CC Min 2001-02-26 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Commissioner Rosanne Foust addressed the issue of preserving the commercial centers in the City. She stated discussion was around not changing the existing uses but how to protect it and move forward. The focus is to have retail in the downtown and create housing to be a part of the outskirts. The neighborhood commercial centers such as Canyon Road, Marsh Manor, Bridgepoint Plaza and how they would be impacted was studied and how those areas might be developed in the future to include a housing element. Planning Commissioner Tamara Piulle stated that parking is a balancing act where on the one hand enough off-street parking reserves must be provided and on the other hand uncontrolled parking must be restricted. Employers must be encouraged to develop alternate transportation modes. The two tier parking system being recommended will better address the often-different parking needs of businesses due to the number of employees, trips generated and location in the community. Associate Planner Ekas gave an overview of the public review process and described various terms such as Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and grandfathering. She explained the various housing incentives that include mixed use commercial corridors to have FAR bonus for the provision of housing; neighborhood shopping centers redevelopment incentive for residential units on the second story; the Downtown would allow housing on the first floor of the CB and Central Administrative (CA) zones and Single Room Occupancy (SROs) within 1,500 feet of CalTrain Depot and within the entire CBR zone. Ms. Ekas explained the second principle to be preserving industry. She stated that General Industrial) Gl is the heaviest industrial zone and the proposal would allow a FAR of 10% for office uses and the office would be accessory to the industrial use. No FAR would be implemented for the industrial use itself. The medium industrial (IR) proposals include a total FAR of 70% for industrial uses as well as other permitted and conditional uses, and a 35% FAR for commercial uses. Office uses would be allowed in conjunction with any permitted or conditional use and would be allowed to occupy up to one third of the FAR or a maximum of 35% FAR in conjunction with the other use. The light industrial (IP) calls for a 40% FAR. Ms. Ekas continued with the third principle of preserving commercial centers for pedestrian oriented uses on the first floor. Neighborhood shopping centers to be neighborhood serving and office size limitation on the first floor would allow a maximum of 25% for office use, resulting in 75% of the first floor area in retail and service types of retail to preserve the orientation of those centers. The last principle of providing adequate off-street parking discussed was for sites within 1,500 feet of the CalTrain Station to have 3.3 stalls per 1,000 square feet. Sites outside 1,500 feet to have 4 stalls per 1,000 square feet for smaller offices and 3.3 stalls per 1,000 square feet for larger offices. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 26, 2001 MINUTES PAGE 6 MINUTES Book No.58 Page NO. 359