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REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br /> <br />February 8, 2016 <br /> <br />SUBJECT <br />Managing Growth Study Session <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Receive background information on growth in Redwood City and solicit ideas from the <br />Council and community members on ways to address community concerns. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The February 8, 2016 study session is intended to provide background information on <br />growth in Redwood City, identify impacts of concern to the community and City Council, <br />and establish next steps for addressing these concerns. This staff report provides <br />context for current development activity, notes concerns raised to date, and suggests <br />some potential actions for the City Council to consider. Additional ideas are expected to <br />arise during the study session. <br />Development Framework and Experience in Redwood City <br />The Redwood City General Plan creates the blueprint for land use policy, development, <br />infrastructure spending and other key citywide policies. The most recent General Plan <br />was adopted in 2010. The General Plan was followed by the adoption of several <br />implementing regulations, including the Downtown Precise Plan and comprehensive <br />changes Zoning Ordinance. All documents were adopted after years of community input <br />and deliberation. <br />The General Plan, Downtown Precise Plan and Zoning Ordinance (or any other land <br />use regulation) do not actually require development to be constructed. However, the <br />documents do create the regulatory framework for private investment to occur. In fact, <br />State law requires that each City allow a certain amount of housing to be produced <br />during certain time periods and prohibits cities from creating unreasonable barriers to <br />the construction of housing at all income levels. The “Housing Element” is the only part <br />of the General Plan submitted to the State for approval. The State approves housing <br />elements when they are convinced that local policies will allow for the production of <br />housing. While cities are not penalized for the private market failing to produce housing, <br />cities can face legal repercussions if the regulatory framework for approval is absent. <br />8.A - Page 1