AgdaPkt 2007-02-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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:REPORT 8A Page 1 To the Hon,orable Mayor and City Council From the City Mana.g.et February 5, 2007 Subject Informational Briefing on the Downtown Precise Plan Recommendation Review for informational purposes - no action or decisions required at this time. Background The Downtown Precise Plan ("Plan") has been under preparation for the last several years. During that time there have been numerous workshops, public hearings, meetings with downtown businesses, property owners, residents and other interested stakeholders. The result of this work is embodied in the Draft Downtown Precise Plan, prepared by Freedman Tung & Bottomley. The draft Plan was made accessible for public review and comment in the Fall of 2006. The purpose of this report is to brief the City Council on the status of the Plan, describe important actions and decisions that will be required of the Planning Commission and City Council over the next several months, and highlight issues and concerns that have come out of the public input, review, and comment process. The goal is to help the Council be well prepared to engage once the Planning Commission has completed their work and has forwarded recommendations to the Council. The Downtown Precise Plan will become the City's planning tool that will help guide development in the downtown over the next 10 t015 years. The Plan is considered a "form- based" code. It focuses on the character and form of development through the use of architectural and urban design to create urban spaces and buildings instead of only regulating land uses. Unlike the current Zoning Ordinance, the Plan uses graphics, maps, and charts to illustrate planning rules and regulations. The Plan will replace the current zoning ordinance as it relates to the specified downtown area. The Plan does not mandate or trigger changes to existing properties, or structures, nor does it require the City to purchase any existing property. The Plan only comes into effect in the case of new construction or significant modifications to properties (proposing an addition of more than 10% to a building's area). There have been four well attended public meetings and hearings on the Draft Plan and its accompanying Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) since it was formally released on September 15, 2006. These meetings together with the public outreach process are summarized in Attachment 1. A draft EIR for the Plan has been prepared and circulated pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Planning Commission will consider certification of the Final EIR on Feb. 6,2007. The Planning Commission will make its recommendations on the Plan to the City Council soon. A list of the issues, concerns and/or policy questions that the Commission will