Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/26/1999 - Study Session0 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session April 26, 1999 - 4:00 p.m. Present: Glover, Thomson (arrived at 4:15 p.m.), Debay, Ridgeway, Noyes, Mayor O'Neil Absent: Adams CURRENT BUSINESS 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. Regarding Item No. 14, McFadden Place Farmers Market Agreement, Council Member Debay asked if the item needed to be pulled in order to receive approval. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the action is a "yes" or `no" action and that the provisions are written into the agreement. In response to Council Member Glover's questions regarding Item No. 8, R -A District Height Limits (Amendment 887), and its impact on Kings Road, • Ms. Wood clarified that the report only refers to the R -A District; that Amendment 887 does not affect Kings Road; and that handwritten pages 6 to 10 were not supposed to be included in the report. She indicated that the property is on Mesa Drive and that a variance application was submitted. In response to Mayor O'Neil's question, City Attorney Burnham confirmed that including handwritten pages 6 to 10 does rot change anything relative to the notification. In response to Council Member Glover's question relative to whether Item No. 9, Service Station Regulations Update (Amendment 885), will be going to public hearing, Acting City Manager Danner reported that staff will be recommending that this item be continued for two weeks. Council Member Glover expressed concern that all Newport Beach service stations are becoming completely self serve stations. She believed that one pump should be dedicated to full service, especially since there are many elderly citizens in the City. In response to Council Member Glover's question, Mr. Burnham stated that her concern is not necessarily appropriate during clarification of items on the consent calendar but that it is something that can be brought back. He indicated that the City can only regulate as it relates to the zoning code. 2. UPDATE OF GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT. Assistant City Manager Wood explained that there was a delay in requiring a Housing Element update because the State did not fund the Regional Volume 52 - Page 438 1101] CAI General Plan Housing Element (68) City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes April 26, 1999 Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process. However, she indicated that the deadline to have the Housing Element completed is now June 30, 2000 and that some of the State requirements are outlined in the staff report. She reported that the significant issues for the City are The Irvine Company's (TIC) requirement to provide affordable housing as part of the CIOSA agreement and what the City intends to do with Ford's in lieu fees. She stated that staff is looking for guidance on these issues, as well as direction as to the types of housing programs the Housing Element should focus on. Council Member Debay reported that this was last done 10 years ago. She reviewed the previous process in which the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) provided cities with growth forecast numbers and stated that SCAG now receives these numbers from the cities themselves. Council Member Debay also reported that the State has written legislation permitting subregional coordinators, like the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG), to administer these numbers. In response to Council Member Glover's questions, Ms. Wood stated that the Bayview Landing site was the site that TIC initially wanted to pursue for senior affordable housing but that the City has not heard from them regarding this for several months. Ms. Wood indicated that TIC does not have a deadline; however, stated that staff believes that the plan would most likely be accepted and certified by the State if a plan was included to address both TIC's requirement and Ford's in lieu fees. • Council Member Ridgeway expressed the opinion that the staff report suggests that the City needs to provide a new Housing Element and provide reporting, but does not put an affirmative obligation to provide affordable housing. Ms. Wood reported that there is no State mandate that the City must spend any of its own funds to produce affordable housing since the City is already required to include SCAG's numbers as the City's affordable housing goal and must provide a series of programs that addresses how the City will facilitate the development. Ms. Wood stated that, if the City did not have land to develop property on or the land was underutilized, the City can utilize redevelopment methods. Council Member Ridgeway reminded Council that the Newport Village site was discussed at a previous study session and that it was concluded that TIC would be able to meet their 172 affordable housing unit requirement at this location. Carol Hoffman, The Irvine Company, stated that, at the time the CIOSA