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Home My WebLink AboutCD San Rafael General Plan 2040, Downtown Precise Plan and Zoning Ordinances PPTSan Rafael General Plan 2040 San Rafael City Council Public Hearing: August 2, 2021 Requested Council Actions Adoption of Final EIR Council affirms the adequacy of the CEQA document, including the responses to comments (RESOLUTION) Adoption of CEQA Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations Council finds the project’s benefits outweigh its potentially significant, unavoidable impacts (RESOLUTION) Adoption of General Plan 2040 Council finds General Plan 2040 to be in the public interest and adopts the Plan (RESOLUTION) Adoption of Downtown Precise Plan Council finds Downtown Precise Plan to be in the public interest and adopts the Plan (RESOLUTION) Adoption of Zoning Amendments Commission adopts a) Amendments to Municipal Code rescinding Downtown zoning provisions and adding DMU zone b) Other misc. Code changes c) Downtown Form Based Code (ORDINANCES) AUGUST 2JULY 19 Thank You Steering Committee Members! MEMBERS Stephanie Plante, Chair Omar Carrera, Vice Chair DJ Allison Don Blayney Jenny Broering Maribeth Bushey Bill Carney Berenice Davidson Richard Hall Eric Holm Eleanor Huang Linda Jackson Margaret Johnston Jeff Jones Bonnie Marmor Robert Miller Drew Norton Kate Powers Jeff Rhoads Jackie Schmidt Roger Smith Sparkie Spaeth Karen Strolia Cecilia Zamora ALTERNATES Salvador Avalos Laura Bertolli Hilda Castillo Kate Colin Paula Doubleday Cicily Emerson Jim Geraghty Jed Greene Brad Honsberger Amy Likover Jack McGinn Sara Matson Larry Minikes Kati Miller Samantha Sargent Alan Schaevitz Kif Scheurer Jeff Schoppert Judy Schriebman Leslie Simons Stewart Summers Joanne Webster FORMER COMMITTEE MEMBERS Bella Bromberg * Pamela Reaves * Eric Spielman Planning Commission Actions JUNE 29 Resolution 1: CEQA Findings, Statement of Overriding Considerations, MMRP •EIR found significant unavoidable impacts on air quality, cultural resources, GHG, transportation •Resolution recites these findings and all mitigation measures •SOC explains why benefits of project outweigh the environmental impacts ECONOMIC •Business attraction and retention •Economic diversification •Job growth •Industrial land protection •Workforce housing •Workforce development •Downtown growth •Arts expansion •Productive use of land ENVIRONMENTAL •Expanded focus on climate change •Amplifies CCAP programs •Strategies to reduce VMT •Focuses growth in urban areas (TOD) •Air and water quality pols •Energy and water conservation pols •Open space protection SOCIAL •Promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion •Applies equity lens to programs/projects •Environmental justice pols •Expanded housing opportunities •Anti-displacement strategy •Enhances public space/arts •Transportation choiceBENEFITS Planning Commission Actions JUNE 29 Resolution 2: Adoption of General Plan 2040 Adopts GP 2040 as San Rafael’s long-range plan •Recites project history and work products •Documents community engagement •Finds that public interest will be served by adoption of the GP (each element’s contribution is reviewed) •Finds that Plan retains basic urban/ open space framework and is consistent with regional plans/ service provider plans •Finds that Plan advances the guiding principles and vision for 2040 Planning Commission Actions JUNE 29 Edits to General Plan 2040 since July 19 •Acknowledge importance of individual / private sector actions to achieving the Plan’s goals (wildfire prevention, water conservation, GHG reduction, etc.) •Avoid naming of specific non-profits and advocacy groups •Acknowledge potential partners in preparing an Economic Development Strategy •EDI Element--Clarify equity, equality, diversity •Recognize that diversity also reflects the spectrum of conditions over one’s life (citizenship, disability, veterans, mental health, etc.) Planning Commission Actions JUNE 29 Resolution: Adoption of Downtown Precise Plan Adopts Precise Plan as guiding plan for 265-acre Downtown area •Recites project history and work products •Documents community engagement •Finds that the DPP is consistent with General Plan 2040 and will sustain and enhance Downtown San Rafael •Public interest will be served by adoption of the DPP (promotes housing production, quality design, mobility improvements, etc.) •DPP promotes development that is harmonious with area’s character (historic preservation, upper story stepbacks, etc.) Planning Commission Actions JUNE 29 Edits to Downtown Precise Plan since July 19 •Emphasize compassionate, pro-active approach to addressing needs of unhoused residents, focused on permanent supportive housing •Clarify City vs County (and other entity) roles and responsibilities for addressing homelessness Planning Commission Actions JUNE 29 Edits to Precise Plan Not Included (1) Reduce allowable height bonus in West End “triangle” from 20 feet to 10 feet (2) Advocacy for designation of NW Pacific Depot as historic landmark Request for 40’ base w/ 10’ bonus Comments Received Since 7/30/21 •Sustainable San Rafael –urging swift implementation of GP climate measures •Sierra Club –urging adoption of tree protection ordinance •DeWitt 1 –clarifying West End Village vs West End •DeWitt 2 –urging adoption of tree protection ordinance Ordinance 1: Code Amendments •Eliminate descriptions of 4SRC, HO, CSMU, 2/3MUE, 2/3MUW, WEV, 5/M R/O •Rescind development standards and use tables for zones that will no longer exist •Rescind height bonuses for “skywalks” •Rescind Downtown height maps and bonus discussions •Other editorial/ clerical changes to maintain internal consistency •Add cross-references to DPP and new DMU zone (with map) Additional Code Amendments Unrelated to Precise Plan 14.17.040: LARGE FAMILY DAY CARE •Regulated by State Dept of Social Services •Small facilities (less than 8 children) allowed by right •Large facilities (8-14 children) could previously be regulated by Use Permit (with limits) •SB 234 (2019) applies same standard for small facilities to large facilities •City may no longer require Use Permit •City has been complying in practice, but informally TIME LIMITS FOR ZONING PERMITS •SRMC Title 14 specifies zoning permits (Variance, Use Permit, etc.) are valid for one year •Building permit must be issued in this time •Not always feasible, so City’s practice has been to grant two-year zoning permits •Amendment formalizes two-year term for zoning permits •Provides for consistency and easier tracking •Avoids need for extension requests Additional Code Amendments Unrelated to Precise Plan CANNABIS •City has adopted zoning and permit processes for cannabis -based businesses, per State law. Includes cannabis testing, delivery, distribution, and “cannabis-infused products” •State has created additional cannabis license types since 2016 and City regs need to be amended to reflect these changes •City will change “Cannabis Infused Products” to “Cannabis Manufacturing” and allow in industrial zones only •Infusion of pre-extracted Cannabis (oils, etc.) into products will continue to be permitted in C/O zones (but not cannabis manufacturing) •No existing businesses will be impacted by this change Additional Code Amendments Unrelated to Precise Plan Ordinance 2: Adopt Form-Based Code •Chapter 9 of DPP is adopted as the zoning ordinance for Downtown •Includes: 1.Introduction and Purpose 2.Creation of Zones (T4N, T5N, T4MS, T5MS) and all related standards 3.Supplemental Standards (sites, massing, facades, frontages, etc.) 4.Definitions Tonight’s Hearing •Clarifying Questions •Public Comments •Council Discussion •Council action on three Resolutions •Council action on two Ordinances •Second reading of Ordinances on Aug 16 Thank You! All documents are on-line at www.sanrafael2040.org 17