A. Application of the Specific Plan Concept. A specific plan and its function may be described by comparison with the general plan. The general plan expresses, in very broad terms, the city's planning of its future environment, generally on a long-term basis. Adopted by the city as a legislative act, the general plan may be amended, as required by changing circumstances. The specific plan, on the other hand, is a device used to implement the general plan by focusing on a particular parcel or parcels. The specific plan sets standards, against which developments can be judged, and imposes controls on the use of the subject parcels. The specific plan is more detailed than a general plan and can be viewed as a bridge between the general plan and individual project submittals.
The intent and purpose of this chapter is to establish a specific plan to guide the physical development of a particular geographic area within the city of Signal Hill. In an effort to accommodate the city's diverse housing needs, the concepts, regulations and conditions set forth in the special purpose housing specific plan, Area four is added to provide for the development of an affordable multi-family housing project, childcare center and public park. Services envisioned for the housing development include: on-site childcare, offices and classroom facility for provision of on-site social services programs, communal laundry facilities, a community room with associated support space, a police resource center and a public park. With the exception of the public park and the police resource center, the city does not contemplate development of a facility which relies on extensive city services and the operator shall be responsible for providing services to the residents.
The special purpose specific plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the State Government Code (Sections 64540 through 65507) and addresses all of the issues and topics specified in that code.
B. Location and Boundary of Area Four. The specific plan area four is an area of approximately 5.42 acres located west of California Avenue approximately three hundred feet to the city boundary, south of 25th street and north of the old Pacific Electric Railroad right-of-way The boundaries of the area are more specifically set forth in Figure 1 as set forth in Exhibit A of the ordinance codified in this section.
C. Goals and Objectives. Goals for the development within the SP-7, area four, special purpose housing specific plan include the following:
1. Assure that low-income families have access to adequate and affordable housing opportunities;
2. Support development of dwelling units expressly designed for the special needs of low-income families including both two and three-bedroom living rental units;
3. Encourage the development of privately sponsored housing developments intended to be occupied by low and moderate-income families;
4. Apply design standards which result in the highest quality development and achieve streetscapes with pedestrian scale and ambiance consistent with Signal Hill's small-town character;
5. Provide architectural diversity and avoid uniformity of appearance.
(Ord. 2001-11-1299 § 1)