REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Strategy for Additional Parkland in the Tasman East Specific Plan Area, in Conjunction with an Amendment to Add 1,500 Units to the Specific Plan
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing, and Transportation Development /
Enhance Sports, Recreation and Arts Assets
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following City Council approval to proceed with the preparation of an Amendment to the Tasman East Specific Plan (TESP) to add up to 1,500 housing units, the City Council directed staff to increase the planned amount of parkland with the TESP as a requirement for this additional capacity. Staff is recommending that the City Council direct staff to move forward with a strategy to purchase parklands within the TESP area utilizing Parkland Dedication Ordinance (PDO) funds collected by the City from TESP development projects. Staff came to this recommendation in part after evaluating the potential for additional land dedication within the undeveloped portion of the TESP Plan area and determining that reliance upon land dedication to add parklands beyond those already in the TESP Open Space Framework would be undesirable.
BACKGROUND
The Tasman East Specific Plan was adopted by the City Council in November 2018 with the goal of establishing a new, urban residential neighborhood in north Santa Clara in proximity to jobs, transit and other planned amenities. The TESP covers approximately 45 acres of developable land area and with an anticipated average density of approximately 100 units / acre, supports the development of 4,500 residential units along with up to 106,000 square feet of supporting non-residential uses.
The City has received eleven project applications within the TESP area (Attachment 1). These applications essentially use up the existing TESP capacity, representing 4,485 of the 4,500 units available, but utilize only about 65% of the TESP land area. Notably, these projects include two 100% affordable projects and a senior h...
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