HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-08-18 City Council Summary MinutesCITY
COUNCIL
M(NUTES
ITEM
Comprehensive Plan
Special Meeting
August 18, 1976
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August 18, 1976
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date at 7:00
p.m, in a special meeting with Mayor Norton presiding.
Present: Carey, Clay, Eyerly, Norton, Sher, Witherspoon (arrived
at 7:45 p.m.)
Absent: leahrs, Berwald, Comstock
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Mayor Norton noted that this was the continuation of the Council de-
liberation on the Employment element of the Comprehensive Plan. Re
said that, since 7:30 was announced for the public hearing on Transporta-
tion and other elements of the Plan, if the Council was unable to finish
the Employment element by that time, he would open the public hearing and
return to Council discussion of Employment after the public had spoken.
In response to Councilman Carey, Mayor Norton said that the Council
should again focus on the policies and programs by way of amendments,
deletions, or additions. if there is to be some general text rewritinsr,
then a motion should be made, for example, to instruct staff to reflect
the views of Councilpersons Witherspoon, Eyerly, and Berwald, but Council
should not try to draft or belabor the text at these meetings
MOTION: Councilman Carey moved the deletion of Employment Program 6
under Policy 2 ("Require all new retail and office construction to provide
some proportion of residential space on or near the same site."). Vice
Mayor Clay seconded the motion
Councilman Eyerly noted that Rousing Program 9 on page 10 also initially
said "Require all new retail and office construction to provide some pro-
portion of residential space on or near the same site" prior to its
amendment.
Councilman Carey responded that, since it is a specific mandatory require-
ment, Employment Program 6 should be deleted.
Mayor Norton asked staff for clarification of the two programs.
Nephteli Knox, Director of Planning and Community Environment, replied
that the Council, on a vote of 4-2, retained Housing Program 9, but
modified it to remove the word "require" and substitute the words "pro-
vide incentives for". Mousing Program 9 and Employment Program 6 are
identical.
Mayor Norton wondered if it was important to have this program appear in
both the Rousing and Employment sections. Councilman Carey's motion
would delete it from the Employment section and leave it as modified in
the Rousing section. He aiked if from an editorial or drafting point of
view there was something wrong with that.
Mr. Knox responded that the Council had received copies of the tables
prepared by staff which showed the objectives, the policies that derived
from the objectives, and the prograusa that carried out the policies. The
Planning Commission felt that this program also carried out some policies
end objectives in the Employment section, so the redundancy occurs as a
matter of following through on the objectives and policies stated in each
element.
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8/18/76
Mayor Norton thought it
it appears in the other
asked for comments from
could be reworded to be consistent with the way
section, or it could be deleted as suggested. He
Mrs. Steinberg.
Anne Steinberg, Chairman of the Planning Commission said she had no
objections as long as it appeared somewhere in the Plan.
Councilman Eyerly said he didn't see the need for this program in both
places, but he couldn't go along with the word "require".
Councilman Sher felt that the placement of this program in the Employment
section was designed to underscore the point that if more jobs are created,
the current imbalance in housing will be made more severe. So, if there
is a key place where this should appear it is in the:Employment section.
For that reason, he would resist deleting any reference to the matter under
Employment. The program should reflect the Planning C mimiasion'a objective
thetas new jobs are created, there ought to be an effort to provide
some housing to match those jobs. Councilman Sher preferred that the
statement remain with some rewording to reflect the wording adopted at
the previous meeting.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Councilman Sher moved to retain Program 6 of the
Employment section with the same wording adopted under Program 9 of the
Housing section.
Councilman Eyerly seconded the motion,
Councilman Eyerly said there won't be much left in the way of programs
in, the Employment section if this_one is removed.
Mr. Knox projected on the screen the 3 -column table to which he referred
before. In the left-hand cols is Employment Objective #2. "Reduce
employment potential." In the middle column Is Employment Policy #21 'The
construction of housing should be encouraged in conjunction with non-
residential development." Three Employment Programs #2 •#3 and #6,
stem from that policy statement. The table also shows that Housing Objec-
tive 12 ("To provide more opportunity for those who work in Palo Alto
to live close to their jobs.") also feeds into Employment Policy 2 and
Program 6.
Vice Mayor Clay said he would vote against the substitute motion and
vote for the deletion because the assum=ption that people will live close
to their jobs: is erroneous. To create housing on or near sites where
offices or retail businesses are to be established will create greater
traffic problems than we now have.
SUBSTITUTE !RATION PASSED, The amendment passed 3-2,
AYES:
WOES:
ASSENT:
Eyerly, Norton Sher
Carey, Clay
Ssabra Barmaid. t oeaatock, Witherspoon
MOTION: Councilman Eyerly moved to change Program 4 on page 19 to "Revise
the zoning ordinance to geuerail7 prevent further encroachment of office
in multi -family Loose."
Mayor $orton seconded the motion.
Councilman Eyerly said there are certain areas' of town where former housing
is being used now for offices led as he read the description underneath
the program, it indicated to him that those old houses would not be allowed
tobe demolished and new office complexes built, even though iithe parti-
cular ol
property is curr=ently being '�iused for offices. Mt. Ey ydid not
west to see further encroachment of offics1010 the multi -family living
area, but if they srea already there, they should be allowed to continue.
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He explained that he inserted the word "generally" because he felt there would
have to be some judgment on the staff's part,
In response to a question from Mayor Norton. Mr. Knox said that the situa-
tion now arises in the K -3-P and R-4 zones, but the zoning ordinance is
scheduled for revision. Mr. Knox recalled that actions were taken in
redrawing the boundary lines between commercial and residential around the
downtown area (the so-called Fire Zone I rezoning) a Couple of years ago,
which "moved" some offices from the C-2 to the RC -4 zones.
Mayor Norton asked if the offices now permitted in multi -family zones are
generally professional offices.
Mr. Knox confirmed that with the exception of any offices that might have
wound up in R-4 after the Fire Zone I decisions, like the CSAA offices,
most are professional offices. However. professional offices have an impact
on the multi -family zones by way of vistor traffic to doctors and dentists,
Mr. Knox clarified with Mayor Norton that further "construction" related to
new construction, whereas further "encroachment" as used by Mr. Eyerly
might relate to allowing existing offices in existing multi -family dwellings
to be demolished and replaced by new offices.
Councilman Sher said as he had understood the amendment, he had thought
Mr. Eyerly opposed new construction which would encroach, but would allow
an existing structure to be used for offices, so that this kind of use
might save the building. But as Mr. Knox has pointed out, the proposed
language makes it more difficult to permit or maintain that office use
in a formerly residential structure. Mr. Sher wondered if that was
really the intention of the amendment
Councilman Eyerly said there are a number of large old houses in the
downtown area which are used as offices, and some of that ground is shown
on the land use map as multi -family. The way this program is written in
the Plan now, means that the people using those houses for offices will
not be allowed to build what they had intended to build under the zoning.
