HomeMy WebLinkAbout1699 - ORDINANCES - 7/26/2006 ' ORDINANCE NO. 1699
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS PROHIBITING STREET LEVEL OFFICES IN
THE HISTORIC VILLAGE CENTER IN THE C-B-D ZONE,
AND ALLOWING STREET LEVEL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
IN THE HISTORIC VILLAGE CENTER IN THE C B-D ZONE
SUBJECT TO A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, FOR A
PERIOD OF 45 DAYS PENDING THE COMPLETION OF A
STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF STREET LEVEL OFFICE AND
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION USES IN THE HISTORIC VILLAGE
CENTER OF THE CITY AND THE ADOPTION OF ANY AND
ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S ZONING CODE AND
RELATED LAND USE REGULATIONS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. This interim urgency ordinance is adopted pursuant to Section 65858
of the California Government Code and pursuant to the City's authority over matters of
local concern as a charter city.
SECTION 2. The City of Palm Springs shall not issue or approve any general plan
amendment, specific plan, zone change, building permit, conditional use permit, variance,
planned development permit, precise plan of design, or other land use entitlement for the
construction of, or the conversion of existing uses to, street level office use or financial
institution use within that portion of the Central Business District Zone of the City known
and referred to as the Historic Village Center, except as otherwise provided in this interim
urgency ordinance.
SECTON 3. During the term of this interim urgency ordinance, a financial institution
use may be constructed on the street level within the Historic Village Center subject to a
conditional use permit and only subject to the following conditions:
A. The total floor area of the proposed financial institution use, when added to any existing
street level office an/or financial institution use in the affected building, is the lesser of not
more than 2,500 square feet or 25% of the total floor area of the street level area of the
affected building;
B. The Planning Commission, or if appealed, the City Council, finds on the basis of
substantial evidence on the record that a financial institution use would be more
compatible with the existing and planned uses in the vicinity of the proposed use than a
retail commercial use on the street level at the proposed location and that a financial
institution use would be more beneficial than a retail commercial use in implementing
applicable land use policies of the City Council or the City's Community Redevelopment
Agency, including the Palm Springs General Plan and any applicable Amended and
Restated Redevelopment Plan.
Ordinance No. 1699
Page 2
SECTION 4. For the purpose of this ordinance, the following streets shall be '
deemed to be within the Historic Village Center: Palm Canyon Drive, between Alejo and
Baristo Roads; Tahquitz Canyon Way, between Belardo Road and Indian Canyon Drive;
Andreas Road, between Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon Drives; Arenas Road, between
Belardo Road and Indian Canyon Drive; Baristo Road, northerly side, between Palm
Canyon and Indian Canyon Drives; Indian Canyon Drive, westerly side, between Alejo and
Baristo Roads; and Alejo Road, southerly side, between Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon
Drives. This Section 4 of this Ordinance shall be deemed an amendment to Subsection
(b) of Section 92.09.00 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code.
SECTION 5. The provisions of Section 92.09.01 A.37 of the City's Zoning Code
shall be deemed suspended and no longer in force or effect during the term of this interim
urgency ordinance.
SECTION 6. The City Council hereby finds, determines, and declares that this
interim urgency ordinance adopted pursuant to California Government Code Section
65858 is necessary because:
A. The City's central business district zone, an area that is intended to be primarily
commercial retail in character, with related hotels, multiple-family dwellings, and service,
office, cultural and institutional uses in a supporting role. The central business district is
intended to be a compact, lively, active, intensively used area catering to pedestrians and
pedestrian activities. Planted walkways, covered walks and open plazas that provide for
sitting, dining, conversing, gathering and window shopping are permitted and encouraged
in the central business district zone. The City's historic village center, which is a sub-area
within the central business district, is intended to serve as the center of the downtown with
the primary economic activities focusing on specialty retail, restaurants and entertainment.
B. The City's current General Plan and the Community Redevelopment Plans
encourage street level retail commercial, entertainment, and restaurant uses in the historic
village center. It is anticipated that the general plan update, currently in process, will
contain polices and programs that will further encourage street level retail commercial,
entertainment, and restaurant uses in the historic village center.
C. In order to ensure the viability and vibrancy of a pedestrian friendly retail,
entertainment, and restaurant historic village center as provided for in the City's Zoning
Ordinance and the City's adopted plans and policies, street level uses should be limited to
commercial retail, entertainment, and restaurant uses and general and professional offices
and financial institution uses should be discouraged and limited.
D. Over the last several months, existing street level retail commercial uses have been
converted to general and commercial office uses and the retail commercial uses have
been lost. This conversion of street level retail commercial uses to office uses have
significantly eroded the vitality and economic health of the historic village center and
adversely affected the attractiveness of the historic village center as a pedestrian friendly '
environment.
Ordinance No. 1699
Page 3
IL The conversion of street level retail commercial space to office uses presents an
immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in that the City currently has
limited supply of street level retail space in the historic village center, The City intends to
study the economic and market impacts of converting street level retail commercial uses to
office uses and the construction of street level office uses in the historic village center and
to propose amendments to the City's municipal code to address these impacts. The City
must prohibit the construction of, and the conversion of street level retail commercial uses
to, street level office uses while staff completes its land use studies and its economic
analysis on the impacts of such construction and conversions.
SECTION 7. Ten days prior to the expiration of this interim urgency ordinance, and
any extension thereof, the City Council shall issue a written report describing the measures
which the City has taken to address the conditions which led to the adoption of this
' ordinance or any extension.
i
i
i SECTION S. This interim urgency ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its
adoption by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the City Council. This interim urgency ordinance shall
continue in effect for forty-five (45) days from the date of its adoption and shall thereafter
be of no further force and effect unless, after notice pursuant to California Government
Code Section 65090 and a public hearing, the City Council extends this interim urgency
ordinance for an additional period of time pursuant to California Government Code Section
65858.
SECTION 9. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase in this Ordinance or any part thereof is for any reason, held to be unconstitutional
or invalid, or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction such decision shall not affect
the validity of effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or any part thereof.
The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each
section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause and phrase thereof, irrespective of the
fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses or
phrases be declared unconstitutional.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 26th day of July 2006.
I?L" _�
Ron Oden, Mayor
ATTEST:
d
' ?Jmes Thompson, City Clerk
Ordinance No. 1699
Page 4
CERTIFICATION: '
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California, do hereby
certify that Ordinance No. 1699 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly introduced,
adopted, and passed as an urgency ordinance at an Adjourned Regular Meeting of the
Palm Springs City Council on July 26, 2006 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember McCulloch, Councilmember Mills, Councilmember Pougnet,
Mayor Pro Tern Foat and Mayor Oden.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
?mes Thompson, City Clerkof Palm Springs, California '