SR-040985-10B
C/ED:P&Z:PJS:ca
Council Meeting: April 9, 1985
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
San*_a Monica, California
APR Q 9 1985
SUBJECT: Memorandum From The Planning Commission Regarding Up-
dating The Open Space Element of The City's General
Plan
Attached for the Council's consideration is a memorandum from
Planning Commission Chairperson Penny Perlman communica±ing the
Commission's response ±o a draft workplan for revising ±he exist-
ing Open Space Element of ±he General Plan. This workplan was
requested by both the Commission and City Council. The workplan
itself and a summary of the Commission's discussion about it are
contained in a separate Information Item which will be dis-
tribu±ed ±o Council prior to the April 9th City Council Meeting.
Prepared by: Paul J. Silvern
Director of Planning
A±tachment: Memorandum from Planning Commission Chairperson
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITYAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING AND ZONING DIVISION
CITY HALL, 1685 MAIN STREET, SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA 90401-3295 PHONE (213J 393-9975, EXT. 341
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: April 1, 1985 ,
TO: Mayor and City Council -
FROM: Penny Perlman, Chairperson
SUBJECT: Open Space and Economic Development Elemen±s of the
City's General Plan
Staff recently presen±ed ±o *_he Planning Commission a draft
workplan for updating the Open Space of the: City's General Plan,
which contemplates a one year planning process commencing July 1,
1985. Af±er reviewing .this issue,_the Commission unanimously
concluded that updating ±he Open Space Element should not com-
mence until completion of an Economic Development Element.
The Planning Commission is convinced tha± s±aff does no± have
sufficien± time to prepare both Elemen±s simultaneously in light
of its o±her responsibilities. Considering the relative priority
r,
of the two Elements, the Commission concluded that prepartion of
an Economic Development Elemen± .should be a more immediate
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priori*_y. This Ci*_y is presently pursuing several significant
public development projects including the Pier, t_he Third Street
Mall and Downtown Core Area, the airpor*_ residral land and +_he
Civic Center. Addi*_ionally, the new Land Use Elemen*_ is expec*_ed
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±o stimulate increased developmen± activity within *_he City. I+_
is importan± that we explore the public and private impac± and
relatonshi~is of ±his development ac*_ivity and devise a strategy
to ensure it proceeds in a manner consis*_en± with the public
interes*_.
This priority for focusing on economic developmen± should no± be
construed as a lack of concern by the Commission for Open Space.
Should the Council desire to pursue *_he Open Space Element workp-
lan, *_he Commission suggests' tha± the.. Recreation and Parks De-
par±ment be designated as the lead agency, at leas+_ ini*_ially,
for the Element.
The Commission would appreciate hearing Council's thoughts on
this matter. Thank yow for your time and a±tention.
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