3A Public Hearing 2007 0402 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Draft Excerpt of the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Agenda No. 07-04 February 22, 2007 Page 20f3 The Corridor Mixed Use designation specifies a "mix of commercial and residential uses...along major transit-served arterials..." The CC (Commercial Community) zoning designation "provide sites for commercial centers.. . generally having a citywide market area." Staff determined that a rezone of the subject properties to CC afforded an opportunity to modify the zoning and bring it into conformance with the existing General Plan designation for Corridor Mixed Use. The CC Zoning District was selected as the appropriate rezoning classification, as the majority of Washington Avenue to the north and south of the site is zoned CC. In addition, the General Plan Land Use compatibility table specifies that the CC District is a conditionally compatible designation for Corridor Mixed Use. The CC Zoning District allows uses ranging from office, retail commercial, and service commercial to residential. Specifically, a CC Zoning District is intended "to provide sites for commercial centers containing a wide variety of commercial establishments, including banking and financial establishments and businesses selling home furnishings, apparel, durable goods, and specialty items and generally having a citywide market area. Facilities, such as entertainment, eating-and-drinking establishments, hotels and motels are permitted, subject to certain limitations to avoid adverse effects on adjacent uses." Neither the rezone nor the Zoning Map amendment would affect the existing uses of the properties. Existing uses on developed lots would - or could - continue, because any uses that are conditionally permitted or not allowed under the new zoning district would be "grandfathered in" if no lapse in legal status occurs over a l80-day period. For example, in the case of vehicle storage at 2411 Washington Avenue, the use would no longer be conditionally permitted but it could remain as long as it maintains a valid business license. The applicant currently operates an auto repair business as a tenant at 2411 Washington Avenue, and desires to purchase two properties (2392 Cherry Street and "no address" Cherry Street) and relocate the business there. The auto repair use is not under consideration with this proposed rezone. If the rezone to CC is approved, a future proposal for auto repair would require a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Review, either by the Zoning Enforcement Official [ZEO] or the Board of Zoning Adjustments [BZA], depending on the scale ofthe project. Planner Barros further explained that the proposed rezone and Zoning Map amendment underwent environmental analysis, for which an Initial Study (IS) Checklist and Negative Declaration (NO) were prepared in keeping with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). ~~o comments were made on the environmental document within the mandated ISIND 20-day public review period (February 2-22), and as Planner Barros observed, the proposal does not include any actual physical project. Still, staff believes this proposal provides better consistency between the General Plan and the Zoning Map and will provide for the potential to develop these properties with commercial or residential uses that will harmonize with the neighborhood context of existing residential and commercial development along a transit-served corridor. Planner Barros explained that public outreach on the proposed rezoning consisted of public meetings with the Business & Housing Development Subcommittee as well as the Joint Redevelopment Advisory Committee. General support was expressed in both instances, she said, noting that there was interest in the fact that rezoning would enhance the properties' ability to have a greater variety of uses. In addition to those meetings, courtesy notices regarding the Planning Commission meeting went to property owners and businesses within the 300-foot radius of the entire aggregate of five sites, as well as