PC-95-40 - Laserfiche WebLink

installation of sidewalks along the three streets frontages that surround the site (Policy 6, Circulation Element) and the preservation of Heritage Trees where feasible (Policy 2, Conservation and Open Space Element). However, the project would not meet the General Plan policy of preserving the character of existing residential neighborhoods (Policy I, Land Use Element) due to the perceived incompatibility of the proposed self-storage facility by the residential neighborhood, Therefore, since the proposed project would meet certain General Plan policies yet would be inconsistent with another, staff does not believe that this finding can be made. 3. Whether the plan is compatible with previously developed properties in the vicinity and the natural, topographic features of the site: This site is currently a vacant, commercially-zoned parcel. The site is bordered on the north by commercial and office development, on the west by approved residential development, on the east by existing residential properties, and on the south by the City's Moller Park. While the site is separated from these residential and commercial land uses by City streets, the southern end of the property is contiguous to the City's Moller Park. The proposed service commercial development would be consistent with the existing commercial and office uses which are located to the north of the site, yet would at best have a tenuous relationship with the residential neighborhoods! park use which surround the property on the other three sides. The concerns of the residents of these previously developed residential properties have focused on traffic and general land use compatibility and have demonstrated that this type of self-storage land use is not intrinsically compatible with residential uses. Staff believes that there are other commercial and/or office uses for this site which would be more compatible with surrounding uses given the site's location at a transition area between both residential and commercial/office land uses. Also, the height and monolithic massing of the proposed structure would not be consistent with the existing residential and commercial/office properties in the vicinity. The residential properties are smaller in scale while the commercial properties, although larger in size and scale, have a greater setback from the public streets due to large, expansive landsca~ and parking areas. Therefore, staff feels that the proposed project would not be compatible with the previously developed properties in the vicinity. Minimal grading would be necessary in order to achieve positive drainage on the proposed building sites. The active recreational use areas in Moller Park are separated from the proposed development by a natural creek area with a stand of mature trees. Several design elements have been used in the project to roinimi7e any impact on the existing park, including the use of natural, thorny blackberry shrubs along the wall closest