HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2024-08 05/21/2024Resolution No. 2024-08 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION MAKING FINDINGS OF EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ORDER THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF AN ORDINANCE TO MODIFY EXISTING REFERENCES TO SPECIFIC POSSIBLE EXPANSION AREAS, MODIFY CRITERIA SPECIFIC TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, AND EXTEND THE TERM OF THE PETALUMA URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2050 AND MAKE CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) was initially
adopted through voter approval of Measure I in November 1998; and WHEREAS, the City’s voter-approved UGB established a physical boundary to contain urban growth and development in Petaluma; and WHEREAS, the term of the UGB as adopted in 1998 extended through December 2018; and WHEREAS, the purposes of the UGB include: encouragement of efficient growth patterns, promoting uses that foster public health and safety and productive investment for
farming enterprises on lands outside the UGB; protection of Petaluma’s natural setting; facilitation of housing needs for all economic segments of the population where services and infrastructure can be provided most cost effectively; and fostering appropriate economic development in accordance with the City’s unique local conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 1998 voter-approved UGB was codified as an amendment to the Land Use element of the City’s 1987 General Plan, and consisted of Goal 1-G-4 and Policies 1-P-29 through 1-P-36; and
WHEREAS, the Petaluma City Council adopted on April 7, 2008 Resolution No. 2008-
059 N.C.S. approving the Petaluma General Plan 2025 and replacing the City’s 1987 General Plan was by by ; and WHEREAS, the City Council certified a program Environmental Impact Report, State
Clearing House # 2004082065, (“EIR”) in accordance with the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) for the City of Petaluma General Plan 2025 with the appropriate findings of fact on April 7, 2008 by the adoption of City Council Resolution No. 2008-058 N.C.S.; and
WHEREAS, following adoption of the General Plan 2025, in 2010 the City Council
placed a ballot measure before the voters to extend the term of the UGB through December 31, 2025, to coincide with the anticipated build out date of the-newly adopted General Plan 2025; and
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WHEREAS, in November 2010, Petaluma voters approved the ballot measure extending the term of the UGB through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 UGB ballot measure made no other changes to the UGB approved in November 1998 by Measure I; and WHEREAS, the UGB boundaries are unchanged from the boundaries approved by the
voters in 1998, and the City has not approved any expansion areas or approved any exceptions to the UGB boundaries as General Plan policy 1-P-32 permits; and WHEREAS, subdivision (b) of Government Code Section 65358 allows General Plan
amendments when deemed in the public interest, and the City of Petaluma is currently preparing
a comprehensive General Plan update, which is anticipated to be adopted by the end of 2025; and
WHEREAS, as part of the community engagement and visioning process of the 2025 General Plan update, the UGB has been identified as important for the future vision for the growth of the community; and WHEREAS, the City’s recently certified Housing Element for the 6th cycle demonstrated the ability to facilitate housing production within existing City limits to meet the 1,910 housing units assigned to Petaluma as part of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a public workshop on January 22, 2024, to provide
feedback and direction regarding development of a measure for placement on the November, 2024 ballot for voter approval to extend the UGB term through December 2050 prior to its expiration on December 31, 2025; and WHEREAS, the City Council directed on January 22, 2024 that the measure to be
presented to the Petaluma voters to extend the UGB term through December 31, 2050 should preserve the UGB boundaries and policies, except that; potential UGB expansion areas related to transit-oriented development should be modified to preserve and expand the Corona Road expansion area, and that the other transit-oriented development expansion areas identified in the UGB should be eliminated; and
WHEREAS, the purposes of the UGB remain important to the community and consistent with the vision and guiding principles being discussed by the City Council in preparation for the 2025 General Plan update; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed hearing on May 21, 2024, considered all written and oral communications and the staff report and supporting documents related to the proposed measure to extend the term of the UGB through December 31, 2025, and to modify UGB provisions concerning transit oriented and industrial development, which proposed measure is attached to and made a part of this resolution as Exhibit 1; and
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WHEREAS, considering the measure to extend the term of the UGB through December 31, 2050 and make associated modifications to transit oriented and industrial development expansion areas as a project for purposes of compliance with CEQA and its Guidelines, the
