HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 PC WorkshopsITEM #5
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DATE: AUGUST 14, 2007 ~~~~
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TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOPS
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Commission provide input to staff regarding future workshop topics.
DISCUSSION:
The Planning Commission requested that staff provide various workshop opportunities.
In the past, the Community Development Department has presented informational
workshops to the Planning Commission on the following topics:
• Brown Act
• Conducting Public Hearings
• Deed Restrictions
• Findings
• Driveway Standards
• General Plans and Specific Plans
• Redevelopment Law and Redevelopment Agency Activities
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Cultural Resources Overlay District and Cultural Resources
• Capital Improvement Program
• Density Bonuses (incentives for the development of affordable housing)
• Earthquake preparedness
• Sign Code
• First Street Specific Plan
• Design Review
• Alcoholic Beverages
• C-2 (Office Use Provision)
PC Workshops
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Staff can provide these workshops again since we have a new commissioner. The
Commission may wish to discuss which topics would be of greatest interest to the
Commission and how frequently and at which time the workshops should be held.
Typically, workshops have been held at 6:00 p.m., just prior to regularly scheduled
Commission meetings. Workshops could be scheduled on a regular basis, or as
needed.
Attached for the Commission's review is a copy of the Table of Contents from -the
Planning Commissioner's Handbook prepared by the League of California Cities. The
Table of Contents contains a list of relevant topics that could be presented at a
Commission workshop.
Attachment: Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Section 1 -The Planning Commissioner's Role
What is a Planning Commission? ...........................................1
Why Plan? .................................................................................1
The Commission's Duties ........................................................2
Public Service Ethics ................................................................3
Ethics Laws ...............................................................................4
Working with Fellow Commissioners .....................................8
Working with Staff ..................................................................9
Working with the Governing Body .......................................10
Working with the Media ........................................................1 l
Section 2 -Meetings & Procedures
Meetings .................................................................................. 13
Preparing for Meetings .......................................................... 13
Abstention and Disqualification ........................................... 14
Meetings and Public Hearings ............................................... 15
Basic Meeting Procedures ...................................................... 16
Parliamentary Procedure ....................................................... 17
Chairing Meetings .................................................................. 19
Quasi-Judicial and Legislative Decisions .............................. 20
Key Considerations for Quasi-Judicial Proceedings ............ 21
Making A Decision ................................................................. 22
Findings .................................................................................. 22
'Fhe Record .............................................................................. 24
Appeal to the Governing Body .............................................. 24
Judicial Review ....................................................................... 25
Section 3 -Public Participation in Land Use Planning
The Importance of Public Participation ...............................27
Open Meeting Requirements .................................................27
Posting and Following the Agenda ........................................28
The Public's Right to Participate at Meetings ......................29
The Public's Right to Access Documents ..............................29
Removing Barriers to Participation ......................................31
Going Further: Simple Public Engagement Ideas ...............32
Going Further: More Extensive Engagement Strategies .....33
Section 4 -The Planning Framework
The General Plan .................................................................... 35
Specific Plans .......................................................................... 39
"Loning ..................................................................................... 41
Subdivisions ............................................................................ 45
Development Agreements ...................................................... 48
Design Review ........................................................................ 48
Dedications and Fees ............................................................. 49
Environmental Review ........................................................... 50
Permit Streamlining Act ........................................................ 53
Section 5 -Housing Law and Policies
"The Housing Element ............................................................ 56
Density Bonuses ..................................................................... 58
Second Dwelling Units ........................................................... 58
Limited Authority to Deny Affordable Projects ................... 59
Other Affordable Housing Laws ............................................ 59
Group Homes ......................................................................... 60
Increasing Housing Density .................................................. 60
Inclusionary Housing ............................................................. 60
Mixed-Use Development ....................................................... 61
Infill Development ................................................................. 63
Overcoming Local Resistance ................................................ 63
Streamlining Processes ........................................................... 64
Preserving Affordable Housing ............................................. 64
Architectural Standards ......................................................... 65
Section 6 -Environmental Issues
Growth Management ............................................................. 67
Environmental Justice ............................................................ 68
Farmland Protection .............................................................. 69
Open Space ............................................................................. 70
Endangered Species Laws ...................................................... 71
Coastal Act .............................................................................. 72
Water Quality ......................................................................... 73
Wetlands ................................................................................. 74
Air Quality .............................................................................. 74
Energy ..................................................................................... 75
Green Building ....................................................................... 76
B rownfields ............................................................................. 78
Hazardous Materials .............................................................. 79
Section 7 -Infrastructure and Urban Development
Annexations & Spheres of Influence .....................................81
Economic Development ........................................................82
Jobs-Housing Balance ............................................................83
Redevelopment .......................................................................84
Capital Improvements Plans .................................................86
Transportation ........................................................................87
Parking ....................................................................................89
Historic Preservation .............................................................90
Section 8 -Community Design & Application Review
Reviewing Project Applications .............................................93
A Primer: 10 Basic Elements of Community Design...........93
The Typical Application .........................................................97
How to Review an Application ..............................................99
• Review Question Checklist ..................................................100
Section 9 -Legal Issues
The Police Power ..................................................................103
Preemption ...........................................................................103
"Takings and Property Rights ...............................................104
Substantive Due Process & Vested Kights ...........................105
Procedural Due Process: Notice & Hearings .....................106
Discrimination & Equal Protection ....................................106
First Amendment: Signs, Adult Uses & Free Speech..........107
Religious Uses .......................................................................108
Section 10 -Fiscal Issues
The Fiscal-Planning Link ..................................................... 109
Overview of the State-Local Fiscal System ......................... 109
State-Controlled Revenues .................................................. 112
Locally Controlled Taxes ...................................................... l ] 3
Locally Raised Fees ............................................................... 113
Local Benefit Assessments ................................................... 114
Local Debt Financing Tools ................................................. 115
Accounting and `Types of Funds .......................................... 115
Fiscal Impact Analysis .......................................................... 116
Section 11 Planning Commissioner's Glossary
Glossary ................................................................................119
Acronyms and Abbreviations ..............................................143
Order Form ..............................................................................145