ORDINANCE 1293ORDINANCE NO. 1293
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL SEGUNDO,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EA -447, ZONE
CHANGE 98 -2, AND GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 98 -2, THEREBY
CERTIFYING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
AND APPROVING THE CHANGE IN ZONING AND LAND USE DESIGNATION
FROM DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL (CR -S) ZONE TO MULTI - FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL (R -3) AT 360 RICHMOND STREET. PETITIONED BY: JAMES R.
OBRADOVICH.
WHEREAS, on June 30, 1998, an application was received from James R. Obradovich
requesting approval of an Environmental Assessment, Zone Change and General Plan
Amendment from CR -S /Downtown Commercial to R -3 /Multi - Family Residential to allow the future
construction of a 10 unit condominium at the southeast corner of Holly Avenue and Richmond
Street; and
WHEREAS, an inter - departmental correspondence has been prepared and circulated
along with all the applications and preliminary plans for the future 10 unit condominium for inter-
departmental comments; and
WHEREAS, an Environmental Assessment (EA -447), including a Draft Initial Study and
Negative Declaration of Environmental Impacts for the proposed General Plan Amendment and
Zoning Change, has been prepared and circulated to all interested parties, Staff, and affected
public agencies for review and comment in the time and manner prescribed by law; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed Environmental Assessment EA-447
and the supporting evidence with the authority and criteria contained in the California
Environmental Quality Act, State CEQA Guidelines, and the City of El Segundo Guidelines for the
implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (Resolution 3805); and
WHEREAS, on October 22 and December 10, 1998, the Planning Commission did hold,
pursuant to law, duly advertised public hearings on such matter and notice of the public hearings
was given in the time, form and manner prescribed by law; and
WHEREAS, at said hearings opportunity was given to all persons to present testimony or
documentary evidence for or against the findings of Environmental Assessment EA -447, General
Plan Amendment 98 -2, and Zone Change 98 -2; and
WHEREAS, at it's meetings of October 22, 1998, the Planning Commission opened the
public hearing, took testimony and continued the public hearing; and
ORDINANCE NO. 1293
APPROVING EA -447, AC 98 -2
360 RICHMOND STREET
JAMES R. OBRADOVICH
PAGE NO. 1
WHEREAS, at it's meeting of December 10, 1998, the Planning Commission took
testimony at the continued public hearing, and reviewed and considered the recommendations of
the City Council pursuant to the Report from the Downtown Task Force, as appointed by the City
Council and directed staff to prepare a resolution recommending approval of the project to the City
Council; and
WHEREAS, on December 21, 1998, at an adjourned meeting, the Planning Commission
adopted Resolution No. 2435 recommending approval of the proposed General Plan
Amendment, Zone Change and Negative Declaration; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission is concerned with the future development of the
Downtown and considered the proposed General Plan Amendment 98 -2 and Zone Change 98 -2
in light of the City Council's efforts to revitalize the Downtown District; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission believes that development of a residential use is
appropriate and fits into the frame work of the City Council's Downtown revitalization efforts; and
WHEREAS, on January 5 and 19, 1999, the City Council did hold, pursuant to law, a duly
advertised public hearing on such matter in the Council Chamber of the City Hall, 350 Main Street,
and notice of the public hearing was given in the time form and manner prescribed by law; and
WHEREAS, opportunity was given to all persons present to speak for or against the
findings of Environmental Assessment EA -447, General Plan Amendment 98 -2 and Zone Change
98 -2; and
WHEREAS, at said hearings the following facts were established:
The site is within the Downtown Commercial District, and is zoned Downtown Commercial
— (CR -S).
2. The site is located at the northwest corner at the edge of the Downtown Commercial
District on Richmond Street and Holly Avenue.
3. The site is currently vacant, and the City's historic records indicate no previous
development proposed or ever existed on the site.
4. This particular parcel is unique within the Downtown area due to its perimeter location and
lack of previous or current development.
5. Testimony supported proposed General Plan Amendment 98 -2 and Zone Change 98 -2
based in part on the increase in population generated by Multi- family (R -3) development
which would assist in sustaining the viability of the Downtown District.
ORDINANCE NO. 1293
APPROVING EA -447, AC 98 -2
360 RICHMOND STREET
JAMES R. OBRADOVICH
PAGE NO. 2
6. Multi- family (R -3) development in close proximity to the Downtown is an incentive to urban
dwellers.
7. Historical City records indicate that there has been no interest in commercial development
on the site.
8. The proposed General Plan Amendment and Zone Change would allow for Multi- family
residential development similar to the existing condominiums on the north side of Holly
Avenue.
