A. Filing and Initial Processing. A draft Specific Plan proposed by a property owner shall be filed with the Current Planning Division and shall be accompanied by the fee required by the City Council Fee Resolution. A draft plan proposed by an applicant, or prepared by the City, shall then be processed in the same manner as required for General Plans by State law (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 65350 et seq.), and as provided by this Section.
B. Division Evaluation. After the receipt of a draft Specific Plan, the Division shall conduct an initial review of the draft Specific Plan, in compliance with § 17.500.025 (Initial Application Review), to determine whether it complies with the provisions of this Chapter. If the draft plan is not in compliance, it shall be returned to the applicant, with a written explanation of why it does not comply, and with suggested revisions to ensure compliance. When a draft plan is returned by the applicant to the Division, and the Division determines it is complete and in compliance with this Chapter, the plan shall be deemed to be accepted for processing.
C. Environmental Review. The draft Specific Plan shall be subject to environmental review in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the City's CEQA Guidelines.
D. Required Community Meetings. Notice and hearings regarding an application for a Specific Plan shall be provided in compliance with Chapter 17.625 (Required Community Meetings).
E. Public Hearings. A proposed Specific Plan shall be subject to public hearings before both Commission and Council before its adoption, as follows:
1. Commission. The hearing shall receive public notice and be conducted in compliance with Chapter 17.630 (Public Hearings and Administrative Review). After the hearing, the Commission shall forward a written recommendation, with appropriate findings to the Council; and
2. Council. Upon receipt of the Commission's recommendation, the Council shall approve, approve in modified form, or disapprove the Specific Plan based on the findings contained in § 17.570.020.F. below. If the Council proposes to adopt a substantial modification not previously considered by the Commission during its hearings, the proposed modification may first be referred back to the Commission for its recommendation. The Specific Plan shall be adopted by ordinance and shall become effective 30 days following the date the decision is rendered by the Council.
F. Conformance with the General Plan. The Council shall adopt a Specific Plan only if it finds that the proposed plan is consistent with the objectives, policies, general land uses, and programs of the General Plan and other adopted goals and policies of the City.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)