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Home My WebLink About2000-01-18 City Council (18)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: "CITY MANAGER JANUARY 18, 2000 ..... DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT CMR:!I~:90. FUTURE. OF SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS ADVISORY GROUP This is an informational report and no Council action is required. BACKGROUND On December 6, 1999, an informational report was sent to the City Council describing the Planning Department’s intended approach to address single family neighborhood compatibility issues. As part of its review, staff proposed the establishment of a Future of Single Family Neighborhoods Advisory Group (Advisory Group)..The purpose of the Advisory Group is to provide input to the Director of Planning and Community Environment (Director) on final recommendations to the City Council to comprehensively address concerns related to the compatibility of new and remodeled single family residences within neighborhoods. Members of the Advisory Group were to be chosen by the Director and the Advisory Group co-chairpersons to represent a variety of "stakeholders," including neighborhood representatives, members of the design and development communities, realtors and builders. Annette Glanckopf Ashton, Carroll Harrington, and John Northway agreed to act as co-chairs of the Advisory Group. The following briefly describes the process for selection and identifies the members of the Advisory Group. DISCUSSION On December 3, 1999, the Department of Planning and Community Environment sent informational packets to an extensive list of neighborhood associations, civic groups, and other interested parties, inviting applications for the Advisory Group. The informational packet included a letter briefly describing the purpose of the Advisory Group, an application and a copy of the selection criteria (See Attachment A). Informational packets were also sent to all individuals for whom addresses could be identified who CMR:117:00 Page 1 of 3 participated in the discussions leading to the development of the document titled, "The Future of Residential Structures in Palo Alto," submitted to the City Council in March 1998. An application deadline of December 20, 1999 was identified. However, the Director and Co-Chairpersons felt that because o~f the holiday rush and a desire to be as )0 ¯ , ¯Inclusive as possible, apphcat~ons should be accepted~up until the ’.last minute." In addit~ion to the letters soliciting applications from a range of community groups, the Planning Commission~Chairperson was asked "to identify a representative. The Difector also talked withseveral builders to ensure representation-by the development industry on the Advisory Group. Twenty-six applications were received by January 3, 2000. The following individuals have been selected to serve on the Advisory Group: THE FUTUREOF SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS~ ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERSHIP cO-CHAIRS: Annette Glanckopf Ashton Carroll Harrington John C. Northway COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES: M. Catherine Carroll Pria Graves D. Michael Griffin Mark Kriss George H. Stem Donald Stone Susie Thom Shirley Wilson West Palo Alto (Barron Park) West Palo Alto (College Terrace) North Palo Alto (Downtown North) West Palo Alto (Barron Park Neighborhood Association) South Palo Alto (Midtown) South Palo Alto (Palo Verde) South Palo Alto (Charleston Terrace) North Palo Alto (Crescent Park Homeowners Association) STAKEHOLDER GROUPS: Richard Elmore David Olerich Steve Pierce Judith Wasserman Peter Vilkin Designer Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Developer/Realtor Architect Developer PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE: Jon Schink CMR: 117:00 Page 2 of 3 There were a number of’ excellent~candidates and it was difficult to make the final decisions. However, the co-chairs and staff feel the final composition of the Advisory Group will ensure a geographical balahc~ an’d~:~~13resentatives of a variety of viewpoints and backgrounds. The first meeting of the Advisory Group is scheduled for January 20, 2000 at Cubberley Community Center. ATTACHMENTS A.Informational packet for applicants to the Future bfSingle Family Neighborhoods Advisory Group. PREPARED BY: Joan D. Taylor, Associate Planne~" ’ DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: G. EDWARD GAWF Director of Planning and Community Environment ~.(NI~. yL~MING ~y_.~anager cc: Advisory Group Members CMR:117:00 Page 3 of 3 Attachment Ci ,tyof PaloAlto Department of Planning and Community Environment A December 3, 1999 Planning Division At the direction of the Palo Alto City Council, the Department of Planning and ~ommuni~ Environment has begun a study of the effect of residential change on neighborhood Character. This studyis a response to the continui’ng community doncerh with newer single family house construction that may be incompatible with the existing streetscapeand affect adjacentneighbors. ’~ "~ = ~’ ¯ ~ To assist in our review, I am forming a Future of Residential Housing in Palo Alto Advisory Group of approximately thirteen persons. The function of this group will be to provide input to Planning Division staffand myself on a discussion of the issue~, emerging problems, community opinions, and proposed solutions. The Advisory Group will represent a variety of viewpoints and include members of the development, design, and real estate communities, representatives ofneighb0rhood associations, and interested residents of our city. I am sending