reduce the massing of
three story residential structures by reducing the impact caused by covered patio roof
decks and 2) change the design standards to allow more opportunities to preserve
residential beach cottages by increasing the amount of floor area that can be added to an
existing unit before code compliant parking is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Determine this action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies) of the CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3; and
b) Adopt Resolution No. 2019-43, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport
Beach, California, Initiating Amendments to Title 20 Entitled "Planning and Zoning"
and Title 21 Entitled "Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan" of the City of
Newport Beach Municipal Code Related to Massing of Three Story Residential
Structures and Development Standards for Small Beach Cottages (PA2019-070).
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
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Resolution No. 2019-42: Initiation of Planning and Zoning Code and
Local Coastal Program Amendments Related to Residential Massing and
Beach Cottage Preservation (PA2019-070)
May 14, 2019
Page 2
DISCUSSION:
At the conclusion of the April 23, 2019 City Council study session item titled "Potential
Changes to Residential Development Standards to Preserve Cottages and Address 3rd
Story Massing" the City Council directed staff to return with a resolution to initiate code
amendments related to both study session items.
Three Story Roof Decks
The current zoning code allows a covered roof deck to be enclosed on all three sides as
long as one side of the deck remains open. The floor area of the enclosed roof deck is
not counted towards the maximum floor area. If approved to initiate code amendments,
staff will propose changes to reduce the bulk and mass of new three-story dwellings.
Preserving Beach Cottages
The municipal code will also be amended to address the loss of smaller beach cottages
due to the requirement of providing a two -car parking garage. Currently, the zoning code
requires a conforming two -car garage when 10 percent or more of the existing floor area
is added to the existing dwelling unit. The current code provision has forced many of the
smaller beach cottages to be torn down because the existing garages do not conform to
current code requirements. Staff will propose an increase to the amount of floor area
allowed for existing dwelling units before the unit would have to conform to the current
parking requirements.
Public Outreach and Timin
This agenda item is not a public hearing. Should the City Council choose to initiate the
proposed amendments, the specific text changes will be drafted and staff will reach out
to the community and local design professionals to get their feedback on the new
proposed code language. Staff will then present the item to both the Planning
Commission and then City Council at noticed public hearings. Additionally, amendments
to the certified LCP will require certification by the California Coastal Commission. Staff
estimates the draft code language to be ready for community input in the month of July
2019.
Zoning Code Section 20.66.020 (Initiation of Amendment) provides that a code
amendment may be initiated by the City Council, with or without a recommendation from
the Planning Commission. City Council Policy K-1 (General Plan and Local Coastal
Program) provides that a City -sponsored amendment to the certified Local Coastal
Program (LCP) shall be initiated by the City Council. Title 15 of NBMC regulates building
and construction and will need to also be amended as part of the process. Title 15 does
not require City Council initiation to be amended, but has been included in the attached
resolution to provide the full scope of municipal code amendments needed to address the
issues.
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Resolution No. 2019-42: Initiation of Planning and Zoning Code and
Local Coastal Program Amendments Related to Residential Massing and
Beach Cottage Preservation (PA2019-070)
May 14, 2019
Page 3
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The initiation of zoning and LCP amendments are exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning
Studies) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3,
because it has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment. No final action
on any amendments will occur at this meeting and the initiation of the amendment does
not have any legally binding effect upon future consideration of the amendments
themselves. The City will conduct an environmental review prior to the consideration and
potential approval of the amendments.
NOTICING:
The Municipal Code does not require notice for the initiation of amendments. Notice of
this item appeared on the agenda for this meeting, which was posted at City Hall and on
the City website. Should the City Council initiate the amendment, public notice will be
provided for subsequent public hearings before the Planning Commission and the City
Council as required by the Municipal Code. Additionally, notice of the LCP amendments
will be sent to all persons and agencies on the Notice of the Availability mailing list.
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A — Resolution No. 2019-43
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ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. 2019- 43
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, INITIATING
AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 20 ENTITLED "PLANNING AND
ZONING" AND TITLE 21 ENTITLED "LOCAL COASTAL
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN" OF THE CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO
MASSING OF THREE STORY RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR
SMALL BEACH COTTAGES (PA2019-070)
WHEREAS, Newport Beach Municipal Code ("NBMC") Section 20.66.020
provides that the City Council of the City of Newport Beach ("City Council") may initiate
an amendment to NBMC Title 20 with or without a recommendation from the Planning
Commission;
WHEREAS, City Council Policy K-1 entitled "General Plan and Local Coastal
Program" requires amendments to the City of Newport Beach certified Local Coastal
Program codified in NBMC Title 21 to be initiated by the City Council,
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to modify regulations related to third story
residential building massing and provide flexibility in certain development standards
that may allow more improvements to smaller beach cottages; and
WHEREAS, in order to implement the aforementioned modifications,
amendments to Title 15, Title 20 and Title 21 are required.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as
follows:
Section 1: The City Council hereby initiates amendments to NBMC Title 20
Planning and Zoning" and Title 21 "Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan" to
modify regulations relating to nonconforming structures, nonconforming parking, off-
street parking spaces required, residential development standards and design criteria
and associated definitions of specialized terms and phrases. Modifications to Title 15
may be implemented as authorized by the NBMC.
Resolution No. 2019 -
Page 2 of 2
Section 2: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
resolution is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall
not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution and each section,
subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section 3: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated into the substantive portion of this resolution.
Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is
categorically exempt pursuant to Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, of the California
Code of Regulations, Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies) Guidelines
for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). Section
15262 exempts projects involving feasibility or planning studies for possible future
actions which the agency, board, or commission has not approved or adopted.
Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting this resolution.
ADOPTED this 14TH day of May, 2019.
Diane B. Dixon
Mayor
ATTEST:
Leilani 1. Brown
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
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