Thefollowinggoalsandpolicieswill guidethedevelopment of theFreedomCircleFocusArea:
FC-G1:Developanurban-scalemixed-useactivitycenter inNorthSantaClaratosupport economicvitalitywhileincreasingresidential options.
SCParkRedevelopment inFCFAPprovideshousingnear jobscentersandisamulti-modalcommunityprovidinginternal andexternal connectivitysupportingeconomicvitality, andofferingarangeof housingproducts, sizesandpricingtooffer optionstonewresidents.
FC-G2: Providefor arangeof housingtypesanddensitiestoaccommodatefutureresidentsandtocreatediversityinbuildingscaleandtypology.
Thereare1,792unitsofferedranginginsizefrom385SFtoover 1,300SF. Therearetwoproduct types, all withstudio, andoneandtwobedroomunits. Theproject consistsof 5, fivestoryresidential buildingsorganizedaroundparks, openspacesand1,200smaller sizedunits,withmanyaffordablebydesign.
FC-G3: Createacompleteneighborhoodthat provideseasyaccesstoday-to-dayservicesandamenitiesfor residents, employeesandvisitors Theproject islocatedwithina10minutewalkor bikeridealongtheSanTomasAquino CreekTrail toprovideservicesandamenitiesfor residentsandvisitorsalike. It isalsolocatedwithinthecoreareawherethousandsof jobsareofferedandentertainment venues.
FC-G4: Reducerelianceonprivatevehiclesandimprovejobs/housingbalancebylocatingamenitiesandjobsthat canbecomfortablyandsafelyaccessedfromhousingbywalking.
Theproject isdesignedtoprovideconnectivitythroughout withamulti-modal andtransitsupportiveapproachtothedesign. Thereispedestrianandbicyclepublicaccessnorth-southandeast-west connectingtheproject tothegreater community.
FC-G5: Createahumanscaledpublicrealmthroughinvitingarchitectureandurbandesign.
Themaster plannedcommunityhasahumanscaledrealmestablishedbyaseriesof definedopenspacesmarkedbystrongarchitectural formsandmatureredwoodtrees. EachbuildingisclassicallycomposedandproportionedinMediterraneanarchitectural styles. Aninterconnectednetworkthroughvariouscourtyardsprovidesoutdoor recreationincludingpools, outdoor diningandrecreation.
FC-G6: Improvemulti-modal transportationoptionsandconnections.
Theentireproject isfocusedonmulti-modal design, throughtrialsandaccessiblepublicconnectivity, amplebicycleandelectricvehiclechargingandparkinginsecuredgarages.
FC-G7: EnhanceconnectivitytotheSanTomasAquinoCreektrail. III.
Theproject isdesignedtoprovidesafeaccessfromMissionCollegethroughtheproject withvariedamenitiestoenjoyalongtheway, toreachthesouthernpublicparkandthenacrosswalkthat takesbothpedestriansandbicycliststocrossover toconnect directlytotheSanTomasAquinoCreekTrail. Theproject will alsobringonemileof newbicyclelaneswhichwill provideeasyaccesstothetrail alongFreedomCircleDrive.
Policies:
FC-P1: Allowfor arangeof housingdensityanddevelopment intensitythroughout theplanarea, consistent withtheGeneral Plandesignationsandoverall buildout capacity.
Theproject isconsistent withtheGeneral Plandensityrangeof 51-100du/ac. Therearearangeof apartment sizesandincomelevels.
FC-P2: Co-locatecommercial, recreational andother activeusestocreatenodesof activitythroughout theplanarea Acentral nodewill act asapublicgatheringspacewithgroundfloor usesandactivation. At thecenter of thisactivationwill bea3,500SFpublic-servingcafe/market .Otherpointsof activationincludeco-workingspacefor theresidentsandalargefitnesscenter .FC-P3:Requireactivestreet frontagesandgroundfloor usestocreateapedestrian-friendly,cohesiveurbanenvironment Theplanisdesignedwithastrongpedestrianorientation. Aninterconnectednetworkof groundfloor activeusesoffersanactivestreet frontagetotheMainSt. designedtoaccommodateresidentsaswell asvisitorstothecentral cafe.
FC-P4: Providepublicparklandandprivately-ownedpublicopenspace(POPOs) that isaccessibletoall residentsandvisitors, adequatetomeet resident activityneeds, andconsistentwiththeGeneral Planrequirementsandother Cityregulations.
Theproject aimstoaddresstheessential needfor accessiblepublicparklandandprivatelyownedpublicopenspace(POPOs) for all residentsandvisitors. Theproject will provide9.5acresof suchspaces, strategicallydistributedtocater tovariousrecreational andcommunitygatheringneeds. Notably, a2.7acreneighborhoodparkislocatedonthesouthernportionof thesite, servingasafocal point for communityengagement andoutdoor activities.
FC-P5: Requiretheprovisionof openspace, or payment of in ‐ lieufeesfor parksandopenspacefor residential development, consistent withtheCity’sParklandDedicationOrdinance.
Theproject will followall provisionsof thecityparklanddedicationordinanceandQuimbyActguidelines, consistent withtheGeneral Plan.
FC-P6: Prioritizesize, shape, andlocationof publicparklandtoensurethat amenitiesareusable, programmable, andflexible.
Applicant will workwithcitystaff toensureamenitiesareusable, programmable, andflexibleandmeet therequirementsof theCity’sParkordinance.
FC-P7: Encouragesensitivedesignandsiteplanningtomitigatethescaleandheight of largerbuildingsthroughuseof buildingmassing, setbacks, façadearticulation, fenestration, variedparapetsandroof lines, andpedestrian ‐ scaledarchitectural details.
