Item B: Jefferson-Westside Options for Immediate Protection

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CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager and staff have previously recommended no action be taken on this matter for the following reasons: 1.Timing – Moratoriums or other similar tools, in the short term, do not appear to save any time nor do they immediately provide the type of protection that is being sought. 2.Legal challenges – The risk of trying to prevent, in any way, implementation of an existing Metro Plan and Refinement Plan are great. 3.Equity – from a citywide perspective, most if not all neighborhoods will, at some point, be bumping into the infill question. The City Council has directed staff to develop a toolbox to deal with this issue citywide. That action is a high priority work program item with resources and funding and is already in process. 4.Work Plan – Annually the Planning Commission asks the council to adopt a work plan for it. That work plan is the basis for the work that is brought to the council for consideration; it is a very helpful tool for staff to be deliberative about how it plans, the priorities staff sets, and to allow staff to have a citywide perspective on all of the work. 5.Process – the original community planning process that listed this area as ‘Low-Medium Density Residential’ went through a significant public process, with input from many stakeholders. The action taken through the housekeeping amendments upheld and continued to implement that community effort. However, it is clear, via the 6-1 vote on July 24, 2006, that the council wants to consider taking an action on this matter. Therefore, the City Manager is recommending a motion consistent with the July 24, 2006, motion for the council to consider. If councilors would like other motions to consider, please notify staff and they can be prepared in advance of the August 16, 2006, meeting date. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to initiate amendment of the Metro Plan, the JFW Refinement Plan and the Land Use Code to limit the subject area to Low Density Residential development. In addition, direct the City Manager to make this task priority #1 on the Planning Commission work plan and pull resources from the other high priority work program items to accomplish this as quickly as possible within the parameters of the amendment process. Further, move to request that the City Manager direct staff to begin the process of issuing an official interpretation pursuant to EC 9.0040(1) or (3) to interpret the Area 15 policy of the JFW Plan, which is incorporated into the Land Use Code at EC 9.9580(17). ATTACHMENTS A. Excerpts from Jefferson / Far West Refinement Plan (including map of subject area) B. Previously-issued memos relating to this matter C. Planning Commission Work Plan L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060816\S060816B.doc