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Revision of the City's 1990 General Plan is underway. A public process will allow the community to participate in setting the course for the City for many years.

We will decide what kinds of development will be permitted on our remaining industrially zoned land.

We will decide about our goals for economic viability, housing, transportation, and water, just to name a few.

It's vital that we make this an open and inclusive process and include all of our residents and business owners who wish to participate.

 

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I propose the following main points for the General Plan Revision process:

The General Plan revision process must include:

1. Completion of a draft revised General Plan within a calendar year.

2. An in-depth community discussion about the permitted uses in the Industrial-General (I-G) zoning district. This should be in the form of a Vision Process much like the one use for the post-earthquake Downtown.

3. An accurate inventory of all new traffic generated in the totality of all proposed developments on the Westside.

4. Use of that data as the subject of thorough study of the combined traffic impacts in such a way that sound planning principles can be utilized in considering proposed applications and in considering the capacity of Mission and connecting streets.

5. A strong economic element that is the product of broad-based community participation and consensus.

6. A framework for addressing University growth issues including but not limited to traffic, housing, and water. Methods need to be developed for the university to pay its own way for these impacts on the City and to provide alternatives where we are already beyond capacity (such as traffic).

 

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A few months ago, residents expressed serious concerns to the Planning Commission and the City Council about plans for BIG BOX stores on the City's Westside Industrially zoned (I-G) lands. A peculiar loophole allowed these uses even though "Retail" uses are not permitted.

I insisted that there must be immediate action to revise the City's Zoning Ordinance and repair that loophole. As a result, the Council voted to adopt a modification to the ordinance that will at least require discretionary public hearings before any Big Box store is approved on I-G zoned land.

I pressed for a Vision type of process and that idea was adopted.

The zoning ordinance change is only a stopgap measure. It is no substitute for a community decision about these questions. The General Plan revision process must address them. Below is a more detailed description of growth and General Plan issues.