01 - Laserfiche WebLink

Councilmember Brown expressed concern that changing a feature studied in one context does not necessarily translate with the same impacts in another context. She also questioned staff's description of the Planning Commission's intent with regard to Alternative 8, stating that she was under the impression this had been their preference in the first vote as well. Mr. Dolan said he could not recall the Commission's first vote but in its recommendation, the Commission indicated support for the task force's preferred plan if Alternative 8 were included as an option. Councilmember Pentin asked and Mr. Dolan confirmed that the intent behind shifting the El Charro extension in Alternative 1 is to connect to Shadow Cliffs. Mr. Dolan explained that the idea originated from the thought that the existing railroad facilities along that stretch might decrease the cost to extend the road. While that may not turn out to be true, it has been included as an option to retain the flexibility later. Mr. Dolan spoke to earlier comments relative to property under the ownership of Zone 7. He explained that while the task force and various commissions have provided input as to what they would like with regards to this property, staff has yet to determine whether this would be possible. What is clear is that there are a number of challenges and compatibility concerns that will require further exploration and negotiation before anything is resolved. Mr. Dolan presented a slide summarizing proposed densities and unit mixes for each alternative as well as a slide demonstrating the city's position relative to its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) obligations. He noted that similar RHNA tables have been provided in several staff reports over the last several months and that the values do vary somewhat with each iteration. He explained that this is the result of some last minute changes in the city's RHNA allocations as well as some changes in the assumptions used to estimate future inventory. In summary, staff expects the city has sufficient inventory to meet its obligations for low and very low income households in the 2014-2022 planning period. However, the city has outstanding obligations of 407 moderate income units and 344 above moderate income units. While the plan area could easily accommodate these 751 units, the Council decided early in the planning process to try and plan for at least two RHNA cycles. One of the more challenging aspects of this approach is that the actual assignment for the next RHNA cycle will remain unknown for some time. Staff has projected an outstanding obligation that is identical to the total obligation in the preceding cycle. In preparing this projection, staff acknowledged that the total obligation is likely to increase but feels that a conservative assumption that no inventory will be available to carry over into this cycle would balance out any increase. He presented a slide demonstrating how the various alternatives compare to RHNA demands, both known and projected. He explained that most alternatives, which exception of Alternative 1, would likely satisfy obligations in the above moderate income category for both cycles but fall short in the more difficult low, very low and moderate income categories. Despite Council direction to include up to 50/50 unit mix, the task force ultimately decided it was only interested in a 65/35 split, which best mimics the feels through the rest of town. While understandable and logical, this does mean that approximately 60% of the low, very low and moderate obligations would have to be located somewhere else in town. This was a difficult exercise with these latest rezonings and will be even more so in the future. Mr. Dolan summarized the staff recommendation. The Council is being asked to authorize staff to proceed with evaluation of the proposed EIR alternatives. He noted that there are more alternatives than were originally budgeted, which will require that staff come back with a budget amendment for the EIR once the additional cost is determined. Staff will also be returning with a budget amendment for the planning effort related to the detailed feasibility analysis. City Council Minutes Page 7 of 14 October 15, 2013