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State of the Vision – January 2002
Community Planning and TransportationStrategy #1: Provide consistent urban services within defined metropolitan area.
Significant progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-2: City and County have set up a task force to better coordinate urban services and utilize joint powers agreements when appropriate.
Action 3, 4: Task force is in place. County is updating improvement standards and looking for inconsistencies. Anticipate completion-February 2002.
Action 5: The vast majority of policies and goals needed relative to this action are incorporated in the draft 2010 General Plan Update.
Action 6-8: Annexations are the responsibility of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). LAFCO has the power to terminate an annexation proceeding that would create an “island” of unincorporated territory. On May 26, 1996, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution stating its neutrality in a city annexation proposal.
Strategy #2: Provide property owners with incentives to create in fill or redevelopment.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-6: New and additional policy direction through the general plan update process and after thorough participation by all community interests, is required before comprehensive changes to the fee schedule and application processing procedures can be enacted. Coordination with affected local special districts to gain concurrence and consistency of policies is also required.
In August 1999, two new redevelopment project areas were established for Old Town Kern-Pioneer and Southeast Bakersfield Areas. City staff has worked with the owner of the former Chaparral Motel property to demolish and develop a 40-unit apartment complex and a 30,000 square foot retail commercial project on the 5.2-acre site. After being awarded $500,000 from the California Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Enabled by Local Partnerships, City staff has contracted with 4 local developers to construct 10 single-family dwellings in fiscal year 2002/03 as part of the Lakeview In-fill Housing Program. As many as 30 additional units could be constructed in future years using this program.
The City assisted the owner of the southwest corner of Union and California avenues to demolish the Bakersfield Inn restaurant. Through HUD’s Economic Development Incentive program, the City has been approved to receive $490,000 for the Baker Street Corridor Project, which will revitalize the district by renovating the sidewalks and streets with streetscape improvements.
TEAM Bakersfield is the result of the City's commitment to exceptional customer service. TEAM Bakersfield provides a single point of contact to various City departments for any dealings with the City. TEAM Bakersfield specializes in providing a coordinated permit process and speedy responses to business inquiries from various city departments.
Strategy #3: Require non-contiguous development to provide all necessary infrastructure or provide economic disincentives through variable fees.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-3: The County has already begun implementing this Strategy by creating a “Planned Sewer Area” for CSA 71 to provide sewer infrastructure in this growing area. Additional ordinances will be enacted to implement this Strategy as the need arises. No specific unmet need now exists that would necessitate a new joint powers agreement with the City of Bakersfield. Requiring a two-tiered fee structure without an established nexus for the variation would be an unconstitutional exaction in violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Additional reviews of the applicability of a variable fee structure will occur after adoption of the upcoming “Planned Sewer Area” study for the balance of the CSA 71 area, which would provide the legal justification for such a fee. Other variable fee schedules will have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if legal justification can be established based on provision of service considerations.
Strategy #4: Encourage the City and County to work together on land use and development issues to provide a combined vision on what growth is acceptable or desired.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-2: There is not a current need for a joint powers agreement as the concept in Action Element #1 is included in the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan. An annexation tax sharing agreement between the City and the County is already in place. The City Council and the Board of Supervisors meet jointly to share information, provide policy direction, and action is taken on items of mutual interest and jurisdiction. The 2010 Plan update initial draft has been completed to include pertinent Vision 2020 policies. The plan has been forwarded to the consultant to prepare the required environmental documents for further public review and comment.
Strategy #5: Implement a point system that requires certain criteria be met in order to develop additional agricultural land.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-2: This matter has undergone extensive public review and comment. Considerable research has resulted in the County Planning Commission’s direction to the Planning Department to not implement a point system, but rather establish criteria by which agricultural land conversions can be evaluated. The General Plan Update will include policies that discourage the conversion of farmland.
The City Council in its goal setting process indicated it was supportive of efforts to develop strategies to reduce consumption of prime agricultural land for urban development. They did not wish to limit the strategies to be considered to the one presented in the 2020 Vision report, strategy #6. The 2010 Plan update should include pertinent Vision 2020 policies regarding strategies for preservation of agricultural land.
Strategy #6: Develop policies for specific incentives for residential in-fill in blighted areas.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-5: Density bonus provisions are already included in State law and the County zoning ordinance for qualifying projects. Differential building permit fees are also provided for senior low-income housing. Further deviation from the existing fee schedule will be a subject of further review.
City staff has met to develop a program for neighborhood preservation in areas where new in-fill housing. After being awarded $500,000 from the California Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Enabled by Local Partnerships, City staff has contracted with four local developers to construct ten single-family dwellings in FY 2002/03 as part of the Lakeview In-fill housing program. As many as 30 additional units could be constructed in future years using this program.
Strategy #7: Streamline and provide incentives for first time homebuyers in blighted areas.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-3: Density bonus provisions are already included in State law and the County zoning ordinance for qualifying projects. Differential building permit fees are also provided for senior low-income housing. Further deviation from the existing fee schedule will be a subject of further review. The County, through its Community Development Program Department, offers closing cost assistance to eligible low-income homebuyers through its successful "First Time Homebuyers Program," which contributes to building
stable neighborhoods by promoting home ownership.
