REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Study Session: El Camino Real Specific Plan
Report
BACKGROUND
On February 5, 2019, the City Council held a study session to review the development of the El Camino Real Specific Plan. Following staff presentation, 34 members of the community spoke on the project, expressing diverse concerns and interests relating to the development of the Plan. Members of the public spoke strongly both in favor and in opposition to increased residential density and the addition of bicycle lanes. Several housing advocates emphasized the need for more housing, while some community members expressed concerns about loss of retail and stated that new development should include more commercial and recreational uses that would benefit the community. Comments were raised by the City Council to address a roadway option that would eliminate a travel lane (Alternative 3A) and add more residential units to the Environmental Impact Report analysis to create additional capacity (with the assumption that the Plan could ultimately support a smaller number).
El Camino Real is the City's most visible and identifiable commercial corridor. Redevelopment of the existing low-intensity, auto-oriented commercial uses along the corridor into higher density, residential/commercial mixed use is identified as a key land use strategy in the City's 2010 - 2035 General Plan.
While the General Plan established the El Camino Real as a Focus Area for new residential growth, specified land uses and densities for new development, and provided some policy guidance, it also identified the preparation of a Specific Plan as an implementation tool for the Focus Area. The City Council initiated preparation of a Specific Plan for the El Camino Real Focus Area in 2017 to provide a more detailed level of policy and design guidance to support the successful transformation of the corridor.
The objectives for preparation of the Specific Plan are to establish a land use pla...
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