PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE:
NOVEMBER 18, 2024
SUBJECT:
Title
FORMATION OF A STANDING SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE UPDATE OF THE SAN MARCOS CREEK SPECIFIC PLAN AND APPOINTMENT OF THREE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS TO SERVE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE
CASE NUMBER:
PLANNING ACTIVITY (PA24-0005)
Body
Recommendation
APPROVE Resolution No. PC 25-5081 to form a standing Planning Commission subcommittee for the San Marcos Creek District Specific Plan Update and to appoint three Planning Commission members to serve on the subcommittee.
Body
Introduction
The City has initiated a comprehensive update of the San Marcos Creek District Specific Plan. To support this effort, the formation of a Planning Commission subcommittee is proposed. This subcommittee would participate in the project and provide status updates to the full Commission. The action would establish a standing committee and appoint three Commission members from the existing seated and alternate Commissioner roster, to serve on the subcommittee.
Discussion
Since its adoption in 2007, private development within the San Marcos Creek Specific Plan area has been limited by several constraints. In 2017 and 2019, a citizen’s oversight committee reviewed the Specific Plan, identifying key constraints. However, this committee was discontinued in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address these identified issues, the City sought funding for a comprehensive update. In August of this year, the project received funding from the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) REAP 2.0 program, administered locally by SANDAG. The grant’s purpose is to support projects statewide that:
• Accelerate Infill development that facilitates housing supply, choice, and affordability
• Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
• Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
The grant requires the Specific Plan update to be completed within an accelerated 16-month period, ending in Spring 2026. At that time, the Planning Commission will provide a recommendation to the City Council regarding the adoption of the updated Specific Plan.
Given the project’s timeline, the formation of a Planning Commission subcommittee, comprising three appointed Planning Commissioners (from the seated and alternate Commissioner roster), is proposed. This subcommittee will enable designated Commission members to stay informed on project developments, provide input to City staff and consultants, support effective communication with the public, and facilitate informed decision-making within the Planning Commission. The subcommittee would receive regular project updates from staff and periodically report progress back to the full Commission.
Subcommittee responsibilities may include:
• Attending meetings on a biweekly, monthly, or bimonthly basis, during the different phases of the project
• Meetings may occur during regular business hours, or after hours, either in-person or virtually
• Attending public workshops and “pop-up events” in the evening or weekends
• Making presentations to the Planning Commission and taking public comments on the project
• Site visits to the Specific Plan area and potentially to locations outside of the city
• Additional responsibilities as the project progresses
Environmental Review
The action of the Planning Commission to form a subcommittee for the update of the San Marcos Creek Specific Plan and to appoint subcommittee members is not considered a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as this action constitutes an organizational government activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes to the environment (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15378(b)(5)).
Resolution(s):
1. Resolution PC 24-5131 (PA 24-0005): Authorize the formation of a standing subcommittee for the update of the San Marcos Creek Specific Plan and appointment of three Planning Commissioners to serve on the subcommittee
Prepared by: Sean del Solar, Senior Planner
Reviewed by: Scott Nightingale, Principal Planner
Submitted by: Joseph Farace, Planning Division Director