The amendment intends that they be allowed to build their new buildinga
if they have already been using the old houses for offices, but it would
prohibit further invasion of offices in the multi -family area.
Vice Mayor Clay said that the objective of Employment Program 6 appears
to be to move people closer to their Jobs. If that is so, then Program
4 ought to be deleted because it does the opposite. Program 4 prevents
development of offices in residential areas, and Program 6 encourages the
development of residential uses in office complexes.
John Blayney, Consultant, explained that Program 6 would add to the supply
of housing, whereas Program 4 would prevent the loss of existing housing
stock through conversion to office use and there is no conflict between the
two.
Mr. Knox explained further that %l.oyment Program 4 stems, in part, from
Housing Policy 3 ("Define, protect and enhance those qualities which make
Palo Alto's neighborhoods unique and desirable."). Re assumed that policy
to be one of the concerns shared by Hr.,1Eperly.
Vice Maayor Clay said the assumption, then, would be that we would approve
the development of loaner quality houeing in office complexes.
Councilman Eyeziy noted that on University Avenue, between the Palo Alto
office building and Lytton Gardens, there is a group of former residential
buildings that are nicely kept that are used as offices. But under the
land use nap,that area is going to becom seeltiple housing. So someone
wanting to rebuild to continue his office use would be prevented from
doing that. It would have to stay as is, or revert to multiple housing.
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That is quite unfair to the persons who have been using those old houses
as offices. Mr. Eyerly said his motion was not intended to allo; someone
to get special use permits to allow offices to go further into multiple
housing areas.
(Councilwoman Witherspoon arrived at 7:45 p.m.)
Mr. Knox said thie was an area of some confusion, and it would be well to
clear it up. On June 7th, between the first and second hearings held by
the Planning Commission, the planning staff included in a memorandum to
the Planning Commission a co nt on this question of professional office
use. Bc quoted from page 7 of that letter: "Commissioner Renzel asked
for exploration of ways to handle professional office uses so that no
additional offices. (no .new _incursions) would recur in these residential
areas. Thatia,.of course, the way that the k-4 and R -3-P zones are
currently worded. Mousing Policy 3 ("Define, protect and enhance those
qualities which maks Palo Alto's neighborhoods unique and desirable.")
and Employment program 4 ("Revise the Zoning Ordinance to prevent further
construction of offices in multi -f ly zones.") cover that aspect.
Commissioner Renzel also intended that some existing offices, especially
those housed in former residences, revert to residential use eventually.
That aspect is not covered by the present zoning ordinance, nor is it
stated or implied in the General Plan as it is now drawee." Mr. Knox said
he was pointing out that an inference drawn by one of the Planning Commissioners
(and he felt it was a proper inference, lacking any further information)
was that Employment Program 4 meant that, Grace the office uses ceased in
former residential areas such as alcrg University Avenue, those buildings
would return to residential use. Staff pointed out in the June 7 memo
that that was not the only inference that could be drawn. Since the
program was ambiguously worded, Mr. Knox believed that Mt. Eyerly's
revision, or some additional wording, could make it clearer.
Mayor Norton felt that the Council members may not all understand the
motion in the same waye He said staff should read the minutes and redraft
that portion of the Plan to say what they understand the motion to mean,
and the Council could see if they agreed with that.
Councilmen Witherspoon said that staff might also look at the motion
adopted Monday night (kugust 16) to allow nonconforming uses in the older
buildings.
Councilman Eyerly said he wanted to allow somebody to build a nes, office
building if he currently is using old houses for offices.
Councilman Sher said the problem is that a general statement of overall
policy I. contained in Program 4, and Councilman Eyerly is worried about
a specific concrete example and is changinsg the language of a general
policy to take care of a specific problem. It would be better to take
care ref the specific problem in some other way, if that is the Council's
wish, rather than to change the general language. Mr. Sher said he
favored the general program and would hesitate to change the language in
order to take care of a very specific problem about a present existing
use in an old building.
Mr, Ilayney said that specific cases really have to be left to the zoning
ordinance. The case that Councilman Eyerly cite is one where a new
office building might be appropriate because of location. but some of
the other offices that are in older houses in multiple family districts
are acceptable not by their location, but only because the basic character
of the building is residential and that gots to the point that Councilwoman
Witherspoon cited. Sot it gets down to a matter of working out where an
existing t»use now used as an office should or should not be replaced by
a new office building. That is going to have to be worked out in the
zoning regulations.
Mayor Morton said he bed another interpretation of Program 4 -- that the
intent is to_ drop the from tbo t -3-g. Generally 1m-3- P mans 1 -3 -
Professional Office, and in the future we would elimnimets that opportun-
ity and groan fever professional uses io 1-3 and 1-4 soma ea s result.
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8/15/76
Mrs. Steinberg said that didn't come up in the Planning Commission's
discussion. She thought is was fairly clear to the Commission what was
meant by the program, The Commission wasn't specifically concerned about
the cffices that are presently there; they talk about revising the
ordinance to prevent any more offices.
Mr. Knox said if the "P" is dropped from R -3-P, then certain existing
uses become nonconforming because they become commercial functions in
residential zones. Re understood the intent of Program 4 was to allow
those existing offices to remain without becoming non -conforming and
without reverting to residential use.
Mayor Norton said Program 4 would prevent new professional offices from
going into what is now an R -3-P zone.
Mr,. Knox said that is correct, but in addition to preventing the new
offices from going my Program 4 would allow -the existing offices to
remain without becoming nonconforming e
Vice Mayor Clay asked how the zoning map would reflect that.
Mr. Slayney said the text will have to handle it.
MOTION PASSED: The amendment passed five to one (Councilman Sher
voting "no").
Councilman Carey referred to Program 3 ("Ctrs El Camino, vacant parcels
larger than one acre should be zoned residential.") and Program 5 which
says a new commercial zone should be enacted which would combine neigh-
borhood commercial with service commercial to respect both the El Camino
frontage and the residential behind it. The text on page 19 explains
the primary purpose of this program would be to encourage and retain
aupermarkets, drug stores, variety stores and other businesses along
El Camino that would serve the adjacent residential neighborhood." The
two programs defeat each other. A supermarket today is a building of
some 30,000 eq.ft., and if you add parking it would require 2 to 3
acres. So if we rezoned vacant parcels larger than one acre, that
would eliminate any possibility of an active neighborhood commercial
program. if the intent is to have, on El Camino, services that are
beneficial to residential neighborhoods, namely supermarkets, and
grocery stores, then you can't shrink the commercial acreage. So the
two programs must be revised. First, the El Cee no strip should be
oriented, to the extent it can be, to neighborhood services. With
respect to Program 3, if you rezone vacant parcels to residential, includ-
ign the frontage on -El Camino, you probably won't get anybody to build
bowies. No one wants to live on El Camino. So the frontage, at least
to a depth of 100 feet, would have to be comeercial, But because larger
parcels are needed for commercial uses, you have to acknowledge dge that the
land behind the 100 feet commercial area, if zoned for residential, will
eliminate the goal of Program 5 -- to foster neighborhood commercial.