agreement was adopted, TIC was given a variety of locations to meet the affordable housing requirements but that only two sites were suitable. She noted that many members of the community told them that the Lower Bayview Landing site was also not the best location for affordable housing. Mayor O'Neil pointed out that TIC indicated to Council that they would build an affordable housing project on Lower Bayview Landing. • Mayor O'Neil asked if TIC has thought about dedicating the Lower Bayview Landing site to the City just as they did with the Newport Village site. Ms. Hoffman stated that they would be willing to meet in order to explore Volume 52 - Page 439 INDEX City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes April 26, 1999 • the many options and that this option has not been discussed with them. Council Member Debay asked if TIC discussed extending the agreements that are expiring or have expired. Ms. Hoffman stated that this would be TIC's least preferred option on the apartment projects. Council Member Noyes stated that the City made a good faith agreement with TIC and released building permits for Corporate Plaza West. In return, TIC almost guaranteed that they were going to move forward with the affordable housing project at Lower Bayview Landing. He believed that the site is only appropriate for affordable housing. Ms. Hoffman indicated that TIC has felt there has been ambiguity from all parties relative to what is the best way to meet the goal. Regarding Corporate Plaza, there are no direct ties between commercial and affordable housing permits. Additionally, TIC indicated that they would pull back from the Newport Village site affordable housing project so there would be no further complications with regard to Corporate Plaza. Ms. Hoffman stated that they would move forward if the City wanted TIC to proceed on the Lower Bayview Landing site. Mayor O'Neil recommended that staff meet with TIC regarding affordable housing and review the following various concepts: 1) building on Lower Bayview Landing; 2) dedicating the land; and 3) providing fees in lieu of providing housing/land. He suggested bringing the information back at a study session in 60 days and hoped that this will bring this issue to a • conclusion. Mayor Pro Tem Thomson asked if there is the possibility of acquiring new land or using other TIC -owned land for the senior affordable housing project. Ms. Hoffman stated that the only vacant parcels TIC has left are the Lower Bayview Landing, Lower Castaways, and Avocado North (part of Newport Village) sites. Mayor O'Neil noted that other opportunities may also be opened if the City annexes the coast area. Council Member Glover believed that the City may not be in a position to have a report in 60 days and wondered about possibly converting the older apartments in the City into affordable housing. She asked if the City can talk to LINC to get them involved again. Council Member Debay stated that the City spoke with Jim White who indicated that he would be willing to redevelop the old trailer park site on Pacific Coast Highway and a code - violated, motor residence on Placentia using the Ford in lieu fees. She hoped that those two sites will be looked at. Council Member Ridgeway pointed out that the staff report indicates that rehabilitation of existing units does not count toward the RHNA requirement. He believed that having staff bring back a report in 90 days may still be accelerating something since the coast area will probably not be annexed by that time. He indicated that he mentioned the Newport Village site because individuals from the OASIS Senior Center made a strong case • that it was a good site, especially since the location is close to all services, public transportation, and medical facilities. Volume 52 - Page 440 INDEX City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes April 26, 1999 • Council Member Noyes stated that he has lost faith with the process. He noted that the City reached an impasse to the point that the only way TIC could get past the City was to agree to build on the Lower Bayview Landing site, which they have yet to build on. Mayor O'Neil stated that it is not in the City's best interest to try to push a site that is controversial and that it may be better to accept title to the Lower Bayview Landing site and /or accept an in lieu fee to move this along and resolve it. Council Member Ridgeway expressed the opinion that he would rather have TIC oversee LINC, or a similar body, who could build a quality project in a good area. Noting that the City took $5,000 per unit from Ford, Council Member Debay asked if a decent unit can even be built with that money. Council Member Ridgeway clarified that the in lieu fee came from a fee being charged on the total number of approved units; that it would cost'$60,000 to $70,000 per unit, not including the land; and that Ford really had 61 units that would be considered affordable units. Council Member Debay emphasized that, if the City