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BACKGROUND <br />The application for the proposed shopping center anchored by Home Depot has been <br />the subject of City review since late 2005. <br />The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal at public workshops held on January <br />11, 2006 and on May 24, 2006; as a result of these meetings, information was requested <br />and provided, the architecture was changed, and public input was taken. The Planning <br />Commission then recommended approval of the project at its public hearing of <br />December 13, 2006 by a vote of 4-1. <br />The Economic Vitality Committee voted to endorse this project by a vote of 7-0-2 on <br />January 18, 2007. <br />On May 15, 2007, the City Council held a public hearing on the project. Please refer to <br />the attached City Council staff report and minutes dated May 15, 2007 for a complete <br />discussion of the background and description of the project. Following the public <br />hearing, Council voted to approve the Negative Declaration, the conditional use permit, <br />and the design review applications and to introduce the ordinance approving the PUD <br />Major Modification. However, when the ordinance adopting the PUD Mod was <br />scheduled for its second reading on the following agenda, it had become apparent that <br />some members of the community felt that certain issues needed clarification before <br />Council took its final action. Staff therefore recommended that the second reading be <br />deferred so that an expanded public process could occur. <br />The Community Workshop Process: After the May 15 City Council hearing, the City <br />Manager created a team consisting of the Planning Director, the City Attorney, the <br />Economic Development Director, the Traffic Engineer, the Fiscal Officer, and the Public <br />Works Director to guide the expanded public review process and to provide clarification <br />on these issues. Staff determined that the best way to allow for further input and to <br />study these issues would be to establish a community workshop process where all <br />interested individuals would be invited to attend and participate. <br />The first community workshop was held on July 26, 2007. The purpose of this <br />workshop was to discuss the expanded review process, to pose questions, and to <br />identify issues. Since many of the questions involved traffic and economic issues, staff <br />retained consultants to help answer these questions. Staff also focused on a plan <br />regarding truck delivery routes and times and on enforcement of the conditions of <br />approval. <br />Answers to these detailed questions were presented at well-attended community <br />workshops held on October 17 and November 1, 2007. At both workshops those in <br />attendance were encouraged to (and did) engage staff concerning the information that <br />staff was presenting. It was clear that there were many in attendance who still opposed <br />the project as well as some individuals who were in favor. Staff is now presenting a <br />summary of that information to update the Council on this recent phase of the process. <br />Page 2 of 14 <br />