CC Min 2001-01-29 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

CINEMA-OFFICE AND PARK1NG PROJECT AND MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS REQUIRED UNDER CALIFORNIA REDEVELOPMENT LAW; The motion passed by a majority roll call vote, with Council Member Jordan voting no; Council Member Ira absent. Council Member Hartnett stated he was not satisfied with the DDA as currently written. He requested amendments as provided to the City Clerk and specified in the motion below. Vice Mayor Claire stated he will vote in favor because it is a good project for the City, more residential is needed but the project will bring traffic to downtown at needed times. Council Member Hartnett stated the DDA as presented did not adequately address a number of the public concerns with the project. Some of the amendments pertain to design, which gives the City more flexibility in terms of design review to make clear that the project guidelines submitted are "guidelines". The review of the actual architectural plans submitted will proceed in a way that provides flexibility for both the Architectural Review Committee and the Council to vary from the specifics of the project guidelines in order to obtain an appropriate quality. Concerns regarding the maintenance of the inside of the premises are also addressed in the amendments. The concerns of traffic and parking are addressed by clearly delineating management plans that are legally enforceable. The final subject of the amendments is regarding use permits where the City holds a fair amount of discretion with respect to the conditions the City requires for the applicant to obtain a use permit. There will be many issues addressed in this regard including security, public safety, and garbage disposal to provide better rights of enforcement. Council Member Hartnett continued with the merits of the project with appreciation of Mr. Bygdnes' and others' presentations and communications from concerned citizens in evaluating the concept and details of the project. Economically, the project involves transferring land in the approximately value of $4.4M in return for $20M. The $20M will provide a public parking structure and will allow a retail/cinema development to go forward downtown. The last public parking structure for the benefit of all of downtown is one that the City is paying for, not a developer, and is a public parking structure to serve anybody wanting to use it. This parking structure would also be a public parking structure to serve anybody wanting to use it and it is integral not just for the retail/cinema project, but to support the entirety of downtown. He stated, he thinks the City should move forward, not just for revitalizing downtown, but because it fits within a vision for the entire City - a place of opportunity and choices. Council Member Pierce stated that the DDA sets out the guidelines between the City and the developer and that this project involves one block in the downtown, not the entire downtown area. She further stated that there are still approval processes involving permits, the Architectural Review Committee and the Planning Commission still have purview over REGULAR COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT MEETiNGS JANUARY 29, 2001 M1NUTES PAGE 9 MiNUTES Book No.58 Page NO. 338