City of Santa Clara logo

Legislative Public Meetings

File #: 21-1539    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Consent Calendar Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 10/21/2021 In control: Council and Authorities Concurrent Meeting
On agenda: 11/9/2021 Final action: 11/9/2021
Title: Action on a Budget Amendment for Revisions to the El Camino Real Specific Plan
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Budget Amendment for Revisions to the El Camino Real Specific Plan

Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development

BACKGROUND
Following City Council direction, staff has worked since 2017 with community members and a City Council appointed Community Advisory Committee to prepare a Specific Plan for the El Camino Real Focus Area identified in the General Plan. The intent of the Specific Plan is to provide policy direction for new land development along the El Camino Real Corridor, as well as for the future use of the El Camino Real road right-of-way.

A draft Specific Plan, including land uses as recommended by the Community Advisory Committee, was presented for City Council adoption at the June 15, 2021 City Council meeting. Although the proposed land use plan and land use designations had been previously reviewed and supported by the City Council, at the conclusion of the City Council's consideration of the item, the Council directed staff to significantly modify the proposed General Plan Land Use Designations for the Specific Plan so that the maximum heights for the three land use designations (Corridor Residential, Corridor Mixed Use and Regional Mixed Use) are 2, 3 and 4 stories respectively.

On July 6, 2021 staff returned to the City Council to provide additional information, and possible alternatives, and requesting direction on the next steps for the El Camino Real Specific Plan. Staff explained that the revised height limits would likely correspond to significant reductions in land density from what had been studied in the project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and require additional funding for CEQA analysis.

On October 19, 2021 staff returned to the City Council to clarify the full scope of work required to implement the City Council direction. Staff also further evaluated possible options for the Specific Plan taking the City Council's questions and...

Click here for full text