AgdaPkt 2009-09-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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78 Page 1 REPORT To The Honorable Mayor andeity Council From the Ci. Mana er September 21, 2009 SUBJECT Draft New General Plan - City Council Direction RECOMMENDATION Review and reach consensus on the Introduction Chapter of the Draft New General Plan and other revisions. BACKGROUND On August 24, 2009, the New General Plan team held a study session with the City Council to affirm and discuss the City Council's comments on the Draft New General Plan. Staff recorded these comments and others previously suggested by the Planning Commission, and has begun to revise the Draft New General Plan accordingly. At the same meeting there was concern about the Introduction Chapter (pgs 1.1 to 1.21) and the importance of making the Chapter shorter with a focused emphasis on Redwood City as an engaged, vibrant, forward thinking community. Also, at previous meetings the City Council raised questions regarding the performance criteria applicable to all new development (Policy BE-22.2 and associated programs, pgs. BE - 68-75). The revised Introduction Chapter is enclosed for Council review and consensus. In addition some changes are proposed for the performance criteria and they are also presented for review and consensus. The intent of all these actions is to provide some context and content for the Planning Commission so that it can study the Draft New General Plan and an associated Environment Impact Report (EIR). After the Planning Commission reviews the Draft New General Plan and EIR, it will forward the document to the City Council for adoption. Other public comments from boards, committees, commissions, and the general public are also being reviewed by the General Plan team and will be considered for inclusion in the final draft.1 As required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEOA) formal adoption of the New General Plan can only occur after the EIR has been certified by the Planning Commission. In order to complete the new General Plan and EIR process, the following chronology of activities will have to occur: Oct.lNov. '09 Joint Planning Commission and City Council meeting generating a proposed New General Plan that would serve as the project description for the EIR. Nov. '09 City Council approves final draft New General Plan and requests Planning Commission to complete CEQA process. 1 Note that the cutoff date for public comments was September 8th in order for staff to complete lithe project description" in a timely manner. However, there will be further public review and opportunity for comment when the Draft New General Plan is presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for actual adoption.