REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Update on the Bird Safe Design Guidelines (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
The City Council sponsored a Study Issue in 2013, to address the effects of building design and placement on bird populations due to the concerns of birds striking buildings and being harmed or killed. On January 28, 2014, the City Council made a motion to adopt Design Guidelines that included the following specific details (meeting minutes can be found in Attachment 1):
1. Require specific guidelines for projects located within 300 feet of the bay and/or a body of water, the total of which exceeds one acre in size, and/or adjacent to a landscaped area, open space or park larger than one acre in size;
2. City-wide guidelines for other areas;
3. The addition of a condition that stated that no mirrored glass should be used in building construction; and
4. A requirement of monitoring efforts, and a provision that the City look at developing an ordinance on the topic in two years.
As part of the discussion on the matter during the January 28, 2014 City Council hearing, Councilmembers discussed how to review whether the provisions are effective and whether the standards should become zoning code requirements. As part of the discussion about making the standards a part of the zoning code, it was mentioned that the zoning code should be amended for bird safe guidelines only if there is new information that warrants it. There is no new information suggesting zoning code revisions; this information report provides an update on the effectiveness of the current approach.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan
Community Vision
Goal III. Environmental Sustainability: To promote environmental sustainability and remediation in the planning and development of the City, in the design and operation of public and private buildings, in the transportation system, in the use of potable water and in the recycling of waste.
Land Use
Policy LT -1.11 Protect regional environmental res...
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