Chapter 17.70 — SPECIFIC PLAN

A specific plan is a plan for a particular portion of the city where circumstances require a more detailed plan of development than the general plan, and/or more detailed standards than the general provisions of the Zoning Code. Such circumstances requiring specific plans may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

• A. Size and/or shape of property;

• B. Relation to surroundings;

• C. Drainage conditions;

• D. Unusual conditions pertaining to the property, requiring special consideration for access, utilities or fire protection;

• E. Necessity for street, highway and alley pattern; and

• F. Location of open spaces.

• (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010; Ord. 4984 § 4, 2013)

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65450 , the planning commission may recommend approval and the city council may adopt or amend specific plans for the systematic implementation of the general plan. Such specific plans may be adopted by ordinance or resolution. (Ord. 5033 § 14, 2015)

Specific plans and amendments thereto shall be adopted in the same manner as provided in this title for amendments to the Zoning Code and may be initiated by:

• A. Submittal of a completed application by the property owner, or the owner's agent; or

• B. Resolution of intention of the city council; or

• C. Resolution of intention of the planning commission; or

• D. City Council action.

• (Ord. 5113 § 8, 2022)

The planning commission may recommend approval and the city council may adopt a specific plan, or specific plan amendment, provided that it first makes the following findings:

• A. The proposed specific plan or specific plan amendment serves the public interest.

• B. The proposed specific plan or specific plan amendment will systematically implement the city's general plan.

• (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Specific plans may include any or all of the following:

• A. Regulations limiting the location of buildings and other improvements with respect to existing or planned rights-of-way;

• B. Regulations of the use of land and buildings, the height and bulk of buildings and the open spaces around buildings;

• C. Street and highway naming and numbering plans in order to establish the official names of streets and highways, to remove conflicts, duplication and uncertainty among such names and to provide an orderly system for the numbering of buildings and properties;

• D. Such other matters which will accomplish the purposes of this chapter, including procedures for the administration of such regulations;

• E. Such other measures as may be required to insure the execution of the general plan; and

• F. Regulations controlling the development of a single property in more than one zone in order to permit the reasonable development of the subject property which is compatible with the surrounding area and consistent with the goals and objectives of the general plan. In the case of residential development, the total number of dwelling units shall not exceed the total number permitted by the sum of each of the individual zones on the property. Within such specific plan areas flexibility may be accorded in the distribution of parking spaces, landscaping and other features of design.

• (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65451 , an application for specific plan shall include the following elements, in addition to any other requirements listed on the application or as determined by the director, in order to analyze the proposed plan:

• A. Text and diagrams indicating the distribution, location, and extent of land uses, including open space, within the proposed specific plan area.

• B. Text and diagrams indicating the distribution, location, extent and intensity of major components of public and private transportation, sewer, water, drainage, solid waste disposal, energy, and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the area covered by the proposed specific plan and needed to support the land uses described in the plan.

• C. Standards and criteria by which development will proceed, and standards for the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable.

• D. A program of implementation measures including regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to implement the requirements of the plan.

• E. A statement explaining the relation of the specific plan to the general plan.

• (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Variance requests from the provisions of specific plans may be granted in the same manner as provided in this title for variance requests from the provisions of the Zoning Code. (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010; Ord. 4984 § 4, 2013)

After adoption of a specific plan, no building, structure or other improvement shall be located, erected or constructed within the area covered by such specific plan, and no use shall take place thereon, except as shown on the specific plan or an approved amendment thereof. Where a difference occurs between the provisions of an approved specific plan and the regulations of the underlying zone, the provisions of the specific plan shall apply. (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

The city council may enforce the provisions of this chapter and abate any violation thereof by injunction or other civil action in addition to the penalties as provided in Chapter 17.10 of this title. (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

All references in the existing ordinances of the city to "precise plan" or "precise plans" shall be hereafter deemed to refer to "specific plan" or "specific plans." (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Upon the adoption of a specific plan and a reclassification based on such plan, any properties shown therein classified for commercial or industrial purposes shall not be used for residential purposes, unless expressly so authorized by such specific plan. Special uses shown on such specific plan, including automobile parking, shall conform to such specific plan, even though such use or uses are not otherwise specifically classified by this chapter as permissible in any given zone. (Ord. 4950 § 3, 2010)

Each specific plan, regardless of when it was adopted and notwithstanding any language to the contrary, is eligible for the provisions contained in Chapters 17.57 and 17.63 , for the purpose of minor changes afforded by the provisions of substantial conformance review and minor amendment. (Ord. 4984 § 27, 2013)