SR-06-11-2013-13CURN
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To: I City Council
From: Councilmembers McKeown, Vazquez and Winterer
Date: June 11, 2013
13 -C: Request of Councilmembers McKeown, Vazquez, and Winterer that the City
Council direct staff, pending adoption of the new Downtown Specific Plan
called for in the 2010 adopted Land Use and Circulation -Element, to bring
forward at this time for sites within downtown only those Development
Agreement applications where the proposed heights are within the
maximum allowed for downtown in the previous and therefore most recent
applicable Land Use Element.
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PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ADOPTED JULY 6, 2010
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City of
Santa Monica
land use policy and designations
11. Downtown Core
Vision
Santa Monica's Dow; town Core designation
maintains and enhances the Do',n,ritown area as
the heart of the City and as a thriving, mixed-
use urban environment in which people can live,
work, be entertained and be culturally enriched.
The Downtown has the greatest concentration
of activity in the City, anchored by the core
commercial district, which includes the Third
Street Promenade and the revitalized Santa
Monica Place open -air mall. The Downtown
Licht Pail Station will serve as a gateway to
the Downtown, Civic Center and coastal
destinations, transforming the southern edge of
the district. The Downtown continues to provide
a substantial number of new housino units in
mixed -use projects. Affordable, workforce and
market -rate housing are highly desirable_ The
LUCE expands the Downtown boundaries to
include W:Ishire Boulevard to the north and
Lincoln Boulevard to the east. These important
mixed -use boulevards appropriately define the
edge of the district and help with the transition
from the intensity of the Downtown to adjacent
residential neighborhoods to the north and the
east.
Land Use Parameters
The Downtown Core designation allows for
the broadest mix of uses and highest intensity
development. The area is the City's major
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regional retail and employment district, with
a human -scale and pedestrian - orientation at
the street level. A balance of uses generates
activity during both daytime and evening
hours. Development intensities are lower on
the northern and eastern edges of the district
in order to transition to the tower- density
character of adjacent neighborhoods. New
development and infrastructure strengthens the
Downtown's connection with the Civic Center;
Beach and Pier.
While specific uses will be established by a
Specific Plan, allowed uses include residential,
commercial, retail, cultural and entertainment
uses, and other visitor - serving uses, such as
hotels. In addition, existing non- profit youth
serving organizations should be preserved and
be allowed to expand_ Existing parameters and
review processes for 100 percent affordable
housing projects will continue to apply.
Development Parameters
The height and FAR along with other
development standards such as setbacks and
step backs for the Downtown designation will
be determined through a Specific Plan process.
The new Downtown Specific Plan should
consider and evaluate the continuation of the
existing 50 °/ '1 o -'I COWIz ntiai
uses kI ocations where it will be compatible in
ass and scale with adjacent develcpment.Prier
to the completion of a new Downtown Specific
Plan, the existing Bayside District Specific Plan
and applicable land use designations will apply.
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA.
LAND. USE AND CIRCULATION ELEMENTS
FINAL ADOPTED
OCTOBER 23,19M
AS REVISED 19B7
AS REVISED APRIL, 1998
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LAND USE ELEMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES'
1.3.3 Encourage the construction of major entertainment or
cultural uses in Downtown.
1.3.4 in the Downtown Core area, require that a majority of
ground floor street frontage on a block by block basis
be active pedestrian - oriented use (shop - fronts, cultural
activities, cafes, and other uses catering to walk -in
traffic) in order to promote pedestrian activity at the
ground floor. In the Downtown Frame area, require
pedestrian- oriented design features for all ground floor
street frontage.
1.3.5 Encourage residential uses in Downtown other than at the
ground floor street frontage and encourage the provision
of neighborhood commercial uses to serve the Downtown
residential community.
1.3.6 Until a. Third Street Mall and Downtown Core Area
Specific Plan is adopted, allow in the Downtown area a
maximum of:
Core Area; 4 stories (56'); 3.0 FAR
Frame: 4 stories (561); 2.5 FAR
and permit by site review to;
Core Area: 6 storie (04y 3.5 FAR
Frame: 6 storie (04') 3.0 FAR
1.3.7 Once the Third Street Mall and Downtown Core Specific
Plan is approved by the Ci w in the Downtown Core
a maximum of 6 storie (84') and 3.5 FAR if the
development conforms to t .use and development
standards required in the adopted Specific Plan,
1.3.8 The Downtown Core should include the area from Second
Street (east side) to Fifth Street (both sides) between
Wilshire Boulevard (south side) and Colorado Avenue
(north side) and should include the south side of
Wilshire Boulevard from Second Street to Lincoln
Boulevard. The north side of Wilshire Boulevard from
Second Street to Lincoln Boulevard and the remaining
portion of the Downtown area should be included in the
Downtown Frame.