AgdaPkt 2003-09-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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11.,4-1 REPORT To the Redevelopment Board From the Redevelopment Manager September 22, 2003 Subject Agreement for Professional Services with Freedman, Tung, and Bottomley Urban Design Recommendation Approve an agreement with Freedman, Tung, and Bottomley to prepare a Precise Plan for Downtown Redwood City. Background Over the last several years, the City has been diligently working on planning forthe renaissance of Downtown. This effort started with the preparation of the Downtown Area Plan which described the overall future vision of downtown. That document defined a vision and goal for the revitalization of the Downtown, including new housing, pedestrian linkages, open space, Main Street Program and other concepts. Although not yet formally adopted, because the EIR is still under preparation, the Downtown Area Plan is a working document that has already been cited in staff presentations, discussions, and meetings with interested developers'. Now staff is ready to prepare the actual implementing document which will build upon the policy direction and suggestions contained in the Downtown Area Plan. This new document, the Downtown Precise Plan, will set the land use regulations for the Downtown Core, establish guidelines for private development, and provide more specific direction for streetscapes, plazas, and other public improvements needed to revitalize the downtown. Comparison of Downtown Area Plan to the Downtown Precise Plan The proposed Downtown Precise Plan is different than the completed Downtown Area Plan. Generally speaking, the Downtown Precise Plan is the vehicle to implement the vision of the Downtown Area Plan. The Downtown Area Plan provided a conceptual vision for the Downtown. It contained general recommendations for future policies, programs and street improvements. It is intended to provide a menu of capital improvement concepts without prioritization or concern about cost, and a series of recommended policy directions without the implementing text. The Downtown Precise Plan, however, will provide the detailed policy framework, land use and development standards, as well as specific design guidelines. It will specify the policy tools that will actually direct development and design suggested in the Downtown Area Plan. It will identify the exact type and intensity of uses as appropriate for each area within the downtown, on a parcel by parcel basis. Unlike the Downtown Area Plan, the Downtown Precise Plan will contain explicit ' Both the Planning Commission and City Council reviewed the Downtown Area Plan and indicated support for document Formal adoption of the Downtown Area Plan will occur following the completion of the Environmental Impact Report scheduled in the fall.