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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes_05-03-2023CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH GENERAL PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MARINA PARK - 1600 WEST BALBOA BOULEVARD MAY 3, 2023 REGULAR MEETING – 5 P.M. I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER - 5:00 p.m. II. WELCOME AND ROLL CALL Present: Chair Arlene Greer, Dennis Baker, Curtis Black, Matthew Brady, Jim Carlson, David Guder, Laird Hayes, Charles Klobe, Ruth Kobayashi, Anthony Maniscalchi, Jim Mosher, Robert Rader, Nancy Scarbrough, Amber Snider, Graham Wahlberg, Paul Watkins, and Lori Williams Absent: Vice Chair Jeremy Evans, Jeff Cefalia, Annie Clougherty, Lynn Hackman, Katie Love, Thomas Meng, Maxwell Pearson, Debbie Stevens, and Christy Walker Staff Present: Deputy Community Development Director Jim Campbell and Principal Planner Ben Zdeba III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Debra Allen asked to be notified of the Land Use subcommittee meeting dates and in response to her request Chair Greer and Principal Planner Zdeba noted that the subcommittee meeting dates are posted on the City’s website calendar. IV. CURRENT BUSINESS a. Meeting Minutes of March 22, 2023 Motion made by Jim Mosher and seconded by Committee Member Kobayashi to approve the minutes of March 22, 2023. The motion carried unanimously. b. Review of the General Plan Land Use Element Policy Matrix Deputy Community Development Director Campbell noted that today’s presentation is the first part of changing the Land Use Element for the purpose of implementing the Housing Element. Dave Barquist and Sean Gorden of Kimley-Horn provided the background of the Housing Element 6th Cycle development process, purpose of the review, and a summary of existing and recommended policies. General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023 Page 2 of 5 Deputy Community Development Director Campbell noted that the policy matrix is a draft and GPAC feedback is requested. In response to Committee Member Wahlberg’s questions, Deputy Community Development Director Campbell clarified that while the policy language is revisable, some policies are important to maintain the draft intent, such as draft Policy LU 4.2 on page 20. Housing unit counts by focus area and the related densities are static. Policies can be added that are supportive to the Housing Element implementation, excluding nonresidential, and additional policy considerations can be included in phase two. Committee Member Maniscalchi expressed concern for adjusted airport curfew hours by a conglomerate voice created by stacking residential units in the Airport Area and thought the housing unit burden should be shared. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell reported that the City Council thought the Airport Area was the City’s best opportunity for housing units, shared unit counts by specific areas and clarified that the Airport Area is not carrying the entire housing unit load. He reiterated that the housing unit counts provided by Council will be used and will not be changed. In response to Committee Member Klobe’s inquiry, Deputy Community Development Director Campbell stated that the densities included in Policy LU 4.2 are intended to reflect the same densities in the Housing Element programs, noted a typo in the text of Policy LU 4.2, and clarified that the 1,400 housing units marked for Banning Ranch are included in the environmental impact report (EIR). Dave Barquist clarified that the Banning Ranch housing allocation as it relates to the Circulation Plan is consistent with the General Plan and is part of the frame and basis of the EIR. In response to Committee Member Klobe’s concern for street widening near Banning Ranch for nonexistent traffic, Dave Barquist suggested consulting with the traffic engineer. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell noted that the GPAC can make a recommendation to the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) to remove Banning Ranch from the housing allocation. In response to Committee Member Baker’s query, Deputy Community Development Director Campbell envisioned a subcommittee taking responsibility for wordsmithing the policy language. In response to Committee Member Scarbrough’s question, Deputy Community Development Director Campbell relayed that some policy language is misaligned with the new housing policy and noted that some policies may not need to be included in the Land Use Element. Dave Barquist reviewed the policy matrix, current existing land uses, residential opportunities, set densities, existing development rights, six focus areas in the Housing Element, physical design changes, residential types, and community density and design appropriateness. Sean Gorden requested the GPAC review, revise, and return the policy matrix within one to two weeks’ time for discussion. General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023 Page 3 of 5 Deputy Community Development Director Campbell noted a policy that addresses a specific plan for the Airport Area and reusing nonresidential property. He directed the GPAC to email policy comments to staff and noted that the Land Use Element subcommittee will review the potential policy changes at an upcoming subcommittee meeting and will bring back comments to the full body for review and action. Committee Member Mosher asked for the policy matrix to include the reasons why the policy change is suggested and the intended outcomes of the changes. Chair Greer stated that the GPAC needs to ratify the request and Deputy Community Development Director Campbell said staff would make the adjustment. c. Revised Timeline for Updating the Land Use Element Deputy Community Development Director Campbell requested the GPAC make a recommendation to the GPUSC to move the Charter Section 423 vote out from March 2024 to November 2024 to allow additional time for input from the GPUSC, GPAC, and the community on the policy changes and zoning overlays required to implement the Housing Element. Motion made by Committee Member Watkins and seconded by Chair Greer to approve the timeline revision recommendation by staff. The motion carried unanimously. d. General Plan Update Consultant Selection Principal Planner Zdeba provided an update on the consultant selection process, costs, and timeline. He noted one proposal from Dudek and that staff had completed the technical evaluation. Staff had also reviewed the scope of work with Dudek and is expecting a revised scope in response to concerns related to community outreach, weekly website updates, and a study of best practices regarding sustainability and resiliency in General Plans. He indicated that staff is looking for a recommendation of support to move forward with the consultant. