CCMIN111996 - Laserfiche WebLink

There being no further testimony, the public heating was closed. Mayor Tarver was not concerned about the design details of this project. He referred to his desire to have a review of the growth management program which will change the way it currently operates. He did not believe there will be any room to allocate additional units. He did not want to continue to consider project approvals when the current allocations extend five to seven years in the future. He did not like playing a numbers game. He believed that no more projects should be reviewed until the bigger issues of how the community should grow, at what rate, and what happens to the current allocations that are unbuilt. He did not want to approve any more projects and preferred that staff stop looldng at applications. Ms. Mohr believed this sounded like a moratorium. Mayor Tarver said applications could not be stopped. But Council should express a strong position that it wants to review the growth management program and consider what the conditions will be in the next five to seven years. Traffic changes, approval conditions change, and we need to keep that in mind. If this project is approved, where will it fit in the growth management program? It is before Council now because it did not develop when it was supposed to and it lost all its prior approvals. Ms. Mohr indicated that when there is a large project like Ruby Hill with 850 units, it is considered good planning to spread the development over five years. Mr. Tarver seems to be saying that is wrong. Mr. Tarver stated the community believes there are too many houses and the city is growing too fast. He does not believe the growth management program is adequately dealing with the situation. Ms. Michelotti believed that if this attitude is accepted by Council it should make it very clear to the development community. The voters just approved a housing cap of 29,000 units in the General Plan. She also pointed out that there are 1600 to 1900 units possible on the San Francisco property that will come for approval. Are we telling San Francisco to go away? The current application is only 26 units and it was approved before. She stated the decision she must make is whether this is the best in-fill project for this property. How it gets growth management allocation is the next process. Council needs to make its position clear and to confirm its legal obligations for processing applications. An application can be denied because Council doesn't believe it is the right project, but to say don't even apply sends a very strong message and needs to have some legal analysis. Ms. Dennis asked when the committee would be reviewing the growth management program. Ms. Acosta said no committee had been set up because Council has not set its priorities. There are many goals in the General Plan that have to be accomplished. 13 11/19/96