AgdaPkt 2002-09-23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-- for the whole city and surrounding area." This zoning district has not been able to achieve the standards to which it was intended. For example, only 28% of the parcels in the CB district are actually dedicated to retail land uses. Some of the goals and principles of the 1983 Downtown Development Plan are: * Improve the retail function of the Downtown. * Develop a focus of urban life for Redwood City. * Provide a greater range of shopping opportunities Downtown. * Encourage a retail core. * Encourage pedestrian use of Downtown. The current CB zoning has not achieved these goals, due in part to the proliferation of banks and offices which prevent contiguous retail frontage. However, the current retail uses in Downtown also inhibit pedestrian activity due to closed storefronts, especially along Main Street. Even the General Plan recognizes the problem. It states that "...The construction of shopping centers, regional and neighborhood, has drawn the shopper away from the downtown which now serves primarily as a service center for the office uses." Therefore, the development of a more specific zoning designation for a specific area of downtown is needed. This new zone which follows the boundary line of the Business Improvement District {BID) will dictate the types of uses permitted, and control the appearance of structures in the downtown area. Please refer to the attached location map, Exhibit A. COMMUNITY MEETINGS The Planning Staff held two informational meetings regarding the new zoning district prior to the Planning Commission hearing. These meetings were held on August 15th, and September loth. At the meetings, staff discussed the new text and boundary area with property owners and merchants. Staff received many comments and suggestions at these meetings, and as a result the text and boundary area were amended several times. DISCUSSION The proposed amendment will create a new zoning designation, the CBR (Central Business Retail) District. Please refer to the attached ordinance in Exhibit B. Specifically, it will: * Create a central retail core by permitting many retail activities. * Limit the types of uses that don't promote pedestrian activity (e.g. banks and offices). * Encourage pedestrian activity by promoting retail on the first floor of buildings. * Create contiguous building frontage without major interruptions. * Improve the existing character of downtown by encouraging pedestrian-scale design and minimizing blank walls and other dead spaces at the ground level. * Promote creative design and architectural variety within