Accolades, Complaints,Solutions, or just Plain Short-Changing the Public?

Accolades,Complaints, Solutions or Just Plain Short-changing the Public?

On November 4th,  at 6:00 pm  at City Hall, the Planning Commission will adopt the staff recommendations after discussion and public responses.  The agenda reads that it is for the Housing elements and including rezoning, master plans, Downtown Specific Plan, and Hamilton plan-

I think too much is trying to be included in three hours.  It is unfair to the commission and the public to double-time and fast forward these important public documents. The process needs more than two meetings-planning commission and city council with  public responses.   It short changes those who want to talk about each item-of which there is at least 10 or more.

 Please refer to http://www.cityofnovato.org/index.aspx?page=2049  for more info-below are the proposals.  This will be one of two times to speak or write to the council about concerns, accolades or complaints or solutions. 

“Part A: Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the Novato Housing Element 2007-2014 and adoption of CEQA findings, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and 

Part B: Adoption of the Novato Housing Element 2007-2014 and amendments to the Novato General Plan text and land use map, the Downtown Novato Specific Plan text and land use figure, the Novato Zoning Ordinance text and map, and the Master & Precise Development Plan for the Novato Industrial Park (Ignacio & Hamilton Industrial Park areas) to implement programs of the Housing Element. 

The Planning Commission is requested to receive staff presentations for Parts A and B noted above, ask questions of staff regarding these parts, open the public hearing and receive public testimony, close the public hearing, ask additional questions of staff, deliberate the proposed actions, and consider adopting the following resolutions attached in order: 

1. Resolution of the Novato Planning Commission recommending the Novato City Council certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (SCH No. 2013032070) and adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Novato Housing Element 2007- 2014, and related General Plan and Land Use Map amendments, and Downtown Novato Specific Plan and Land Use Figure amendments, Zoning Ordinance and Map amendments, and amendments to the Novato Industrial Park (Hamilton And Ignacio Industrial Park Areas) Master and Precise Development Plan. 

2. Resolution of the Planning Commission recommending the City Council adopt an amendment to the Novato General Plan to incorporate the City of Novato Housing Element 2007-2014 and an amendment to the Novato General Plan Land Use Chapter to include an Affordable Housing Opportunity Combining Designation (AHO) and amending the General Plan Land Use Map (Lu Map 1) to assign the AHO Combining Designation to: 1) 1787 Grant Avenue; APN 141-201-12 & 48; 2) Landing Court; APN 153-162-59; 3) Redwood Boulevard; APN 125-202-18; 4) 7506 Redwood Boulevard; APN143-011-08; And 5) 1905 Novato Boulevard; APN 140-011-66. 

Resolution of the Planning Commission recommending the City Council adopt an amendment to the Downtown Novato Specific Plan, Section 2.2.1, Land Use Classifications, and Land Use Map (Figure 3), to include an Affordable Housing Opportunity Combining Designation (AHO) and to assign the AHO Designation to 7506 Redwood Boulevard; APN 143-011-08. 

3. Resolution of the Planning Commission recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance amending Chapter XIX of the Novato Municipal Code to establish an Affordable Housing Opportunity Overlay (AHO) District and amend parking regulations relating thereto, establish density bonus provisions, establish provisions and amend definitions for Emergency Shelters, and amend the Novato Zoning Map to apply the AHO District to (rezone): 1) 1787 Grant Avenue; APN 141-201-12 & 48; 2) Landing Court; APN 153-162-59; 3) Redwood Boulevard; APN 125-202-18; 4) 7506 Redwood Boulevard; APN 143-011-08; and 5) 1905 Novato Boulevard; APN 140-011-66. 

4. Resolution of the Planning Commission recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance amending City of Novato Ordinance No. 780, approving the Master Plan and Precise Development Plan for the Ignacio Industrial Park, Units 1 & 2, and the Hamilton Industrial Park, to include Emergency Shelters as a permitted use under Section III(C)(1) of the Master Plan and Precise Development Plan text in accordance with the City of Novato Municipal Code, Chapter XIX, and the Conservation and Planning Law of the State of California.”

Thank you.

Eleanor Sluis

Thank you,

Eleanor Sluis Candidate City Council 2013