The original item was published from January 24, 2018 3:27 PM to January 25, 2018 8:15 AM
The City Council approved the Certification of Final Environmental Impact Report for the Crossings Specific Plan at the January 23 City Council Special Meeting. They also approved the General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, and Code Amendment.
The City has initiated the Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan (FVCSP) with the purpose of creating a policy and zoning framework that will allow for additional land-use flexibility. The FVCSP area consists of the approximate 162-acres of light industrial/commercial uses in the southeastern portion of the City located south of Talbert Avenue, north of Ellis Avenue, east of Ward Street and west of the Santa Ana River. The new land use flexibility will not only allow property owners and businesses to continue to operate as they do today, but will also provide a design framework in which a community activity center district could be created through private investment. Another purpose of the FVCSP is to foster the creation of a “Fountain Valley” scale main street experience for residents. This main street environment would provide a gathering place for families and all residents where they can shop and dine.
The FVCSP is a zoning tool that has a 20-year horizon. Adoption of the FVCSP will not cause overnight changes to occur in the district, but it will likely foster future changes. The FVCSP would promote reinvestment and guide future reuse of the existing industrial business park with a mix of uses including retail, office, residential and industrial uses while providing for streetscape improvements that encourage community connectivity and gathering. The FVCSP includes policy and program components to address proposed building form, height, development standards and strategies for open space, community benefits, and circulation. These standards also effectively define and limit maximum foreseeable future growth that could occur within the FVCSP area.
On May 10, 2017, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing regarding the FVCSP. Following public testimony and discussion, the Planning Commission voted 5 – 0 to approve a recommendation that the City Council approve the, subject to certain changes including: adding a hard cap of 491 residential units for the FVSCP area; removing the electronic media provisions for all types of signs; increasing the parking requirement for studio residential units to a minimum of 2 per unit; reduce the building length maximum in the Core Target Area to 200 feet; and remove the ability for projects within the Activity Core area to apply for a conditional use permit to go from 4 – 6 stories, thereby capping the building height at 4 stories. At its schedule Public Hearing to consider approval of the FVCSP, the City Council acted to continue the item to date uncertain to allow for updates to be incorporated into the EIR and more time for public review of the document. City staff proposed for adoption of the FVCSP includes General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 15-01, Code Amendment (CA) No. 15-02, Zone Change (ZC) No. 428, and certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report.
For details information on the Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan, click here.