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ORDINANCE 1659ORDINANCE NO. 1659 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 15-15-5(N) OF THE EL SEGUNDO MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 15 REGARDING DRIVEWAY AND CURB CUT STANDARDS AND FINDING SUCH AMENDMENT EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES § 15061(b)(3)). The City Council of the city of El Segundo does ordain as follows: SECTION 1: The City Council finds and declares as follows: A. On January 12, 2024, RSP4, LLC initiated the process to amend the El Segundo Municipal Code ("ESMC") Title 15 ("Zoning Code") to reduce the required distance between curb cuts on the same property from 24 to 10 feet on streets designated as arterial streets; B. The proposed amendment was reviewed by the City's Community Development Department for, in part, consistency with the General Plan and conformity with the ESMC; C. The City reviewed the project's environmental impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (California Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., "CEQA") and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq., the "CEQA Guidelines"); D. On March 14, 2024, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to receive public testimony and other evidence regarding the Ordinance and adopted Resolution No. 2949 recommending that the City Council introduce and adopt an Ordinance amending the ESMC curb cut standards. E. On April 16, 2024, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing and considered the information provided by City staff and public testimony regarding the Ordinance; and F. This Ordinance and its findings are made based upon the entire administrative record including, without limitation, testimony and evidence presented to the City Council at its April 16, 2024 hearing and the staff report submitted by the Community Development Department. SECTION 2: Factual Findings and Conclusions. The City Council finds, without limitation, that: A. Introducing and adopting the Ordinance will amend ESMC Section 15-15- 5(N) (Driveway and Curb Cuts) to reduce the minimum distance between driveway curb cuts on nonresidential properties from 24 to 10 feet for properties: ORDINANCE NO. 1659 PAGE 1 of 7 located along major or secondary arterial streets identified in the El Segundo General Plan Circulation Element, 2. where the subject driveways' intersection with the arterial street is signalized, and 3. where the driveways provide a safe crossing passage for pedestrians, subject to approval of the Community Development Director and City Engineer; B, Most streets designated as major or secondary arterial streets in the General Plan Circulation Element do not currently permit on -street parking; C. Signalized intersections between commercial property driveways and arterial streets effectively separate and eliminate conflicts between traffic moving in opposite direction; D. A 10-foot separation between driveway curb cuts on commercial properties in combination with a traffic signal adequately control and reduce on -site vehicle circulation conflicts; and E. A 10-foot separation between driveway curb cuts on commercial properties can provide a safe crossing passage for pedestrians. SECTION 3: Zone Text Amendment Findings. In accordance with ESMC § 15-27-3, the City Council finds that: A. The amendment is consistent with the General Plan, The amendment is consistent with Circulation Element Goal C1 to provide a safe, convenient and cost-effective circulation system. The proposed amendment reduces the distance requirement at signalized intersections between driveways and arterial streets. Signalization reduces vehicular circulation conflicts on and off street and provides a safe crossing passage for pedestrians. In addition, the amendment is consistent with Economic Development Goal ED1 to create in El Segundo a strong, healthy economic community in which all diverse stakeholders may benefit. The proposed amendment allows more flexibility in the design of driveways in non-residential zones. A strong, healthy economic community exists, and diverse stakeholders benefit when regulations are reviewed and updated to allow business flexibility to pursue, design, construct, and implement improved, safer, more efficient options in the course of their endeavors. ORDINANCE NO. 1659 PAGE 2 of 7 Furthermore, the amendment is consistent with Economic Development Goal ED2 to provide a supportive and economically profitable environment as the foundation of a strong local business community. The proposed amendment provides opportunities for improvements that accommodate existing and future circulation needs in a manner that preserves the City's goals to improve traffic and pedestrian safety and access to onsite vehicle circulation and parking. The amendment represents a reasonable modification to the existing regulation to allow for flexibility. Its approval is a consistent and supportive action to promote, maintain, and further an economically profitable environment and a strong local business community. B. The amendment is necessary to serve the public health, safety, and general welfare. The proposed amendment is necessary to serve the public health, safety, and general welfare, because it removes an unnecessary restriction on the design of driveways. ESMC Section 15-15-5(N) requires a minimum separation of 24 feet between driveways, in part to "preserve on street parking spaces." However, this intent is not applicable or necessary on major and secondary arterial streets in the City, because on -street parking is prohibited on major and secondary arterial streets, with few exceptions. The high traffic volumes and speeds along arterial streets necessitate more through vehicle lanes, rather than on -street parking lanes, to facilitate better traffic flow. In addition, on -street parking near access driveways on high- speed streets can create visibility and traffic safety problems. Therefore, the proposed amendment to allow a separation of 10 feet between driveways along arterial streets does not conflict with the goal of preserving on -street parking, which is more applicable to lower -volume streets, such as collector and local streets. The proposed amendment is also necessary to serve the public health, safety, and general welfare by furthering the goals of the Driveway and Curb Cuts standards of