Council Approves Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance

As anticipated, Santa Monica city officials adopted the and its 18-month extension of the current Interim Ordinance at Tuesday night’s meeting. 

Council members heard supporting arguments from city staff and community members during the public comment period, both urging the council to pass the ordinance. A positive vote, they said, would grant city officials the opportunity to adequately review development plans for Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects to ensure adherence to the city’s long-term building efficiency and aesthetic requirements, outlined in the .

The council adopted the ordinance unanimously, selecting Option 1 and thus turning all pipeline development projects into administrative approval projects with more extensive Transportation Demand Management restrictions. Option 2, which was not selected but received ample consideration and discussion, would have subjected such projects to a streamlined development agreement process.

Subsequent discussions surrounded the use of shared parking by private property owners in and around downtown and the ways in which existing resources would be impacted by the more stringent TDM requirements on new developments.

Because of some anticipated arbitration discussed during the council’s closed session at the beginning of the meeting, the decision on the Interim Ordinance had another immediate consequence.

The council voted to approve a contingent settlement in the amount of $100,000 to developers at 702 Arizona Ave. and 1315 Seventh St. The settlement was conditional, and was therefore valid only if the council passed the ordinance and the provisions under Option 1.

A substantial portion of Tuesday’s meeting was devoted to discussions of Parking Structure 6, the planned renovations to that site and the legal steps necessary to ensure that the plans submitted are in accordance with city zoning regulations.

Though there were some concerns raised relating to the use of city shared parking resources and existing estimates for downtown parking need, the ordinance adjustment passed 6-1, with the only dissenting vote coming from Councilman Bobby Shriver.

The council then visited item 8-A, a schematic review of the ongoing Structure 6 renovation plans. Though the group’s response to the design was mostly positive when it came to innovative efficiencies and functional features, there was less of a consensus on the building’s aesthetic.

About half of the council members were displeased that the plans do not include an artistic facade on the back of the building, on a side that faces an alley; the other half didn’t understand why such a facade would be necessary or desirable.

Council members and community representatives universally expressed an interest in scheduling renovations to Structures 6 and 3 at separate times so as to not put unnecessary stress on the city’s already limited parking resources during the closures of the two lots.

Ultimately the council voted unanimously to approve the design direction and gave city staffers feedback on how to improve the plans before they are next reviewed by the council.

 The second reading and adoption of two ordinances governing oversize vehicle parking restrictions and a smoking ban on the Santa Monica Pier were both approved by a unanimous vote.

So was a subsequent ordinance appointing City Manager Rod Gould to negotiate cooperation agreements with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority pertaining to the construction and operation of the planned light rail transit system.

City staffers clarified that the ordinance’s purpose was to allow for an agreement to be negotiated by the city manager with Exposition, establishing the entire working relationship between the two parties. Before the agreement can take effect, the council must vote to approve it following the presentation of staff reports and community input during a public hearing.

Councilman Kevin McKeown took an opportunity to communicate his views on the upcoming negotiations and what he hoped were common goals of the council and city staffers in proceeding with the light rail plans.

“One is the continuation of Santa Monica’s policies on public input on decisions,” he said, calling special attention to proposed plans in the light rail development for a maintenance yard adjacent to a residential neighborhood on Pico Boulevard.

“I am particularly concerned with respect to the part of this project that is the maintenance facility,” he added, prompting staffers to volunteer that the project will involve the input of designers, noise consultants and architects, all of whom will work to integrate the maintenance facility into the surrounding neighborhood and to minimize disruption.

The council voted unanimously to approve all of the items on the consent calendar, including contracts for water mainline replacements downtown, software maintenance for the city financial system, transmission repairs and security services for the and a new license agreement with .

Item 3-K, a contract with Bike and Park LLC to create and maintain a downtown bike transit mobility center, was approved after a staff report and some council inquisition. The center will provide a multitude of services to Santa Monica commuters including ample bicycle parking, bike repair and rental shops, and some shower and locker facilities as well.