August 5, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org
North Ventura
Coordinated Area Plan
City Council
2 Objectives
• Certify the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR, including a Statement of Overriding Considerations)
• Adopt the NVCAP and amend the 2030 Comprehensive Plan • Adopt a new Chapter 18.29 (North Ventura (NV) District Regulations) in the Palo Alto Municipal Code and make other amendments to Title 18 (Zoning) to implement the NVCAP
3 The NVCAP Plan Area
• 60 acres, roughly bounded by Oregon
Expressway / Page Mill Road to the
north, El Camino Real to the west,
Lambert Avenue to the south, and
the Caltrain rail corridor to the east
• Notable features within the Plan Area
include the Matadero Creek Channel
and the Cannery structures
Cloudera Galactic HQ
Park Plaza Apartments
The Cannery
Matadero
Creek Channel
Boulware Park
4 November 2017:
City Council
initiated the CAP
process
March 2018:
City Council
adopted Goals
& Objectives
April 2018:
City Council
appointed
WG members
March 2021:
PTC rec. on
the preferred
plan
January and
November 2022:
City Council
endorsed a
preferred plan
alternative and
made further
refinements
NVCAP Timeline
May 2023:
Draft NVCAP
published
March 2024:
Revised Draft
NVCAP and
Draft SEIR
published
April 2024:
ARB Study
Session on
Draft Zoning
Ordinance
April 2024:
End of Public
Comment
Period
May 2024:
PTC Rec.
Hearing
August 2024:
City Council
Adoption
Hearing
May/June 2023:
Study Sessions
with PTC & ARB
5 NVCAP Goals
Housing and Land Use1
3 2
4 6
5 Transit, Pedestrian, and Bicycle Connections
Connected Street Grid
Community Facilities and Infrastructure
Balance of Community Interests
Urban Design, Design Guidelines, and Neighborhood Fabric
6 NVCAP Objectives
Use a Data-Driven Approach1
3 2
4 6
5 Include Meaningful Community Engagement
Creates a Comprehensive User-Friendly Document and
Implementation
Determine Economic Feasibility
Provide a Guide and Strategy for Staff and Decision-Makers Complies with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
7 Public Engagement
Community
Workshops
NVCAP Working
Group Meetings
Stakeholder
Group Meetings
2 17
6 2
Online
Surveys
8 Council Endorsed Plan
City Council endorsed a preferred
plan alternative that includes the
following:
• 530 net new units
(total of 672 units)
• Approx. 2 acres new park
• Reduction of 278,000 s.f. office
(total of 466,000 s.f.)
• Reduction of 7.5k s.f. retail
(total of 103,700 s.f.)
9 Board and Commission Feedback
Architectural Review Board Feedback
• Increased height
• Increased lot coverage
• A minimum street yard of 10 feet
• A new method for measuring setbacks and calculating lot coverage for buildings with basements
Planning and Transportation Commission Recommendation
Adopt NVCAP and NVCAP zoning and consider SEIR in addition to:
• Consistent daylight plane requirements
• Economic analysis code language awareness
• Increase in the maximum height for NV-R1, NV-R2, NV-MXM • Street Yard setbacks diagram
• Park Boulevard special setback
10 Board and Commission Feedback
Architectural Review Board Feedback
• Increased height
• Increased lot coverage
• A minimum street yard of 10 feet
• A new method for measuring setbacks and calculating lot coverage for buildings with basements
Planning and Transportation Commission Recommendation
Adopt NVCAP and NVCAP zoning and consider SEIR in addition to:
• Consistent daylight plane requirements
• Economic analysis code language awareness
• Increase in the maximum height for NV-R1, NV-R2, NV-MXM • Street Yard setbacks diagram
• Park Boulevard special setback
11 Document Contents
The NVCAP consists of the
following chapters:
Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Vision
Chapter 3-6: Design Standards and Guidelines Chapter 7: Implementation Chapter 3: Public Realm
Chapter 4: Accessibility and Mobility
Chapter 5: Parks and Open Space
Chapter 6: Site and Building Design
Design Standards
12 Zoning Implementation
Proposed Zoning Districts
13 Environmental Review
• Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) • Significant Impact but can be mitigated to Less Than
Significant :
• Biological Resources
• Archaeological Resources
• Noise
• Tribal Cultural Resources
• Significant and Unavoidable impacts
• Historical Resource
• Air Quality
• Final SEIR prepared with formal response to comments
• CEQA Findings and Statement of Overriding
Considerations with MMRP
14 Staff Recommendation
Staff Recommend the City Council:
1. Adopt the Resolution (Attachment A) implementing the NVCAP and approving associated environmental work, including:
a. Certify the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) b. Make the findings required by California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including a Statement of Overriding Considerations
c. Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program d. Adopt the NVCAP and amend the 2030 Comprehensive Plan
2. Introduce the Ordinance (Attachment B) to:
a. Adopt a new Chapter 18.29 (North Ventura (NV) District Regulations) in the Palo Alto Municipal Code and make other amendments to Title 18 (Zoning) to implement the NVCAP
b. Amend Chapter 16.65 (Citywide Affordable Housing Requirements) c. Amend the Zoning District Map and re-zone parcels within the NVCAP area www.cityofpaloalto.org
Coleman Frick
Long Range Planning Manager
(650) 838-2821
[email protected]
Kelly Cha
Senior Planner
(650) 329-2155
[email protected]
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