REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
FILE #: 2016-7068
Location: 160 Aries Way (APN 209-07-007)
Proposed Project: DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT INITIATION: Request to study a change to the land use designation of a portion of Block 1a of the Downtown Specific Plan from very high density residential to retail and office, as well as increase the allowable height from 85 feet to100 feet.
Applicant/Owner: Andy Kasik
Environmental Review: Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061 (b) (3) because the mere initiation of a study is not a project with the potential to cause a significant impact on the environment.
Project Planner: Gerri Caruso (408) 730-7591
BACKGROUND
General Plan Amendment Initiation (GPI) requests are heard on a quarterly basis through a recommendation from the Planning Commission and then action by the City Council. A Specific Plan Amendment initiation (also referred to as GPI) and Specific Plan Amendment are processed in the same manner as a General Plan amendment. The process for considering a General Plan or Specific Plan amendment begins with a written request from a property owner or applicant. If the Council approves the GPI, a formal application for a General Plan Amendment (GPA) or Specific Plan Amendment (SPA) can be filed by the property owner/applicant. While staff is processing the GPA/SPA application, the applicant may also file a project application and related items for concurrent processing. Current City Council practice is to consider the GPA/SPA before the project is scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing.
Staff received a GPI request from the applicant on January 29, 2016. The applicant is requesting a change to the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) land use designation for the portion of Block 1a that has not yet been redeveloped (DSP Map/Attachment 1). The site is 22,030 s.f. (approx. 0.51 acres) and is the current location of a U.S. Post Offic...
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