NUMBER

CDD-31

PROPOSED COUNCIL STUDY ISSUE

For Calendar Year:

2005

New

X

Previous Year (below line/defer)

Issue:

Precise Plan for El Camino Real Update

Lead Department:

Community Development

General Plan Element or Sub-Element:

Land Use and Transportation

1.

What are the key elements of the issue? What precipitated it?

This study is an update to the Precise Plan for El Camino Real. The Precise Plan was adopted in 1993 and identifies ten different opportunity areas along El Camino Real that were especially ready for private redevelopment or are important to shaping the vision for El Camino Real. The purposes of the Precise Plan are to:

1.       Describe the vision for El Camino Real.

2.       Advise interested parties about the primary uses and other types of allowed uses on El Camino Real.

3.       Identify locations and development standards for the primary and other allowed uses.

4.       Provide incentives for developing the primary uses along El Camino Real.

Current development trends and recent development projects along El Camino Real suggest a need to update the 1993 plan and determine if opportunity areas should be added or revised to: protect existing uses, accommodate new uses, attract investment and/or provide new economic vitality.

El Camino Real is the major commercial corridor in the city.  El Camino Real generates approximately 25 percent of the total sale tax revenue for the City, almost exclusively from consumer retail sales.   El Camino Real should be strengthened as a major provider of retail services and as a major sales tax producer.  El Camino is also a primary transportation route through the city that provides members of this and other communities a strong sense of Sunnyvale’s image and values.

The City participated in Joint Venture Silicon Valley’s “Main Street Silicon Valley” project. A total of twenty cities, two counties, and four transportation agencies all of whom are apart of the El Camino Real/Monterey Highway corridor study area, collaborated on this Joint Venture Silicon Valley project to create a shared vision for the El Camino Real/Monterey Highway corridor. The shared vision includes addressing issues such as development patterns, economic function, community identity, streetscape design and land use.  The review and evaluation of the current 1993 El Camino Real Precise Plan could work in tandem with the “Main Street Silicon Valley” project.  El Camino Real is also designated a high priority corridor for transit by VTA. 

2.

How does this relate to the General Plan or existing City Policy?

Land Use and Transportation

Action Statement C1.1.1 Prepare and update land use and transportation policies, design guidelines, regulations and engineering specifications to reflect community and neighborhood values.

Policy N1.11 Recognize El Camino Real as a primary retail corridor with a mix of uses.

Policy N1.11.1 Use the Precise Plan for El Camino Real to protect legitimate business interests, while providing sufficient buffer and protection for adjacent and nearby residential uses.

Community Design Sub-Element

Action Statements

2.5A.3a. Encourage diversity and develop programs to emphasize the unique features of special districts and neighborhoods.

2.5A.3b. Consider development of specific plans or design guidelines for the El Camino Real Commercial District and Mathilda Avenue corridor and study the feasibility of specific plans or guidelines for portions of Evelyn Avenue.

3.

Origin of issue:

Council Member(s):

General Plan:

City Staff:

Community Development Department

Board or Commission (identify name of the advisory body from the list below):

Planning Commission

(Arts, Building of Code Appeals, BPAC, Child Care, Heritage, Housing and Human Services, Library, Parks and Recreation, Personnel and Planning)

     Planning Commission ranked this study issue 1 of  12 for 2005

     Board or Commission ranking comments:

4.

Multiple Year Project?

Yes___

No _X_

Expected Year Completed

2005

5.

Estimated work hours for completion of the study issue (use 5 or 8-hour increments):

(a) Estimated work hours from the lead department

350

(b)(b)Estimated work hours from consultant(s): if applicable:

(c)(c)Estimated work hours from the City Attorney's Office:

25

(d)(d)Estimated work hours from Finance:

(e)(e)Estimated work hours from other department(s):

Department:

Public Works

50

Department:

Finance

20

Department:

Total Estimated Hours:

445

6.

Expected participation involved in the study issue process?

(a) Does Council need to approve a work plan?

Yes 

No X

(b)Does this issue require review by a Board/Commission? If so, please list below:

Yes X

No

Planning Commission

(c) Is a Council Study Session anticipated?

Yes X

No

(d)What is the public participation process?

Will include businesses and property owners on El Camino Real to obtain input; standard notification of public hearings with Planning Commission and City Council.

7.  Cost of Study: Please mark appropriate item below.

                 X Costs covered in operating budget –Community Planning and Economic Prosperity

     Costs covered by project -  <project name>

     Budget modification needed for study - <$ Amount>

Explain below what the additional funding will be used for:

8.  Potential fiscal impact to implement recommendations in the Study approved by

Council, if any:

Mark a range for the items below:                            

$500 or none

$50K or less

$51K - $100K

$101K - $500K

$501K or more

Capital expenditure range

X

Operating expenditure range

X