project is exempt from CEQA in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), commonly referred to as the Common Sense exemption, Guidelines Section 15307, regarding Protection of Natural Resources, and Guidelines Section 15308, regarding Protection of Natural Resources and the Environment, in accordance with the following:
1. The project is eligible for the Common Sense statutory exemption as there is no physical development that would occur outside the existing urban growth boundary, and it can be seen with certainly that no adverse direct or indirect environmental impacts would result from the extension of the UGB term and expansion are modifications, most of which are subtractive;
2. The project is eligible for categorical exemptions pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for the Protection of Natural Resources) and 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) as it involves continuing, well-established policies and regulations
that create a boundary within which urban growth is limited and without the proposed term extension through 2050, the UGB will sunset on December 31, 2025, which would remove all limits on urban growth imposed by the UGB; 3. The project would reestablish and extend the term of the UGB with limited
proposed modifications to transit-oriented development expansion areas, most of which are subtractive, and make no changes to the physical boundaries of the existing UGB through December 31, 2050;
4. The UGB restricts development within the City’s planning area to urban and
infill properties and prevents urban sprawl, preserves urban separators, open space, and agricultural lands surrounding the City of Petaluma, thereby protecting natural resources and the environment;
5. The UGB reinforces the General Plan’s intent to accommodate planned future
growth and to buildout in areas planned for development, in a manner consistent with goals and policies to protect natural resources and the environment, as well as public health and safety, while accommodating a diversity of housing options, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to advance the City’s goal of achieving
carbon neutrality by 2030;
6. As the proposed extension of the UGB through 2050 serves to further the protections to natural resources and the environment afforded since the UGB’s establishment in 1998, the project is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
Sections 15307 and 15308 and, since the project will not result in physical
impacts and it can be seen with certainly that the project will not result in environmental impacts, the project is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of
Petaluma as follows: 1. The above recitals are hereby declared to be true and correct and are incorporated into this
resolution as findings of the Planning Commission.
2. The project is exempt from CEQA in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section
15061(b)(3), the Common Sense exemption, Guidelines Section 15307, regarding Protection
of Natural Resources, and Section 15308 regarding Protection of the Natural Environment,
because the proposed extension of the UGB through December, 2050 and modifications to
potential expansion areas, serves to further the protections to natural resources and the
environment afforded since the UGB’s establishment in 1998, and because it can be seen
with certainly that the project will not result in environmental impacts.
3. The Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council order the submission to
the qualified electors of the City of Petaluma an ordinance to modify existing references to
specific potential expansion areas, modify criteria specific to transit oriented and industrial
development, and extend the term of the Petaluma Urban Growth Boundary through
December 31, 2050, in accordance with the draft measure attached to and made a part of this
resolution as Exhibit 1, with such changes as the Council may in its discretion see fit to
include.
4. The proposed amendments to the UGB pursuant to the draft measure attached as Exhibit 1
are in the public interest as the measure, if approved by the Petaluma voters, would continue
in effect the protections in the City’s UGB that: restrict development within the City’s
planning area to urban and infill properties; prevent urban sprawl; and preserve urban
separators, open space, and agricultural lands surrounding the City of Petaluma, thereby
protecting natural resources and the environment.
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ADOPTED this 21st day of May 2024, by following vote:
Commission Member Aye No Absent Abstain
Chair Hooper X
McErlane X
Vice Chair Racusen X
Cader Thompson X
Mozes X
Bauer X
Whisman X
____________________________________
Blake Hooper, Chair
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________________ ___________________________________
Andrew Trippel, Planning Manager Dylan Brady, Assistant City Attorney
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9/10/2024
7/15/2024
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Exhibit 1 to Resolution No. 2024-08 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA REPLACING THE EXISTING PETALUMA URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY TO MODIFY EXISTING REFERENCES TO SPECIFIC POSSIBLE EXPANSION AREAS, MODIFY CRITERIA SPECIFIC TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, AND EXTEND THE TERM OF THE
PETALUMA URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2050
The People of the City of Petaluma do ordain as follows: Section 1: Purpose and Findings.
