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REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br /> <br />November 28, 2016 <br />SUBJECT <br />City Code, Zoning Ordinance and Downtown Precise Plan Amendments to Adjust Level <br />of Review Authority and Make other Minor Modifications <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Hold a Public Hearing and Adopt an Ordinance to Amend the Municipal Code and <br />Zoning Ordinance and Approve a Resolution Amending the Downtown Precise Plan <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Redwood City Zoning Ordinance and Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) implement <br />the City’s General Plan and set the specific standards and review processes for <br />development. Recent projects have prompted questions about whether the review <br />process, or “level of review,” is set appropriately for developments in the Downtown and <br />throughout the City. Currently, projects on sites of 30,000 square feet or less in the <br />DTPP area are considered at a Zoning Administrator public hearing, regardless of <br />project size or height. Projects outside the DTPP area that contain a permitted use may <br />be considered at the City staff level through the Architectural Permit process, which <br />doesn’t require a public hearing. <br /> <br />On February 8, 2016 the City Council held a study session on Managing Growth, and <br />considered the current levels of review. The City Council directed staff to make specific <br />amendments to both the Zoning Ordinance and the DTPP to require Planning <br />Commission (PC) review for projects over a certain height (Attachment 3, City Council <br />Staff Report and Minutes). The Council also requested amendments to allow the Zoning <br />Administrator to refer, and Planning Commission to call up, projects where the public <br />interest would be better served by PC review. <br /> <br />PROJECT DESCRIPTION <br />At the February 2016 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to make the <br />following changes: <br /> <br />1. Require Planning Commission review for any development project greater than 3 <br />stories or 35 ft. in height. This review would be in addition to the current <br />requirement for PC review of projects with an environmental document, a change <br />to a historic resource, or a site over 30,000 sq. ft. in the DTPP area. <br />2. Create an option for the Zoning Administrator to refer any project to Planning <br />Commission. <br />7.C. - Page 1