Theplannedapartment communityisenvisionedasadynamicareathat meetstheobjectiveoftheFCFAP. Theproject consistsof fivewrapbuildingsof TypeIII constructionwhichhidetheparkingstructurefromview. Buildingsarearticulatedwithgenerousopenlandscapedcourtyardsandsetbacks.
FC-P8: Provideappropriatetransitionsbetweennewdevelopment intheFocusAreaandadjacent usesconsistent withGeneral PlanTransitionPolicies.
Theproject hasbeenthoughtfullydesignedtointegratewithintheFCFAexistingandplannedlandusesprovidingtransitionof usesandtakingintoconsiderationadjacencyincludingsharedinfrastructure, andalignment of connectivitywithintheplanningarea.
FC-P9: Requirethat buildingfacadesandentrancesdirectlyfacestreet frontages, withahighproportionof transparent windowsfacingthestreet for nonresidential uses.
Theproject designwill reflect ahighdegreeof facadesandentrancesdirectlyfacingstreetfrontageswithahighdegreeof transparent windowsfacingthestreet for all non-residential usesparticularlythoseinthecentral node.
FC-P10: Minimizesurfaceparkingbyrequiringbelow ‐ gradeor structuredparkingfacilitieswithactiveusesalongstreet frontages.
All residential parkingislocatedwithinstructuredparkinggarages. Thepublicparkedgewillincludestreet parkingconsistent withcompletestreetsprogrammingfor publicparkingusage.
FC-P11: Establishparkingratiosthat support transit, activetransportationandsharedvehicleuse Theproject isdesignedtotheminimumcityparkingrequirements. Theproject doesnot includeguest parking, includesonebicycleparkingspot per unit, andconnectstopublicbikewaysystems.
FC-P12: Encouragesharedparkingbetweenusesandparcels, includingtheshareduseofexistingstructures.
Not applicabletothisproject. Tenant parkingisrestrictedtoindividual residential buildings.
FC-P13: Establishaffordablehousingrequirementsfor residential andresidential mixed-usedevelopmentsthat support regional growthgoals, Citypolicy, andlocal need.
Theproject will include5%verylowincomedeedrestrictedunits, and10%moderateincomerestrictedunitsfor atotal 15%affordablehousingdesignation.
FC-P14: Providenewstreet, bicycleandpedestriannetworksthat breakdownlargeblocksandsites, accommodatemultiplemodesof travel, andmaximizeconnectionstoactivityhubsandtransit facilities.
Largeblocksarebrokendownwithpedestrianandresident accessthroughthecenter of theproject. Bikepathsontheexterior andinterior of theproject encourageconnectivitytotheSanTomasAquinotrail systemandbroader SantaClarabikepathsystem.
FC-P15: Developdesignstandardsandguidelinestosupport activeground-floor environments,welcomingpublicspaces, andsafeandcomfortablesidewalksandpathways.
Theproject designstandardsandguidelineswill support activegroundfloor environmentswhereapplicable.
FC-P16: Designandprogramtheplanareaandsitestoencouragewalking, bicyclingandtransituse.
Multi-modal connectivityisfundamental totheplanningof thisproject. Withover 1mileof newbicyclelanesaddedandpublicpedestrianandbicycleconnectivitybisectingtheproject site, thispolicyhasbeenmet.
FC-P17: Minimizeenvironmental impactsthroughsustainablebuildingandinfrastructuredesign,consistent withCALGreenandSantaClaraClimateActionPlanrequirements.
Buildingswill bedesignedinaccordancewithTitle24regulations, Cal GreenandSantaClaraClimateActionPlanrequirements.
FC-P18: RedesignMissionCollegeBoulevard, FreedomCircle, andHichbornDrivetobetterbalancespacededicatedtovehicles, bicycles, andpedestrians.
Theproject teamwill coordinatewithcitystaff basedonrecommendationsfromtrafficoperational analysistoredesignrespectivestreetsasneeded.
FC-P19: RedesignMissionCollegeBoulevard, FreedomCircle, andHichbornDrivetofacilitatesafeandcomfortablepedestriancrossings.
Theproject teamwill coordinatewithcitystaff basedonrecommendationsfromtrafficoperational analysistoredesignrespectivestreetsasneeded.
FC-P20: MaintainVTAbustransit serviceintheFocusAreaPlanareaandimprovetransit stopsandshelters Theproject teamwill coordinatewithstaff tomaintainbustransit serviceandimprovetransitstopswhereneeded.
FC-P21: DesignpedestrianandbicyclenetworksandinfrastructuretofacilitateaccesstotransitstopsonGreat AmericaParkway, MissionCollegeandTasmanDrive Pedestrianandbicyclenetworksandinfrastructurewill facilitateaccesstotransit stopsonGreatAmericaParkway, MissionCollegeandTasmanDrive, includingconnectivitytoSanTomasAquinotrail andwideningof Hichborndrive.
FC-P22: Locateloadingzonesandridesharepick-up/ drop-off areasawayfrombusstops.
Loadingzonesandridesharepick-up/ dropoff areaswill belocatedawayfrombusstops FCP23: RequiredevelopmentstocontributetoCityvehiclemilestraveled(VMT) goalsandimplement avarietyof sustainabletransit solutionsasaTransportationDemandManagement(TDM) program.
Theproject areaislocatedinaTransit SupportiveAreaof thecityandwill contributetothesegoalsasrequired.
FC-P24: RequiredevelopersandpropertyownerstocoordinatewithNorthSantaClaraemployersandstakeholderstoexploreparticipatinginaprivatetransit systemsand/or aTransportationManagement Agency(TMA) aspart of theSpecificPlanprocess Acknowledged. Applicant tocoordinateaspart of theentitlement process.