this letter to you as a representative of a neighborhood association, civic group, or as an individual who has expressed interest in this issue. Participation in the Advisory Group will involve a significarg time commitment.. We anticipate meeting twice per month for approximately two hours over a period of four to five months. A major goal of the Advisory Group will be an inclusive approach to represent all points of view. Meetings will be open and, at this time, we are planning a minimum of two public workshops. The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 20, 2000 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Information onthe specific location will be available at a later date. I.am pleased that Carroll Hardngton (graphic designer), Annette Glanckopf Ashton (health care consultant), and Jolm Northway (architect) have already agreed to serve as Co-Chairs of the Advisory Group at my request. Anyone interested in serving on the Advisory Group return the enclosed application describing thek interest in serving on the Advisory Group, a brief description of their background and knowledge of the issues, whether a representative of a group (e.g., Neighborhood AssociatiOn, civic group), how long they have lived in Palo Alto, and any information on specific time constraints. The letter should be addressed or faxed to Joan Taylor, Planning Division, at the address and fax number liste~i below and received no later than December 20, 1999. 250 Hamilton Avenue P.O. Box 10250 Palo Alto, CA 94303 650.329.2441 650.329.2154 fax Advisory Group Letter December 2, 1999 Page 2 of 2 I encourage you to read theInformational Memorandum sent to the City Council outlining Plamaing’s initial work on this issue and proposal for the creation of the Adviso~ ,Group. There is also a very thoughtful document available rifled, "The Future of Residential Strdetures in Palo Alto - March 1998.". If you would like copies, they are .available at,~the City of pal ,o~ Alto DevelopmentCenter, 285 Hamilton Avenue, Planning Division, 5u’ Floor, City Hall, or by calling 329-2441. You may also call this number if you would be interested in receiving information about future meetings or workshops. If you have any que~i6nsor would like to discuss this proposal, please feel £re¢ to talk with any one of the Co-Chairs, either Carroll Harrington, Annette Ashton, or John Northway. Please feel free, as well, to call Joan Taylor at 329-2:170 or myselfat 329:r~ .2354. ~.. ~ I look forward to hearing from you and to a pos.itive, productive, lively, and interesting discussion of this very important topic in the months ahead. Sincerely, G. EDWARD GAWF Diree.tor : Department ofPlannin.’ g and Community Environment Attachments: 1. Criteria for selection of members for the Future Of Residential Housing in Pale Alto Advisory Group 2.. Application for Advisory Group ...... CRITERIA FORSELECTION oFMEM.BERS FOR THE FUTURE OF SIDENTIAL HOUSING ADVISORY GROUP The erit~rialisted below are intended to identify individuals who will represent a wide variety 6f e’omu’iunity viewpoints regarding the compatibility of new and extensively remodeled’ sfiagle’family homes in existing neighborhoods. The Advisory Group will include no more than 16 to 18 members; a minimum of one-half the rn’embers of the Advisory Group will be Selected tO represent neighborhood concerns. The remaining members will be chosen to represent stakeholder groups including real estate, developers/builders, and design professionals. Criteria for Selectiont. 1. Interest and enthusiasm in serving on the advisory group. Knowledge and experience relating to the issues to be discussed. Previous participation on commissions/boards/associations related to land-me issues, design experience, and/or personal experience would be desirable. 3. Representative of a group or association. 4.Available to participate actively in the advisory group. Willingness to pursue some self-directed activities. 5.Ability to objectively consider others’ opinions, open to other ideas and creative solutions. Willingness to participate in small group discussions. 6.Knowledge of Palo Alto and length of residency. 7.Ability to understand K-1 Zoning Code regulations. 8.Geographical representation. The criteria are not weighted and the numbering does not imply a hierarchy. Application - Advisory. Group Future of Residential Housing in Palo Alto Background information for this advisory group is available at the. Palo Alto Development Center, 285 Hamilton Avenue (9 c~m. to 4p.m.) or the .Planning Division, City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, 5th Floor. Name’. Address: City/Zip: Phone Number: E-Mail: FAX Number: Why d6 you want to participate in this advisory group? Previous Community Involvement, particularly if’related to land use issues or residential design: Length of time Palo Alto resident: ’ Representative Of a group orassoeiation: The time commitment for this advisory group is a min~um of seven advisory meetings and two public workshops (evening or Saturday). The meetings wili be held the 1~t and 3~d Thursday evenings of each month beginning January 20, 2000 and continuing for approximately five months..Please list any planned constraints on your availability during this period. Thank you for submitting an application. This application may be returned to Joan Taylor no later than December 20, 1999 by FAX at 650-329-2154 or mailed to City of Palo Alto, Department of Planning and Community Environment, Plaming Division, City Hall, P.O. Box 10250, Palo Alto, CA 94303. If you would like to submit online, please E-Mail to diana_tamale@eity.palo-aIto.ea.us: