HomeMy WebLinkAbout0143.095·,-;..j-~-~ -
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City of Palo Alto
City ~Ianager's Report
HONORABLE CITY COliNCIL
mOM: CITY MANAGER
AGENDA DATE: Febrvary ll, 1995
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
CMR! 143:95
Staff I espoases 10 information requested by the City Council at
JIUlUlil'J' 30, 1m ..-ting CD the C<lw.,.-ehensive PIau Update
AI !he January 30. 1995 City Council meeting Council requested additior.al infonnatiot>.oo
analysis regarding propo5<d bousing policies for the City of Palo Alto. Specifically, City
Council cIirecIcd .!aIf 10 retunl with a more iIHlep!h analysis of the housing proposal>
wntalncd in CMR 488:94, dated November 1, 1994, aDd 10 provide addiliooal informalion
. reg&I<ling secood units m P1Jo Alto.
PISQJSSION
The City Manag .... ) ~ aDd !he Plannin! aDd CommuniI)' EftvirorunenI Department bave
prepartd separale responses 10 !he Cily Council's request. We believe !here are maay
similarities in II>e IIjlp£OIIdIIO die bousiD& issues before 11! i. Palo Aho as presented in those
reports. II is importanllbal the Council understand the IIaIure of those policy alternatives
priot 10 any adioo. on the draft goals and progruns for bousing. The purpose of ~ two
reports is 10 provide the Council with the broadest ...... , of opOOns 10 consider in
determining future goW, policies aDd programs relaled 10 ~.
roycy IMPLICATIONS
The policy implications of ai_live bowing policies rc>oIve 1fOU00 certain hy issues.
Tradi:ionally. Palo Aho bas relied upoll very stringenc rule, re&atding bousing development,
aDd commumly sentimelll for adding IllOf"C rule. (Ie pbysical ckve10pment paramelers) has
become slronger over Ihe yean. if. housin, proIllIype !Onina opproach is coos~ by
the City Cour>cil. it sbouId be pointed ()U( 1M! iI is I substaJIIW shift in approach from the
ruIe-driwn development regulations embraced by the City in !he past. Sccoodly, the reports
embody I discussion of various elements of housing: lard IISC. it. density and housing
CilIR: 143:95 Poe' 101 z
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producIlype 01 residential development; design, whiel! includes boIh siling Ind orchi!t'.cturaJ
. upcdS oIlCsiclentiol and mb.td lise development; and the discre1iooary review proo:sses
necessary 10 fociIita/e hoosinJ development. All are impor!a>lt compooenlS 10 consider, and
all bve .mtinct policy impIicIlioos. IS identifie<l in the re'pective reports. Finally. I
I\mdameotal impIica!ioc 01 shifting III hoo:sing pOOcies .... hieb would allow f« product type
expedBlions. lower density. and I por1ion 01 fair share housing al!ocalioo based 00 the
e~ !hal IOOle cammercial propei'!ieJ would redevelop ioto lwusing is !he greater
saulilly and perIIaps hipe.: risk ;" !he ~ HCD review and required approval process 01
!he City', Housina EIemenI. lA ts.!enct, !he IatlU .. 'ould require slcillM negotiating with
Planning IIItf and HCD IIItf 10 accomplish approval oIllle City'. ultimate Housing Elemenr
product.
"SCAl' IMPACT
CMIU39:9S
CMR:142:9S
Comprehensive Plan AcIv'.sory Comrnillee', Draft Goals, Policies and
Programs f« !he New Comprehensive Plan -Response 10 Council
Request f<x Additiooal Inf<lrnlaOOn 00 Boosing IsSl>es
Proposals for C9D1prehensive Plan Ad>isory Committee', Draft Goal',
POOcies and Programs
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: ~I M b~
JUNE FLEMING
City Manager
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