pages: CityCouncil/2013-04-02.pdf, 12
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CityCouncil | 2013-04-02 | 12 | Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated another issue raised by the people she meet with was the City of Santa Cruz Downtown Recovery Plan; Santa Cruz's maximum height limit is 75 feet, but going above 50 feet requires meeting criteria, which is essentially design review; inquired whether something similar was contemplated. The City Planner responded something similar could be integrated into the plan; stated Oakland has a similar approach with design review up to a certain height and taller buildings require a conditional use permit; the requirements make it clear that special design is expected. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she would introduce the language that Santa Cruz uses as part of the discussion tonight; people want buildings sensitively designed and not overwhelming; inquired whether the area is a historic district. The City Planner responded the historic district ends at Lincoln Avenue; the area is not part of the Park Street historic district. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether doing a project on one of the historic buildings on Park Street would go to the Historical Advisory Board, to which the City Planner responded in the affirmative; stated if the building is one of the contributors, and most are, design review would need to be done by staff or the Planning Board and a certificate of approval would be needed from the Historical Advisory Board. Councilmember Daysog stated that he is excited about having residential units above businesses; the changes for the area of Park Street are really exciting; the public involvement has been good; the attempt to make the area pedestrian friendly is also an exciting element, which should be conducive in the zoning; ground floors should have a minimum height of 20 feet; building height issues can be worked through; there could be three residential stories above the ground floor; zoning should be conducive to economics, which have to be considered. Mayor Gilmore stated Councilmember Daysog's point of view made her think in three dimensions; that she was thinking about the building appearance from the outside and trying to picture a 60 foot building next to existing buildings; an interior ceiling height of 15 or 20 feet should be reviewed; ground floor space should be welcoming to pedestrians; volume tends to be more inviting; during her time on the Planning Board, some big issues were office and professional uses going into what had residential neighborhoods, which required use permits; inquired whether the zoning permits offices, professionals spaces as a right. The City Planner responded in the affirmative. In response to Mayor Gilmore's further inquiry, the City Planner stated the use is permitted; most mixed use areas have building that look residential, but are actually businesses; the zoning has been commercial manufacturing for over 50 and Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 12 April 2, 2013 | CityCouncil/2013-04-02.pdf |