A. Purpose. This measure reaffirms and readopts the City of Petaluma’s longstanding goal of maintaining a well-defined and thriving urban community that serves and benefits from surrounding open space and agricultural resources. This measure extends the term of the City of Petaluma’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) through December 31, 2050 and will help ensure that lands outside the UGB are not prematurely or unnecessarily converted to
urban uses. This measure provides that through December 31, 2050, the UGB may only be changed by a vote of the people, or by the City Council, but only in certain circumstances and according to procedures set forth in this measure. B. Protecting the Environment and the Economy. The open space surrounding Petaluma is
essential to grazing, agriculture, the dairy industry, and tourism, and thus important to the local and regional economy. These open space lands also provide valuable recreation opportunities, watershed, and wildlife habitat. By encouraging urban development within a clearly defined urban growth boundary, this measure will continue to:
1. Encourage efficient growth patterns and protect the quality of life by concentrating future development largely within existing developed areas; 2. Promote uses that foster public health and safety and productive investment for farming enterprises on lands outside Petaluma’s UGB;
3. Foster and protect Petaluma’s natural setting while encouraging appropriate economic development in accordance with the City’s unique local conditions;
4. Concentrate growth within a well-defined urban growth boundary in order to limit the
extent of required City services and restrain increases in their cost; 5. Allow the City to continue to meet the housing needs for all economic segments of the population, especially lower and moderate-income households, by directing the
development of housing into areas where services and infrastructure can be provided
most cost effectively; and 6. Promote stability in long-term planning for the City by establishing a cornerstone policy within the General Plan designating the geographic limits of long-term urban
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development and allowing sufficient flexibility within those limits to respond to the City’s changing needs over time.
C. Future General Plan Updates. This measure provides for maintaining in effect and unchanged, except as otherwise specified in this measure, the existing UGB as shown in the General Plan 2025 through December 31, 2050, the term of anticipated build out of the updated General Plan that is currently being developed and is expected to be adopted in 2025. If this measure is approved by the Petaluma voters, future amendments to the UGB
prior to 2050 must either be made in accordance with procedures set forth in this measure that permit certain changes to the UGB adopted by the City Council or must be submitted to and approved by the Petaluma voters in accordance with applicable law.
Section 2: UGB Amendments
A. Planning Boundaries Map, Land Use Map, and other Exhibits. The UGB as depicted in the General Plan 2025 Figure i-3 Planning Boundaries, Figure 2-1 Land Use, and other maps, exhibits and all references to the City of Petaluma UGB shall, if this measure is approved by the Petaluma voters, continue in effect unchanged; except that, all “Possible UGB Expansion
Areas” are deleted; except for the Possible UGB Expansion Area at the northeast corner of
the intersection of Corona Road and the SMART railroad, which shall remain in effect as amended pursuant to this measure. Exhibit A.1 to this measure depicts the UGB as amended pursuant to this measure.
B. General Plan Text for Goals, Policies, and Programs. The following Goals, Policies, and
Programs appearing in Section 1.4 of the Land Use, Growth Management, and the Built Environmental chapter of the Petaluma General Plan 2025 is hereby amended to read as set forth below. (New text is indicated in underline bold type while text to be stricken is in strikeout; text in standard type is as it currently appears in the General Plan 2025). If this
measure is approved by the Petaluma voters, the following Land Use, Growth Management,
and Built Environment Goal 1-G-4 entitled “Urban Growth Boundary,” and related policies and programs 1-P-29 through 1-P-36, shall repeal and replace the existing Built Environment Goal 1-G-4 entitled “Urban Growth Boundary,” and related policies and programs 1-P-29 through 1-P-36 and become a part of the General Plan 2025 upon this measure taking effect,
and shall be incorporated into and be a part of the successor General Plan expected to be
adopted in 2025. GOAL 1-G-4: Urban Growth Boundary Maintain a parcel-specific Urban Growth Boundary
Policies and Programs:
Goal 1-G-4 and Policies 1-P-29 through 1-P-36 constitute the 2024 UGB ballot measure.
