HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - January 5, 2021 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL
SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
A. Roll Call by City Clerk
An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held
Tuesday, January 5, 2021, commencing at 7:06 a.m.
Present: Council Member Hothi, Council Member Khan, Council Member Kuehne, Mayor Pro
Tempore Chandler, and Mayor Nakanishi
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Cusmir
Council Member Khan arrived to the meeting at 7:26 a.m.
B. Topic(s)
B-1 Receive Presentation and Provide Staff Direction for Amending Growth Management
Allocation Program (CD)
Community Development Department Contract Planner Paul Junker provided a PowerPoint
presentation regarding the Growth Management Allocation Program. Specific topics of
discussion included history of Lodi Growth Allocation program; features of program; how process
serves the City; recent process changes; June 30 Council consideration of process; October 20
Council discussion; December 9 Planning Commission review; features to be retained; proposed
amendments - consolidation of procedures into one resolution, timing of applications,
Development Plan requirements, Site Plan and Architectural Review Committee review of
Development Plan, and carry over/expiration of unused allocations; and next steps.
Council Member Kuehne stated that he supports not having to seek Council approval to reduce
growth allocations and allocations expiring after two years. Community Development Department
Contract Planner Junker responded to questions asked by Council Member Kuehne regarding the
annual creation of growth allocations and the number that would expire at two years.
Community Development Director John Della Monica spoke about the schedule for an update to
the City's General Plan following questions asked by Council Member Kuehne. Mr. Della Monice
stated full updates usually take place every ten to fifteen years.
Community Development Director Della Monica said staff reached out to the Building Industry
Association (BIA) for feedback on the proposed amendments to the Growth Management
Allocation Program and the organization is in support of the amendments, in response to a
question from Mayor Pro Tempore Chandler.
City Manager Schwabauer and Community Development Director Della Monica explained what
past issues are being addressed by the proposed amendments, in response to questions asked
by Council Member Hothi.
Mayor Pro Tempore Chandler noted Lodi has never reached the annual 2% growth cap.
The City Council directed staff to include the amendments to the Growth Management Allocation
Program to the agenda for the Regulars City Council Meeting with no changes to the proposed
amendments.
Public Comment was received via email following the adjournment of the meeting from John R.
Beckman Chief Executive Officer, BIA of the Greater Valley, stating the BIA is in support of the
amendments.
C. Comments by Public on Non-Agenda Items
None.
D. Ad'lournment
No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 a.m.
ATTEST:
Jennifer Cusmir
City Clerk
2
JQ CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TM
AGENDA TITLE: Receive Presentation and Provide Staff Direction for Amending the Growth
Management Allocation Program
MEETING DATE: January 5, 2021
PREPARED BY: Community Development Director
RECOMMENDATION: Receive presentation and provide staff direction for amending the
Growth Management Allocation Program.
BACKGROUND / ANALYSIS: The City of Lodi's Growth Management Plan was initiated in 1991
with the adoption of Ordinance No. 1521. Resolutions No. 91-170 and No. 91-171 were also adopted in
1991 to establish the procedures for approving Growth Allocations; one unit of growth allocation is needed
for each new home built in Lodi. While temporary modifications to the Growth Allocation process have
occurred over the past 29 years, today the original regulations and procedures adopted in 1991 remain in
effect.
The Growth Management Plan has been part of an overall strategy, implemented since the 1990s, that
has helped the City maintain an orderly growth pattern and contributed to the current compact form and
logical boundaries of the City of Lodi. However, the pressures for rapid growth that led to the creation of
the Growth Management Plan have been less than were anticipated and the City has grown more slowly
than the maximum 2% annual growth rate allowed under the Growth Management Plan.
No permanent amendment to the City's Growth Management program have been made since its original
adoption in 1991. The City Council did enact temporary changes to certain provisions of the Growth
Management program in 2013 and those changes remained in effect until December 31, 2019. Under
those temporary provisions, applicants were able to request Growth Allocations at any time of year and
the Planning Commission was able to consider Growth Allocations and Tentative Subdivision Maps
concurrently.
After nearly 30 years of implementing the Growth Management Plan in its original form, and after temporary
modifications to the Growth Allocation process, the City Council will consider permanent amendments that
are intended simplify the Growth Allocation process while maintaining the basic approach and goals that
were established in 1991.
