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CC - Consideration of the City Council Oil Drilling Subcommittee's Recommendation that the City Council Exercise its Authority (under Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.03.035) to Take Jurisdiction of the Processing of the Inglewood Oil Field Specific Plan Project from the Planning Commission, Including Required Environmental Review and Other Related Actions.
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Contact Person/Dept: Heather Baker/City Attorney’s Office
Phone Number: 310-253-5660
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (09/21/15 and 09/23/15); Meetings and Agendas - Timely Topics - Inglewood Oil Field and Sustainability/Environmental Issues (09/21/15 and 09/23/15); Planning Commission (09/21/15 and 09/23/15)
Department Approval: Carol Schwab, City Attorney (09/22/15)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council consider the City Council Oil Drilling Subcommittee's recommendation that the City Council exercise its authority (pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.03.035) to take jurisdiction of the processing of the Inglewood Oil Field Specific Plan Project from the Planning Commission, including required environmental review and other related actions.
BACKGROUND
For nearly three years, the City Council Oil Drilling Subcommittee, consisting of Vice Mayor Weissman and Council Member Sahli-Wells (Subcommittee) has been actively engaged with City staff in the process of developing regulations for the Culver City portion of the Inglewood Oil Field (the “Oil Field”), including the development of a proposed specific plan (the “IOF Specific Plan”). After working on this project for an extended period of time, the Subcommittee believes that, due to the specialized nature and scope of the IOF Specific Plan, it would be beneficial for the City Council to take direct jurisdiction as authorized pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section 3.03.035, and that this action would further facilitate the efficient processing of the IOF Specific Plan. If the City Council authorizes this action this evening, the attached revised Tentative Project Timeline will be implemented (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION
The procedures for preparing, processing, reviewing and adopting a specific plan are set forth in Chapter 17.570 of the Zoning Code (CCMC Title 17). A specific plan is a tool that can be used to implement the City’s General Plan and is a comprehensive planning and zoning document for a defined geographical area. As a general rule, the Zoning Code requires a specific plan to be processed through the Planning Commission, which then makes a recommendation to the City Council.
Pursuant to CCMC Section 3.03.035, however, the City Council retains jurisdiction on all items which may otherwise be considered by the various City Commissions, and the City Council, in its sole discretion, may determine to hear any item directly. Due to the unique nature of the IOF Specific Plan, and the specialized, technical work the Subcommittee has engaged in for the past several years, the Subcommittee believes the City Council should directly consider the IOF Specific Plan in order to expedite and further facilitate a productive and efficient process.
The IOF Specific Plan will formulate and update regulations governing the operation of the Culver City portion of the Oil Field, which are currently set forth in CCMC Title 11 - Business Regulations (Chapter 11.12 - Oil, Gas and Hydrocarbons). After several years of addressing various issues relating to the Oil Field, including the City’s involvement in the public process concerning the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (located in unincorporated Los Angeles County), the City Council determined that the development of a specific plan for the Oil Field would be appropriate and useful to address the special needs and conditions of this unique area, which is the only area in the City in which this specific land use is permitted. In the case of the Oil Field, a specific plan is particularly suitable because the type of use (oil field operations) requires specialized regulations that differ from those applicable to typical commercial and industrial uses.
Public Participation Throughout the Process
It is important to note that, although the IOF Specific Plan Project would be processed and heard directly by the City Council (if authorized this evening), the various stakeholders and the public will have the same number of opportunities for public comment that would have occurred had the matter gone through the Planning Commission, and the time period for public comment on the IOF Specific Plan and related environmental impact report will remain the same. Input will be sought during community meetings hosted by the Subcommittee in a workshop-like setting in addition to receiving written comments. (See revised Tentative Project Timeline for all of the opportunities for public participation and comment throughout the process.)
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS
Revised Tentative Project Timeline
RECOMMENDED MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Consider the City Council Oil Drilling Subcommittee's recommendation that the City Council exercise its authority (pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.03.035) to take jurisdiction of the processing of the Inglewood Oil Field Specific Plan Project from the Planning Commission, including required environmental review and other related actions; and,
2. If deemed appropriate, adopt a motion taking direct jurisdiction of the processing of the Inglewood Oil Field Specific Plan Project.