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BACKGROUND <br /> In March 2016, a group calling itself "Citizens for Planned Growth in the Johnson Drive <br /> Economic Development Zone" filed a Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition with the City <br /> Clerk. The proponents of the initiative submitted their petition in June 2016. After <br /> examination, the County Registrar of Voters certified that the petition contains the <br /> required number of signatures. <br /> The initiative proposes a General Plan amendment for the Johnson Drive <br /> Economic Development Zone area. The Johnson Drive area comprises 12 parcels <br /> comprising over 40 acres generally east of Johnson Drive and north of Stoneridge <br /> Drive. The initiative would add a new program to the Land Use Element of the <br /> General Plan that would: (a) encourage retail uses less than 50,000 square feet, <br /> highway and service commercial uses, and business and professional offices in the <br /> Johnson Drive area; and (b) prohibit retail uses (including club retail) 50,000 square <br /> feet or greater in the Johnson Drive area. <br /> As stated in the initiative's Notice of Intent, the initiative is in response to the City's <br /> consideration of the Zone. The Zone is being studied based on the City's Economic <br /> Development Zone Program adopted in April 2014. Consideration of the Zone has <br /> been proceeding with preparation and circulation of environmental documents, <br /> community meetings, and a joint Council and Planning Commission workshop. The <br /> City's public process for the Zone includes the study of potential General Plan <br /> amendments, rezoning, a planned unit development, development agreement, and <br /> other actions to allow retail, including a possible Costco, hotels, and other uses. If the <br /> initiative were to be adopted, a potential Costco (about 148,000 square feet in size) <br /> would not be permitted in the Johnson Drive area. <br /> On July 19, 2016, the City Council voted to accept the Alameda County of Registrar of <br /> Voters Certification of Sufficiency regarding the signatures, and decided to put the <br /> matter on the November 8, 2016 ballot. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> The Council requested a supplemental report which is the same as a Section 9212 <br /> Elections Code report, but on a different schedule, to evaluate the initiative. The <br /> supplemental comparative analysis report provides analyses of the following topics: <br /> • Fiscal Impact <br /> • Economic Impact <br /> • Aesthetics/Community Character <br /> • Traffic <br /> • Air Quality <br /> • Noise <br /> • Other Environmental Topics <br /> • Consistency with General Plan <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br />