HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-03 Ordinance 4781ORDINANCE NO. 4781
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PROHIBITING NEW GROUND FLOOR OFFICE AT CHARLESTON
CENTER (PORTIONS OF THE 3900 BLOCK OF MIDDLEFIELD
ROAD) AND AT MIDTOWN SHOPPING DISTRICT (PORTIONS
OF THE 2600, 2700, AND 2800 BLOCKS OF MIDDLEFIELD
ROAD, 700 BLOCKS OF COLORADO AVENUE, MORENO
AVENUE, AND SAN CARLOS COURT) ON AN INTERIM BASIS
PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858 TO
TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. The Council finds and declares that:
A. The City of Palo Alto ("City") is experiencing a
glut of office space in most areas. Conversion of ground floor,
neighborhood-serving businesses to office uses will cause economic
decline and physical blight by further overloading and weakening
the local commercial real estate economy. Serious harm to the
public health, safety, and welfare of Palo Alto and the surrounding
region will result from these economic and blight impacts.
B. Based on finding A, the Council finds that there is
a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, or
welfare if new ground floor office space is permitted in the
Charleston Center or the Midtown Shopping District.
SECTION 2. Definitions.
A. The "Midtown Shopping District" is defined as those
properties zoned CN in the vicinity of the intersection of Colorado
Avenue and Middlefield Road shown on Exhibit A.
B. The "Charleston Center" is defined as all properties
zoned CN and bounded by East Charleston Road, Middlefield Road, and
Cubberley High School, as shown on Exhibit B.
SECTION 3. New Ground-floor Office Prohibited. As of the
effective date of this ordinance, notwithstanding any contradictory
sections of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, no new Administrative
Office, General Business Office, Medical Office, or Professional
Office use, as defined in Section 18.04.030 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code, is permitted in the Charleston Center or Midtown
Shopping District.
SECTION 4. Exclusion of Certain Office Buildings. In the
Midtown Shopping District, 711, 719, and 721 Colorado Avenue, 689
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030313 syn 0091207
Colorado Avenue, buildings not fronting on Middlefield Avenue,
designed and used for office purposes, and not well suited to other
uses are exempt from the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 5. Existing Businesses. All office lawfully
existing as of the date of this ordinance may continue as non-
conforming uses, but may only be replaced by non-office uses
permitted or conditionally permitted in the CN district, as set
forth in Chapter 18.41 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code. Provided,
an existing ground floor office may be replaced with another office
if the new tenant or owner will continue the existing business or
practice.
SECTION 6. ,The Council finds that this project is exempt
from the provisions of the Environmental Quality Act (\~CEQA")
because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility
that this project will have a significant effect on the
environment, and because this ordinance falls within the exception
to CEQA set forth in Section 15268 of the CEQA Guidelines.
SECTION 7. Effective Date and Applicability. This
ordinance was passed by a four-fifths vote after a public hearing
pursuant to Government Code Section 65858 and shall be effective
immediately upon adoption and shall cease to have force and effect
on April 17, 2003 unless further extended after additional public
hearing.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: March 3, 2003
AYES: BEECHAM, BURCH, FREEMAN, KISHIMOTO, KLEINBERG, LYTLE,
MOSSAR, OJAKIAN
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT: MORTON
AL 6J
City Clerk ~~
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Asst. City Attorney
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EXHIBIT B
CN District
Charleston Shopping Center
(1993 building footprints)
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EXHIBIT B