Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing And Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council continues public hearing on mixed‑use overlay; asks staff for parcel‑level analysis
Summary
Council paused a vote on two ordinances that would add mixed‑use overlays to designated commercial and specific‑plan parcels as part of the city’s housing element implementation, and continued the hearing to Dec. 2 to allow staff to return with parcel maps, acreage/density impacts, and answers on parking, infrastructure and state law implications.
The San Fernando City Council opened a public hearing on proposed zoning changes intended to implement the City’s certified housing element and then voted to continue the hearing so staff could address detailed council questions.
Staff explained the two related ordinances would (1) establish a mixed‑use overlay for selected C1 and C2 commercial parcels (to allow 100% commercial, 100% residential, or mixed‑use development at 20–35 dwelling units per acre), and (2) add flex/downtown residential overlays to 11 specific‑plan parcels (allowing ranges such as 24–50 du/acre in applicable subdistricts). Planning staff said the inventory includes approximately 112 commercial parcels totaling about 38 acres and roughly a dozen specific‑plan parcels totaling about 7.39 acres; adopting the overlays is required by state housing element law (cited AB 1398/HCD) to maintain compliance and avoid potential penalties, including loss of grant eligibility or legal action.
Council members posed technical and policy questions about the density ranges, how the units per acre translate to likely unit counts on small parcels, parking and state preemption of local parking rules near transit, and protections for existing industrial uses in areas such as First Street and the north side of Truman. Planning staff and the consultant noted overlay standards include architectural and open‑space requirements, setbacks where parcels abut single‑family homes, and screening options to preserve privacy for adjacent properties.
Members of the public who operate long‑standing First Street businesses urged the council to exclude industrial parcels from the flex‑use overlay because of heavy truck traffic, limited parking and the risk that introducing residential uses could displace industrial employers. Brent Bell and Bob Williamson said mixed use on certain First Street parcels would create safety and parking conflicts and could undermine existing industrial jobs.
The council voted to close public comment for tonight’s meeting and continue the hearing to the council’s December 2 regular meeting so staff can provide parcel‑level maps, acreage and unit‑capacity estimates for each affected parcel, the city’s RHNA/SCAG appeal materials and outcome, and clearer explanations of state parking/density mandates and any infrastructure constraints the city raised during its RHNA appeal. The continuation gives the public another chance to respond to new material.
No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the hearing was continued.
