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The Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendments to City Council <br /> with the following changes: <br /> • Require that the entirety of a tenant space subject to the AGFUO be occupied <br /> with an active use (i.e., remove the provision for active and non-active uses in a <br /> single tenant space, meaning that the entirety of a space be required to be <br /> occupied by an active use); and <br /> • Clarify policies related to vacancy such that the language specifically indicates <br /> the vacancy as commencing at the end of a lease; and to require evidence of <br /> marketing to include posting of a leasing sign at the site and an active listing; <br /> plus other measures to demonstrate proactive marketing of the tenant space. <br /> The Commission also recommended that as a future discussion item, to consider <br /> revising the DSP and PMC to allow only an active use or a personal service business to <br /> occupy ground floor tenant spaces after a six-month long vacancy rather than any use <br /> whatsoever as is currently allowed. <br /> The agenda report and approved excerpt minutes of the July 28 meeting are included <br /> as part of Attachment 3. A memo addressed to the Planning Commission in response <br /> to questions provided by a Commissioner, and questions originally posed by City <br /> Council, is also included as Attachment 3 to this report. In summary, the memo: <br /> • Indicates that nine tenant spaces that are subject to the AGFUO were vacant as <br /> of July 2021 including several that have been vacant for more than six months; a <br /> variety of factors may have contributed to the vacancies, including the COVID-19 <br /> pandemic, although the duration of the vacancy may be principally attributed to <br /> the size of the tenant space or the configuration of the tenant space. <br /> • Reports that the Planning Division issued Zoning Certificate approval of 12 new <br /> businesses on the ground floor along Main Street since March 2020. <br /> • Includes information about approaches other jurisdictions have taken regarding <br /> specific uses in their downtowns and indicates that of the jurisdictions that staff <br /> communicated with, none have a formal policy or standard allowing both active <br /> and non-active uses in the same tenant space. <br /> DRAFT REDLINE CHANGES <br /> Attachments 1 and 2 to this agenda report shows the actual language of the proposed <br /> changes to the DSP and the PMC, as recommended by Planning Commission. <br /> Draft changes to definition of Active Ground Floor Use <br /> Staff proposes amendments to the definition of"Active Ground Floor Use" to better <br /> articulate its intent. Additional language has been added to indicate that active uses are <br /> those that attract walk-in customers. And, clarifying language proposed in the DSP <br /> Page 4 of 7 <br />