CC Min 1997-10-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Associate Planner Riordan recapped the October 20, 1997 Joint Council/Planning Commission study session which asked the Council for input on new additions to the Housing Element. (See Minutes of October 20, 1997.) She said there were nine existing programs and policies in the Housing Element that will increase the City's housing supply after build out. Using slides, Ms. Riordan showed the proposed policies discussed last week: education outreach and the Tool Box Initiative are designed to dispel the myths about affordable housing; a design charette for El Camino Real and Woodside Road to show what the new zoning will look like; an accessory unit ordinance amendment to allow slightly larger units is being researched and a full report will come back to Council; a new "R-l MD" (Single- Family Medium Density) Zoning District for transitional areas; a zoning change to allow triplexes on lots with substandard widths; rezoning underutilized industrial sites; and expanding the City's mobile home district. Ms. Riordan asked if Council wished to have staff research these proposals to see if they are appropriate for Redwood City, and include them in staffs response letter to the State. If they are included then the City must commit to the State that they will be explored. Councilman Ruskin said he supported looking into each of the proposals, but he had "grave questions about some of them, and I wouldn't want to imply that by looking into them, any sense of being more favoring than disfavoring." Councilman Ruskin asked staff for very detailed analyses of what these proposals would do to neighborhoods. He said some of them could have profound impacts, and he wouldn't be interested in a general idea of what they might do. "I really want to know what specifically they would do to specific neighborhoods... We have the responsibility to ensure that neighborhoods are cared for. Increased density is something that I think is important that we move ahead with in Redwood City, but how we move ahead with it and where we move ahead with it is critical." Ms. Riordan said that was staff's intent, and "If we find in our research that these policies would create problems, we would probably take them off the list." Councilman Ruskin said he believed "it is best to bring in a major zoning change with a specific development.... So that an actual standard is set, rather than in the abstract, and then having the first example of that standard not meet our expectations or our hopes." In response to Councilman Leipzig's question regarding who set the housing unit requirements for Redwood City, Associate Planner Riordan said, "ABAG prepared projections based on employment and housing in Redwood City. Unfortunately they were done in 1987, and we weren't anticipating the recession and a lot of other things that came into play which played havoc with the numbers. But we are bouncing back because of the current economy and I think we will be able to come closer to the units required." In response to Councilman Leipzig's question regarding the authority of the State to tell the REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 OCTOBER 27,1997 MINUTES Page No. 622 PAGE 6