1-P-29 It is the policy of the City to build within the agreed upon Urban Growth Boundary. No
urban development shall be permitted beyond the Urban Growth Boundary. “Urban development" shall mean development requiring one or more basic municipal services including, but not limited to, water service, sewer, improved storm drainage facilities, fire hydrants and other physical public facilities and services; but shall not mean providing
municipal or public services to open space uses, public or quasi-public uses such as
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schools or public safety facilities. Said municipal or public services or facilities can be developed beyond the UGB to provide services within the UGB.
A. Maintain a time certain and parcel-specific Urban Growth Boundary around the city, beyond which urban development will not take place. B. Use the growth management system, design review, or other project review methods to assure that the density of new residential development is greatest within and adjoining existing urbanized areas and gradually and logically lessens as it
approaches the urban edge. C. Encourage the County to continue to promote agricultural land use and to strictly limit further residential infilling on lands beyond the Urban Growth Boundary within the Petaluma Planning Referral Area.
1-P-30 No urban development beyond the Urban Growth Boundary shall be served by City services except for (1)extensions to residential dwellings in existence or approved for construction on parcels created on or before December 5, 1983; (2) extensions required pursuant to the terms of a service contract in effect as of July 20, 1998; (3) extensions to remedy a clear health hazard to residential dwellings in existence or approved for
construction on parcels created on or before July 20, 1998 where there is no reasonable alternative means to remedy that health hazard; (4) extensions to open space and park uses; (5) expansion of service to public and quasi- public uses existing as of July 20, 1998; and (6) extraordinary circumstances pursuant to applicable General Plan policies. Extraordinary circumstances justifying extension of City services outside of the UGB
shall be deemed to exist only if the City Council makes each of the following findings based on substantial evidence in the record:
• That the land use to which the City service would be extended is consistent with all
applicable policies of the City's General Plan; and
• That the land use to which the City service would be extended is compatible with open space uses as defined in Government Code section 65560 as of July 1, 1998, does not interfere with accepted agricultural practices, and does not adversely affect
the stability of land use patterns in the area; and
• That the property to which the City service would be extended is immediately adjacent to land already served by the service(s)to be extended; and
• Those specific circumstances, unique to the property to which the City service would
be extended, would otherwise deprive the property of privileges enjoyed by other comparable property outside the UGB and in the vicinity of the property to be served; and
• That substantial evidence demonstrates that the proposed City service extension will
not cause the Levels of Service specified in adopted City policies to be exceeded with respect to water, wastewater, parks, fire services, police services, storm drainage, schools, traffic and other public facilities and services.
1-P-31 Except as set forth in Policy 1-P-32, the Urban Growth Boundary Policies 1-P-29, 1-P- 30, 1-P-31, and 1-P-32 shall be in effect until through December 31, 2025 2050.
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1-P-32 The Urban Growth Boundary designated on the Petaluma General Plan Land Use Map may be amended only by a vote of the people or pursuant to the procedures set forth below:
Exception I - Affordable Housing: To comply with state law regarding the provision of housing for all economic segments of the community, the City Council may amend the Urban Growth Boundary in order to include within the Urban Growth Boundary lands to be designated for residential uses, provided that no more than 5 acres of land may be
brought within the Urban Growth Boundary for this purpose in any calendar year. If in any year, fewer than five acres are brought within the UGB pursuant to this policy, then the unused increment may be brought within the UGB in subsequent years, provided that; no more than 50 acres may be brought within the UGB before December 31, 2025 2050. (Thus, for example in 2008 2050 the City Council could, upon making the findings
below, bring up to 50 acres within the UGB under this exception, provided none had previously been brought within the UGB under this exception.) Such amendment may be adopted only if the City Council makes each of the following findings based on substantial evidence in the record:
• The land is immediately adjacent to existing comparably developed areas and the applicant for the redesignation has provided sufficient evidence that the Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works, the Community Development Department, Parks and Recreation Department, the School District(s)
and other relevant City departments and public agencies have adequate capacity to accommodate the proposed development and provide it with adequate public services; and
• The proposed development will consist of at least 25 percent moderate income
housing and at least 25 percent low and very low-income housing; and
• That there is no existing residentially designated land available within the Urban Growth Boundary to accommodate the proposed development; and
• That it is not reasonably feasible to accommodate the proposed development by
redesignating lands within the Urban Growth Boundary for low and very low-income housing; and
• The proposed development is necessary to comply with state law requirements for provision of low and very low-income housing; and
• The proposed development meets the intent of General Plan policies relative to density feathering.