Hr. Carey said be would like to see more generalized language iu Programme 3
and 4. With respect to Program 5, he didn't tee anything wrong with that.
It is an addition to the present zoning on El Camino as opposed to a
substitute zone. He ea ad if he was correct as to his conclusion on Program
5.
Mrs. Steinberg said the reason for acquiring the smaller lots as called
for in Program 3, is that on El Camino the smaller stores can't survive
because there is no parking. `Ibee C.c+erUsion really wasn't talking about
enormous supermarkets. There arm Many mall supermarkets.
'ION: Councilmen Carey moved to aid Program 3 on page 19 to read
"On El Camiaao Real, want t parcels with depths greater than 100 foot from
El Camino should be permitted to be'used rssi,donti lly as well as com-
mercially." Councilman Witherspoon seconded the -motion.
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8/18/76
Mr. Knox confirmed with Mayor Norton that the word "smaller" in Program
3 referred to vacant lots smaller than an acre, to be used for parking.
Mayor Norton said if Mr. Carey's motion as to the first sentence was passed,
it would affect the viability of the second sentence. He asked if the word
"acquire" meant "by assessment district". Also, Mr. Carey assumed that
Program 5 was a broadening of the commercial uses along El Camino Real.
As Mayor Norton understood Program 5, the new definition of neighborhood/
commercial would eliminate a lot of the present commercial uses now
allowed there, particularly auto -related uses.
Mr. Knox replied that in fact what 's allowed along El Camino now is
all of the service commercial uses plus all of the neighborhood commer-
cial uses. Depending on how "neighborhood commercial" is cured and hatsectiori
of El Camino you're looking at, anywhere from 20% to 50Z is now in neigh-
borhood commercial use. The residents in the area would like a new zone
that might allow some of what are now considered service commercial or
auto -oriented uses, but not as many as are now allowed; plus all of the
neighborhood uses now existing; plus some additional neighborhood commer-
cial uses that would be encouraged. in short, they want something that is
more neighborhood commercial oriented than is presently there. Admittedly
what is in the text -- "Thee .;primary purpose of this program would be to
encourage and retain supermarkets, drug stores, variety stores and
other businesses along El Camino Real that would serve the adjacent resi-
dential neighborhoods," doesn't speak strongly enought to the elimina-
tion of auto -oriented uses that are considered undesirable.
Mrs. Steinberg said it wasn't the Planning Commission's intention to
exclude those other uses. The Commission in talking about the new zone
wanted a combination zone that would not exclude the present uses.
They wanted a combination of those and some neighborhood uses too. That
is why there we a new zone proposed.
Mayor Norton confirmed with Mrs. Steinberg that the attitude expressed
by some of the Barron Park people that the Council restrict certain
presently permitted uses on El Csmiuo was not a part of the Commission's
recommendations.
Councilman Sher noted the reference in the text to "supermarkets" and
thought perhaps the Planning Commission vas really talking about "mar-
kets". Additional supermarkets would attract traffic from large areas.
What the Council ought to focus on is chat the motion before the Council
implies that any lot with a depthof 1em than 100 feet could not permit
residential uses. He was not sure he favored that. If you have such a lot,
and the owner wanted to develop in residential use, this motion would
prohibit that because the lot wee lees than 100 feet in depth. He asked
if that was Councilman Carey's intent.
Councilman Carey said that was his intention because (1) the front 100 feet
is not a good place to put residential, and (2) if commercial retail
business is to prosper it must exist ins band and not be broken up by
other uses. To break up commercial frontage with noncommercial use
would be detrimental to the remaining . commercial uses. At this time we
a t be careful not to do anything that would lose the City revenue from
soles taxes or other business sources. Mr. Carey said he picked on the
word "supermarket" because "markets" don't exist any more, except fox 7-11.
Joe's independent malt is gone. It can't compete with the chain super-
markets. If we are going to utilize some of the El Campo to bring in
neighborhood commercial use, than we have to be realistic that it is
going to take more than a 20,000 aq. f t lot to do it.
Coscilean Eyerly asked, regarding Progras 3, if residential use isn't
already permitted in the C-3 scone..
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eiieii
Mr. Knox said residential is now permitted in C' -zones at the densities
and other standards required in the Reg zone. Program 3 asks for vacant
parcels to be zoned residential, The parcels now can have residential use
on them. Program 5 asks for a new zone that would encourage neighborhood
commercial. Neighborhood commercial usage is allowed right now. The
fact is that both uses are allowed right now, yet neither is being built
except for the residential project on the McElroy property, which was rezoned
P -C. The intent of the Plan, and it may not be stated this clearly, is
that the El Camino Real commercial strip is not desirable as it stands;
that the commercial strip should be broken uprand in order to do that,
special efforts must be made to encourage neighborhood commercial and/or
residential instead of autb riented commercial.
Councilman Carey said if you want to encourage residential, you need more than
R--2 densities. The reason that there have not been any neighborhood commer-
cial facilities, i.e. arkets or drug stores along El Camino, is that there
literally is no parcel with the size and depth that you need to build that
kind of neighborhood commercial facility.
Councilman Sher said he would vote against this amendment because he wants
to discourage auto -related uses on El Camino, That is the intent of Pro-
gram 5, and perhaps it needs to be stated better, He also wanted to encour-
age residential use along El Camino, If nobody will build residential -
u_tder the existing zone, he knew of nobody who would build under the
proposed amendment.
CoLncllvan Everly asked how many "vacant parcels larger than one acre" there
are.
Mr. Knox replied 5 to 10, There are several large parcels north of
Maybell, and ono at Los Robles,
MOTION PASSED: The amendment passed 4r2 (Mayor Norton and Councilman
Sher opposed).