City staff amended the First Time Home Buyers Assistance Program to allow for up to $10,000 of down payment and closing cost financial assistance for homebuyers participating in the Lakeview In-Fill Housing Program.
Strategy #8: Create stricter code enforcement to help maintain neighborhoods and increase visual standards.
Significant progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Actions 1-4: Good relationships have been established with neighborhood collaboratives, particularly in the two metropolitan code compliance pilot project areas. City staff has met to develop a program for neighborhood preservation in areas where new in-fill housing is promoted by the City’s housing programs. City and County staff regularly confer with each other regarding metropolitan code enforcement issues. The Neighborhood Watch Program includes staff from Public Works, Development Services, and Code Enforcement in addition to public safety personnel to provide residents with assistance and information regarding City services of interest to the neighborhood.
Action 5: Assistance is provided to property owners on a limited basis using volunteer and grant funds, but funding limitations prevent a universal application of free violation remediation.
Action 6: Scheduled curbside bulky waste pickup is under review as part of a broader study. However, the County with the cooperation of franchise waste haulers has provided neighborhood “bulky waste days.”
Strategy #10: Provide financial or other incentives for urban areas in the County to be annexed into the City.
No progress noted.
Actions1-3: As noted, the County is neutral on annexation proposals by a City. It is possible that a city may wish to provide incentives to inhabited areas in order to encourage annexation. The City evaluates each proposed annexation to identify various programs and funding sources, which may assist with improving the proposed annexation areas up to current city standards. Depending on the ability to provide services and types of services currently provided, districts may be eliminated in cases where it is feasible.
Strategy #11 - Retrofit existing neighborhoods to be more pedestrian friendly and provide for pedestrian friendly thoroughfares in new developments.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Action Items 1-3, 5: No Action Noted
Action Item 4: The City has implemented several traffic calming strategies including speed bumps/traffic undulations and mid-intersection median planters. We also minimize the number of 4-way intersections within neighborhoods, and long straight street alignments on local streets, which could promote speeding.
Strategy #12 and #13 – Adopt incentives for improving utilization of existing problem commercial areas and Provide incentives for reuse of commercial zones.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Action Items 1-4 (#12) and 1-2 (#13): In August 1999, two new redevelopment project areas were established for Old Town Kern-Pioneer and Southeast Bakersfield areas. Redevelopment, under the California Community Redevelopment Law, provides the necessary stimulus to reverse deteriorating trends, remedy blight, and create a new image for many communities using tax increment financing. The City’s Enterprise Zone designation was extended five more years to stimulate investment and increase employment in the Zone area. The Southeast Metropolitan Bakersfield Enterprise Zone consists of approximately four square miles. The Enterprise Zone offers unique state income tax benefits in addition to other incentives for job-creating businesses. These benefits include: Hiring Tax Credits, a program under which firms can earn $29,234 or more in state tax credits for each qualified employee hired; Sales Tax Credits, a program whereby companies can earn sales tax credits on purchases of manufacturing equipment; Expense Deduction, which allows for up-front expensing of certain depreciable property; Net Operating Loss Carryover where up to 100% of a company's net operating loss can be carried over up to 15 years; Lenders' Benefits, a program where lenders pay no state taxes on net interest earned on loans to Enterprise Zone businesses; and Credit Carryover which allows state tax credits to be applied to future tax years. City staff has worked with the owner of the former Chaparral Motel property to demolish and develop a 40-unit apartment complex and a 30,000 square foot retail commercial project on the 5.2-acre site. After being awarded $500,000 from the California Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Enabled by Local Partnerships, City staff has contracted with 4 local developers to construct 10 single-family dwellings in FY 2002/03 as part of the Lakeview In-fill housing program. As many as 30 additional units could be constructed in future years using this program. The City has demolished the vacant substandard commercial building located at the northwest corner of Kentucky and Baker streets.
Strategy #14 – Use pocket redevelopment.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Action item 1: City staff has identified smaller “pocket” areas, which would lend themselves to more focused revitalization efforts. Examples would include College Center on Columbus Street and the former Montgomery Ward Center on F Street.
Strategy #15 – Redevelop individual city blocks.
Progress noted, efforts are ongoing.
Action items 1-2: The City, working with the Housing Authority of the County of Kern, utilized Redevelopment Agency funds and HUD funds to help finance the construction of 80 senior units at the Park Place Senior Apartments. The City assisted Capital Vision Equities with the development of a 180 unit senior housing project at California Avenue and “N” Street in the Southeast Bakersfield Project Area. City staff has worked with the owner of the former Chaparral Motel property to demolish an old building and develop a 40-unit apartment complex and a 30,000 square foot retail commercial project on the 5.2-acre site. After being awarded $500,000 from the California Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Enabled by Local Partnerships, City staff has contracted with four local developers to construct ten single-family dwellings in fiscal year 2002/03 as part of the Lakeview In-fill housing program. As many as 30 additional units could be constructed in future years using this program.
