Title
Study Session Summary of March 5, 2019 - Update on Downtown Specific Plan Amendment
Summary
Call to Order:
Vice Mayor Russ Melton called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
City Councilmembers Present:
Vice Mayor Russ Melton
Councilmember Glenn Hendricks
Councilmember Nancy Smith
Councilmember Michael S. Goldman
Councilmember Mason Fong
City Councilmembers Absent:
Mayor Larry Klein (recused)
Councilmember Gustav Larsson (recused)
Study Session Summary:
Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development, delivered a presentation summarizing three developments proposed for the Downtown Specific Plan Area.
Councilmembers asked questions and made comments:
Architecture
* A comment that the buildings should be more "wedding cake" and less boxy.
* What are the building heights for the CityLine project?
* Appreciation was expressed for the CityLine sub-block 3 (Redwood Square) project and the trade-off of additional height for more open space. A range of heights for CityLine's residential buildings is desirable.
* Questions on how Murphy Square's existing plaza could be replicated.
* The desire for more building articulation was mentioned by several Councilmembers.
* Concerns with so much steel and glass.
* A comment that there may not be total support in the community for tall buildings.
* The project at Murphy Square should open up at the corner facing Murphy Avenue and should match the adjacent architectural style.
* More vibrant design, including more "wedding cake" design, is desirable.
* The community should discuss trading height for open space.
Housing
* The 750-maximum net new housing units were noted with a question of whether there was a minimum number of units, and the number of each type of unit.
* What percentage of the housing units proposed are affordable?
Site Planning and Wayfinding
* Better wayfinding is needed in Downtown.
* There is a need for better wayfinding for parking in the downtown area.
* More community space in Redwoo...
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