Mayor Norton said that at this point he would hold in abeyance any further
consideration of the Employment element, and open the public hearing on
Transportation and other sections of the Plan, Re asked that Mrs. Stein-
berg, an behalf of the Planning Commissioniintroduce the Transportation
element -
Mrs. Steinberg said she would like to point out some of the more important
features in the Transportation section. some of the problems that really
do exist. (I) A peak hour traffic congestion problem exists and will get
substantially worse by 1990. (2) County transit is not going to solve the
problem even if the 516 bus eystem (or a 1000 bus system) is successful. The
latest County bus patronage projections indicate that about 1-1/2X of
all trips are now on transit and may go up to 32, which is considerably below
the 302 target. (3) The prospect of an extensive fixed rail transit
system' is remote because of the cost and the lack of the needed population density.
(4) The automobile will remain with us even in the event of substantial
fuel cost increases because of anticipated improvements in gasoline
mileage and the tine advantagea that - the driver will still have. (5) Any
solution to the peak hour problem should involve many approached (car pool-
ing, van pooling, bus pooling, public transit. flexible time, and so on)
and should involve maximum flexibility for employers and employees in
developing workable mixes of various approaches. (6) The 'Programs in
the Plan that promote flexible work schedules, car pools, van pools and bus
pools will not have a significant impact unless a mechanism is created
to encourage implementation. (7) No significant incentive exists for most
employers to take the lead in reducing the number of employee drivers. iit) We
have not been able t• develop any "positive". incentives that we believe
would be acceptable to the 'comsssnnity.
r. 2 3
11/111/76
In the Schools and Parks section, Mrs. Steinberg said, the emphasis is on
community uses or housing for the closed school sites since they are in
residential zones.. School sites also erovide open space and recreation
areas for residents, and these uses should not be lost. Park facilities
should meet the needs of r_hargLng populations. A greater variety of
park types is proposed, such as more urban type parks in cos ercial nerea,
and buffers between residential and commercial zones. Linear parks
following creeks, and parks for ecological studies are proposed. The
Commission has also proposed program to make parks safer and to reduce
vandalism.in the Urban Design section, the main objective is to plan
the scale of the buildings inthe city. Programs in this section are aimed
at the continuation and acceleration of the beautification of Palo Alto,
with particular emphasis on the business districts. It is important
that area studies be conducted, such as for El Camino, and the Council
has already spent some time discussing that this evening. The Cammi€+sion
hopes the Council will endorse the studies for these business districts.
The Environmental Resources section addresses conservation, seismic safety
and general safety, sir quality and noise. The Conservation and Seismic
Safety prugrana are designed to enable us to live more harmoniously with
nature, and to develop safely in areas with natural hazards. The Air
Quality and Noise tections contain programs that seek to mitigate noise
and air pollution in the city.
Mayor Norton thanked sirs. Steinberg and called on members of the public.
Robert Blown, 550 Hamilton Avenue. presented the Council with the
written comments of Downtown Palo Alto, Inc . , in respect to the Compre-
hensive Plan, taken section by section, fir Morn explained that
this material was also presented to the }gearing Cormission during their
review of the Comprehensive Plan.
Ryland Kelly, Chairman, Comprehensive Plot Task Force, Downtown Palo
Alto, Inc. said the Task Force was responding from a district point of
view rather t -an on all of the elements of the Plan. They are concerned
with the high degree of administrative review sad higher planning costs
that will occur /roe the complex planning apparatus that would be set
up. Financial aspects of the various policies haven't been adequately
addressed. The suttee supports conducting a detailed design study of Down-
town. The Plan fails to recognize however, that Downtown University
Avenue, the Stanford Shopping Center. and Town & Country Shopping
Center are all part of a comprehensive central business district, to be
treated in coordinated manner. The Comprehensive Plan should be a
springboard for an immediate ma staking of specific improvements. Funda-
mental to carrying out these tasks is the need for better coordination
between the City, the Parking District., the Downtown merchants, property
owners, the other commercial areas, and the comity at large. They
recd the designation of specific personnel within the city organiz-
ation for such coordination and liaison. Important improvements will
otherwise bog down because of lack of human coordination. On the north
side of the Circle is the most significant,, long vacant, and deteriorat-
ing property, and the city is the major property owner in the block. Its
beautification could create a healthy commercial environment for the
downtown. A test transportation system ahould be set up between the three
elements of the central business district, hopefully including the Stanford
University campus. Such a test system could be sponsored with a relatively
small amount of base looney and cooperation and contribution from all of the
private elements. The City must take the leadership in creating de on-
stratiore employee perking facilities in the Downtown to eliminate the large
amount of street perking in nearby residential areas. The city should
support development of the vacua lot at the corner of Bryant nnd Un.iv+er -
s ity now owned by the Bank of America. A development there can be
coordinated with the alley closing and additional parking. A retail/
residential complex there can d moestrate the Plan's recommendations
for housing in commarcial mess, and could be stimulated by the city
tbromgh specific tic support. This is the meat Important property end
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1/16/76
focal point in the entire University Avenue District, Downtown Palo Alto,
Inc. is very strongly opposed to downzoning existing multi -family uses.
There is great contradiction within the Plan where it urges the develop-
ment of housing and at the same time suggests the removal of a significant
part of the housing land reservoir that has been specified for apartment
use for many years. Not only does it create unnecesary antagonism, but
it defeats the opportunity for consolidating large pieces of land to do
significant housing such as Lytton Gardens. The vitality of Downtown is
dependent upon that particular reservoir of multi -family land.
Ellen Fletcher, representing the Palo Alto Civic League, 3543 Greer Road,
spoke to page 27, Program 10, and urged the addition of a strong statement
on the need to preserve the Southern Pacific right-of-way of -way for public
transit. On page 2S, Program 20, the League feels that It le premature
to state the desirability of an interchange at El Camino and Page Mill
because the Draft Environmental Impact Report is still being prepared.
On page 31, the League strongly urges the Council to adopt Policy 9
and all of the programs to promote bicycle use. Program 35, "Develop
and implement a network of through bicycle boulevards", is especially
desirable. "Bicycle Boulevards" aren't a revolutionary concept. Park
Boulevard is one. Program 37, "Provide and require facilities for stor-
ing and locking bicycles at business and employment centers, transfer
points, and recreational facilities," Is essential. in Palo Alto in 1974
1,386 bicycles worth $189,740 were reported stolen, and that does not
represent all of the stolen bikes because many thefts are not reported.
In the ileoan Design Section, page 38, Ms. Fletcher objected to Program 10
"Remove vines from East Bayshore Frontage Road fences where views of the
Bay and undeveloped Lshylsnds are obtainable". because she really liked
the separation from the freeway provided by the vines. She asked that the
planting along the fences be allowed to remain.
Gerry McQueen, 275 Ventura said unless you own a house here, you are hard
pressed to remember that you are still a residert. She said she was speak-
ing for that half of Palo Alto's population who do not own hoes, but
live in Palo Alto. She suggested that there be a change in the zoning to allow
for duplex apartments in the area from California Avenue to East Meadow.