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell assured the GPAC that Dudek has been made aware of the expectations based on the concerns expressed by the GPAC and believes the consultant is qualified. In response to Committee Member Wahlberg’s question, Deputy Community Development Director Campbell indicated that staff discussed with the consultant adding elements and related provisions in the scope of work, a review of the format based on best practices, and a deeper dive in sustainability, adaptability, and resiliency with an outline and summary to identify the future scope. He summarized the steps to potential element endorsement and contract amendment. In response to Committee Member Brady’s question, Principal Planner Zdeba indicated that Dudek is not currently involved in this effort and the EIR is being managed by Kimley-Horn, the City’s Housing Element consultant. General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023 Page 4 of 5 Committee Member Kobayashi questioned the efficient use of resources to investigate a sustainability element, lack of support from the City Council, and refinement of other elements to include a sustainability lens. In response to her comments, Principal Planner Zdeba thought that a technical document and recommendation from a consultant is the missing information the City Council needs to better evaluate the need for a sustainability element. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell suggested weaving the sustainability concept into other elements, involving the consultant in the assessment, and a lack of understanding by the City Council. In response to Committee Member Mosher’s questions, Deputy Community Development Director Campbell shared that the consultant provided a list of comparable projects. He noted contacting the references and that Dudek has worked well. He noted no shining example, but thought Dudek’s past projects show capacity and qualifications, and relayed Dudek’s involvement with a coastal zone project in Newport Beach and helping other cities with their General Plan. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell expressed interest in onboarding the consultant in June with Council approval. Chair Greer suggested adding an assessment of sustainability and resiliency across all the elements to the scope of consultant responsibilities and best practices of other cities relative to combining elements. GPUSC Chair Gardner suggested GPAC members each pick a city to read their General Plan. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell suggested this topic be added as a future agenda item. Chair Greer suggested determining if a future agenda item is appropriate after the GPAC reviews General Plans from other cities. Motion made by Dennis Baker and seconded by Chair Greer to support the selection of Dudek as the General Plan Update consultant. The motion carried unanimously. e. Subcommittee Updates Principal Planner Zdeba indicated that the subcommittee roster list has been updated. He acknowledged Committee Member Brady as a new GPAC member and requested he communicate his subcommittee(s) of interest. He stated that each subcommittee has met at least once except for the noise subcommittee. Vision Statement: Committee Member Scarbrough reviewed the categories of the vision statement, relayed the debate to keep or combine the categories, and noted thoughtful consideration for future changes. Curtis Black noted a review of key topics and statements. Arts and Culture/Historical Resources: Committee Member Watkins stated that the group generated ideas that included a General Plan hardcopy in the library and an umbrella organization approach and appropriate timing for consultant involvement. General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023 Page 5 of 5 Chair Greer noted the 2013-14 Arts and Culture Master Plan on the City website and request for consultant support by the subcommittee. Safety and Recreation: Committee Member Kobayashi stated that the subcommittees brought in subject matter experts, thought they collected background that will help inform their work, and noted positive comradery and teamwork in both subcommittees. Committee Member Baker complimented staff for being well prepared and knowledgeable at the subcommittee meetings and asked for a reading list for each subcommittee. Chair Greer asked each subcommittee to identify a speaker for an oral report at the next GPAC meeting and for a written report to be shared with staff in advance of the next GPAC meeting and include five to six bullet points. V. COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) A future agenda item was suggested to review and act on the Land Use Element policy comments prepared by the Land Use Element subcommittee. Chair Greer suggested adding to the scope of consultant responsibilities to address sustainability and resiliency across all the elements and consider best practices of other cities relative to combining elements and GPAC members look at the General Plan of other cities to share at the next meeting. VI. ADJOURNMENT The next meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2023 at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center Community Room.