AgdaPkt 2007-12-17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chn�ter J-Background,Issues,and Goais or waterfrant-related. Idealiy,waterfront commercial develop- ment in the Precise Plan Area will offer Redwood Ciry a new, pedestrian-oriented place that is an addifion fio,rather than an altez�naiive to,Dawntown.Shuttle sexvice to and irom the Down- town commercial district and transit cPnter is a Precise Plan re- quirement. 6. Quantity and Quality of A£fordable Housing-The Bay Area's housing shortage is acute,particularly on the Peninsula.This adds ta local lahor costs and has negative effects on businesses and econamic develapment in general.Redwood City currendy has a balanced jobs-ta-employed-residents ratio of 1.1:1.0. How- ever, of the City's appromimately 52,000 existing jobs, 43,OaQ are held by non-Redwood City residents.Given projected em- pioyment growth, it is projected that ABAG will recommend approximately 2,000 additional dwelling uniis over the next 7 years to maintain this balance; from 199Q-Z000,Redwood City gained nearly 20,OQ0 jobs,over 2.2 times the growth of employed residents.'The Precise Plan contains requirements for a variety of af#ardable housing unit types—apartments,flats,and for-sale units—and requires developxnent fo subsidize a ��n�mum of ].5% of the total number of units to be affordable to very-low, low,or moderate income households. Housing Eypes that require highex inevmes,such as condomini- ums and townhouses,are not in shart supply in the Baq Area and are not a sig�ttificant policy concern of the City of Redwaod City. However,these hausing types are necessary Eo support develop- ment of affardable hausing in the quaniiiies required by the Pre- cise Plan and to ensure high quality in builc�ing construction a.nd waterfront amenities. In part�cular, the Precise Plaz� requires that subsidized and;markef rate units be mixed within market rate buildings to ensure quality construction standards far the affordable housiztg ursits. L?raft-Octobec 2007 - 12 - Waterfront esplanades and open spaces will be created in conjuncifon with new development. Higher income housing can also offer indirect benefits. For ex- ample,couples whose children are grown—"empty nesters"— are typical condominiunn buyers and the single family houses they vacate add marginally ta local housing supply. Luxury hous- ing units als�promote development of high qualify open spa�e amenities and commercial services that would be shared by resi- denfis of affordable housing units and the city-at-large. 7. Architectural Character and Image - New development will transfoxm the appearance of the Prerise Plan Area.'The architec- tural character and image of this development wiil have a pro- found ef#ect on the qualiiy of]ife for new residents,and,given the area s visibility from US 101,a major effect on#he percep- tion o#Redwood City as a whole.Buildings should be designed to shape attractive,pedestrian-oriented streets,ways,and open spaces,as noted above.Given permitted densiiies and building � N (Q fD � C�J7(7