RES-8774 Approving General Plan Amendment No. 1-97RESOLUTION NO. 8774
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A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ORANGE UPHOLDING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ORANGE AND APPROVING THE GENERAL PLAN
CLASSIFICATION 1-97 OF PROPERTY
SITUATED BETWEEN GLASSELL AND LEMON STREETS, SOUTH
OF AND ADJACENT TO SYCAMORE
AVENUE GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT CHAPMAN
UNIVERSITY
RECITALS:After due public hearings as required by law, the City Council of the City
of Orange considered a recommendation of the Planning Commission of the City of
Orange recommending, by Resolution No. PC 11-97 that certain property
situated between Glassell and Lemon Streets, south of and adjacent to Sycamore Avenue
be redesignated from the PF Public Facilities/Quasi-Public (school) designation to
the PF, Public Facility/Quasi-Public (college) designation and
approved said recommendation after finding and determining the hereinafter described facts. The real
property which is the subject of the redesignation is more
particularly described as follows:The northern half portion of Lot 17,
Richland Farm Lots Subdivision,as recorded in Book 5, Page 123, miscellaneous
records of Los Angeles County (CA)
on March 15, 1883.Upon the public hearing before the City council, the
following facts were established:1. Chapman University proposes to establish its law school
with a tri-level parking structure on the site of the former Orange
Intermediate School, between Lemon and Glassell Streets, south of Sycamore Avenue. The project
would require demolition of all existing structures on the site, except a portion of the decorative
facade to the old school building. The University would voluntarily preserve
and integrate this archway element with the design of a new building. The Council may want
to consider adding a condition of approval to the project-if approved-specifying
that this historic element of the facade be preserved in place, since the preservation
is voluntary. The parking structure would be constructed behind the law school and would
extend to
Lemon
2. The University also proposes an extension of "height contours" that were initially
established in the Specific Plan, not only for the school district site, but also for property
that was recently amended to the plan, situated along the western edge of Orange Street
now abandoned). Any structure built west of (or over) Orange Street would range in
height from 30 feet near the campus property line, rising six inches per foot to a
maximum height of 55 feet within the campus interior. For the law school building, the
University proposed a height limit that would vary from 30 to 62 feet, rising to the
maximum height with a steeper pitch of 1 foot per foot (1: 1).
3. The University also attempted to integrate building setbacks into the height contour
map. However, the distinction remains vaguely defined in diagrams proposed within the
plan. The Planning Commission therefore recommends that, consistent with prior City
Council approval of the Specific Plan, required setbacks should be 20 feet from any
public right of way, 15 feet from any residentially zoned property, and 10 feet front
commercial property. The University proposed a setback of 0 feet from the property line
that connects between Sycamore and Walnut Avenues, along the western edge of campus.
With adoption of the Planning Commission's recommendations, that setback would
increase from 0 to 10 feet.
4. A more detailed list of otherwise minor clarifications is contained in Planning
Commission Resolution No. PC-19-7. The Planning Commission
recommends approval with these revisions. The Commission also noted the importance of traffic
safety and neighborhood preservation planning, neither of which can be undertaken solely
by the University or by City staff. Condition No.5 (in Resolution PC-
19-97) thus emphasizes the need for better project implementation and
communication, using the existing mechanisms of the Specific Plan and site plan
review, as development proceeds.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council
of the City of Orange that the recommendation of the Planning Commission be
upheld and that General Plan Amendment 1-97 redesignating the subject property to
the PF Public Facility/Quasi-Public ( college) designation be
approved for the following reasons:1. The new designation remains the same
as the previously-existing designation (Public Facility), except that a "school" would be changed
to "college." The General Plan Land Use Element makes no distinction between these uses
within the text, so the redesignation
changes only the
Land
2. The property is no longer being used as a school but is instead a larger educational
facility, and the proposed law school facility is not dissimilar to that existing use.
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3. The university is a great asset to the community, providing a wealth of regional
economic input, employment and cultural opportunities. As an institution, the university
is an active participant within the community and its need for growth should be
accommodated.
4. The proposed general plan land use designation is identical to the adjacent
college-owned property, and this parcel of property can accommodate the growth of
the campus facility, representing a reasonable alternative of many redevelopment options
that will ultimately safeguard the residential community adjacent to
campus.5. An existing Specific Plan is also being updated to ensure consistency and to
better implement the General
Plan.ADOPTED this 13th day of Mav
1997.
ATTEST:
range I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on
the th day of May ,1997, by the following
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:COUNCIL MEMBERS: MURPHY, COONTZ, SPURGEON,
ALVAREZ COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NONE COUNCIL MEMBERS:
SLATER COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NONE SSH:dg Reso No.
8774