AgdaPkt 2010-05-24 special, clsd and jnt

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7.A Page 3 Mixed Use (Commercial and Residential). The General Plan Land Use Designation for Downtown in the draft New General Plan is Mixed Use -Downtown. In all cases, including the designation in place prior to 2007; the existing designation; as well as the proposed future designation, the zoning amendment is consistent with allowing for and encouraging a mix of urban uses in a downtown setting that includes office, housing, retail and service opportunities. Californian Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): At their public hearing on April 20, 201e , the Planning Commission adopted an initial Study/Negative Declaration which analyz the proposed code amendment. The Initial Study/Negative Declaration describe hehe proposed zoning text amendment, presents findings, and states the reasons why t will be no significant effect on the environment. Parking, traffic, aesthetics, and cultural resources are subject areas highlighted in the analysis. Public Outreach and Notification Approximately 720 public hearing notices have been sent to property owners a us interested parties throughout the CBR Zoning District as well as within a 300 foot rad around the zoning boundary area. The public hearing notice has been published in the Redwood City Daily Newspaper 10 days prior to the public hearing. Additiona ly, public hearing notice has been posted on the City Hall bulletin board, Redwood Gity libraries and the City's website. Additional notification/communication that staff has had with interested parties about the proposed amendment include the following: • Downtown Business Group Monthly Meeting -March 2, 2010 • Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee Monthly Meeting - March 2, 2010 • Direct contact with several property owners and prospective businesses who are interested in this proposed amendment • Planning Commission Public Hearing April 20, 2010 (which included the same notification described above but with a 20 day notice period subject to the CEQA review} Written communication received about the proposed amendment is included in Attachment 3. ALTERNATIVES 1. Do not introduce the ordinance to amend the CBR Zoning District requirements with respect to office uses on the ground floor. 2. Introduce the ordinance with amended language. For example, the ordinance could specify that the provision allowing ground floor office uses in the affected portion of the CBR Zoning District does not apply to medical office uses, and thus meCBR office uses would continue to be required to locate on upper floors in the Zoning District. FISCAL IMPACT The proposed Zoning Text Amendment is expected to result in higher occupancy rates of currently vacant downtown commercial space with new office uses. In some cases, these new office uses could take the place of a future retail tenant that would generate sales tax and thus result in a negative fiscal impact. Alternately, office uses wouldalsio generate business-to-business tax and also pay Business License Fees. They serve to increase the Downtown day time population which could potentially encourage occupancy of other vacant tenant spaces with retail businesses. Overall, increased