Resolution-PC2025-008RESOLUTION NO. PC 2025-008
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF ANAHEIM RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM APPROVE AND ADOPT
A PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AMENDING THE
LAND USE AND CIRCULATION ELEMENTS AND ADOPTING
THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
(DEV2021-00223)
WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim has, pursuant to the recommendations of the
Planning Commission of the City of Anaheim, adopted a General Plan for the City of Anaheim
showing the general description and extent of possible development within the City; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan has been subsequently amended over the years as
conditions warrant; and
WHEREAS, the last significant update of the General Plan was adopted in 2004
and since that time conditions and community priorities have changed; and
WHEREAS, while various Elements of the General Plan have been updated at
different times, and provide useful guidance, other portions needed to be strengthened to deal more
effectively with contemporary issues, update its content and improve its format and usability,
address relevant local conditions, and be internally consistent and easy to use; and
WHEREAS, the Anaheim City Council ("City Council") did adopt the Anaheim
General Plan by Resolution No. 69R-644, showing the general description and extent of possible
future development within the City; and
WHEREAS, by adoption of Resolution No. PC2004-95 on May 25, 2004, the City
Council adopted a comprehensive update to the General Plan for the City of Anaheim (collectively,
the "2004 General Plan Update"); and
WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim is required by State Housing laws to update the
Housing Element of its General Plan for the planning period covering 2021-2029 (Sixth Cycle) to
include policies, strategies, and actions to facilitate the construction of new housing and
preservation of existing housing to meet the needs of the City's population during the Sixth Cycle
period, as well as to accommodate the City's Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)
allocation for new housing units in various income categories throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the City's Sixth Cycle Housing Element was not adopted by 2021
due to additional required revisions of the draft document by the State Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD); and
WHEREAS, the Anaheim Planning Commission ("Planning Commission") did
hold a public hearing on the Housing Element on March 10, 2025 and recommended that the City
Council adopt the 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element Update; and
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WHEREAS, the Land Use Element is a guide for the City's future development. It
designates the distribution and general location of land uses, such as residential, retail, industrial,
open space, recreation, and public uses. The Land Use Element also addresses the permitted
density (number of housing units per acre) and intensity (site coverage and floor to area ratio, or
FAR) of the various land use designations; and
WHEREAS, the Circulation Element identifies the general location and extent of
existing and proposed major transportation facilities, including major roadways, passenger and
freight rail, transit systems, and bikeways. It also provides policies, programs, actions, and priority
transportation networks that support the safe and efficient movement of people driving, walking,
biking, and taking transit in Anaheim. The Circulation Element will be updated to reflect changes
in transportation needs, new technologies, changes associated with implementing the 2021-2029
Housing Element, and an update to the Anaheim Traffic Analysis Model (ATAM). Changes
include updates to circulation -related policies, technical guidance, and updates to circulation -
system networks and classifications. The Circulation Element will also be updated to include goals
and policies for the updated "Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines for CEQA: VMT," established
July 1, 2020, pursuant to Senate Bill No. 743 (2013); and
WHEREAS, State law requires local jurisdictions with disadvantaged communities
to adopt a new Environmental Justice Element when they are updating two or more elements of
their general plan. The City's new Environmental Justice Element will be compliant with all
relevant State laws, including Senate Bill No. 1000 (2016) ("SB 1000"), by addressing the
following seven topics: (1) pollution exposure, including air quality; (2) public facilities; (3) food
access; (4) safe and sanitary homes; (5) physical activity; (6) community engagement; and (7)
prioritization of improvements and programs addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities;
and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Building Director has therefore initiated a General
Plan Amendment, in accordance with Chapter 18.68 (General Plan Amendments) of the Anaheim
Municipal Code to amend text within the Land Use Element, adopt an updated Circulation
Element, and adopt a new Environmental Justice Element, which are on file with the City of
Anaheim Planning and Building Department and incorporated herein by this reference as if set
forth in full; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan Update Project includes the following actions, which
shall be referred to herein collectively as the "Project":
1. Certification of Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) No.
356, adoption of Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations; and Mitigation
Monitoring Program (MMP) No. 394.
2. Amendment to the General Plan Land Use and Circulation Elements and
adoption of the Environmental Justice Element.
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3. Amendments to Title 18 (Zoning) of the Anaheim Municipal Code to
rescind Chapters 18.30 (Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) Overlay Zone) and 18.32 (Mixed Use
(MU) Overlay Zone), add new Chapters 18.12 (Mixed -Use Zones) and 18.39 (Multiple -Family
and Mixed -Use Objective Design Standards), and other associated changes necessary to
implement the Project.
4. Reclassification of the City's Zoning Map to remove the Mixed -Use
Overlay and Downtown Mixed -Use Overlay.
