HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 273-06City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
13
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER
June 19, 2006
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
CMR:273:06
REQUEST BY KEENAN LAND COMPANY FOR A COUNCIL LEVEL
PRELIMINARY REVIEW "PRESCREENING" TO REVIEW PRE-
APPLICATION PLANS FOR A PLANNED COMMUNITY PROJECT AT
135 HAMILTON AVENUE
RECOMMENDATION ’"
Staff recommends that the City Council grant the applicant’s request for a preliminary review of
a project at 135 Hamilton Avenue by the City Council, tentatively scheduled for July 10, 2006.
BACKGROUND
Charles J. (Chop) Keenan of Keenan Land Company is proposing a project that would include a
four story building on the vacant lot at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and High Street, and a
parking structure on the City’s Parking Lot ’P’ on High Street. The applicant wishes to have a
preliminary review of the project before submitting an application for a Planned Community and
needs concurrence by Council to have the preliminary review. Project details will be presented
at the preliminary review study session tentatively scheduled for July 10, 2006.
DISCUSSION
PAMC Section 18.97.030 states that concurrence of the City Council is necessary to conduct a
preliminary review. The purposes of a preliminary review are:
a) To maximize opportunities for meaningful public discussion of development projects, at the
earliest feasible time, for the guidance of the public, project proponents, and City decision
makers.
b) To focus public and environmental review of development projects on the issues of greatest
sigllificance to the community, including but not limited to planning concerns, neighborhood
compatibility, Comprehensive Plan consistency, economics, social costs and benefits, fiscal
costs and benefits, technoloNcal factors, and legal issues. These procedures are not intended
CMR:273:06 Page 1 of 3
to permit or foreclose debate on the merits of approval or disapproval of any given
development project.
c) To provide members of the public with the opportunity to obtain early information about
development projects in which they may have an interest.
d) To provide project proponents with the opportunity to obtain early, non-binding preliminary
comments on development projects to encourage sound and efficient private decisions about
how to proceed.
e) To encourage early communication between elected and appointed public officials and staff
with respect to the implementation of City policies, standards, and regulations on particular
development projects.
f) To facilitate orderly and consistent implementation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and
development regulations.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
In lieu of the Council concurring to conduct the study session solely at the Council leve! as
recommended by staff, the Council may choose the following alternatives in accordance with
Section 18.97.040(b):
1)
2)
The Council may direct the study session to be conducted solely by the Planning and
Transportation Commission, or
The Council may direct the Planning and Transportation Commission to initially study
the project before the City Council study session, or
The Council may direct staff to arrange a joint meeting of the City Council and Planning
and Transportation Commission and any other City boards whose p~icipation is deemed
desirable.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Applicants for any preliminary review submit a fee deposit, against which staff time expended to
process the application is charged, as a part of the City’s cost recovery program.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Policy implications of the project would be discussed during the preliminary review before
Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
No environmental review is required for preliminary review. However, environmental issues
would be highlighted for the Council during the preliminary review of this project.
ClVIR:273:06 Page 2 of 3
PREPARED BY:
AMY FRENCH
Manager of Current Planning
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
STEVE ;LIE
Director of Planning and Community Environment
EMIL~RRISON
Assistant City Manager
COURTESY COPIES:
Charles J. (Chop) Keenan, Keenan Land Company
Jim Baer
CMR:273:06 Page 3 of 3