ESMC Section 15-15-5(N) to "improve traffic safety" and "improve on site vehicle circulation." The ESMC currently limits the maximum driveway width in non-residential zones to 30 feet and requires a minimum of 24 feet between driveways on the same property. The amendment allows flexibility, when certain criteria are met, for driveway designs that better meet the listed ESMC goals of improving traffic safety and on -site vehicle circulation. Decreasing the minimum distance required between curb cuts allows designs that provide adequate, safe crossings for pedestrians and safe access for vehicles entering and exiting a site. Access driveways on an arterial street with a minimum 10-foot median for separation, in combination ORDINANCE NO. 1659 PAGE 3 of 7 with a traffic signal, control and separate conflicting vehicle movements, and thus improve traffic safety and on -site circulation. In addition, the shorter separation provides more safety for pedestrians crossing such driveways than the current 24-foot separation, because it reduces the overall distance pedestrians must cross. Further, the signalization also improves pedestrian safety, because it separates pedestrian movements from vehicular movements, and thus reduces conflicts. The safety benefits of the proposed amendment are also supported by the fact that signalized driveways already exist on arterial streets and function safely without negative impacts on traffic safety and on -site vehicle circulation. Finally, the proposed amendment creates an approval pathway for improved, high -quality driveway designs appropriate to the environment in which they will be located, which would also be necessary to serve the public health, safety. Such a pathway would not interfere with or be detrimental to the public health, safety, and orderly development of the City. SECTION 4: Environmental Assessment. Based on the facts set forth in Section 2, the City Council finds that the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3)), because it consists only of minor revisions to existing zoning regulations and related procedures, and, therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. Furthermore, the Ordinance does not approve any specific project, and City staff will conduct discrete environmental review for any project proposed under this Ordinance's provisions. SECTION 5: Subsection (N) of ESMC Section 15-15-5 regarding Driveway and Curb Cuts is amended in its entirety to read as follows: "N. Driveway and Curb Cuts: All curb cuts and driveways must lead directly to required parking. Curb cuts not leading to parking, must be removed whenever new buildings are constructed or additions are made to existing buildings. The location and design of all driveway entrances and exits must comply with the standards listed below. The goal of these standards is to: 1) preserve on street parking spaces, where applicable, 2) improve traffic safety, and 3) improve on site vehicle circulation. ORDINANCE NO. 1659 PAGE 4 of 7 1. Driveway and Curb Cut Width;. Curb Cut Width (in Driveway Width (in feet)4� feet Zone Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum R-1 and R-2 - lots less 10 20 10 20 than 50 feet wide R-1 and R-2 - lots at 10 25 10 28 least 50 feet wide R-3 - serving 12 or fewer 12 30 12 30 parking spaces or one- way R-3 - serving 13 or more 18 30 18 30 parking spaces or two- way Nonresidential - one-way 112 130 112 30 Nonresidential - two-way 18 30 118 30 Note: a ---*Curb cut width excludes the width of aprons. 2. Curb Cut Locations: Minimum Distance Minimum Minimum Between Curb Cuts Distance From Distance From Zone On The Same Curb Cuts To Curb Cuts To Property Street Corners Property Lines Residential 24 feet 20 feet 5 feet Nonresidential 24 feet* 50 feet 5 feet *For a signalized driveway on a rna'or or secondary arterial street as defined in the General Pldrn Circulation Element that -provides safe passage for. ede trians crossing the drv_ w a rnirrionurn Communityr •s mDirector and City Engineer." SECTION 6: Electronic Signatures. This Ordinance may be executed with electronic signatures in accordance with Government Code § 16.5. Such electronic signatures will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature. SECTION 7: Construction. This Ordinance must be broadly construed to achieve the purposes stated in this Ordinance. It is the City Council's intent that the provisions of this Ordinance be interpreted or implemented by the City and others in a manner that facilitates the purposes set forth in this Ordinance. SECTION 8: Severability. If any part of this Ordinance or its application is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable. ORDINANCE NO. 1659 PAGE 5 of 7 SECTION 9: Recordation. The City Clerk, or designee, is directed to certify the passage and adoption of this Ordinance; cause it to be entered into the City of El Segundo's book of original ordinances; make a note of the passage and adoption in the records of this meeting; and, within 15 days after the passage and adoption of this Ordinance, cause it to be published or posted in accordance with California law. SECTION 10: Effective Date. This Ordinance will become effective 30 days following its passage and adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7t" day of May, 2024. ATTEST: r ovlwo Tracy Weave, I City Clerk A'PPR S TO FORM: rcll; Mark D. Hensley, City Attorney Dre o�.._ or ORDINANCE NO. 1659 PAGE 6 of 7 CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS CITY OF EL SEGUNDO ) I, Tracy Weaver, City Clerk of the City of El Segundo, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the foregoing Ordinance No. 1659 was duly introduced by said City Council at a regular meeting held on the 16th day of April 2024, and was duly passed and adopted by said City Council, approved and signed by the Mayor, and attested to by the City Clerk, all at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 7th day of May, 2024, and the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES. Mayor Boyles, Mayor Pro Tem Pimentel, Council Member Pirsztuk, Council Member Giroux and Council Member Baldino NOES. None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None WITNESS MY HAND THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF SAID CITY this T day of May, 2024, 11 TracV Weaver, City Clerk of the City of El Segundo, California ORDINANCE NO. 1659 PAGE 7 of 7