3B Public Hearing 2011 0321 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Project Description: The project has two major components: (a) Text and Map changes to the 2015 General Plan intended to achieve internal consistency between the General Plan (adopted on May 6, 2002) and the Downtown San Leandro Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy (adopted on September 4, 2007); and (b) Replacement of Chapter 9 of the 2015 General Plan (Executive Summary of the 1999 -2006 Housing Element) with an updated Chapter 9 (Executive Summary of the 2007 -2014 Housing Element). Neither of these components is substantive, since both documents (e.g.. the 2007 TOD Strategy and the 2007 -2014 Housing Element) were previously adopted by the City and are covered by prior CEQA documents. The former resulted in an EIR which was certified on September 4, 2007. The latter resulted in a Negative Declaration which was certified on April 5, 2010. The California Government Code requires internal consistency among General Plan Elements, and "external" consistency between locally adopted plans and the General Plan. Adoption of the TOD Strategy in 2007 created the potential for inconsistencies since the General Plan was not concurrently amended. The proposed action would restore consistency between both documents. General Plan Provisions for the TOD Area, as Adopted in 2002 Although the General Plan adopted in 2002 was strongly supportive of transit- oriented growth and higher densities around the Downtown BART station, it did notpresume the same mix of land uses and development intensities ultimately adopted through the TOD Strategy. The General Plan Map designated properties west of the BART Station for office development and designated land at north end of Alvarado Street for mixed use, with an emphasis on office uses. The General Plan also assumed "status quo" (single use) residential and commercial designations on many of the properties between the BART station and Downtown San Leandro, and along Davis Street and San Leandro Boulevard. General Plan actions 6.10 -A, 6.10 -B, 7.12 - A, 7.12 -C indicate the preferred uses in several subareas around the BART station. Maximum densities allowed by the General Plan were 25 units per acre, with some provision for higher densities (up to 40 units per acre) on transit opportunity sites. Maximum intensities for non - residential and mixed use properties were capped at a floor area ratio (FAR) of 1.0, with some allowance for projects with FARs over 1.0 where upper story housing was provided. Action 13.04 -8 of the General Plan calls for minimum densities of 18 units per acre (or 0.5 FAR) near the BART Station. The General Plan did not explicitly quantify the development potential of the TOD area but its population and employment forecasts implied modest growth between 2000 and 2015. General Plan narrative suggests the Downtown subarea was expected to gain 900 residents (or about 350 housing units) during this 15 year time period. The City of San Leandro as a whole was projected to add 1,470 households and 9,275 jobs between 2000 and 2015. The impacts of growth anticipated by the General Plan were evaluated in an Environmental Impact Report certified by the San Leandro City Council in May 2002. TOD Strategy Provisions for the TOD Area The TOD Strategy proposed substantially more development in the Downtown BART Station than was envisioned by the General Plan. However, the Strategy also had a longer buildout horizon (2030 vs TOD and Housing Element General Plan Consistency Amendment December 2010 ' Page 3