RECENT GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REVIEWS:
City Council Consideration, June 30, 2020
On June 30, 2020, the City Council held a public hearing to consider various amendments to the Growth
Management Program. Following discussion, the City Council chose not to make substantial amendments
at that time. Rather, the Council reinstated the 2013 amendments to be effective from June 2020 through
December 31, 2020 and directed staff to return with proposed Growth Management amends before the
end of 2020.
APPROVED: Andrew Keys for
Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager
City Council Shirtsleeve, October 20, 2020
Staff provided the City Council with an overview of potential Growth Management amendments. Following
discussion, the City Council identified the types of amendments that should be considered. Staff has
developed amendments based on City Council direction.
Planning Commission Review, December 9, 2020
The Planning Commission does not have a formal role in amending the Growth Management Program.
However, due to the Commission's role in reviewing Growth Allocations, staff conducted an informal
presentation to brief the Planning Commission on proposed amendments. The Planning Commission did
not suggest any changes to the proposed Growth Management amendments.
OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS:
Much of the current Growth Management Program would be retained under staff's proposed amendments.
However, the form of regulations would be updated, simplified and adjusted to better align with the City's
development review process as provided in the Zoning Code.
Growth Allocation Provisions to be Retained
• No changes are proposed to Ordinance No. 1521, which established the Growth Management
Program.
• The maximum growth rate of 2% annually will be retained.
• Much of the overall structure and the purpose of the Growth Management Program will be retained
in a revised format that more clearly defines procedures.
• The Growth Allocation points system will be retained but clarified that points evaluation will only
occur when requests for allocations exceed available allocations.
Growth Allocation Provisions to be Updated
• The current Growth Allocation process is contained in two separate resolutions. Staff proposes to
address the Growth Allocation process in a single, updated resolution.
• Currently, applications for Growth Allocations are only accepted from July 1 through October 1.
Staff proposes that applications for Growth Allocations may be submitted at any time of year.
• Currently, the Planning Commission makes a recommendation on Growth Allocation requests and
the City Council must approve a Growth Allocation before an applicant may submit a Tentative Map
Application. It will be proposed that applicants may submit applications for Planning Commission
review of Growth Allocation and Tentative Map concurrently. Final approval of the Growth
Allocation request would be considered by the City Council.
• Currently the application materials for a Growth Allocation request do not align well with Tentative
Map application materials. It will be proposed to better harmonize required materials for these two
applications. Quality and character of the proposed development will be addressed through
submittal of a detailed Development Plan with the Growth Allocation request.
• Currently, the SPARC does not have a formal role in the review of proposed Development Plans.
Staff proposes that Development Plans be submitted to the SPARC for review and
recommendation prior to Planning Commission review of a request for Growth Allocations.
• Currently, the City has a practice of carrying over allocations not assigned to a project in any given
year. Staff proposes that the guidelines for carrying over of unassigned allocations and periodic
expiring of unassigned allocations be clearly stated. Specifically, staff proposes that Unassigned
Growth Allocations will carry over but would automatically expire three years from date the Growth
Allocation was created.
Planning Commission Informal Review
Staff presented the major components of the anticipated Growth Allocation practices to the Planning
Commission on December 9, 2020. Following staff's presentation, the Planning Commission offered the
following questions and comments:
• The concerns over maintaining the quality and character of Lodi that led to the Growth Management
program remain valid today.
• General support was expressed for accepting Growth Allocations requests throughout the year.
• The Commission was supportive of the SPARC reviewing Development Plans prior to Planning
Commission review, thereby allowing for additional community input.
• Generally, the Planning Commission was supportive of proposed revisions to the Growth Allocation
review procedures, though one Commissioner expressed reservations over amending a program
that had served the community's interests since 1991.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
As an informal review there is no action requested of the City Council at this time and therefor this
discussion is not considered a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
NEXT STEPS
If the City Council is generally supportive of the proposed revisions to Growth Allocation review procedures
and practices, then staff will ask the City Council to schedule a public hearing. Staff can incorporate specific
revisions as provided by the City Council and still be prepared to schedule a hearing for formal City Council
review. Should the City Council require substantial revisions to the Growth Allocation practices and
procedures, then staff would delay scheduling of a public hearing until City Council issues had been
addressed
John. Della Monica Jr.
