REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Recommendation on a General Plan Amendment to Remove the Lawrence Station Phase II, Central Expressway, and De La Cruz Focus Areas
Report
BACKGROUND
The City's General Plan has nine Focus Areas that includes four Focus Areas south of the Caltrain corridor and five Future Focus Areas north of the Caltrain corridor, as shown in the Focus Areas map (Attachment 1). The purpose of these Focus Areas is to encourage improvements and new development tailored to the character and quality of these areas and represent locations with opportunities for more intense development.
The proposed General Plan Amendment will remove the following three Focus Areas: Lawrence Station Phase II (west of Lawrence Expressway), Central Expressway, and De La Cruz. Staff proposes to remove these three focus areas in that the existing conditions are inconsistent with future housing goals.
DISCUSSION
The General Plan has a multi-phase implementation strategy to guide development. Phasing provides the foundation for continued re-evaluation of the development and service goals of the General Plan. In practice, Focus Areas have represented locations with anticipation of residential development opportunities. The Downtown, Tasman East and Lawrence Station Focus Areas have resulted in the development of a Precise Plan and Specific Plans with significant amounts of new residential development. Over time, the City has satisfied housing needs in these new Specific Plans and other areas as outlined in the sixth cycle of the General Plan's Housing Element.
The adopted Housing Element demonstrates that the City has adequate capacity to produce housing during this sixth cycle, which is generally co-terminus with the timeframe of the City of Santa Clara General Plan. The City created a variety of sites to develop high-density housing during this cycle, including the Tasman East and Patrick Henry Drive specific plans, and the approved Greys...
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