Exception II -Takings: The City Council may amend the Urban Growth Boundary if it finds, by at least a six-sevenths vote and based on substantial evidence in the record, that:
• The application of the Urban Growth Boundary policies would constitute an unconstitutional taking of a landowner's property; and
• The amendment and associated land use designation will allow additional land uses
only to the minimum extent necessary to avoid said unconstitutional taking of the landowner's property.
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Exception III -Transit-Oriented or Industrial Development: The City Council may amend the Urban Growth Boundary if it finds, by at least a six-sevenths vote and based on substantial evidence in the record, that:
• The parcels to be included within the UGB will be used for transit oriented residential and local-serving commercial development, and at least a portion of each included parcel must be located within 1500 feet a ½ mile radius of a rail
transit station, and/or within the area of the City bordered by Corona Road, Ely Road, and the SMART rail tracks, but excluding parcels north of APN: 137-011-027, 137-011-028, and 137-011-030; and the Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works, the Community Development Department, Parks and Recreation Department, the School. District(s), and other relevant City departments
and public agencies have adequate capacity to accommodate the proposed development and provide it with adequate public services. No more than 120 acres of land may be brought within the UGB for this purpose before December 3l, 2025 2050; or
• The lands to be included within the UGB will be used for office or light industrial
uses to improve local employment. No land may be brought within the UGB for this purpose before January 1,2006. No more than 100 acres of land may be brought within the UGB for this purpose on or before December 31, 2025 2050. Such amendments may be adopted only if the City Council makes all of the following
findings:
- That there is no existing office or light industrial designated land available within the UGB that could accommodate the proposed development and it is not reasonably feasible to accommodate the proposed development by redesignating
lands within the UGB for office and light industrial uses; and
- That the Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works, the Planning Community Development Department, Parks and Recreation Department, the School District(s), and other relevant City departments and public agencies have adequate capacity to accommodate the proposed
development .and provide it with adequate public services; and
- That the land to be included (1) is immediately adjacent to the existing UGB, and (2) serviceable water and sewer connections can be provided; and - That the land to be included meets the intent of the General Plan pertaining to the preservation of open space or urban separator areas at the edge of the proposed
UGB expansion area.
• The following areas at the northeast corner of Corona Road and the railroad tracks north of Sonoma Mountain Parkway intersection has ve been preliminarily
identified as appropriate for potential future expansion of the UGB, subject to the
Council making the findings set forth in one of the first two sections paragraphs of
Exception III above. Identification of this potential expansion area The list is not intended to be exclusive or to preclude other potential expansion areas.
1. East of Lakeville Highway in the vicinity South of Frates Road;or
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2. West of Old Redwood Highway near Denman Road/Orchard Lane;.or 3. The Haystack Landing area along Petaluma Boulevard South; or 4. Northeast corner of Corona Road and railroad tracks, north of Sonoma Mountain
Parkway intersection. The specific boundaries of any amendment to the UGB will be determined at the time that the amendment is adopted. Exception IV -Agriculture, Agriculture Support or Related Development: The City Council may amend the Urban Growth Boundary if it finds, by at least a six-sevenths vote and based on substantial evidence in the record, that the lands to be included within the UGB will be used for an agricultural or agricultural support use. Agricultural Support Use shall mean an industrial, manufacturing or mixed use project which is determined by
the City to support the regional agricultural community and economy and is dependent on municipal services to exist. Such agricultural or agricultural support use amendments may be adopted only if the City Council makes all of the following findings:
• That there is no existing agricultural or compatible light industrial designated land available within the UGB to accommodate the proposed development and it is not reasonably feasible to accommodate the proposed development by designating lands within the UGB for agricultural or agricultural support uses; and
• That the Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works, the
Planning Community Development Department, Parks and Recreation Department, the School District(s), and other relevant City departments and public agencies have adequate capacity to accommodate the proposed development and provide it with adequate public services; and
• That the land to be included (a) is immediately adjacent to the existing UGB, and (b) serviceable water and sewer connections can be provided; and
• That the land to be included meets the intent of the General Plan pertaining to the preservation of open space or urban separator areas at the edge of the proposed UGB
expansion area.
