HomeMy WebLinkAbout41 - NB-3 - Urban Master Plan Screening Request - 6/17/2014CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: JUNE 17, 2014 ITEM NUMBER:
SUBJECT: URBAN MASTER PLAN SCREENING REQUEST (UMP-14-03) FOR A 176-UNIT
RESIDENTIAL AND LIVE/WORK DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 671 W. 17TH STREET
DATE: JUNE 2, 2014
FROM: PLANNING DIVISION/DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION BY: MINOO ASHABI, PRINCIPAL PLANNER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MINOO ASHABI, AIA (714) 754-5610
minoo.ashabi@costamesaca.gov
RECOMMENDATION
Provide feedback on whether or not to accept for processing the development plans for an
Urban Master Plan for a 176-unit live/work project within the Mesa West Bluffs Urban Plan.
BACKGROUND
The 9-acre site is located at the southeast corner of W. 17' Street and Pomona Avenue
with an additional access from Superior Avenue. The site is currently occupied by
Argotech (one of the largest industrial uses on Westside) and is located within the Mesa
West Bluffs Urban Plan. On April 4, 2006, City Council adopted the Urban Plan to allow
incentives for the development of ownership housing and mixed -use development
projects. The intent of the urban plan is to provide development/economic incentives for
private property owners to reinvest and redevelop their properties. Residential and
Live/work units are allowed in the Mesa West Bluffs Urban Plan.
Argotech has been undergoing extensive contamination clean up under state and county
regulations. The process is nearly complete and the applicant has obtained a Notification
of Case Closure Review letter from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)
on March 14, 2014. The RWQCB reported no comments during the 30-day review period
and later issued a formal No Further Action Letter ("NFA") on April 14, 2014, and
designated the Case as "closed". However, there are certain post -closure obligations
that must be satisfied. As an example, the NFA includes a closure for the soil
contamination but necessitates the implementation of a Soil Management Plan ("SMP")
at the site. Development of the site with residential product would require clearance from
the state as well as local agencies.
The Boathouse Collective to the south of the site (1640 Pomona Avenue) has an
entitlement to use the parking areas within the Argotech site for overflow parking. If the
project is approved to proceed, the conditional use permit for the Boathouse Collective
will need to be revoked prior to or concurrent with the Master Plan Application for this
site.
Please see the summary sheet for more information (Attachment 1).
The proposed 9-acre site contains several building including offices, manufacturing and
warehousing. Majority of the office buildings are located along 17t" Street and
manufacturing facilities at the side and rear of the site. The overall existing square
footage of the buildings is estimated at 153,172 square feet (by the applicant) including
storage which will need to be verified prior to final traffic study. The site is zoned MG
(General Industrial) and has a General Plan land use designation of Light Industrial (LI).
The attached trip generation was based on development of the site at 0.35 Floor Area
Ratio (FAR). There are several vehicular accesses to the site from 17t" Street, Pomona
Avenue as well as Superior Avenue.
EVALUATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT
This urban plan screening process will address the following issues:
1) Does the project meet Council's expectations for projects in the Urban Plan areas?
The screening process is an opportunity to determine if the conceptual project meets
Council's expectations for new projects in the urban plan areas. Council will be
providing initial feedback to the applicants.
2) Does Council have any comments on any requested deviations? The screening
process will highlight any requested deviations from the urban plans to Council's
attention.
The screening process allows the applicant to consider Councils' initial comments and to
refine the development concept based on their feedback.
CONCLUSION
The screening process enables Council to address the central question about the proposed
development: Does the project concept meet Council's expectations for new development
in the Mesa West Bluffs Urban Plan area?
Council's general comments do not set precedent for approval/denial nor constitute final
action on the development project. In addition, the applicant should expect the Planning
Commission to have other comments/concerns on a proposed development concept that
may not have been raised by City Council. The screening process allows the applicant to
consider Council's initial comments and to refine the development concept based on their
feedback.
MINOO ASHABI, AIA GARY ARMSTRONG, AICP
Principal Planner Economic and Development Services
Director
Attachments: 1. Urban Plan Screening Summary Sheet
2. Aerial Map
3. Location Map
4. Zoning Map
5. Mesa West Bluffs Map
6. Trip Generation Analysis
7. Conceptual Plans
cc: Chief Executive Officer
Assistant Chief Executive Officer
Public Services Director
City Attorney
Transportation Services Manager
City Engineer
City Clerk (9)
Staff (7)
File (2)
Donald Lamm
Diamond Star Associates, Inc.
4100 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 310
Newport Beach, CA 92660
C. Jamie Alai
Westport Properties
2201 Dupont Dr., Suite 700
Irvine, CA 92612
COMMUNICATIONS
Rree Gnlaw
AN partlle)-s
June 10, 2014
Mayor James Righeimer
and City Council
City of Costa Mesa
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1200
Dear Mayor Righeimer and Council Members:
Please consider this letter as support for your approval of the Westside Gateway live -
work housing project on West 171h
Street. While located on the corner of 17and
Pomona, these new homes will help build a new community in southwest Costa Mesa
which supports the East 17tj' Street commercial district, and expanding commercial
along West 17"' Street.
We encourage the City Council to unanimously support the ArgoTech- Westside
Gateway project and approve their Urban Plan screening request at your Council
meeting.
Thank you for all of your support and vision to build a better community
Sincerely,
Wilbur H. S ith, III
44,10 Von Kaman Avme, -;oite 31.:0 9 4 9, 2 21.8 () S i
Ne,vporl 8wach, CAfmmio 92660 949321,8191fa,