TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and confirm the proposed General Plan Land Use Element and Urban Design Element PlaceType and Heights Maps, and direct staff to update the Program Environmental Impact Report; and
Increase appropriations in the Development Services Fund (EF 337) in the Development Services Department (DV) by $350,000, offset by funds available. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Every city and county in the State of California is required to adopt and maintain a consistent and comprehensive General Plan, which guides both public and private development throughout the jurisdiction. The matter currently before the City Council involves the update of the City’s Land Use Element (LUE) and adoption of a new Urban Design Element (UDE) to the General Plan (Plan). These documents regulate where growth will occur, how much, how tall, and what it will look like. The requested updates are necessary not only to comply with State Law, but also to meet the City’s employment and housing goals. Adoption of the updated Plan is necessary to implement the vision and many of the goals of the Mayor and City Council, as well as the City’s Economic Blueprint, and the Workforce and Affordable Housing Study Group recommendations.
The current LUE was adopted in 1989 and forecasted out to the year 2000. The City does not currently have an adopted UDE and does not have policies addressing climate change, sea-level rise or environmental justice within its Plan. The proposed Plan will remedy these shortcomings, provide a pathway to facilitate investment, and improve employment and housing opportunities for City residents. While it does accommodate the 0.14 percent State-mandated annual population growth rate, the primary focus of the Plan is addressing existing overcrowding in the City through expanding opportunities for existing residents to improve their choice of housing accommodations. The Plan also seeks to ex...
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