HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-05-07 City Council (6)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVII~ONMENT
DATE:MAY 7, 2001 CMR:233:01
SUBJECT:REQUEST OF TRACT 1371 (ELSINORE DRIVE) PROPERTY
OWNERS FOR CONSIDERATION OF SINGLE STORY
OVERLAY ZONING IN .A PORTION OF THE GARLAND
NEIGHBORHOOD
This is an informational report and no Council action is required. The above request for
single story overlay zoning had been scheduled to be heard by the City Council at the May
7, 2001 meeting. The item was removed from the agenda by staff because additional time
is needed to address the issues that have been recently raised regarding support vs. opposition
by residents. In January, the original boundaries were amended by the proponents to reduce
the area considered for the overlay. This change has escalated concerns by some neighbors
about the status of the proposal. Staff had a neighborhood meeting on April 24 to update
everyone about the status of the single family overlay process with the amended boundaries.
Twenty-sevenresidents attended the meeting. At that time, it was anticipated that the item
would be on the May 7 agenda, and staff informed the residents attending the meeting of the
Council date.
After the meeting, staff received letters from the proponents and opponents giving conflicting
information regarding the status of various residents’ positions. In the last week, two
residents have indicated a desire to change their ballot to oppose the designation and nine
additional residents have requested that they be removed from the boundary for the overlay
area. In addition, staff has received an e-mail from a resident that contests the letters
requesting a change in the ballots. A letter of support was received.
Given these recent developments, staff believes it is important to clarify all of the
information with respect to the ballots and boundaries before this item is brought to the
Council. The proponents have raised concerns about further delay on the Council agenda.
While it may be the case that, within the amended boundary, there is still a majority of
CMR:233:01 Page 1 of 2
residents who. support this overlay, the process requires the Council to determine
"overwhelming" support in order to initiate the overlay process. However, with the recent
requests for removal, staff has yet to finalize what the new boundaries are and how much
support there is for the overlay within those amended boundaries.
Staff is forwarding this information to the Council because some residents have indicated
that they will address the Council on May 7 under Oral Communications. The item has been
removed from the May 7, 2001 agenda and will be placed on a future agenda as soon as staff
clarifies all of the new requests for changes. Staff is also setting up meetings with the
residents who have submitted the request for the overlaydesignatio~t~~these issues
with them.
PREPARED BY:
JOHN LUSARDI
Current Planning Manager
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
G. EDWARD GAWF
Director of Planning and Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR:233:01 Page 2 of 2