REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Amend the Lawrence Station Area Plan: Forward a Recommendation to the City Council to Select a Preferred Housing Study and Direct Staff to Complete Required Environmental Review.
Project Planner: George Schroeder, (408) 730-7443, gschroeder@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
The Lawrence Station Area Plan (LSAP) was adopted by the City Council on December 6, 2016, at which time the Council also directed staff to return with a plan to study additional housing opportunities within the LSAP area. Creating new opportunities for residential development near transit is consistent with the goals of the Sunnyvale General Plan and responds to a need in the community for additional housing.
An initial step in the study for additional housing opportunities in the LSAP is to select the preferred method to increase housing options. The chosen method will be used as the project description for evaluating environmental impacts and necessary plan amendments. The LSAP Plan Amendment and environmental review is expected to be completed in Spring 2019.
Staff is proposing three housing study alternatives for consideration (maps shown in Attachment 7 provides a visualization of these options):
* Option 1 - Greater density: This option would increase the maximum units per acre in zoning districts where residential development is already allowed in the LSAP.
* Option 2 - Expand area for housing: This would allow residential development in LSAP zoning districts that were not originally designated for residential uses.
* Option 3 - Combination of Option 1 and 2.
Staff recommends studying Option 3 because it provides the most potential for residential growth while also preserving the opportunity for other land uses to be built within the LSAP district.
This item is scheduled for the City Council meeting of May 22, 2018, but it is planned for continuation for the meeting of June 26, 2018.
BACKGROUND
The City Council adopted the LS...
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