REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Acceptance of the Preferred Framework Plan for the Downtown Precise Plan.
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
Over the course of the last year, the City and the Downtown Community Task Force (DCTF) have solicited community input and crafted and refined a preferred land use "framework plan" for achieving the community vision for a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented Downtown that, in alignment with community input, is "authentic, adaptable, and affordable". The vision for the design of Downtown emphasizes a restored street grid, open spaces for community gathering, human scale and pedestrian comfort, building height variation and a diversity uses.
At their June 17, 2021 meeting, the DCTF accepted the Preferred Framework Plan for the Downtown Precise Plan. The Preferred Framework Plan includes the attached diagrams for Streets and Public Spaces, Ground Floor Uses, and Urban Form. These diagrams will be the basis for developing portions of the Precise Plan, including goals and policies and design standards and guidelines, as well as serving as the project description with which to start the environmental review process.
DISCUSSION
The development capacity under the existing General Plan Downtown Focus Area includes areas designated as High Density Residential, Community Mixed Use, and Downtown Core. The Downtown Core development capacity is estimated to be 396 housing units and 130,000 square feet of non-residential development, not including civic uses.
The Preferred Framework Plan for the Downtown Precise Plan would provide increased development capacity for Downtown. The Framework Plan has been developed with a focus upon building form and height, and includes a base allowable height limit and a bonus height limit. The maximum base heights are established with financial feasibility in mind and range from three stories along Benton Street to eight stories in th...
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