HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 453-08City
City of Palo Alto
Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
DATE:DECEMBER 1, 2008 CMR:453:08
REPORT TYPE: CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT:Request for Authorization for Vice Mayor to Send a Letter Requesting
that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara Extend the
Public Review Period for the Draft Stanford Sustainable Development
Study
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Vice Mayor to sign and transmit the attached
letter (Attachment A) to the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara requesting an
extension of the public review period for the draft Stanford University Sustainable Development
Study (SDS) to atlow time for formal review and comment by the Planning and Transportation
Commission and City Council.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara County Planning Department released the draft Stanford University Sustainable
Development Study (SDS) on November 3, 2008 for public review. The study was distributed in
compact disk fOlanat to Council and the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) on
November 13 and was made available to the public at City Hall, the Development Center and the
City Libraries.
As explained in the County Planning Department’s staff report, completion and County approval of
the SDS is a requirement of the adopted Stanford Community Plan (SCP) and General Use Permit
(GUP). The County scheduled local public meetings of the Stanford Community Resource Group
and the County Planning Commission at the Palo Alto Art Center on November 13 and 20,
respectively, to provide opportunities for public review and comment prior to the County Board of
Supervisors’ review at its regular meeting on December 9, 2008. The County’s schedule, however
does not allow sufficient time for formal review and comment by the PTC and Council.
DISCUSSION
The draft letter (Attachment A) requests that the County Board of Supervisors postpone its review
and action on the SDS until later in February 2009 in order to provide time for the PTC to review the
CMR: 453:08 Page 1 of 2
document on January 21 and transmit its comments to Council for consideration in early February.
Additional time is needed d.u.e to the limited number of scheduled PTC and Council meetings during
December and January. Staff has informed County Planning staff of this possible extension request
and they indicated that it would not result in processing delays if it is granted.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There are no resource impacts of the staff recommendation, other than staff time to prepare materials
for the Commission and Council meetings.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Council action to approve transmittal of a letter requesting a time extension for review of the
Sustainable Development Study is not a project under Section 21065 of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA).
CATHERINE SIEGEL
Advance Planning Manager
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
CURTIS WILLIAMS
Interim Director of Planning and Community Environment
City
ATTACHMENTS
A. Draft Letter to Pete McHugh, Chair of the Board of Supervisors Dated December 2, 2008
B. Informational Memo Dated November 13, 2008 Transmitting the Stanford Sustainable
Development Study to Council
CMR: 453:08 Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT A
Pete McHugh, Chair, Board of Supervisors
County of Santa Clara
County Government Center
70 West Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
December 2, 2008
RE: Request for Extension of Public Review Period for the Stanford Sustainable
Development Study (SDS)
Dear Supervisor McHugh:
The City of Palo Ako appreciates the opportunity to review the Stanford Sustainable
Development Study (SDS), transmitted to the City on November 7, 2008. On behalf of
the City Council, however, I am writing to request that the Board of Supervisors
postpone at least until late February 2009 the scheduled Board hearing on the SDS in
order to allow sufficient time for review and comment by the Planning and
Transportation Commission and City Council of the City of Palo Alto. Our
Commission would be able to consider the SDS on January 21, 2009 and the City
Council would then conduct its review on February 2, 2009.
The SDS document presents a very detailed and thorough analysis of future land use,
growth strategies and environmental factors for Stanford University lands which have
the potential to affect the City of Palo Alto. The City of’Palo Alto would appreciate
your consideration in extending your schedule so that our Planning and Transportation
Commission and City Council have an adequate opportunity to fully participate in a
meaningful review of this important document.
Sincerely,
Peter Drekmeier, Vice Mayor
City of Palo Alto
cc: Liz Kniss, Supervisor, District 5, County of Santa Clara
Dan Garber, Chair, Planning and Transportation Commission, City of Palo Alto
ATTACHMENT B
CITY OF PALO ALTO
Memorandum
TO:
FROM:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
DATE:
REPORT TYPE:
SUBJECT:
NOVEMBER 13, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
Stanford Sustainable Development Study
Attached for the Council’s information is a compact disc containing the draft Stanford
Sustainable Development Study, produced by Stanford and the Santa Clara County Planning
Department. The study was prepared in response to a requirement of the General Use Permit
with the County, adopted in 2000, and describes how future development of the academic
campus could be accommodated on the University campus while protecting environmentally
sensitive areas and features. The study does not cover areas (such as the Medical Center and
Shopping Center) within the City of Palo Alto.
The study is being presented to the Community Resource Group on Thursday, November 13th at
7:00 p.m. in the Palo Alto Art Center and to the County Planning Commission on Thursday,
November 20th, at 7:00 p.m., also at the Art Center. The study will then be presented to the
County Board of Supervisors on December 9th in County Chambers in San Jose.
Hard copies of the study are available at the City’s Development Center (285 Hamilton Ave.),
the Planning Department on the 5th floor of City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.), and the City Clerk’s
office, and copies of the CD have been forwarded to the City’s libraries. The study may also be
viewed on the County Planning Department’s website at: www.sccplanning.org.
CURTIS WILLIAMS
Interim Director of Planning and
Community Environment
Attachment: CD