AgdaPkt 2000-09-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager September 11, 2000 Subject Interim Urgency Ordinance to modify and add the definitions, uses,' and development standards related to commercial and industrial districts in the Zoning Ordinance. Recommendation 1. Introduce an Interim Urgency Ordinance adding and amending definitions, uses, and development standard, in the Zoning Ordinance. 2. Direct staff to take the issues to the Planning Commission for its recommendations to the City Council regarding amending the Zoning Ordinance definitions, uses, and development standards. Background Status On July 24, 2000, the City Council introduced (and on August 14, 2000 adopted) an Interim Urgency Ordinance placing a pause on development for a period of 45 days on office development and conversions on parcels one acre or larger in the CG, CG-R, CB, and CN districts throughout the City (except the Bair Island Study Area). In so doing, the City Council directed staff to prepare Interim Development Standards to apply to areas with offices so the moratorium on office development (on parcels 1 acre and larger) could be lifted. The intent was to allow new development to proceed under new, interim standards. On August 28, 2000, the City Council heard public testimony, considered the proposed interim standards, and directed staff to bring back interim standards focusing on housing incentives, floor area ratio, parking, office uses, and definitions. Since August 28, 2000, staff has met with many of the representatives of the development community to discuss measures and incentives for housing. Three developers, one with property on Woodside Road and two with property on the EI Camino are now looking at projects with a housing component. Based on a recommendation for a floor area ratio bonus for commercial when housing is included (discussed later in this report), between 40 and 50 housing units are being considered which were not in plans two weeks ago. The Urgency Interim Ordinance is being recommended, as it is the only mechanism for Council to adopt new standards and have them effective immediately while the Planning Commission is reviewing them. The alternative is to ask the Planning Commission to process the changes, which could take 3 to 5 months given their busy agenda. In the mean time, development would occur under existing regulations. Issues Rapid Office Growth The City is experiencing tremendous growth in offices on land zoned: commercial, industrial, and mixed-use commercial/housing. The Planning Commission is concerned that potential housing sites along EI Camino Real and Woodside Road are being developed as offices. .¡-----' -r '