5. Amendment to the Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan to increase the
overall amount of residential development in the Platinum Triangle to 24,785 dwelling units; add
2,056 dwelling units of residential development in the Office District; establish the Sunkist -Lewis
District with 2,543 dwelling units; increase the amount of residential development in the Katella
District to 6,735 dwelling units; and revise maps, figures, text, and tables throughout the document
to reflect the proposed increase in residential development in the Platinum Triangle; and
WHEREAS, the Land Use Element will be updated in its entirety, which is on file
with the City of Anaheim Planning and Building Department and incorporated herein by this
reference as if set forth in full, includes land use designation changes associated with the Housing
Element Update and Center City Corridors Implementation Plan to provide for new residential and
mixed -use opportunities throughout the city. The anticipated residential and non-residential
buildout associated with the Land Use Element updates has been updated to reflect growth
projections anticipated through 2045. The amended Land Use Element includes candidate housing
sites for the 2021-2029 draft Housing Element; descriptions of new mixed -use designations;
separates the Institutional land use category into "Institutional -High" and "Institutional -Low"
density categories; updates the Intermodal Transportation Center description to specifically
describe the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC); and updates maps and
tables consistent with the described changes; and
WHEREAS, the Circulation Element will be updated in its entirety, which is on file
with the City of Anaheim Planning and Building Department and incorporated herein by this
reference as if set forth in full, to reflect changes in transportation needs, new technologies,
changes associated with implementing the 2021-2029 Housing Element, and an update to the
Anaheim Traffic Analysis Model (ATAM). Changes include updates to circulation -related policies
and updates to circulation -system networks and classifications; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of the new Environmental Justice Element, which is on
file with the City of Anaheim Planning and Building Department and incorporated herein by this
reference as if set forth in full, would identify goals and policies as necessary to promote
environmental justice and comply with SB 1000; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.; herein referred to as
"CEQA"), the State of California Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental
Quality Act (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; herein referred to as the "CEQA
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Guidelines"), the City is the "lead agency" for the preparation and consideration of environmental
documents for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did hold a public hearing at the Civic Center
in the City of Anaheim on March 24, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., and notice of said public hearing having
been duly given as required by law and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.60
(Procedures) of the Code, to hear and consider evidence and testimony concerning the contents
and sufficiency of Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) No. 356, including all
written and verbal comments received during the 45-day public review period, the Project, and
related actions, and to investigate and make findings and recommendations in connection
therewith; and
WHEREAS, at said public hearing, but prior in time to the adoption of this
Resolution, and based upon its independent review, analysis, and consideration of the
environmental information contained in Final PEIR No. 356 prepared in connection with the
Project, the Planning Commission did adopt its Resolution No. PC2025-*** finding and
recommending that the City Council certify FPEIR No. 356, including the adoption of Findings
and a Statement of Overriding Considerations and Mitigation Monitoring Program No. 394 (MMP
No. 394), and determining that (i) FPEIR No. 356 was prepared for the Project in compliance with
the requirements of CEQA and all applicable CEQA Guidelines; (ii) FPEIR No. 356 and MMP
No. 394 are adequate to serve as the appropriate environmental documentation for the Project; and,
(iii) no further environmental documentation needs to be prepared for CEQA for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, after due consideration, inspection,
investigation and study made by itself and in its behalf, and after due consideration of all evidence
and reports offered at said hearing with respect to the request for the Project, does hereby find and
determine the following facts:
I. That the proposed General Plan Amendment to the Land Use and
Circulation Elements and addition of an Environmental Justice Element maintains the internal
consistency of the General Plan, as the proposed modifications are consistent with existing General
Plan goals and policies and implement new policies established in the Sixth Cycle Housing
Element. The Circulation Element amendment ensures that transportation infrastructure aligns
with projected growth by updating roadway classifications, refining the bike master plan network,
and maintaining strong system performance, while the Environmental Justice Element advances
General Plan objectives by addressing pollution exposure, housing conditions, access to public
facilities, and equitable community engagement;
2. That the proposed General Plan Amendment would not be detrimental to
the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City because the proposed Project
identified potential impacts and established mitigation measures, as described in detail in Final
PEIR No. 356. The Environmental Justice Element further supports public welfare by prioritizing
improvements in historically disadvantaged communities, ensuring that land use and
environmental decisions promote community health and sustainability;
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3. That the proposed General Plan Amendment would maintain the balance of
land uses within the City because the update to the Land Use Element, Circulation Element, and
Environmental Justice Element does not modify existing General Plan goals but further aligns their
implementation, inclusive of the Sixth Cycle Housing Element. The Project modifies the Land Use
Statistical Summary and Land Use Map to create a community where new development is
complementary to existing neighborhoods while increasing housing opportunities and improving
multimodal connectivity through the updated Circulation Element. With the General Plan
Amendment, the City remains 52% residential, 10% commercial/office, 9%
Industrial/Manufacturing, and 29% parks and other public uses including opportunities for mixed
use; and
4. The proposed amendments to the General Plan Land Use Map are
physically suitable to accommodate the proposed modification, including but not limited to,
access, physical constraints, topography, provision of utilities, and compatibility with surrounding
land uses as the amendments are proposed within a fully developed area. The Circulation Element
ensures adequate infrastructure to support future growth, and the Environmental Justice Element
identifies strategies to reduce environmental burdens on impacted communities while enhancing
public resources;
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission determines that the evidence in the record
constitutes substantial evidence to support the actions taken and the findings made in this
Resolution, that the facts stated in this Resolution are supported by substantial evidence in the
record, including testimony received at the public hearing, the staff presentations, the staff report
and all materials in the project files. There is no substantial evidence, that negate the findings made
in this Resolution. The Planning Commission expressly declares that it considered all evidence
presented and reached these findings after due consideration of all evidence presented to it.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, this Planning Commission, after due
consideration, inspection, investigation and study made by itself, and after due consideration of,
and based upon, all evidence and reports offered at said hearing and pursuant to the above findings,
does hereby recommend that the City Council of the City of Anaheim approve and adopt the
proposed General Plan Amendment to amend the Land Use and Circulation Elements and adopt
the Environmental Justice Element.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION was adopted at the Planning Commission meeting of
March 24, 2025.
VICE CM'AIRPERSON, PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
PC2025-008
ATTEST:
SECRE , LANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
PC2025-008
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF ANAHEIM )
I, Bridgette Bambrick, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Anaheim, do
hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a meeting of the Planning
Commission of the City of Anaheim held on March 24, 2025, by the following vote of the members
thereof:
AYES: Commissioners Abdulrahman, Castro, Kelly, Lieberman, Perez, and Tran-Martin.
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: Chairperson Walker
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
SECREq
OF THE
24th day of March 2025.
Y, PL ING COMMISSION
ANAHEIM
PC2025-008