Laserfiche WebLink
REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br /> <br />February 8, 2016 <br /> <br />SUBJECT <br />Consideration of Amendments to Zoning Ordinance Related to Level of Review <br />Required for Certain Development Applications <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Receive Report and Provide Direction Related to Possible Amendment of the Zoning <br />Ordinance Regarding Level of Review Required for Certain Development Applications <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The Redwood City Zoning Ordinance implements the City’s General Plan. The same is true for <br />the Downtown Precise Plan, which has the “power” of the Zoning Ordinance. These documents <br />set the specific standards and approval processes for development within Redwood City. For <br />example, the Zoning Ordinance provides maximum height, lot coverage, and setback standards <br />for development in most zoning districts. The Downtown Precise Plan does the same for <br />Downtown development. Both documents specify whether a new development can be <br />approved by the Zoning Administrator (Planning Manager), the Planning Commission or City <br />Council. Other Specific Plans also implement the General Plan and set standards, however the <br />focus of this report is only on the Zoning Code and Downtown Precise Plan. <br />The General Plan, a significant portion of the Zoning Ordinance, and the Downtown Precise <br />Plan all were created or updated within the last five years. The revisions came as a result of <br />years of collective input and updated standards and processes that were decades old. The <br />changes touched on both development standards and process standards. <br />At the December 8, 2015 City Council meeting, the Council requested that staff bring forward a <br />report that outlines the “level of review” required for certain developments. Staff has also heard <br />community concerns regarding the level of review required for larger developments. The <br />following report summarizes the current development review process, and suggests potential <br />changes to processes that will provide additional opportunities for community input for larger <br />projects. <br />ANALYSIS <br /> <br />The Zoning Ordinance and Downtown Precise Plan outline the required review processes for <br />certain areas in Redwood City. The level of review required and the number of public reviews <br />9.C. - Page 1