05-07-2019 - Item 19 - Zone Change No 19-01 - Chnage The Zoning Designation of 19004 Pacific Lane from " Single Family Residental" to Mulitple Family Residental"AGENDA ITEM NO. 19
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina | Office of the City Manager
DATE:May 7, 2019
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:David Carmany
Interim City Manager
SUBJECT:ZONE CHANGE NO. 19-01 - CHANGE THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF 1904
PACIFIC LANE FROM "SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" (R-1) TO
"MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" (MF-20)
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council read the title of the ordinance and
waive further reading, and introduce the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ZONE CHANGE NO. 19-01 TO CHANGE THE
ZONING FOR THE PROPERTY AT 1904 W. PACIFIC LANE FROM “SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL” (R-1) TO “MULTIPLE FAMILY 20” (MF-20)
BACKGROUND:
On February 5, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2019-08 initiating a Zone Change to
change the zoning of 1904 W. Pacific Lane from “Single-Family Residential” (R-1) to “Multiple-
Family Residential” (MF-20). The proposed zone change was initiated due to a request by the
property owner of the subject site (Peggy Hale) during the October 2, 2018 City Council Meeting
public hearing for a 7-unit development at 1920 W. Pacific Lane. Ms. Hale pointed out that the
zoning of the property at 1904 W. Pacific Lane was not consistent with the immediately adjacent
properties. The Zone Change would make the zoning designation for 1904 W. Pacific Lane
consistent with the MF-20 zoning designation of the adjacent properties located to the south, east,
and west of the subject site.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
CURRENT
GENERAL
"Neighborhood Medium" and "Single-Family
Residential" (R-1)
PLAN AND ZONE
CLASSIFICATION
PROPOSED
GENERAL
PLAN AND ZONE
CLASSIFICATION
"Neighborhood Medium" and "Multiple-Family
Residential" (MF-20)
SURROUNDING
LAND USES AND
ZONING
North: Single-Family Residential;
"Single-Family Residential" (R-1)
South: Condominium Complex;
"Multiple-Family Residential" (MF-20)
East: Condominium Complex;
"Multiple-Family Residential" (MF-20)
West: Single-Family Residential;
"Multiple-Family Residential" (MF-20)
CURRENT
DEVELOPMENT Single-Family Residence
LEGAL NOTICE
Legal notice was published in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and was
mailed to 243 owners and occupants of properties located with 300 feet of
the subject site.
CEQA REVIEW General Exemption: The proposal is not subject to CEQA per
Section 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines
DISCUSSION:
1904 W. Pacific Lane is a 15,700 square-foot rectangular shaped lot with approximately 98 feet of
street frontage located on Pacific Lane, mid block between the intersections of Pacific Avenue and
Orange Avenue (the vicinity map is included as Attachment 2). The site was developed in the late
1940s with a 2,200 square foot house and a detached garage. The site is surrounded by single-family
and multi-family residences.
The subject property is adjacent to lots zoned “Single-Family Residential” (R-1) to its north (across
Pacific Lane), and lots zoned “Multiple-Family Residential” (MF-20) to its south, east, and west.
Although the properties located west of the subject lot are improved with single-family residences
similar to the project site, the site is the only lot on the south side of Pacific Lane zoned as R-1. The
zoning inconsistency is due to individual zone changes (ZC Nos. 237, 300, 306, and 309) approved
in the late 1950s through the early 1960s which changed the zoning designation of the parcels
surrounding the subject lot from R-1 to R-3. The R-3 zoning designation was later changed to MF-
20 in June 1972.
PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW
The Planning Commission held a study session on March 12, 2019. During the study session, staff
presented the Planning Commission with information pertaining to the subject lot’s size,
configuration, neighboring uses, and surrounding zoning designation. In addition, staff provided the
Planning Commission a letter received prior to the meeting from Mr. Robert Torres, voicing his
concerns regarding the zone change and 1904 W. Pacific Lane’s substandard lot size.
On April 9, 2019, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the Zone Change.
During the Planning Commission Meeting, Peggy Hale, the property owner of 1904 W. Pacific Lane
spoke in support of the project. The Commission voted 4-0 (Commissioner Kennedy absent) and
adopted Resolution No. 19-5983, recommending the City Council approve Zone Change No. 19-01.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
A General Plan Amendment is not required to accompany the zone change because the General Plan
designation for the subject site is Neighborhood Medium (9 to 20 units per acre), which is consistent
with the proposed MF-20 zoning designation for the site.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the proposed ordinance as to form and content and has
concluded that they are in compliance with both State and federal law.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options:
1.Approve the Planning Commission's recommendation; or
2.Provide alternative direction.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The proposal is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Sections 15060
(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides that CEQA only applies to activity
that results in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and for
activity considered to be a project, respectively. The zone change would not result in physical
change in the environment because it would simply make the zoning designation of the subject lot
consistent with the zoning of the adjacent lots, and any reasonably foreseeable construction pursuant
to the authority in the zone change would not have a significant effect on the environment.
Furthermore, the proposal does not involve any construction or additions to the existing structures on
the site.
Prepared by: Jo-Anne Burns, Planning Manager
Additional Approval: Jeff Anderson, Community Development Director
Attachments
Attachment No. 1 - Ordinance No. 2455
Attachment No. 2 - Vicinity Map
Attachment No. 3 - Planning Commission Staff Report dated April 9, 2019
Attachment No. 4 - Planning Commission Resolution No. 19-5984