Comm nity Development Direc r
City Council Shirtsleeve
Amendments to the City of Lodi
Growth Allocation Program
January 5, 2021
Purpose of Meeting
• Brief history of Growth Allocation
• Benefits of Growth Allocation
• Prior Review and Direction
• Proposed changes to the Growth Allocation
Process
• City Council Discussion and Direction
� History of Lodi Growth Allocation
• Late 1980s: Rapid growth in the county led to
concerns about Lodi's community character and
pace of growth
• Growth Management Program established in 1991
with adoption of Ordinance No. 1521
• Resolution No. 91-170: Point system for evaluating
competitive Growth Allocation applications
• Resolution No. 91-171: Procedures for the review of
Growth Allocation applications
• 2010: General Plan amended to include Growth
Management and Infrastructure chapter
RVIEW
Major Features of Growth Allocation:
• Restricts population growth to 2% per year
(based on prior year's population)
• Establishes procedures for review of Growth
Allocations and Tentative Maps
• Establishes submittal materials for Growth
Allocation applications
• Priority Development Areas (Map)
• Points System for review of projects
• Also addressed in the Lodi General Plan
City Council
How the Growth Allocation Process
Serves the City
• Matches capacity of public facilities to the
demand created by development
• Directs new development to appropriate
locations
• Promotes a mix of residential densities
• Encourages high quality development
• Prevents Lodi from growing too quickly
Recent Process Changes
June 5, 2013: Council approved changes to the
Growth Allocation process:
• Eliminated requirement that all Growth
Allocation applications be heard each year in
November
• Allowed tentative maps to be considered with
Growth Allocation applications
These changes expired on December 31, 2019
Council Consideration June 30, 2020
• City Council considered amendments to
Growth Allocation procedures
• Following discussion, limited changes to
extending the process changes enacted in
2013 through December 31, 2020
• Directed staff to return with a more
comprehensive review of the Growth Allocation
program before end of 2020
Council Discussion October 20, 2020
• Council Shirtsleeve — Overview of Growth
Management and Potential Amendments
• Council provided direction for changes to the
program
• Staff has developed amendments based on
City Council direction
Planning Commission December 9, 2020
• Informal Planning Commission review of
changes to the Growth Allocation program
• Commission was generally supportive of
proposed amendments
• General comments provided, but no
amendments requested
Features of Growt
h Allocation to be Retained
• No changes are proposed to Ordinance No. 1521,
which established the Growth Management Plan.
• Much of the overall structure and the purpose of
the Growth Management Program will be retained.
• The maximum growth rate of 2% annually will be
retained.
•The Growth Allocation points system will be
retained but will only applied when requests for
allocations exceed available allocations.
• General Plan chapter on Growth Management will
not be changed.
MOTENTIAL CHA�
Proposed Amendments to Growth Allocation
Procedures and Regulations
Consolidate Procedures Into One
Resolution
• Currently Growth Allocation procedures are
presented in two resolutions.
• Proposed change would consolidate Growth
Allocations in a single, simplified resolution.
Timing of Applications
• Currently applications for Growth Allocation
can only be submitted from July 1 through
October 1.
• Review steps are very specific — Growth
Allocation review requires about nine months.
• Proposed change would allow Growth
Allocations applications to be submitted for
review at any time during the year.
Development Plan Requirements
• Currently, Resolution No. 91-171 establishes
application requirements for Growth Allocation
requests that are somewhat inconsistent with
materials required for a project review.
• Proposed changes better align application
requirements and require a Development Plan
that establishes the character and quality of the
proposed development.
POTENTIAL CHANGE111111111111�
SPARC Review of Development Plan
• Current regulations do not require SPARC
participation in the Growth Allocation review.
• Proposed changes would require the
Development Plan be presented to the
SPARC for review, comment and
recommendation prior to Planning
Commission review of a request for Growth
Allocations.
Carry Over/Expiration of Unused Allocations
• Current practice allows unused allocations to
carry over to future years until retired by
Council (no automatic expiration).
• Proposed changes would clarify how unused
allocations carry over.
• Allocations for all residential densities would
carry over for two additional years and then
be automatically retired.
Jennifer Cusmir
From: John Beckman <johnb@biagv.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 7:23 AM
To: City Council Comments
Subject: Shirstsleeve session
Good morning Jennifer,
I'm watching the meeting this morning. The staff recommendation is fine with the BIA provided no changes occur this
morning we support the proposal.
John R. Beckman
Chief Executive Officer, BIA of the Greater Valley
1701 W. March Lane, Suite F
Stockton, CA 95207
209-235-7831 Office
209-235-7837 Fax
209-327-5363 Cell
JohnB@biagv.or
www.biagv.or�
www.nahb.orgIMA
Membership doesn't cost it pays$
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