COUNCILAGENDA: 06/13/23FILE#:ITEM:
23-87910.2
TO: MayorandCityCouncil FROM: CouncilmemberDavidCohenMayorMattMahan SUBJECT: Seebelow DATE: June8,2023_________________________Approved Date: June9, 2023 SUBJECT: FILENOS.PDC18-036,PD21-009,PT21-030ANDER21-113.
RECOMMENDATION
1. AcceptStaff recommendation(a)through(d)intheirMemodatedMay23,2023toapprovetheproject.2. Directstaff toreturntoCouncilwithaproposalonhowtheMayorandCouncilofficescanprereviewprojectsintheirdesignphasetoensurethatappropriatenessofdensitycanbeevaluatedearlierintheprocess.3. Directstaff toreturntoCouncilwithaplantoprioritizehousingdensityinoururbanvillages,especiallythosethatarewellservedbytransitincludingfixedrailandfrequentbuslines.
BACKGROUND
Wethankstaff aswellastheapplicantfortheirworkonthisprojectandexpressourappreciationforthecontinueddevelopmentofdenselybuiltaffordablehomesneartransitintheBerryessaUrbanVillage.TheBerryessa/NorthSanJoséBARTStationopenedinJune2020bringingforththepromisethattheurbanvillageswouldbeabletoaccommodateemploymentandhigh-densityhousinggrowthwhilereducingtrafficandtheenvironmentalimpactsofdevelopmentbypromotingtransituse,bicyclefacilities,andwalkability.
The2023-2031RHNAallocationforSanJoséstatesthatwemustplanfor62,200homes.ThispairedwithCalifornia'sgoaltoreachcarbonneutralityby2045whilestillcreatingeconomicgrowthnotonlyrequiresustobuildmore,butbuildsmarterbyallocatingourjobsandhousingmostintenselynearourbiggesttransitinvestments.
HONORABLECITYCOUNCILJune8, 2023Subject: FILENOS. PDC18-036, PD21-009, PT21-030ANDER21-113.Page2 Whilewecontinuetoworktowardsplanningandbuildingmixed-use,walkable,andtransit-orientedcommunitiesinour60urbanvillages,it’simportantthattheMayorandCouncilofficesareabletoprovideconstructivefeedbackinatimelymannerthatallowsforchangestobemade.Futuredevelopmentinthesehigh-priorityareaswouldbenefitifthey’rebroughtbeforeMayorandCouncilofficesbyapplicantsearlierintheprocesssothattheyaren’t previewedatatimewhensuggestedchangesareimpractical.Ourgoalistoensureproperdensitygoalsaremetwithoutincurringprojectdelays.
Additionally, weencouragestaff toworkwithourdevelopmentcommunitytobringforthasmuchdensityasisfeasibleinalignmentwithourgeneralplanandzoningtoensurethatbillionsofdollarsoftransitinvestmentsinBARTandVTAarewellplacedtoservefuturegrowthinanenvironmentallysustainableway.
Thesignersofthismemorandumhavenothad,andwillnothave,anyprivateconversationwith anyothermemberoftheCityCouncil,orthatmember’sstaff,concerninganyactiondiscussed inthememorandum,andthateachsigner’sstaffmembershavenothad,andhavebeen instructednottohave,anysuchconversationwithanyothermemberoftheCityCouncilorthat member'sstaff. .