Prior to adopting any General Plan amendment pursuant to Exceptions I, II, III, or IV of this Policy 1-P-32, P-the City Council shall hold at least one noticed public hearing for the purpose of receiving testimony and sufficient evidence from the applicant and the public on the proposed amendment and any findings proposed in connection with such
amendment. This hearing shall be in addition to any other public hearings regularly required for a General Plan amendment. 1-P-33 Every effort shall be made to keep the visual separation that now exists between communities outside the Urban Growth Boundary. All references to the Urban Limit Line
in this General Plan and other City policies, ordinances, and regulations shall be considered references to the Urban Growth Boundary. 1-P-34 The Urban Growth Boundary shall coincide with the line shown on the official General Plan Land Use Map until through December 31, 2025 2050.
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1-P-35 Growth shall be contained within the boundaries of the Urban Growth Boundary. The necessary infrastructure for growth will be provided within the Urban Growth Boundary.
1-P-36 For properties adjoining the Urban Growth Boundary, it is the intent of the City that projects developed in the City or requesting City services shall be of limited appropriate density (as shown on the General Plan Land Use Map), unless greater density is required to satisfy the requirements of state housing laws, and shall be designed to preserve the
visual and physical openness and preserve the aesthetic and natural features of that portion of the property proximate to the rural areas outside of the designated Urban Growth Boundary. 1-P-37 Ensure that the UGB continues to serve the community while allowing for consideration of development to meet the goals of this document. A. Present a ballot measure to the community to extend the life of the existing UGB ballot measure to 2025, consistent with the General Plan 2025.
B. By, or during, year 2015 2035, independently or as part of comprehensive General Plan review, analyze the Urban Growth Boundary that includes assessment of a comprehensive range of factors, including:
• Availability of vacant land
• Growth trends and projections
• City’s economic development and affordable housing needs, and
• Infrastructure capacity
Section 3: Conforming General Plan Amendments. A. Consistent with the UGB amendments set forth above, if this measure is approved by the Petaluma voters, the following provisions of the General Plan 2025 are also hereby amended as set forth below for purposes of internal consistency among the various elements of the
General Plan. Text to be inserted into the General Plan is indicated in underline bold type
while text to be stricken is presented in strikeout type; text in standard type currently appears in the General Plan 2025.
• The first three sentences of the penultimate paragraph entitled “URBAN GROWTH
BOUNDARY – UGB” on Page i-10 are amended to read as follows: The UGB was established by voter approval as part of Measure I in November 1998, and extended by voter approval of Measure T in November 2010, and extended again in 2024 by Measure ___. The measure UGB helps ensure that urban development and provision of
city water and sewer services are contained within the UGB through December 31, 2025 2050. Although four possible expansion areas were identified as locations where development could occur before the UGB expires in ~8 2025, the General Plan assumes that all growth through 2015 will occur within the current UGB, reflecting community sentiment.
• The second sentence on Page i-13 under the heading “SPECIFIC PLANS” is amended to read as follows: The 2025 General Plan does not anticipate any new Specific Plans within
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the 2025 UGB, however it is anticipated that in 2024 the City will release a request for proposals for preparation of a Corona Station Priority Development Area Specific Plan to complement the opening of the new Corona SMART station.
• The second sentence under the heading “CURRENT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT” on Page 1-3 is amended to read as follows: Development in the western half of the city is limited by hillsides and the UGB; while expansion to the east is constrained by the UGB until 2025 2050, a dedicated Urban Separator, as well as the presence of the Airport and
its flight pattern.
• The text under the heading “• Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).” on Page 1-12 is amended to read as follows: Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), Placed on the ballot by the City Council in 1998, city voters overwhelmingly adopted a fixed urban edge, which for
the most part was coterminous with the 1987 ULL. Although the UGB did not affect the
growth management numbers, it confined the growth and physical development of the city until 2018. In 2010, the City Council placed a ballot measure before the voters extending the UGB to 2025. In 2024 the City Council placed a ballot measure before the voters to extend the UGB through 2050.
• The final two sentences under the heading “Urban Growth Boundary” on Page 1- 13 are amended to read as follows: The voter-approved UGB will expire in at the end of 2025 2050. The General Plan provides direction to evaluate growth boundary expansion issues at the time of mid-term review in 2015 2035.
• The first sentence of the second paragraph under the heading “SETTING” on Page 2-2 is amended to read as follows: The city's Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), enacted by voters in 1998, and extended in 2010, and further extended in 2024, limits future development to areas immediately adjacent to, or within, the city's current boundaries until through 2025 2050 (for more discussion of the UGB see Chapter 1: Land Use and
Growth Management).
• The definition of “Urban Growth Boundary (UGB)” on Page G-9 is amended to read as follows: Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), Boundary adopted in 1998, and extended in 2010 and 2024 by the City of Petaluma voters, within which all urban development is to
be contained until through 2025 2050.
Section 4: All Other Provisions of General Plan 2025 to Continue in Effect
Except as amended pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, the General Plan 2025 shall remain unchanged
and in full force and effect. Provisions of the General Plan 2025 other than the provisions of the UBG amended and reenacted pursuant to Section 2, including the conforming General Plan amendments pursuant to Section 3, may be amended without a vote of the people in accordance with applicable law as appropriate in the course of future updates and revisions to Petaluma
General Plans.
Section 5: Implementation. A. Effective Date. If approved by the Petaluma voters, this measure shall take effect following
certification of the election results of the November, 2024 municipal election in accordance
with applicable law. At such time as this measure takes effect, any provisions of the City of
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Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance, including the City of Petaluma Zoning Map, that conflict with this measure shall no longer be in effect or enforced.
B. Project Approvals. Upon the effective date of this measure and subject to applicable law, the City and its departments, boards, commissions, officers and employees, shall not grant or by inaction allow to be approved by operation of law, any general plan amendment, rezoning, specific plan, tentative or final subdivision map, conditional use permit, building permit or any other ministerial or discretionary entitlement, which conflicts with this measure. Nothing in
this measure shall be construed to prohibit the City from complying with State laws requiring density bonuses and/or other incentives for projects including housing for seniors or for low or very low-income households. Section 6: Exemptions for Certain Projects.
This measure shall not apply to any development project that has obtained as of the effective date of the measure a vested right pursuant to applicable law. Section 7: Interpretation and Severability.
This measure shall be interpreted so as to be consistent with all federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, part, or portion of this measure is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, such portion(s) of this measure determined to be invalid shall be severable and such decision on
invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this measure. The voters hereby declare that this measure, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, part, and portion hereof would have been adopted or passed even if one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, parts, or portions are declared invalid or unconstitutional. If any
portion of this measure is held invalid as applied to any person or circumstance, such invalidity
shall not affect any application of this measure that can be given effect without the invalid application. This measure shall be broadly construed in order to achieve the purpose stated herein. It is the intent of the voters that the provisions of this measure shall be interpreted by the City in a manner that facilitates the protection of agricultural and open space resources outside
the UGB.
Section 8: Prior Measures Repealed. All resolutions, ordinances and measures in conflict with the provisions of this measure are
superseded and repealed upon the effective date of this measure. However, rights or liabilities
accrued prior to the effective date of this measure under any chapter, measure, ordinance or resolution shall be deemed to remain in full force and effect. Section 9: Amendment or Repeal.
Except as otherwise provided herein, this measure may be amended or repealed only by the voters of the City of Petaluma at a City electio
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