SR-406-001
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City Council Meeting 3-6-01 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Ordinance Amending Section 9.04.10.04.070(a) of the Santa Monica
Municipal Code Allowing for Architectural Review Board Modification to the
Landscaping Requirements for Paved Areas Which Provide Parking
Primarily for Buses and Similar Oversized Vehicles
INTRODUCTION
At its meeting on February 27, 2001, the City Council introduced for first reading an
ordinance amending Section 9.04.10.04.070(a) of the Municipal Code allowing for
Architectural Review Board modification to the landscaping requirements for paved areas
which provide parking primarily for buses and similar oversized vehicles. The ordinance
is now presented to the City Council for adoption.
RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended that the accompanying ordinance be adopted.
PREPARED BY: Marsha Jones Moutrie, City Attorney
PCD:SF:JT:AS:PF:
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Council Mtg: March 6, 2001 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA TO
AMEND SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 9.04.10.04.070(A) ALLOWING
FOR ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MODIFICATION TO THE LANDSCAPING
REQUIREMENTS FOR PAVED AREAS WHICH PROVIDE PARKING PRIMARILY FOR
BUSES AND SIMILAR OVERSIZED VEHICLES.
WHEREAS, Section 9.04.10.04.070(a) of the Comprehensive Land Use and Zoning
Ordinance requires a minimum of ten percent of the total exterior paved area that provides
parking for vehicles be devoted to landscaped areas distributed throughout the paved
area; and
WHEREAS, although the Big Blue Bus Facility Expansion Master Plan proposes
extensive landscaping around the perimeter of the site to screen the transportation yard
uses from adjacent streets, landscaped areas distributed throughout the bus yard parking
area are not possible because of the area needed to maneuver buses and large fleet
vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Section 9.04.10.04.070(a) of the Comprehensive Land Use and Zoning
Ordinance needs to be amended to allow for Architectural Review Board review and
approval of alternative landscaping configurations for exterior paved areas which provide
parking and circulation predominantly for buses and other similar oversized fleet vehicles.
WHEREAS, on December 13, 2000, the Planning Commission held a public hearing
on the proposed zoning text amendments which would amend Section 9.04.10.04.070(a) to
allow for Architectural Review Board modification to the landscaping requirements for
paved areas which provide parking primarily for buses and similar oversized vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission forwarded a recommendation to the City
Council to adopt the zoning ordinance amendment relating to the landscaping
requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on the proposed Zoning
Ordinance Text Amendments on February 27, 2001; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and declares that the proposed amendments are
consistent with the goals, objectives, policies, land uses, and programs specified in the
adopted General Plan, in that the Big Blue Bus facility Expansion Master Plan and the
implementation of the Big Blue Bus Transportation Service Improvement Plan, which calls
for an improved and expanded Big Blue Bus fleet, are consistent with Land Use Element
Objective 4.5, which encourages an improved public transit system, and Policy 4.5.5 which
calls for continued City support of the Big Blue Bus to provide intra-city and inter-city
service to major employment centers and connection to the regional transportation system;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and declares that the public health, safety and
general welfare requires the adoption of the proposed Ordinance in that the Big Blue Bus
Facility Expansion Master Plan is necessary to implement its Transportation Service
Improvement Plan which includes expanding its services to alleviate overcrowding of
buses and improve transit services within the Big Blue Bus service area;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 9.04.10.04.070 is amended to read as follows:
9.04.10.04.070 Required landscape area and lighting for surface parking lots
and other vehicular use areas.
(a) A minimum of ten percent of the total exterior paved area that
accommodates vehicular traffic including surface parking lots, accessways,
driveways (including those serving drive-in and drive-through restaurants,
banks, and grocery stores), loading areas, service areas, and parking stalls
shall be devoted to landscaped islands, peninsulas, or medians distributed
throughout the paved area. A minimum of one tree for each one thousand
two hundred square feet of paved area that accommodates vehicular traffic
shall be provided and maintained. However, the Architectural Review Board
may modify these requirements for exterior paved areas which
predominantly provide parking and circulation for buses and other similar
oversized fleet vehicles provided that the following findings can be made:
1) That the strict application of the provisions of this subsection (a)
would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships
inconsistent with the general purpose and intent of the Santa
Monica Municipal Code and the General Plan or that there are
exceptional circumstances or conditions applicable to the proposed
project that do not apply generally to other sites covered by the
Section;
2) That the modification of these requirements would not adversely
affect the public welfare, and would not be detrimental or injurious
to property and improvements in the surrounding area.
b) The landscape area required for parking lots and vehicular use areas shall be in
addition to the landscape area required for building sites pursuant to the provisions of
Section 9.04.10.04.060.
c) Lighting shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Section
9.04.10.02.270.
SECTION 2. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby deemed repealed or modified to that extent
necessary to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court
of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official
newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30
days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE
City Attorney
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