9. The following land uses surround the site: to the south is an apartment building; to the east
is an alley which would buffer the proposed residential use from the adjacent commercial
land use; R -3 Zoning and Land Use is located to the north across Holly Avenue and to the
northwest across Holly Avenue is R -1 Zoning and Land Use. The proposed General Plan
Amendment 98 -2 and Zone Change 98 -2 is consistent with these land uses.
10. The individual site is not specifically part of the proposed Initial City Council Action Plan as
discussed by the City Council on December 1, 1998.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that after consideration of the above facts and
study of proposed Environmental Assessment EA -447, General Plan Amendment 98 -2, and Zone
Change 98 -2, the Council makes the following findings and in so doing, approves the proposed
project:
A. General Findings
1. The proposed General Plan Amendment 98 -2 and Zone Change 98 -2 are not in conflict
with the Downtown Action Plan preliminary directed by the City Council on December 1,
1998 pursuant to the November 17, 1998, Downtown Task Force recommendations.
2. The intervening uses (apartment building and surface parking lot) between the vacant
Ralph's site and the subject site and the alley to the east effectively buffers the proposed
Multi - Family (R -3) residential use from impacts of the Downtown retail and service uses.
3. That Multi- family housing in close proximity to the Downtown is a benefit since the greater
number of people in Multi- family (R -3) residential development generally support business
within walking distance of their residence.
4. Past efforts to attract commercial /retail /service development to the site have been
unsuccessful due to the perimeter location of the site within the Downtown District.
5. Increased density of residential development in this area is consistent with the adjoining
Multi- family (R -3) development directly to the north across Holly Avenue.
ORDINANCE NO. 1293
APPROVING EA -447, AC 98 -2
360 RICHMOND STREET
JAMES R. OBRADOVICH
PAGE NO. 3
6. This particular parcel is unique within the Downtown area due to its perimeter location and
lack of previous or current development.
B. Environmental Findings:
The Draft Initial Study was made available for public review and comment in the time and
manner prescribed by law. The initial Study concluded that the proposed project will not
have a significant, adverse effect on the environment, and a Negative Declaration of
Environmental Impact will be prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA); and
2. That when considering the whole record, there is no evidence that the project will have the
potential for an adverse effect on wildlife resources or the habitat on which the wildlife
depends, because the project is in a built -out urban environment; and
3. That the City Council authorizes and directs the Director of Planning and Building Safety to
file with the appropriate agencies a Certificate of Fee Exemption and de minimis finding
pursuant to AB 3158 and the California Code of Regulation. Within ten (10) days of the
approval of the Negative Declaration of Environmental Impacts, the applicant shall
transmit $25.00 required by the County of Los Angeles for the filing of this certificate along
with the required Notice of Determination. As approved in AB 3158, the statutory
requirements of CEQA will not be met and no vesting shall occur until this condition is met
and the required notices and fees are filed with the County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the City Council hereby approves
Environmental Assessment EA -447, General Plan Amendment 98 -2, and Zone Change 98 -2,
subject to the following condition:
1. The applicant shall indemnify, defend, protect, and hold harmless the City, is elected and
appointed officials, officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims,
actions, causes of action, proceedings, or suits which challenge or attach the validity of the
City's approval of Environmental Assessment EA -447, General Plan Amendment 98 -2,
and Zone Change 98 -2.
SECTION 1. This ordinance shall become effective at midnight on the thirtieth (30) day
from and after the final passage and adoption hereof.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this ordinance;
shall cause the same to be entered in the book of original ordinances of said City; shall make a
note of the passage and adoption hereof in the records of the meeting at which the same is
passed and adopted; and shall within 15 days after the passage or adoption thereof cause the
same to be published or posed in accordance with the law.
ORDINANCE NO. 1293
APPROVING EA -447, AC 98 -2
360 RICHMOND STREET
JAMES R. OBRADOVICH
PAGE NO. 4
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 19th day of January, 1999.
Mike Gordon, Mayor
ATTEST:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) SS
CITY OF EL SEGUNDO )
I, Cindy Mortesen, 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.1293
was duly introduced by said City Council at a regular meeting held on the 5th day of January,
1999, 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 19th day of
January, 1999, and the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Gordon, McDowell, Gaines, Wernick
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Jacobs
Cindy Mortei6n, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mark D Hensley, City Attorney
ORDINANCE NO. 1293
APPROVING EA -447, AC 98 -2
360 RICHMOND STREET
JAMES R. OBRADOVICH
PAGE NO. 5