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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission 2012-06-12 #2Community Development Department MEMORANDUM DATE: June 12, 2012 TO: Chair Wise and Commissioners FROM: Katie Korzun, Economic Development Coordinator SUBJECT: Draft Civic Center Station Area Plan; P10-002 On June 12, 2012, the Board will be receiving a presentation on the Draft Civic Center Station Area Plan. The City received a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for two station area plans. San Rafael is the lead agency for the two station area plans; the other public agency partners are Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit, TAM, SMART and the County of Marin. All partners provided some financial contribution to the planning process. The second station area plan is for Downtown San Rafael, which was presented to you in January. The City Council appointed two separate citizen committees to prepare these plans. For the Civic Center area, Council appointed a 16 member Citizen Advisory Committee and retained Fehr and Peers as a consultant to develop the plan. This committee met monthly since September 2010 and held two community workshops. The purpose for the plan is to create a "vision" for the area surrounding the proposed Civic Center SMART station. This type of planning effort is significantly different from a specific plan, in that it does not specify exact zoning or General Plan policy changes. Rather, it identifies a vision from which future policy decisions would be developed. If the City ultimately determines to implement all or portions of the vision, changes to zoning regulations and/or General Plan policies would be developed consistent with the vision. The Draft Plan is being presented to the partner agencies in the planning effort, to interested neighborhood associations, the Design Review Board and the Planning Commission for their consideration and comment during May and June. On July 11, the Advisory Committee will review all submitted comments and will formulate the Final Plan. The Final Plan will be presented to the City Council for acceptance in August. The plan, as a study document, does not require a detailed analysis of consistency with General Plan policies, nor does it require an action by resolution. The Board is being asked to review the draft plan and provide comments. At the meeting, staff will make a presentation explaining the high points of the draft plan. Following the presentation, the Board should ask for public comments, and then provide Board comments. Please review the executive summary and recommendations. The full report can be found at www.cityofsanrafael.orq/stationareaplans.