Chapter 18.72 — SPECIFIC PLANS

The purpose of this chapter is to establish uniform procedures for the adoption and implementation of specific plans for the coordination of future development within the City. (Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004.)

When deemed to be necessary for orderly development in the City and for implementation of the General Plan, and when deemed to be in the public interest, the City, on its own initiative, or upon application by a property owner, may process and adopt a specific plan in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Applications not initiated by the City shall be accompanied by a filing fee in an amount and manner consistent with Chapter 18.80 (Fees). (Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004.)

A proposed specific plan shall be composed of a specific plan document, including text and diagrams, which specify the following in detail:

.010 Uses. The nature, location, density and size of all existing and proposed land uses, including open space.

.020 Circulation. Vehicular and pedestrian circulation within the project and surrounding area.

.030 Services. The provision of essential urban services, including but not limited to, energy, public safety, public utilities, sewage, solid waste disposal, storm water drainage, water, recreation and other essential facilities which may be needed to support the proposed development.

.040 Regulations. Land use and other regulations that will implement the specific plan, including the following: .0401 Justification supporting any development standards or procedures that deviate from existing City zoning and other land use regulations; and

.0402 Standards and criteria for conserving, developing and utilizing natural resources, where applicable. .050 Financing. Programs, public works projects, and financing measures to implement the specific plan. .060 Development Schedule. A schedule setting forth phasing of development and target dates for completion. .080 Relationship to General Plan. A statement of the relationship of the specific plan to the General Plan.

.090 Other Information. Such other information as is deemed necessary by the Planning Director to assure that the proposed specific plan is consistent with the provisions of the State law, the General Plan, and any other laws, regulations and policies of the City. (Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004.)

.010 Adoption and Amendment. Review, adoption and amendment of specific plans shall be conducted in the same manner as zoning reclassifications under Chapter 18.76 (Zoning Amendments), except that any action by the Planning Commission recommending the adoption, amendment or repeal of a specific plan, or any part thereof, other than an action governed by subsection 18.72.040.040 (Adjustments), shall be acted upon by the City Council, following a public hearing conducted thereon in accordance with hearing procedures set forth in Chapter 18.60 (Procedures). Any action by the Planning Commission disapproving a specific plan, or disapproving any amendment or repeal thereof, shall be final, unless appealed to the City Council within the time and manner described in Section 18.60.110 (Appeals – General) of Chapter 18.60 (Procedures).

.020 Zoning and Development Standards. If a specific plan includes zoning and development standards that will replace existing standards in the Zoning Code, such zoning and development standards shall be adopted, and the Zoning Code shall be amended by the City Council, by an ordinance separate from any action taken to adopt or amend the specific plan.

.030 Zoning Map. In connection with approval of a specific plan, the Zoning Map of the City of Anaheim shall be amended by an ordinance adopted by the City Council to rezone and reclassify the area covered by such specific plan. Such reclassification shall be designated with the assigned number of the specific plan. If the boundaries of the area covered by a specific plan are subsequently modified, such reclassification shall be processed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.76 (Zoning Amendments).

.040 Specific Plan Adjustment. A proposed modification to any zoning and development standard adopted in connection with a specific plan shall be processed in accordance with the following provisions, except that: (a) if exhibits, text or other elements of a specific plan also require amendment due to the zoning and development standards being modified, such modification shall be processed as an amendment to

the specific plan, pursuant to subsection 18.72.040.010; or (b) if a determination is made by the Planning Director that, due to the extent and/or complexity of the proposed modification to the zoning and development standards, an amendment should be processed pursuant to subsection 18.72.040.010.

.0401 A proposed specific plan adjustment shall be submitted as a public meeting item to the Planning Commission, for consideration at a regularly-scheduled meeting, as set forth in Chapter 18.76 (Zoning Amendments).

.0402 Any action by the Planning Commission recommending approval of a specific plan adjustment shall be acted upon by the City Council, pursuant to the procedures for amending the Zoning Code set forth in Chapter 18.76 (Zoning Amendments).

.0403 Any action by the Planning Commission disapproving a specific plan adjustment shall be final, unless appealed to the City Council pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 18.60 (Procedures).

.0404 The Planning Commission may refer any specific plan adjustment for processing as an amendment to the specific plan, in accordance with the provisions of subsection 18.72.040.010, when the Planning Commission determines that the general public interest warrants such processing. (Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004.)

No specific plan may be adopted or amended, unless the proposed plan or amendment is consistent with the General Plan. (Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004.)

Prior to approving or conditionally approving any specific plan, or amendment thereto, the Planning Commission or City Council shall make the following findings:

.010 That the property proposed for the specific plan has unique site characteristics, such as topography, location or surroundings, that are enhanced by special land use and development standards;

.020 That the specific plan is consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan, and with the purposes, standards and land use guidelines therein;

.030 That the specific plan results in development of desirable character that will be compatible with existing and proposed development in the surrounding neighborhood;

.040 That the specific plan contributes to a balance of land uses throughout the City; and

.050 That the specific plan respects environmental, aesthetic and historic resources consistent with economic realities. (Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004.)

.010 An existing zone, or zones, may be specified as the underlying base zone(s) for the area covered by a specific plan. Exceptions to the zoning and development standards of the base zone(s) shall be provided in the specific plan. Such exceptions shall be patterned after the zone districts found at Chapters 18.04 (Single-Family Residential Zones) through 18.14 (Public and Special-Purpose Zones), and shall contain the same categories of standards and regulations as the zone districts, by either referencing existing sections or by incorporating new text. The procedure for adopting such zoning and development standards is set forth in subsection 18.72.040.020.

.020 Zone Overlays. Unless otherwise provided in the specific plan, a specific plan zone shall be subject to existing zone overlays. .030 Effect on Existing Zoning. The specific plan zoning and development standards shall, upon adoption, supersede the zoning previously established for the area covered by the specific plan. Violations of the specific plan zoning and development standards shall carry the same penalties, and shall be enforceable in the same manner, as other violations of the Zoning Code.

.040 Effect on Other Requirements. Unless otherwise provided in a specific plan, adoption of such specific plan shall have no effect upon other requirements, under State law or the Municipal Code, for development approval, including but not limited to, subdivision maps, grading, design, engineering and location of public improvements.

.050 Utilities. Any provisions in the specific plan for locations or design of sewers, storm drains or utilities shall be subject to review and approval by the City Engineer and the Public Utilities General Manager, or their designated representatives. (Ord. 5920 § 1 (part); June 8, 2004.)