AgdaPkt 2005-08-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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¿A-£ Review Committee, Planning Commission and City Council, and from the public. Since there was clearly not time to cover the two remaining issues, the Mayor requested that Mr. Freedman complete the consultant presentation on both building form and height, with the understanding that comments by the Council, Commission and Committee and by the public, would occur at the next meeting. The Mayor and Vice-Mayor suggest that Council first listen to the consultant presentation on Infrastructure, and then allow discussion of infrastructure, as well as building form and height and any other issues that emerge all at one time. If there is need for more time to thoroughly discuss the issues (for example building form, height, rail tracks, location of mandatory retail uses, build-out assumptions etc) then an additional meeting or meetings will be scheduled. Council approved a budget amendment on July 25, 2005 allocating funds for two more study sessions. If Council feels that more discussion is necessary before concluding this series of study sessions it will be necessary to select a meeting date or dates to which to continue the discussion. Once Council has provided staff and the consultants with general feedback, the consultant will take approximately 100 - 120 days to prepare the Draft Precise Plan for review by the public. During this time staff will recommend to Council the selection of a consultant to prepare the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The EIR will include alternatives so that choices are available when you make your final decision on the Precise Plan. Council will provide input on these alternatives. A draft Precise Plan will be prepared and this draft plan, together with the EIR, will go to the Planning Commission for a public hearing. The Planning Commission will hold a hearing or hearings on the EIR and eventually certify the EIR as adequate 1. The Planning Commission will also hold hearings and make a recommendation to City Council on the Precise Plan. Council will then hold public hearings on the Planning Commission's recommendation and make a final decision on the Precise Plan. As the City Council is the final decision-maker on behalf of the community in shaping the future of downtown, it is important that you are comfortable with the decision-making process. Although the City needs to proceed expeditiously to decide what it wants downtown to become, it is even more important that the City Council take the time it needs to be comfortable with that decision. The decision on the Downtown Precise Plan may be among the most important decisions you will make as Council members and it should not be rushed. The Precise Plan Study Sessions have included much new material and raised many important issues for your decision. If you are ready to move to a recommendation or can "generally support the concepts", at the close of this third Study Session, your decision should be in the form of direction to the staff on the concepts forthe Plan. These concepts will then be evaluated in the EIR and the results of this analysis will be presented to you before you take action to adopt the Plan. EIR's are required to consider the no-project alternative as well as possible alternatives that would achieve the objectives of the Plan with less environmental impacts. This information on the plan and possible alternatives will then be available to you and will inform your decision when you consider adoption of the 1 The City Council has delegated the task of certifying EIR's to the Planning Commission. 2 ...,.....-.