City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION June 18, 2024
5:30 PM
Call to Order – Mayor Keeley called the study session to order at 5:34 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown, Watkins, Brunner, KalantariJohnson; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
Planning Commissioners Dann, Gordon, Kennedy, McKelvey, Thompson.
Absent: Planning Commission Vice Chair Polhamus; Chair Conway.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker, City Attorney T. Condotti, Director of Planning and Community Development L. Butler, Director of Economic Development and Housing B. Lipscomb, Director of Finance E. Cabell, Chief of Fire R. Oatey, Principal Planner M. VanHua, Transportation Planner C. Gallogly, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.
General Business
1. Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session on the Downtown Plan Expansion Public Review Draft (PL)
Director of Planning and Community Development L. Butler introduced the item and responded to questions.
Principal Planner M. VanHua, and Bill Wiseman, Planning Practice Leader with Kimley Horn, gave a presentation and responded to questions.
Transportation Planner C. Gallogly and Director of Economic Development and Housing B. Lipscomb responded to questions.
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General Business (continued)
1. Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session on the Downtown Plan Expansion Public Review Draft (PL) (continued)
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
Joh Hall
Unidentified person
Joe Quigg
Bryan Shields
Rick Longinotti
Andy Schiffrin
Kyle Kelley
Brett Garrett
Frank Barron
Gillian Greensite
Chris Murphy
Jim Sandoval
Rafa Sonnenfeld
Jack Lee
Lucy Yin
Keith Christman
Unidentified person
Unidentified person
Alberto Lustre
Unidentified person
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
By consensus, Council and Planning Commissioners directed staff to:
Return at the earliest possible date with an analysis of the following recommendations for inclusion in the Downtown Expansion Plan:
Leave the existing General Plan densities in place, except that blocks B, D, and H will be studied at 3.5 FAR;
Support an Affordable Housing Overlay Zone for blocks A, B, C, and D; and Provide incentives in the Affordable Housing Overlay Zone to allow increases in FAR to a point that sufficiently increases the use of the City’s Density Bonus Law (thus increasing the total number of affordable units), and the maximum height to 12 stories for development, working towards the goal of providing at least 20% of the units as affordable.
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General Business (continued)
1. Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session on the Downtown Plan Expansion Public Review Draft (PL) (continued)
Additional comments provided by the Council and Planning Commission included, but were not limited to, the following:
Further study and include options for financing public infrastructure and public parking improvements in the plan, including, but not limited to additional impact fees and infrastructure financing districts. Seek to maintain local control of development, rather than state control of development, with the policies.
Look at development holistically, including discussing the context of affordable housing being included in the new development plans and considering who will occupy the market rate units and how that relates to the availability of other housing.
Explore ways to minimize existing resident displacement, through approaches such as adding or strengthening policies like preference for locals in affordable housing, use of SB 649 local preference policies, and relocation assistance.
Desire for parking to serve the future uses.
Support for community amenities such as parks and gathering spaces, including those that can serve children and families.
Desire for diverse unit types and sizes, including for families and singles, considering existing and future housing stock in the plan area and throughout the city.
Support for broad community engagement, including but not limited to business owners and residential renters.
Include graphics and diagrams in the presentations and plan that capture the future development.
Support for adding new residents who will, in turn, support businesses. Review policies that support long-term durability of building materials. Provide more information on arena events.
Explore allowing creative options for new businesses in the plan area, both in terms of uses and sizes.
Use the environmental impact report to inform plan policies. Consider dark sky policies that limit light pollution and focus light towards the interior of plan area and not towards the river.
Expand the data available as it relates to various items discussed.
Adjournment – Vice Mayor Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Watkins, to adjourn. By consensus City Council adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
June 18, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6878
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Fred Keeley, Mayor.