takes money from TIC, the City should receive a suitable amount that is equal to the number of units. Regarding rehabilitation of existing units, Ms. Wood confirmed that those • units would not count toward the RHNA goal unless the units were uninhabitable. However, doing this would still provide affordable housing; extend the life of the City's affordable housing stock; improve the neighborhood in which they are located; and satisfy other State laws and parts of the Housing Element. She stated that Council may still want to keep this option for consideration. Following discussion, Mayor O'Neil clarified that The Irvine Company will meet with staff to review the concepts of either building on the Lower Bayview Landing site; dedicating the land; or paying in lieu fees. He stated that everything can be considered, including the Newport Village site and the Newport Coast annexation. He hoped that this can be brought back in 60 to 90 days. Ms. Wood stated that they will meet with TIC within the 60 to 90 day period and look at other options for the use of the Ford in lieu fees and the possibility of TIC money. In response to Council Member Glover's questions regarding TIC's building permits, Mayor O'Neil reiterated that there were discussions during the time that the committee was negotiating with TIC over whether or not a project would be built on the Newport Village site. Those negotiations ended because no one was able to agree on a suitable substitute site to replace the property north of the library. Mayor O'Neil stated that, after that, there was a need for TIC to pull building permits in connection with their Corporate Plaza project. He indicated that Council instructed the City Manager to not issue TIC building permits and that this was within their authority. He • reported that commitments were made and correspondence was exchanged between the City and TIC whereby, in exchange for issuing the building permits for Corporate Plaza, there was a commitment on behalf of TIC to Volume 52 - Page 441 INDEX C J • • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes April 26, 1999 move forward and build an affordable housing project on Lower Bayview Landing. He stated that it was Council's and TIC's understanding that this was an agreement and that he is unsure why TIC did not move forward with the project. Following Council Member Glover's request that the City Clerk provide Council with the minutes concerning this, Mayor O'Neil stated that he believed that this occurred during closed session. City Attorney Burnham stated that he was confident that no open session took place regarding this. Council Member Ridgeway commented that maybe TIC realized that Lower Bayview Landing is not necessarily the best site for a senior affordable housing unit and believed that the building permits were probably just delayed rather than stopped. Mayor O'Neil pointed out that TIC does have an obligation under the CIOSA agreement to provide 172 affordable housing units. Further, that the City needs to do something with the over $2 million in Ford in lieu fees to satisfy the Housing Element. He agreed that the Newport Village site is the ideal location to erect a senior affordable housing project but noted that Council is not unanimous on the issue. Mayor O'Neil hoped that TIC and staff can get together and then provide Council with several options. Mayor Pro Tern Thomson stated that Ford gave the City $32,000 per unit, not $5,000 per unit. If TIC were to do the same, the City can use that money to possibly upgrade places throughout the City or build a low- income apartment complex. Council Member Ridgeway emphasized that he would just like to see a newer, nice senior affordable housing complex somewhere. Council Member Noyes reiterated that it should be located in a good area in which the seniors can walk or take transportation to services. Newly -hired City Manager Bludau stated that he looks forward to meeting with staff to explore the solutions. He agreed that cities have the responsibility to provide low -cost housing but not necessarily to build it. He suggested leveraging the $2 million and possibly waiving some of the building permit fees to further contribute to the project. Mayor O'Neil noted that the $2 million has also gained about $350,000 in interest over the past three years. 