Chapter 17.570 — SPECIFIC PLANS

This Chapter provides procedures for preparing, processing, reviewing, adopting and amending a Specific Plan. A Specific Plan can be used to systematically implement the General Plan for any part of the City. As a charter city, Culver City utilizes its own Specific Plan content requirements, which vary from and are not required to follow standard State content requirements for Specific Plans, (Cal. Gov’t Code § 65451).

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

A Specific Plan may be initiated in the following manner:

A. City. By a Resolution of Intention adopted by the Council; or

B. Property Owner. By an application in compliance with Chapter 17.500 (Applications, Processing, and Fees). For Specific Plans proposed by private property owners, the project area may be one parcel under single ownership, or a combination of adjoining parcels subject to a unified planning concept, with the full written concurrence of all applicable property owners.

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

The initiator shall prepare a draft Specific Plan for review by the City, which includes detailed information in the form of text and diagrams, organized in compliance with an outline furnished by the Division. The following information shall be provided.

A. Relationship to General Plan. A discussion of the relationship of the Specific Plan to the objectives, policies, general land uses, and programs of the General Plan.

B. Land Uses. The distribution, location, and extent of land uses within the area covered by the Specific Plan, including open space areas.

C. Development Standards. Standards, criteria, and guidelines by which development would proceed, including required improvements to public facilities such as streets, parks, and other amenities identified in the specific plan area.

D. Additional Information. The Specific Plan shall contain any additional information determined to be necessary by the Director, based on the characteristics of the area to be covered by the plan, applicable policies of the General Plan, or any other issue(s) determined by the Director to be significant.

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

A. Filing and Initial Processing. A draft Specific Plan proposed by a property owner shall be filed with the Current Planning Division and shall be accompanied by the fee required by the City Council Fee Resolution. A draft plan proposed by an applicant, or prepared by the City, shall then be processed in the same manner as required for General Plans by State law (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 65350 et seq.), and as provided by this Section.

B. Division Evaluation. After the receipt of a draft Specific Plan, the Division shall conduct an initial review of the draft Specific Plan, in compliance with § 17.500.025 (Initial Application Review), to determine whether it complies with the provisions of this Chapter. If the draft plan is not in compliance, it shall be returned to the applicant, with a written explanation of why it does not comply, and with suggested revisions to ensure compliance. When a draft plan is returned by the applicant to the Division, and the Division determines it is complete and in compliance with this Chapter, the plan shall be deemed to be accepted for processing.

C. Environmental Review. The draft Specific Plan shall be subject to environmental review in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the City's CEQA Guidelines.

D. Required Community Meetings. Notice and hearings regarding an application for a Specific Plan shall be provided in compliance with Chapter 17.625 (Required Community Meetings).

E. Public Hearings. A proposed Specific Plan shall be subject to public hearings before both Commission and Council before its adoption, as follows:

1. Commission. The hearing shall receive public notice and be conducted in compliance with Chapter 17.630 (Public Hearings and Administrative Review). After the hearing, the Commission shall forward a written recommendation, with appropriate findings to the Council; and

2. Council. Upon receipt of the Commission's recommendation, the Council shall approve, approve in modified form, or disapprove the Specific Plan based on the findings contained in § 17.570.020.F. below. If the Council proposes to adopt a substantial modification not previously considered by the Commission during its hearings, the proposed modification may first be referred back to the Commission for its recommendation. The Specific Plan shall be adopted by ordinance and shall become effective 30 days following the date the decision is rendered by the Council.

F. Conformance with the General Plan. The Council shall adopt a Specific Plan only if it finds that the proposed plan is consistent with the objectives, policies, general land uses, and programs of the General Plan and other adopted goals and policies of the City.

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

A. Development within Specific Plan Area. After the adoption of a Specific Plan, subsequent projects to implement the Specific Plan may be approved or adopted within an area covered by a Specific Plan only if first found consistent with the Specific Plan. The Council may impose a Specific Plan fee surcharge on development permits within the Specific Plan area, in compliance with State law (Cal. Gov’t Code § 65456).

B. Amendments.

1. An adopted Specific Plan shall be amended through the same procedure specified by this chapter for the

adoption of a Specific Plan.

2. The Specific Plan may be amended as often as deemed necessary by the Council, in compliance with State law

(Cal. Gov’t Code § 65453).

C. Modifications. Development standards identified in an adopted Specific Plan may be modified, by either the Director, or Commission, only as specified in the Specific Plan.

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)