3A Public Hearing 2008 0707 - Laserfiche WebLink

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"Building more cohesive neighborhoods also means ensuring that infill development is compatible with its surroundings. The first step toward achieving this objective is to have a General Plan Land Use Map (and a Zoning Map) which maintains the density and land use pattern in established residential areas. Although this General Plan encourages higher densities in some parts of the City, higher density housing should not be sited within predominantly single family neighborhoods." Pg. 3-27 Note these comments from the General Plan describing the Central neighborhood in 3.2 RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, B. SAN LEANDRO'S NEIGHBORHOODS Cetttral "Unfortuna_tely, much of the development that took place durfng the 1950s, 60s, and 70s was not sympathetic to the area's historic contest." Pg 3-21 At Board of Zoning Adjustments mtgs. it was stated or implied PLN2008-00003 had to be approved in light of the adoption of the TOD by the City Council. It was made to appear as if adopting the TOD mandated that all requests had to be approved. No, adoption allows approval but does not require any and all applications be approved. Plans should only be approved if they conform to the requirements in the General Plan, the Housing Plan and the Zoning Code. The spirit of the codes, as well as the letter, must be followed; picking and choosing, ignoring or going around some provisions should not be allowed. Granting a conditional use permit for 78 Williams St. will set a precedent for substandard lots on this block and in the city in general. Granting more conditional use permits will end up changing the character of neighborhoods. This would go against the spirit and letter of the General Plan. It would mean the city was facilitating "abandonment of original design" for this neighborhood! block is primarily (70%) single familyhouses with landscaped backyards. III. In CHAPTER 9, HOUSING, D. ADEQUATE SITES ANALYSIS there is an inventory of potential sites where housing could be constructed during the next five years. The inventory includes "underutilized" sites as well sites that are vacant. Pg. 9-5 The General-Plan, the Housing Plan and the Downtown San Leandro Transit -Oriented Development StrateQV are referring to specific identified parcels where multi-use and infill housing should be built. 78 Williams St. is not noted in Appendix A: Inventory of Housing Sites of the San Leandro Housing Element. Development is not limited to these sites but it was not envisioned that like 78 Williams St. would have such development. IV. The General Plan states "Throughout San Leandro, a concerted effort will be made to Qrotect residential privacy and views, conserve significant architectural qualities, and ensure that new development contributes positively to the overall character of the neighborhood.... "It continues to state: "The increased emphasis on residential design may mean that some homeowners will need to invest additional time and effort before altering or adding on to their homes. The end result will be a more attractive, coherent community- enhancinst arouerty valaes for all residents and arotectina the sizeable investment that menu residents have made in their aroperties." Pg. 3-28 Page 2 of 4