3. WEST COAST HIGHWAY WIDENING - (TUSTIN AVENUE TO RIVERSIDE AVENUE) PLAN REVIEW. Public Works Director Webb noted that the staff report mentions some of the current Traffic Phasing Ordinance numbers. He reported that a third westbound lane and a turn lane on Coast Highway, and an additional right turn lane out of Riverside Avenue would be required in order to meet the ICU standards at build out. To accomplish this, Mr. Webb stated that widening would be required on West Coast Highway between Tustin Avenue and the westerly edge of the Sterling BMW dealership. He reported that some right -of -way dedications and some building setbacks have been made and that the City has not yet cleared the lane widths with CalTrans. He estimated right -of -way acquisitions to be about $1.2 million and construction to cost about $1 million. Mr. Webb reported that the City only owns six feet of sidewalk between Riverside and Tustin Avenues, and the right -of -way in Volume 52 - Page 442 l o001:� West Coast Highway Widening (74) City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes April 26, 1999 • front of Sterling BMW, but does not own the right -of -way in front of the China Palace. He indicated that the City has not actively pursued this project and believed that the project could qualify for Measure M funds in three to four years because it deals with traffic service and improvement. However, if the City did not wish to pursue Measure M funding, he believed that there are sufficient funds in the Circulation and Transportation Fund. Council Member Debay questioned why the City would be paying for Pacific Coast Highway's widening and improvements since it belongs to the State. Mr. Webb pointed out that CalTrans only helped fund the storm drain portion of the Arches interchange project and that the Pacific Coast Highway widening from Bayside Drive to MacArthur Boulevard was also paid entirely by the City (40% City funds /60% Federal funds). He added that CalTrans does not have funding for the widening of conventional highways. In response to Council Member Ridgeway's questions regarding funding and the Arches bridge, Mr. Webb indicated that the program that issued FAU funds does not exist anymore but that there are several different funds that may be available for the City to apply for. He stated that the Arches bridge should open in the next two weeks and that it is set up to handle build out (60,000 to 65,000 cars a day). Discussion ensued relative to the number of lanes there are on Coast Highway. Council Member Ridgeway expressed the opinion that this is not a • very wise use of funds since there is an immediate bottleneck area between Tustin Avenue and the pelican wall. Mr. Webb stated that the General Plan indicates that six lanes are needed at build out on West Coast Highway. He also noted that the Public Works Department was directed not to bring the project up until directed by Council. Council Member Ridgeway asked if the City needed an updated EIR and EIS. Mr. Webb believed that one of them needed to be updated and one was only approved in 1981 for restriping within the existing right -of -way. Council Member Glover believed that this project would cost more than the estimated $2.2 million, recommending that the City purchase everything from Villa Nova Restaurant to the Josh Slocums Restaurant, make a water walkway, and install a median. She believed that the area would never agree to the widening and reminded Council that many children cross the Highway to get to the peninsula. Motion by Council Member Ridgeway to take the steps necessary to proceed with the widening of West Coast Highway from the Arches bridge to Tustin Avenue. Council Member Glover stated that she would second the motion if Council Member Ridgeway included purchasing the properties from the Villa Nova Restaurant to the Josh Slocums Restaurant in his motion. Council Member Ridgeway stated that he cannot add that to his motion because he believed it • would not be a wise use of City funds. The motion died for lack of a second. Volume 52 - Page 443 INDEX E City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes April 26, 1999 Noting that he does not have a point of view on this project, Phil Bettencourt, 110 Newport Center Drive, reminded Council of the exempt intersection list included in the Traffic Phasing Ordinance and pointed out that this intersection is a potential candidate for the exemption. In response to Council Member Debay's questions, Mr. Webb stated that installing a left turn/straightway lane at Riverside Avenue and Coast Highway is not an option because there is not enough space. Further, an extra left turn lane is not an option because there is two -way traffic flowing at the same time. In response to Council Member Ridgeway's questions regarding the sidewalk in front of the old Rosanne property, Mr. Webb explained that the sidewalk was initially only six feet wide and did not have enough room for the school children to ride their bikes and walk on the sidewalk. For safety reasons, the sidewalk was widened to accommodate the sidewalk traffic. Further, the John Dominus building could not just be setback, explaining that there is not much room to widen the sidewalk there because the property already has landscape setbacks, the building next to it has a very steep driveway, and the building next to that is an apartment complex. Without objection, the report was received and filed. PUBLIC COMMENTS —None • ADJOURNMENT — 5:22 p.m. • The agenda for the Study Session was posted on April 21, 1999, at 2:40 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. - ;�rwslq/ Recording Secretary R r e� Mayor Volume 52 - Page 444 W1117�:