PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 17-011 - FIRST READING - Approve amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Element (CPTA 17-001) and related Future Land Use Map Amendments (LUAR 17-004). City-initiated.

In October of 2016, the City adopted the CRA Community Redevelopment Plan.  The proposed amendments to the text of the Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Element and the Future Land Use Map seek to implement the Plan’s recommendations pertaining to the Future Land Use (FLU) classification system.

In addition, the amendments adjust applicable policies for consistency with the amendments to the policies of the Coastal Management Element adopted in 2016, and modify other objectives/policies to account for completions and changes in the City’s vision/programs.

The proposed changes to the FLU classification system affect solely residential and mixed use land use categories and include elimination of existing and addition of new categories, as well as changes to maximum density thresholds. These changes trigger city-wide concurrent map amendments.

The main changes to FLU categories include:

• Elimination of Moderate Density Residential (merged with Low Density Residential)

• Elimination of Mixed Use

• Elimination of Mixed Use Suburban (replaced with Mixed Use Low)

• Addition of Mixed Use Low and Mixed Use Medium

• Density increases for Low Density Residential (5 to 7.5 du/acre); Mixed Use Medium (10 to 11 du/acre); and Mixed Use High (11 to 15 du/acre)

The corresponding map amendments will be as follows:

• All Moderate Density Residential properties will be reclassified to Low Density Residential
• All High Density Residential properties will be reclassified to Medium Density Residential
• All Mixed Use properties will be reclassified to Mixed use Low, Moderate or High Density Residential per CRA Plan
• All Suburban Mixed Use properties will be reclassified to Mixed Use Low

The proposed FLU amendments will create a coherent residential and mixed use classification system through elimination of overly large or too small density gaps between certain  FLU categories and integration of the Suburban Mixed Use Category into a unified mixed use framework.

The amendments will allow for  continued  implementation of CRA Plan: they will  support creation of a successful downtown with a well-functioning transit hub, better  “fit” between available FLU categories and vision for each district, and high quality design.

These amendments were reviewed by the Planning & Development Board on March 28th and are forwarded with a recommendation for approval.

Higher densities will in time require adjustments to the City 's programs and services. As redevelopment proceeds, the City will continue to monitor capacity of the water/sewer infrastructure as well as safety services.

The amendments support intensification of development/redevelopment, which, as the City's tax base increases, should have a significant fiscal impact.

Staff recommends no alternatives.

The proposed amendments are related to Action Item #2.3 of the 2015/2016 Strategic Plan.

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