She agreed with Mayor Norton's statement that Palo Alto can never supply
enough homes for everybody, but Palo Alto can supply a substantial number
of additional homes for a substantial number of people who work here and
in the surrounding area if low density areas of apartments end duplexes
were allowed. She was concerned with the beautification of the El Camino,
and understood that the people living behind El Camino went to see businesses
there that would support the residences behind them. However, what is
needed is a different type of residential area to ,support the kinds of
businesses being asked for. Ms. McQueen asked the Council to consider
rezoning the residential area and also consider the fact that cars have
been here for a long time and that people like to drive them.
The Council recessed from 9:00 p.m. to 9:25 p.m.
Louis Fain, 167!i Edgewood Drive, said he didn't want to talk to any parti-
cular element on the Comprehensive Plan, but about the future review of the
Plan itself. Since the time three years ago when the city embarked on the
development of this Comprehensive Plan, he asked on several occasions that
provisions for systematic and periodic review of the Plan be included in
the Plan so that it could accoaraod;ate to changing conditions and trends,
He was assured that provisions for periodic review would be made. On one
occasai.on he was told that the code called for revision of the Comprehensive
Kan. At last Monday night's meeting, there was comment that the Compre-
hensive Plan would be considered for revision emery five ears. One
person suggested two years. It is apparent that the Council, Commission
and staff have not yet considered together a schedule for reviewing this
Comprehensive. Plan despite what the code says. What does it mean to review
and revise this Plant Each of the seven elements of the Plan contain a
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8/13/76
statement of objectives, and policies and programs to achieve them. To
revise one element of this Plan, then is to revise that element's' Programs
and/or policies or objectives. When future City Councils engage in revie-
ing this plan, they will either retain, change, or delete these objectives,
policies and programs. Since the Council is currently engaged in revising
the draft Comprehensive Plan proposed by the Planning Commission,Mr. Fein
recommended that the Council also instruct the Commission to add a Section
9 to the Comprehensive Plan, to be called "Review and Update", to specify
the mode and the schedule of review of this Plan by future City Councils.
Mayor Norton asked for clarification of what the code is on that subject.
Mr. Knox read from Section 19.04.030. "The planning commission shall
annually review the general plan and recommend to the city cnunzil such
extensions, changes or additions to the plan as the commission may con-
sider necessary in the view of any change in conditions,"
Mayor Norton said he expected the staff to uphold the law in that regard.
Benjamin Lefkowitz, 3468 Greer Road, Vice President of Western Wheelers,
a bicycle club, said that at a recent yearly outing for bicyclists who
ride .I0:1 miles in a single year, there were many nice corm eats about how
well Palo Alto looks after its bicyclists. with bicycle paths and
bicycle bridges. He said that the Council and the City of Palo Alto have
earned a very good mark for all that they have done. But bicycling is
growing. In 1973, 1974, and 1975, more bicycles were sold in California
than automobiles. According to a Department of Transportation study; over
803 of all trips are five miles or less. Another study reported 11,000
bicycle trips in the county during the daylight hours. Gas prices are
going to continue to go up, and car prices are going to go up, so people
are turning to bicycles. He encouraged support of Transportation Program
36 and 37 especially.
Mike Ardley, 352 Parksids Drive, said he agreed with Policy'9 in the proposed
Flan. He emphasized that Palo Alto is au ideal area for bicycling because
of the geography and climate. . Re felt that Program 37 to provide for
bicycle storage is extremely important. It is not only a matter of reqeir-
ing bike racks, but of requiring adequate bike racks. Bike storage facili-
ties gust be safe either in terms of being policed, or in terms of ade-
quacy for locking. Otherwise people won't dare to use them.
David Uggla, 1820 W. Bays ore, said the statement as Policy 9 IRentious that
" ven...the most optimistic projections do not see a major diversion of
tripe from automobiles to bicycles". He was far more optimistic. A
double benefit is derived. Automobile trips are diverted to bicycles and
the person switches to the bicycle benefits in terms of health, enjoy -
t, and econce y. Re felt that some objections may be raised to soma
of the specific bicycle programs in the Plan on the grounds that they are
experimental, may not be cost-effective, etc. The Introduction to the Plan,
page 2, states "In the arse - of tranaite - this Plan can only teecsmend direc-
tions because technology and public acceptance are likely td change rapidly
is the next few years." Thus the TrtnaportatLen prograeea are intended as
guidelines within which the Council and staff can allocate the city's
resources on the basis cf the money available and the benefit to be derived
from those programs.
David Soong, 4056 Park boulevard, said as Mr. Knox reported to the Council,
this Plan took three years of deliberation; 54 meetings of staff, Planning
Commission, City Council and public, 3/8ths of a million dollars; and un-
counted time from residents and nonresidents. He wanted ' Council to realize
that the citizens had bled a major input in the Plan. Page 36 begins "Urban
design is concerned with how the city looks and feels, with the sensory
relationship between people and their environment, their feeling of time and
place, and their sense of veil -being." That affects the Ventura neighborhood
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4/18/76
quite a bit. On page 39, regarding El Camino! "Much of the business there
is not pedestrian oriented so competition for the motorist's attention
has create visual chaos... El Camino will change only to the degree that
the City takes positive actions and provides inducements to the private
sector for change... These controls should be applied on a schedule that
will eliminate out -of -character development within a reasonable length
of time," He strongly supported that, especially as it related to Program 2:
"Develop visual design standards for new development and a -program for
abating existing developments or design features that do not conform."
He also supported Programs 3 and 4 of the Urban Design section and Policy
4: "Upgrade standards for El Camino Reads Midtown, and the Circle area -
of Downtown . " He thought that Program 14 calling for new coning should be
adopted, and in the Environmental Resources section, Program 25, "Implement
programs to reduce use of private vehicles and increase use of mass transit
and other modes of travel that result in reduced emissions," should be
supported.
Denny Petrosian, 443 Ventura Avenue, representing the Ventura Neighborhood
Association, supported all of the programs in the Urban Design section.
She liked the opening language and the text on El Camino. She emphatically
supported Policy 1, Program 1 having to do with massive single uses. Regard-
ing Policy 2, she was desperately awaiting the planting on El Camino.
