REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
2014 4th Quarterly Consideration of GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT INITIATION REQUEST
File #: 2014-7958
Location: 690 E. Arques Avenue (APN: 201-31-005)
Proposed Project: Request to study a General Plan Land Use Designation change from Industrial to Schools, Residential High Density, or other designation that would accommodate a middle and high school. This Study may include other properties in the vicinity and evaluate other General Plan designations.
Applicant / Owner: Summit Public Schools / 690 East Arques LLC.
Environmental Review: Environmental Review is not required to initiate a General Plan study. The individual studies and potential future projects will be subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Report
BACKGROUND
The Sunnyvale General Plan is a fundamental policy document used for guiding the City through change and growth. It addresses the physical development of the City and, when used together with a larger body of City Council policies, provides direction for decision-making on City services and resources. It is both a long-range and a strategic planning document, containing long-term goals and policies for the next 10-20 years and strategic actions for the next 5-10 years. As community needs and values change, the City periodically reviews and updates the General Plan to remain a realistic document to achieve the community's vision.
The process for reviewing changes to the General Plan land use designations requested by property owners or project applicants is through a General Plan Amendment (GPA) study. The first step is to request that the City Council initiate a study through a General Plan Amendment Initiation (GPI). If the Council initiates the request, a formal application for a GPA may be filed.
In late 2013, the City Council adopted a revised process for considering GPIs which included a limit of four hearings on GPIs each year. Previously GPIs coul...
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