HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 4577• •
RESOLUTION NO. 4 s 77
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
ADOPTING INTERIM GOALS AND POLICIES TO GUIDE THE
COMMUNITY BOTH IN ITS FOR'l'HCOMING HOUSING EI .. EMENT
PROGRAM AND IN THE FORMULATION OF APPROPRIATE
ACTION EFFORTS
WHEREAS, it is a national and state goal to insure the
provision of a decent home and suitable livl.ng environment
for all citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Policy Committee of Santa Clara County
assumed responsibility for the preparation of a Joint Housing
Element mandated by law to make adequate provision for the
housing needs of all economic segments of the community; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Cities-County Housing Element Program has
identified several aspects of Santa Clara County's housing pro-
blems and made recommendations thereto; and
WHEREAS, the original Santa Clara County Planning Policy
Committee Resolution adopting a Joint Cities-County Housing
Element has been reviewed, in whole or in part, by the Palo Alto
Planning Commission, the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission,
the Palo Alto Housing Corporation, and the Palo Alto City Council's
Policy and Procedures Committee, all of which have supported and
recommended adoption of its basic goals, policies, and principles;
and
WHEREAS, the Palo Alto City Council wishes to adopt the
Joint Cities-County Housing Element, as modified, as interim
goals and policies to guide the community both in its forthcoming
Housing Element program and in the fo.!:mulation of appropriate
action efforts;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby
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declares and adopts the following primary goals for housing in
the City of Palo Alto:
1. To promote and insure the provision of adequate housing
for all persons.
2. To promote and insure the provision of a variety of
individual choice of tenure, housing type, price, and location.
3. To establish, maintain, and enhance the character,
quality and livability of residential areas; and to promote anq
insure open and free choice of housing for all.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in amplification of the above
primary housing goals, the Council of the City of Palo Altq
declar~s and adopts the following related goals for housing:
1. To stimulate housing construction adequate for future
populations and for replacement needs consistent with community
growth goals.
2. To eliminate housing deficiencies and prevent future
blight through conservation, construction, rehabilitation, and
removal.
3. To increase the ability of persons and families to meet
their housing needs in the open market, regardless of age, in-
come, sex, marital status, religion, race, ethnic background,
etc.
4. To facilitate the operation of the housing market so
that suppliers and consumers can function more effectively.
s. To facilitate the provision of safe, sanitary, adequate
housing to accommodate persons and families disadvantages in
the housing market.
6. To encourage a full range of housing and employment
opportunities, open space, adequate transportation and community
facilities.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, pursuant to the above goals
and to the need to overcome housing problems confronting the
City, the Council of the City of Palo Alto adopts the followin9
policies:
1. Palo ~Lto declares the need and intention (a) to
formulate a clear set of housing policies and (b} to evaluate
the performance of development controls against these policies.
2. Palo Alto declares that the use of zoning, either
directly or indirectly, in ways which exclude persons from
the City on the basis cf racial, ethnic, religious, sex, marital
status, economic or age characteristics is unacceptable.
3. Palo Alto declares that zoning is to be used in ways
which will encourage variety and mix in housing types and
provide adequate sites for housing persons of all income levels
in Palo Alto with particular emphasis on enl~rging housing
opportunities for persons of low and moderate incomes.
4. Palo Alto declares that mix in the cost and type of
housing units in new subdivisions and apartment complexes is
to be encouraged in the granting of residential planned unit
developments.
5. Palo Alto declares that appropriate bodies be establ-
ished in Palo Alto and assig~ed responsibility to facilitate
the voluntary adjudication of tenant-landlord problems.
6. Palo Alto declares that the use of model lease and
rental agreements is to be encouraged throughout the City and
the-region.
7. Palo Alto declares that vigorous enforcement of the
provisions of the State Health and Safety Code minimum space
standards for new construction is to be continued; and that
thost~ standards are to continue to be enforced at the time
building permits are issued.
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8. Palo Alto declares that programs of housing code
enforcement shall be carried out only when accom9anied by
adequate ancillary programs to insure that the stock of low
priced housing is not decreased and that undue hardships are
not imposed upon persons affected by the programs.
9. Palo Alto declares that efforts shall be made to
relieve the burden of zoning admir.istration placed upon the
Planning Commission and City Council so that substantive
planning matters and issues roay be given greater attention.
10. Palo Alto declares that programs shall be adopted to
provide appropriate relocation assistance to people who will
be displaced from their dwelling units by future actions of
the city of Palo Alto and that the cost of such assistance
shall be considered part of the related public improvements
and be included in the budgets for such improvements.
11. Palo Alto declares that appropriate measures shall be
taken to insure one-for-one replacement of housing units
removed by future actions of the City of Palo Alto, such
replacement housing to be generally in the low and moderute
income categories.
12. Palo Alto declares that in arriving at land use
decisions, the cost and supply of housing shall be included
in the planning criteria.
13. Palo Alto declares that the conscious designation
of zoned areas so that economic mix will be fostered both
between or among adjoining residential developments and
within each residential development shall be continued.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of
Palo Alto declares its support of the following concepts:
1. Endorses in principle that the City encourage the
Palo Alto Unified School District to participate in
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cooperative planning relationships.
2. Endorses in ~rinciple that an ongoing system for
assembling and dis~ributing housing and zoning inf ormaticn
for the entire County and for reasonable subareae of the
County should be established.
3. Endorses in pri~ciple that a Housing Code program
should be administered as part of an overall County-wide
Housing Program, be integrated with related programs, be
service-oriented rather than merely regulatory, and use a
neighborhood improvement approach.
4. Endorses in principle that each zoning classification
in the Zoning Ordinance should be preceded by a statement of
purpose and intent.
INTRODUCED & PASSED: April 3, 1972
AYES: UNANIMOUS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NOR TON
ABSTAINED: SEMAN
AT~if•~
citycterk
APP~~TO:~~
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City "Attorney
APPROVED:
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cf"ty Manager
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