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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11041997 - SD3 6 .. ..O Contra ,tS Costa TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ct _e County FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AICP '•• ~� c+o.r •cS INTERIM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR s'q covi- DATE: October 14 , 1997 SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT TO THE JOINT WALNUT CREEK/COUNTY PLANNING COMMITTEE SPECIFIC REQUESTS) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS OPTION 1: Appoint two members of the Board to the Joint Walnut Creek/County Planning Committee. OPTION 2 : Refer to Internal Operations Committee to recommend appointments to the Joint Walnut Creek/County Planning Committee. FISCAL IMPACT None to the general fund. BACKGROUNDIREASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS As part of a 1988 litigation settlement agreement between the County and Walnut Creek over the Park Regency project, the County and City were required to form a joint planning committee to discuss and resolve land use issues without resorting to legal action. The committee consists of two Walnut Creek City Council members and two members of the Board of Supervisors. The committee last met in July of 1991. The Committee has not met for the last six years because there have not been any pressing development issues during the recession. The City has requested to convene the committee to discuss several issues of mutual interest. The City has identified the following three issues that the Joint Planning Committee could discuss. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _X_ YES SIGNATURE �►'1 RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMIT EE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON November 4, 1997 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER x_ IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the above matter is CONTINUED to the December 2, 1997, Board meeting. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - - - - - TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: R. Mitch .Avalon - 335-1210 Orig: Community Development Department ATTESTE17 cc: CAO PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF County Counsel THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Val Alexeeff AN COUNTY MINISTRATOR Public Works Director Pub , lic Works Flood Control B , DEPUTY CDD, Current Planning City of Walnut Creek RMA/df bo3 :wc-ccc.bo :D 2 A. Implementation of the North Gate Specific Plan. The Joint Planning Committee could resolve interpretation issues. B. Development of the County Flood Control property in the North Gate area. There are several design issues with this development that could benefit from a joint City/County discussion. C. Annexation issues: Several neighborhoods, such as Walnut Knolls, Rancho Paraiso and Cherry Lane area have recently inquired about annexation into the City. The Joint Planning Committee could discuss any annexation issues that arise. Attached is a letter from the City dated October 1, 1997, outlining their request in more detail. OS 97 OCT -2 PH 3: 46 Inut DIt VELOUMIc'ri'r DEPT October 1, 1997 Mr. Dennis Barry Interim Community Development Director Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 SUBJECT: Appointment to the Joint City/County Planning Committee Dear Mr. Barry: You may recall that in 1988, as part of the settlement agreement between the City and the County over the Park Regency litigation,the City and County were required to form a Committee to discuss and resolve land use issues without resorting to legal action.. The Committee, consisting of two Walnut Creek City Council members, and two members of the Board of Supervisors, met between April 1989 and July 1991. The Committee has not met since then and the appointed representatives are no longer in office. We would like to re-establish the Committee to discuss a few issues. The Walnut Creek City Council met on September 16, 1997 and appointed two members to serve on the Committee. Council member Charles Abrams and I will represent the City of Walnut Creek. We are requesting that two members of the Board of Supervisors also be appointed to serve. There have not been many issues over the past several years that have resulted in major controversy between the City and the County. However, now that the economy is improving, and there are more proposals for new development, new land use issues are beginning to surface which need to be addressed. Staff has identified some areas where the joint planning committee might be involved: Implementation of the North Gate Specific Plan - The City has received several County subdivision applications to review over the past two years, as specified in the North Gate Specific Plan. In some instances, County staff and City staff differ on interpretations of the Specific Plan. (i.e. internal roadway standards, height limits definitions, issuance of variances for new subdivisions, etc.). This has become confusing for both applicants seeking to develop in the area and,existing residents who look to the specific plan to protect their property values. It is likely that amendments will be proposed to the Specific Plan to clarify these differences. The Joint Planning Committee could provide policy direction on these issues and may also act as an informal decision body for interpretations on a case by case basis. P.O. Box 8039 p 1666 North Main Street O Walnut Creek, California 94596 O (510) 943-5800 Printed on Recycled Paper Mr. Dennis Barry Page 2 Interim Community Development Director Development of the CQuM Flood Control Property, North Gate-The proposed 34-lot subdivision development is beginning to move forward and may become controversial. There may be issues that need to be addressed with this proposal. For example, the project calls for the construction of an equestrian/pedestrian trail and a staging area. It is not clear how these facilities will be maintained once constructed. Furthermore, white the County is designing a subdivision to meet most of the Specific plan standards, the project itself is likely to generate public concern. Annexation Issues - There are several areas that could potentially be annexed to the City over the next few years. Walnut Knolls,Rancho Paraiso,the Cherry Lane area and other neighborhoods have recently inquired about annexation. Annexation issues could be discussed by the Committee. We do not believe the commitment to the Joint City/County Planning Committee will be that extensive. We believe meetings will be called only as issues need to be addressed rather than on a recurring basis. Please let me know who will be appointed to the Committee. It is anticipated that Paul Richardson, Planning Manager and Marge Kimmerer, Associate Planner will staff the committee, prepare agendas and arrange meeting dates and rooms. If there are issues that you would like to have considered by the Committee, please let us know. Sincerely, 49-�� - Kathy Hicks Mayor cc: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Walnut Creek City Council