The proposed acquisition was reviewed pursuant to the guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant impact on the environment. The purchase of the property is limited to a financial transaction, which will not have a significant impact on the environment.

A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, MAKING FINDINGS REGARDING GENERAL PLAN CONFORMITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 216 SOUTH EUCLID STREET (APN: 022-174-07) IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65402

On November 18, 2024, the City Council is tentatively scheduled to consider the purchase of the property located at 216 South Euclid Street for the purpose of expanding public facilities and services. In order for the City to purchase the property, California Government Code section 65402 requires the location, purpose and extent of such acquisition to be submitted to and reported on by the Planning Commission as to conformity with the General Plan.

The subject property is identified in Exhibit 1 below and Attachment 1. The property is designated by the General Plan for Residential Multi-Unit High (up to 50 units per acre) land use and is within the R-7 Mult-Unit Dwelling Zone, which implements the Residential Multi-Unit High Designation. The subject property is not identified in the General Plan Housing Element as a site to meet the City's Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation. The parcel is approximately 4,356 square feet and consists of two small units that are approximately 800 square feet each. Both units are two-bedroom, one-bathroom units that are currently occupied by tenants. Relocation assistance for the existing tenants will be provided by the City if the City Council moves forward with the purchase of this property. 

The General Plan land use designation, zoning, and existing land use for each of the surrounding properties is provided in Table 1 below:

Over the years, the City has been purchasing properties within the Civic Center/Downtown Core for the purpose of expanding public facilities and services. The City currently owns the vacant parcels to the south and east of the subject property (222 South Euclid Street and 107 East Second Street); as well as Brio Park, located on the southeast corner of Second Street and Euclid Street, approximately 100 feet south of the subject property; and Portola Park, west of the subject property, across Euclid Street. Additionally, the City owns the former electronics repair building located on the southeast corner of First Avenue and Euclid Street and the former chiropractic building located across the street to the west of the subject property. City Hall is one block north of the subject property and the La Habra Community Center and Police Station and Orange County Public Library are less than a quarter mile from the subject property.  The remaining properties that are located on the same block as the subject property are privately owned and consist of five residential properties and two churches.  Although the subject property is not currently within the La Habra Boulevard Specific Plan, it is being considered for inclusion as part of the update of the Specific Plan, which is currently underway. Staff anticipates holding a workshop with the Planning Commission in the first quarter of 2025 to provide an update on this project.

California Government Code section 65402 provides that a city may not acquire property in an area which is governed by a general plan until the location, purpose and extent of such acquisition has been submitted to and reported on by the planning agency as to conformity with the goals and policies of the general plan. As noted above, the subject property is designated by the General Plan for Residential Multi-Unit High (up to 50 units per acre) land use and is within the R-7 Multi-Unit Dwelling Zone, which implements the Residential Multi-Unit High designation. The following public facilities and services are permitted within the R-7 Zone, subject to the approval of a Conditional Use Permit:

Therefore, since the City is purchasing the property for the purpose of expanding public facilities and services, such as the above uses, the purchase is in conformance with the subject property's land use designation.

The purchase of this property would also be in conformance with the goals and policies of the La Habra General Plan set forth below. Staff's analysis regarding how the proposed purchase meets each goal/policy is italicized. 

Therefore, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the proposed resolution, which serves as the Planning Commission's General Plan conformity report in accordance with California Government Code section 65402.

Funds are available in the General Fund property acquisition reserve to cover the cost of the acquisition of the subject property as well as any tenant relocation costs.