REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
CONTINUED FROM MAY 22, 2018 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Amend the Lawrence Station Area Plan: Select a Preferred Housing Study and Direct Staff to Complete Required Environmental Review.
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Planning Commission considered this item on May 14, 2018. Six members of the public spoke on the item. The speakers were property owners within the Lawrence Station Area Plan (LSAP), community members, and a real estate professional. All speakers supported the staff recommendation to study Option 3 - the method with the highest increase in housing units that includes expanded areas for housing. Some of the speakers requested consideration of higher densities beyond what was presented in Option 3, particularly in the M-S/LSAP area.
The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of Alternatives 1 and 2 as shown below:
1. Select Option 3 as the preferred alternative for study, which would increase the density allowance for MXD-I and MXD-II zoned areas and expand the area for housing as depicted in Attachment 7 to the report; and,
2. Direct staff to proceed with the study to amend the Lawrence Station Area Plan and the related environmental review.
3. The motion also included the following modifications beyond the staff recommendation:
a. The LSAP will include language to ensure coordination with the future pedestrian and bicycle improvements that will be included in the update of the Moffett Park Specific Plan;
b. Study a pedestrian/bicycle route from the area east of Calabazas Creek to the Lawrence Caltrain Station, potentially in the LSAP Sense of Place Plan study; and,
c. The maximum studied density in the M-S/LSAP zoning district (the area east of the Calabazas Creek) should be increased from 54 dwelling units per acre (du/ac) to 100 du/ac.
The Planning Commission stated higher densities may be appropriate near a major transit station, but concern was voiced about the potential for increased tr...
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