She supported Programs 2, 3, and 4. She thanked the Commission and the
staff for their serious and generous attention to the El Camino Real
area. On page 27 regarding Transportation Policy 4 ("Avoid major increases
in automobile traffic capacities") she said the commuter traffic along
El Canino is particularly oppressive. You can't talk about commuter traf-
fic on arterials such as El Camino in the same breath as you talk about
resident --generated traffic. This commuter traffic 1e quite definitely
coming from out of town and is pouring in like a flood. She strongly
supported Transportation Program 8 on page 26 for special transportation
services for senior and handicapped, and Programs 9 (shuttle) and 12 (bus
lanes). On page 28 she strongly supported Program 18 (minor improvements)
strongly opposed Program 19 (Willow Road) and 20 (Page Mill/El Camino
interchange). Program 20 will encourage traffic and will not make it flow
more quickly. She supported Program. 26;. "Enact a tax to be paid by
employers, based on the number of employees driving to work" because it
is nor fair that the residents' taxes should pay for the more frequent
upkeep of the roadways that are required by outside commuter traffic.
She is very sensitive to Program 32 calling for intersection chokers and
stop signs, because in her neighborhood they recently had to fight to keep
the diverters that had already been installed. In the Environmental
Resources sectione she strongly supported the reduction of automobile traf-
fic and resultant air pollution. She noted that Councilman gyerly had
a, proposal in the packet to seek funding for the redevelopment of
deteriorating nonresidential areas., to help them upgrade. Her feelings
were, if efforts were going to be made to seek funding, she would like
to see those efforts go to funding low and moderate income housing in
the city, especially in view of the number of housing programs that -
were deleted by Council on the 16th. Also, strong land use statements
would be much more effective in the long term in upgrading the commercial
areas.
MOTION PASSED: There being no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Norton
moved to close the public hearing on the Housing. Transportation, Employ-
ment, Schools and Parks, and Environmental Resources sections of the
Plan. Vice Mayor Clay seconded the motion, and it paeaed unanimously,
Mayor Norton said the Council would continue with the Employment
section, and possibly another meeting to speak to the Transportation and
the other elements would be needed on August 30, if Council Was to keep
the scheduled meeting for the Land Use Plan Map on September 7.
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8/3/76
MA:sr Norton said as he recalled the discussion was of Program 3 relating
to El Camino, and the possibility of changing the wording of Program 5,
Councilman Sher said the action taken in the first sentence of Program 3
was that vacant parcels on El Canino with depths more than 100 feet
should be permitted to be used residentially as well as commercially.
Since that is now the action of the Council, it seemed to him that +here
such commercial use is instituted, some portion of residential should
also be provided on the same lot. The Planning Commission recommendation
was that, on these large parcels, residential should be required.
NOTION, NO SECOND: Councilman Sher moved that these words be added to
Employment. Program 3: "Where comserrial use is instituted, at least an
equal amount of residential use stall also be provided."
The motion failed for lack of a second,
Elaayney said perhaps there could be a compromise between the Com-
mission's request for all residential and the Council action which
merely allows residential which is no allowed. The people in the
El Camino area want small scale commercial. This might be achieved by
language that would read "On El Camino Real, vacant parcels with depths
greater than 100 feet from El Camino should be required to have residen-
tial use on the rear portion."
Councilman Sher said he didn't want to limit residential to the rear
lot. For example, on Page 10 there is a rendering which shows residential
over commercial, which could be on El Camino. To have a very deep lot on
El Camino and to permit it to have a compleeely commercial use is contrary
to the Planning Commission's recommendation, which is also favored.
Hr. Blayney said his language was not intended to limit residential to
rear portions, but merely to rewireit there, and to p it anywhere
including the entire parcel,, khs with no commercial if that was the choice
of the owner.
Councilman Carey said he expected the Planning Commission, based on thisre-
viand program to look at the possible residential zones that could be
utilized in this transitory- sr" between R-1 and commercial. He was not
satisfied with R--2, which is the now permitted alternate use of commercial
land- What he vented was to have the Planning Commission, based on this
motion, come up with some in Ovstive ideas on how to get -residential
back there; Re wanted to see incentives to provide ho=sing, but he
didn't` rant to see that mandatory. There can be additional housing in
these mss, and it can be done on the basis of incentives and not
a new governmental mandate.
NOTION: Councilman Eyerly moved the deletion of Employment Program 2,
"Establish p;eocedures to permit howling beyond established zoning
standards for industrial roes."
Councilman Witherspoon seconded the motion.
Couotitmen Eyerly said he didn't really believe in that concept and could
see that the type of housing developed that way would not be very pleasant
in a few years. The explanation of the program is vague "As the program
continues, total site coverage limits will have to be established so
thaat the entire area of an industrially zoned parcel could not be devel-
oped with a combination of industrial and housing uses."
Councilman Carey said he would oppose the motion He saw nothing wrong
with muting the uses. It has already been agreed that it is a _good -
idea to mac retail and residential. I'al-o Alto has en industrial area
that is tcaigne. it is clean i try asol is oee of the suet beautiful
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8/18/76
industrial parks In the country. Housing should be encouraged there.
He was not suggesting that everyone who lived there had to work there,
but the odds are that many will.
MOTION FAILED: The motion to delete Employment Program 2 failed on the
following vote:
AYES! Eyerly, Norton, Witherspoon
NOES! Carey, Clay, Sher
ABSENT: Beahrs, Berwald, Comstock
Ccureilemari Witherspoon said she was concerned about the language of Policy
l: "Reduce the projected employment by a significant proportion below
the present 1990 forecast." However, at the end of this section you find
that the employment reduction is only 5,000 jobs. She questioned the
lase of the word "significant".
Mrs. Steinberg said the Commission considered that even 5,000 was signi-
ficant, because every new job means two commute trips into Palo Alto.
Mr. Knox added that the word "significant" was specifically used in
the "option" that was approved by the City Council and the Planning
Commission in 1974. When this was being debated, the motion was to
reduce the potential employment growth "by a significant proportion, on
the order of 50`x." On the order of 50Z wiled, but the word 'significant"
remained in the policy. Needless to say. the "bottom line" of all the
employment policies is that, regardless of what kind of job there are,
the growth of jobs means the growth of traffic, and that is where Palo
Alto's neighborhoods are impacted.
Councilwoman Witherspoon said she found a dichotomy in Employment Policy
2 which says that housing is going to be encouraged. She saw that
housing as also producing alot of trips around town, so she couldn't
buy traffic reduction as the rationale. She would be such more con-
vinced if these policies said 'try not to expand at all, because Palo Alto
is trying to keep its balance as a residential community."
Mr. Knox said, as the Mayor pointed out at the previous meeting, it
would take a lot of effort and hard work to provide houeing and we
couldn't provide enough for ail the people who want to live here. So on
the one hand it will have to work very hard to prevent the job
growth thet is otherwise automatically going to occur.
Mr. Blayney said in response to Councilman Witherspoon's comment
on trip generation,, if you assume 10 dwelling units per acre, which is
a rather high average density versus 40 jobs per acre -- which is a
high but not -out -of -the --ordinary industry park density --- then the
housing generates only about two-thirds as many vehicular trips per
acre as the Industrial use does. So it is not true that housing creates
as much traffic as industry.
Vice Mayor Clay asked how much of that traffic creates a nuisance for
Palo Alto. Re would prefer the industrial traffic to traffic which is
generated in the interior of Palo Alto. Be believed the interior traffic
to!ild be more aggravated by housing than by jobs.
Mr. Blayney said there are lots of ways of looking at traffic, all of which
have some validity. But the industrial trips tend to be peak hour trips
causing heavy congestion and increased pollution, whereas residential
trips are spread throughout the day.
Mayor Morton confirmed with Mr. Blayney that at last tiro -thirds of the
industrial park traffic doesn't touch Palo Alto reai.dsntisi streetsy
but sticks to routes like Interstate 280, El Canino, Foothill; Oregon,
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6/18/76
and Bayshore.
Councilman Carey said he also had trouble with the word "significant"
because he would tend to write it numerically. 4n page 20, it is
either 81,100 or 76,100 jobs•, depending on whether you're talking about
the planning area or the city. if the concern is only for the wording,
why not say that employment by 1990 in Palo Alto should not exceed
either 76,100 or 81,100.
Mr. Knox said the planning area figure includes the entire city and the
Stanford lands out to the county line. On page 20, -the figure 81,100
is the reduced forecast for the entire planning area. For the city
limits, the reduced figure is 76,100. About 81;000 would be a jobs
goal for the planning area.
MOTION: Councilman Carey moved that Employment Policylbe reworded
to "Employment by 1990 should not exceed 81,000 for the entire planning
area."
Mayor Norton seconded the motion.
In response to a question from Councilwoman Witherspoon, Councilman
Carey explained that -the Plan would be reviewed several time before
1990. In fact, the Planning Commission in reviewing the Plan each
year will look at employment figures and undeveloped land available
for employment, and they may have to make same adjustments in the fig-
ures. They then may have to consider new programs that will reduce
the increase in employment in order to obtain this goal. On the other
hand, there may well be technological changes in industry that will
result in fewer employees per square foot of industrial building, and
we won't have to worry{about exceeding the 81,000. So it will be
reviewed, and the Counbil. w 11 see the trend and be able to react to
it before 1990.
Mr. Blayney said that his concern about using a number is that it tends
to place more credence in the number than it should have. Thoee
projections were made rather carefully, but all -projections are wrong.
The sense of the Planning Commission is that they were greatly concerned
about the way in which the substantial increase in jobs would affect
the local environment, and one solution is to try to reduce the -total
number of employees by sow significant amount.
Councilmen Carey disagreed with Mr. Blayney. There are numbers all
over the Comprehensive Plan. The graph on page 19 shows them, The
goal is 81,000. If other external factors influence the number, the
General Plan could be amended later.
Hr. Blayney said that some of the ways for achieving the reduction in
jobs may or may not be acceptable to the Councils.- One was to change
allowable site coverage in the industrial park. The methods for cutting
the projected number of jobs should be dealt with before a number is
plugged in to Policy 1t.
Mr. Knox agreed. If the Council removes froe the Plan the programs
which pout deeper* on employment, then it isn't going to mean much to
set a numerical goal if there ere no programs to effectuate the goal.
Vice Mayor Clay said he supported the use of the number, because it is
from numbers that impacts can be measured. Whether the pro jectioa is
right or not is relatively insignificant with respect to being able to
determine whet impact 81,000 jobs will have on Palo Alto in 1990. .
Mt. Ilaynney said the ra ductio®s of 5400 jobs is not a guarantee of
creating an acceptable environment. Vs are just chipping assay as but
we can at the job figure that was so appalling to some people. by
reducing the coverage to approximate what exists in the industrial areas
1 3 1
8/18/76
throughout the city, 600 potential jobs can be eliminated. By tak-
ing office buildings out of multi family zones, another 1200 can be
eliminated. By requiring new retail and office construction to have
residential development in connection, another 600 jobs will be lost.
But that elusive "acceptable environment" would be'achii-eved to a greater
degree by tough transportation programs than by total job reduction. The
staff's projections really show how difficult it is to control the total
number of jobs without doing things which most people view as pol#.ically
unreasonable. The impact of the jobs has to be attacked mainly in the
transportation element. Mr. Blayney said he didn't think the Planning
Commission had said that 764100 jobs was an acceptable number from an
environmental viewpoint. That was simply the smallest number they could
see as being practical without a total upheaval in the land use pattern.
Councilman Sher said he had some problems with restating Policy 1 in
terms of a number. This is not a policy to reduce jobs. It is a policy
to control the rate of increase of jcbs, and the adverse impacts that
come from too rapid a rate of increase in jobs. When put in terms of
a precise figure, it almost becomes a goal.
Vice Chairman Clay said "numbers" is what this whole Plan is about. The
concern is for what will happen if the number of jobs, generated trips,
and the number of people living in Palo Alto gets out of hand.
Councilman Carey said the Council's change of one program from mandatory
to optional won't significantly affect the figure. Economically and
ecologically, this reduction in job growth is something that is good,
and not detrimental to the town. It is one that could maintain a balance
of residential with commercial, yet slow down commercial and industrial
growth to the extent that it doesn't give us an economic growth that
can't be handled.
MOTION FAILED: The motion failed on a vote of 2-4 (Councilmen Carey and
Clay voting aye).
MOTION: Councilwoman Witherspoon moved a new policy to be added at the
end of the Employment Section, to read "Encourage private rehabilitation
of aging retail areas to keep them economically viable;" Program I:
Develop a greatly simplified process whereby staff can work closely with
redevelopers of older buildings to facilitate the red tape of complex
code and zoning require:mea ;" Program 2: "Create an Advisory/Appeals
Board under the Building Official to allow flexibility without lowering
standards of code requirements in remodeling projects,"Program 3: "Devel-
op disincentives for lesvti ig buildings derelict and vacant;" and Pro-
gram 4: "Develop tax increment financing programs, to encourage remodeling
of older buildings." Councilman Zyerly seconded the motion.
Mr. Knox felt that program 2 and 3 to "create an Advisory/Appeals
Board" and "develop disincentives for leaving buildings derelict and
vacant" are excellent. There are mechanisms available to accomplish
those. As to the first program, to have "a greatly simplified
process whereby staff can work with redevelopers of older buildings to
facilitate red tape..." that sounds fine, but he was not sure how that
would be done. Perhaps he could get back to the Council with infozm-
tion on whether it is realistic or not. Finally, regarding tax incre-
ment financing, that works for redevelopment projects, but he didn't
know how it could be applied to individual buildings.
