TITLE
Recommendation to declare an interim ordinance amending Ordinance No. ORD-15-0024 relating to the extension of the temporary limitation (moratorium) of certain construction and development activities in the R-1-L zone in the Los Cerritos and Virginia Country Club areas of the City; declaring the urgency thereof; and declaring that this ordinance shall take effect immediately, read and adopted as read.
(Ordinance No. ORD-16-0018) (District 8)
DISCUSSION
In September 2015, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. ORD-15-0024 (attached), which initiated a moratorium on new residential structures and new residential additions exceeding 1,500 square feet in the R-1-L (Single-Family Residential, Large Lot) zone in the Los Cerritos and Virginia Country Club areas of the City. The one-year moratorium, set to expire on September 1, 2016, was enacted to allow the Development Services Department staff and the Planning Commission adequate time to study potential amendments to the Zoning Regulations (Title 21) in response to the issue of “mansionization” that has been reported to be occurring in these areas.
While staff has met regularly with representative members of the neighborhood, additional time is required to engage a broader group of residents in a series of community meetings, present findings to the Planning Commission, and deliver amendments to the City Council for consideration. Furthermore, the representative residents have requested that City-initiated outreach activities be held in September, as summer vacation schedules may interfere with attendance levels prior to that time. The attached Ordinance will extend the moratorium instituted under Ordinance No. ORD-15-0024 through March 31, 2017.
Public hearing notices were distributed on August 2, 2016, and no responses were received as of the date of preparation of this report.
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais on July 26, 2016 and by Budget Analysis Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on July 29, 2016.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 23, 2016, to prevent expiration of the original one-year moratorium period.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal or local job impact associated with this recommendation.
BODY
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. ORD-15-0024 RELATING TO THE EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY LIMITATION OF CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE R-1-L ZONE IN THE LOS CERRITOS AND VIRGINIA COUNTRY CLUB AREAS OF THE CITY; DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF; AND DECLARING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER