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98 Page 18 Redwood City Downtown Precise Plan City of Redwood City January 24, 2007 Final EIR 3. Commenl Documents and Responses Page 3-36 The Precise Plan proposes changes in Downtown area buifding height limitations that would runtler General Plan polfcies caffing for revitalization and beautification of the Downtown (Land Use Policy L-6), improvement of the visual qualities of the community (Conservation Policy C-7) and promotion and revitalization of the Downtown as a "major focal point for the identity of the City" (Conservation Policy C- 8). The Precise Plan-proposed more organized pattern of building height limitations (seo Figures 7.8 and 7.5) would promote a more organized, harmonious a.nd discernab/e Downtown form; an Increase in internal visual conformance among structures; and an Increase in overall visual unity. The Precise Pian-proposed buifding height limitation revisions and proposed "towerwall step-back" and "relational height" requirements would substantiaJly improve design contror over the City's current zoning and design guideline provisions for the Downtown. The proposed "(owetwall step-back" and "relational height" provisions for selected street frontages would promote visualfy appropriate step-backs at the tllird, fourth and fifth story, thereby minimizing or avoiding incongruous building height and scale relationships with significant buildings and adjacent residentiar areas. As explained on Draft EIR page 7-20 (bold type added for emphasis in response to this comment): As shown on Figure 7.3 (page 7-13), the draft Precise Plan proposes substantial revisions to Downtown building heIght limitations: the maximum permIssible building height in the Downtown would be 12 stories (up to 136 feet); building heights up to 12 stories would be permitted in the central core area--i.e., on approximatefy 20 percent of the Precise Plan area; building heights of up to 8 a.nd 10 stories would be p8rmitted in the a.reas surrounding the central core--i.e., on approxima.tely 65 percent of the area.; and building heIghts of up to 4 to 5 storfes would be permitted at the Brewster Avenue, EI Camino Real and Maple Street edges of the area. As illustrated by Figure 7.5 (page 7-15), these proposed building height changes would promote an upward graduation in building heights from the Downtown edges towards the Downtown core. As illustrated by Figures 7.3 and lJ5i rile proposed increase in building height /imitations in the Downtown core from an existing maximum of 9 stories to a revised maximum of 12 stories would be offset by the prcpo!)ed ~eduC?tion inbuildif}[J. heig.htJimitations on tl].e Downt()wnp~rjphwy from an existing maximum of 7-to-9 stories to a revised maximum of 4-to-8 stories. Building height /imitations in areas close (0 existing single-family homes b(;Jhind the southwest edge of EI Camino and along the southeast edge of Maple Street would be reduced from 7 ancl9 stores, respectively, down to 4 and 5 stories, respectively. The Draft Precise Plan also caUs for a "transition zone" along the Brewster A venue and Maple Street edges of the Precise Plan area boundary. In order to avoid future conflicts In buIlding scale and provide an appropriate transition in scale at these residential neighbor/lood edges and complete the desired gradual step*down effect from the Downtown core towards the outer edges, the Draft Precise Plan requires a maximum 3 story streetwall followed by a 20 It. step-back to the 4th or 5th stories within these two "transition zones" (see Figure 7.5). As compared to the City's existing zoning requirements, the Draft Precise Plan refines and in large part reduces existing height requirements. as mustrated by C'IWDVOBS'6S5lFEIR1F.J,655.doc