Councilman Carey concurred that tax increments can't be used for single
buildings. With respect to new Program 3, he was not sure what could be
done when someone leaves a building ea ty.
Councilman Slaw a Beal if this was a motion to ask the Planning Commission
to develop anew policy with supporting programs in she Employment Section.
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Councilwoman Witherspoon said the fleshing out of the policies and
programs would be a staff process.
Councilman Sher said he was trying to get a handle on how this process
works, and whether the Council ought to now be finalizing the programs
and policies.
Mr. Knox said the Council won't be finalizing at this time. The
municipal code requires that after the Council has considered and voted
on the amendments, the entire package goes back to the Planning Commis-
sion for a minimum of 40 days. The Planning Commission will then hold
a public hearing and report back on the matter to the Council. Thus,
the Council will have the benefit of comments made by the public at that
public hearing, and the Council will also have comments from the Planning
Commission adivising how the Commission views the programs that have
been added.
Councilman Sher said but now their is a suggestion for a very complicated
tax matter, and none of this has been reviewed in a way that makes it
easy to vote on this proposal. It is one person's idea about something that
didn't get into the General Plan, and it wasn't discussed. Mr. Sher said
he was having difficulty deciding what to do,
Mayor Norton said if the Planning Commission and the staff think that
program is not workable, he presumed they would let the Council know.
Mr. 1'.nox said the staff would analyse the motion, if passed, to see if
the policy and programs are attainable, and if so, develop appropriate
text to explain the policies and programs, all to go back to the Com-
mission for consideration.
Mayor Norton divided the question, taking the programs first and the
policy last.
MOTION PASSED: The motion to adopt Program 1 "Develop a greatly simplified
process whereby staff can work closely with redevelopers of older build-
ings to facilitate the red tape cif complex code and zoning requirements"
passed 4 - 2 (Councilmen Sher and Carey opposed) .
MOTION FAILED: The Action to adopt Program 2 "Create an Advisory/Appeals
Hoard under the Building Official to allow flexibility with lowering
standards of code requirements in renodelivg projects" failed on the
following vote:
AYES: Eyerly, Norton, ' ftherspoon
NOES: Cloy, Carey, Sher
ABSENT: beahre, berweld, Comstock
MOTION: Adopt Program 3 "Develop disincentives for leaving buildings
derelict and vacant".
Councilman Eyerly said this is something we should have had for a
good many years, in the downtown' are in particular. There is a build-
ing on the Circle that hasn't had anything done to it for 25 years.
The downtown merchants were perturbed about the vacant building
because it wee a place for gathering, windows were broken, and there
seemed to be no way the city could act to improve its looks. It
is not fair to rest of the retail area to allow those to remain such
a long period of time.
Vice Mayor Clay noted that the motion does not . Include vacant iota,
which sum be just as bad; but he agreed with Councilmen Eyerly that
vacant buildings have a definite: negative effect on the downtown.
The Circle is the west entrance to Palo Alto and ought to be beautified.
MOTION PASSED: The auction to adopt Program 3 passed 5-1 (Council-
man Carey no).
Mayor Norton said that Program 4 regarding tax increment financing
for individual remodeling had been dropped by Councilwoman Witherspoon
and the second, Councilman Eyerly.
MOTION: Adopt a new Policy 3 'Encourage private rehabilitation of
aging retail an'araas to keep them economically viable".
Mayor Norton commented that it was conceivable, particularly if this
section of the Plan continues to be called Employment, that the results
of this series of motions should go elsewhere in the Plan.
NATION PASSED The motion passed 5-1 (Councilman Carey opposed) .
Councilwoman Witherspoon said there should be a particular section
in the Plan called "Industry". Although there may not be many pro-
grama in that category at this time, there might be at some time in
the future.
MOTION: Councilwoman Witherspoon moved that the Employment Element be
retitled '`&usineas, Industry b Employment". Mayor Norton seconded
the motion.
Councilman Eyerly asked, if that is done, what will be done with the
section on Urban Design which has subsections, one of which is "business
districts".
Councilwoman Witherspoon said there is a residential section* under
Urban Design too, but the Urban Design section considers how business
or residence affects Palo Alto's looks and feels. She asked how that was
stated in the Plan.
Mr. Knox answered "Urban design is concerned with how the city looks
and feels, with the sensory relationship between people and their
environment, their feeling of time and place, and their sense of well-
being."
Councilwoman Witherspoon said that this says nothing about the economics
of business and industry. The basic housing economics are distressed
in the Housing Element.
Mr. il' l.ay ey said there is no perfect way tc. organize the Plan.
Mr. Knox said there is bound to he soar overlap. Palo Alto decided
to update its Comprehensive Plan not el t-by-elem nt, but by writ-
ing an entirely new comprehensive plan that integrated as many elements
as possible. So there is going to be atoms overlap. NO was not concerned
if we wooed up with business end housing being discussed both under
Urban Design as well as under their oxen separate sectioaa
Councilmen Sher said that what has just been added doess't relate to
busi es's and industry. It relates to rehabilitating buildings.
Mayor Norton ton said it was not the intent that the new programs could only
be placed in the Employment Ilemeet. He wouldn't be surprised if
staff placed whet was just adopted in some other t is say eat.
mss. Steinberg said she had none difficulty with changing the element
to "Sesineea, industry sod Smpleyment". The ale section really is
oriented sheet the question of employment and the problems that are
133
6/16/76
caused by increased employment. The Planning Commission hadn't gone
into the question of industry or business. Those were touched on very
lightly and only with relation to employment.
Mayor Norton explained that Mrs. Witherspoon wanted the section expanded
so business and industry would be discussed fully.
Councilwoman Witherspoon confirmed that that was her objective. She felt
that there was a lot of information available, and too much remained
unsaid and unsettled with regard to business and industry from the point
of view of job expansion.
Vice Mayor Clay agreed with Councilwoman Witherspoon'a rationale. He
would have liked to see those descriptions in the section. If it
had started off that way, that would have been fine. But having gone
this far, and considering the nuedaer of people involved in preparing
the Plan and its various elements, changing the name naw will only
create confusion. He felt the section title should be left as it is.
MOTION FAILED: The motion to change "Employment" to "Business, Indus-
try and Employment" failed 2 - 4 (Mayor Norton and Councilwoman Wither-
spoon voting aye).
Mayor. Norton said since there were no other amendments to the Employment
section, he would entertain a motion to adjourn the meeting
Councilman Carey moved, seconded by Mayor Norton, that the meeting be
adjourned at 11:05 p.m.
The lotion passed on a unanimous vote. (Councilrembers Beahra, Berwald,
anc Comstock absent.)
ATTEST:
APPROVE:
Mayor
l 3 4
8/18/76