For City Council Meeting [June 27, 2023]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Arron Brown, Acting City Manager
FROM: Colby Cataldi, Director of Community Development
Title
Request City Council receive a presentation on the Foothill Central Specific Plan.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
In November of 1983, the City Council adopted the Rialto Central Area Specific Plan for the downtown area of the City. The Rialto Specific Plan is generally bounded by Foothill Boulevard to the north, Merrill Avenue to the south, Willow Avenue to the west, and Sycamore Avenue to the east. The specific plan provided the vision for the future of the downtown area of Rialto along with development standards, permitted uses, and other regulatory standards specific to downtown.
In August of 2010, the City Council adopted the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan. The Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan is generally bounded by Maple Avenue to the west, Pepper Avenue to the east, and parcels on the north and south sides of Foothill Boulevard. The specific plan incorporates the vision for the future of Foothill Boulevard along with development standards, permitted uses, and other regulatory standards unique for a major thoroughfare across the City.
Since the adoption of both specific plans, only minor amendments have been approved to facilitate private investment on site specific projects. Neither the Central Area nor Foothill Boulevard specific plans have been significantly updated since their original adoption. Recognizing the need to revisit and update the Central Area and Foothill Boulevard specific plans, City Council authorized at a regularly scheduled meeting on January 26, 2021, the submittal of an application to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for technical assistance to facilitate amendments to Central Area and Foothill Boulevard specific plans. This provided an opportunity to combine the Rialto Central Area Specific Plan and the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan into one current and pertinent plan rebranded as the Foothill Central Specific Plan.
The proposed Foothill Central Specific Plan includes areas identified in Attachment A.
On June 29, 2022, the Economic Development Committee offered suggestions and ideas for the vision of the Foothill Central Specific Plan and recommended that the Planning Division and the consultant draft a vision for the specific plan area. The Planning Division presented a draft vision to the City Manager who shared the vision with the City Council. Staff then presented the vision to the Planning Commission on September 14, 2022, for the Commission review and comments.
Vision Statement
“For the next 30 years, Downtown Rialto will continue to be the heart of the City, defined by its hometown character and functioning as an important job center and transportation hub. The historic Route 66, Foothill Boulevard, will continue to serve as a gateway corridor through the City and to the downtown core. The Foothill Central Specific Plan area will continue to evolve as a lively mixed-use destination that integrates housing for all income levels and ages with shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and civic and arts uses while preserving existing landmarks.
The Specific Plan will be a tool to implement high-quality development standards along Foothill Boulevard and within Downtown Rialto that complement and enrich a public realm that is safe, green, and beautiful, incorporating landscaping, lighting and public art. Streets and sidewalks will be designed for all ages, abilities and modes including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit, and cars.”
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The Foothill Central Specific Plan will be built with the vision, goals, and objectives established in the existing plans and crafted based on the ideas and comments from the City Council, Planning Commission, property owners, business owners, community members, and other stakeholders. The proposed plan will incorporate elements of the Rialto Downtown Vision and Strategic Plan approved in March of 2009 by the City Council.
The revised Specific Plan will guide future development and preservation of Foothill Boulevard and Central Rialto through:
• Strategies and supportive policies for new residential development
• Plans for a multi-modal mobility network and streetscape
• Economic Development
• Plans for infrastructure improvements
• An implementation strategy
• Zoning designations, permitted uses, and associated development standards
The revisions will simplify existing zoning (Attachment B), combine planning areas and the proposed zoning (Attachment C) will allow for existing uses and additional appropriate land uses.
The Specific Plan will incorporate the 6th Cycle Housing Element residential overlay to include all properties along Foothill Boulevard.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
A Mitigated Negative Declaration will be prepared for the project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The General Plan establishes four opportunity areas including Downtown Rialto and Foothill Boulevard. Updates to the Central Area Specific Plan and Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan implement the General Plan. Furthermore, an update to the specific plans is consistent with the following goals of the Land Use Element:
Goal 2-1: Revitalize and enhance the Foothill Boulevard Corridor into a place that supports economic development and creates a sense of place and identity through the use of appropriate streetscape design inspired by the Rialto Bridge.
Goal 2-2: Develop the Riverside Avenue Corridor to become an economically viable local service area.
Goal 2-5: Develop Downtown Rialto as a lively, pedestrian-friendly district typical of a small-town downtown, with a vibrant mix of residential, commercial, civic uses, and transit-oriented development.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Staff time for the Senior Planner to manage the project is budgeted and available in General Fund Account No. 010-500-4260-1001. The consultant, WSP, is funded by SCAG’s Sustainable Communities Program.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council receive a presentation for the Foothill Central Specific Plan.