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Item 3—Redlined Plan, Part 2 Table 2 provides a summary of existing and proposed heights in various zoning districts. No change is proposed in the C-C District, but the permitted height is provided for reference. Table 2: Summary of Proposed Heights C-C District MU - T MU - D RM-1,500 RM-2,000 Existing 40 feet 30 feet / NA 40 feet 40 feet 40 feet' Proposed No change 36 feet 46 feet 30 feet 30 feet 1 The properties where the MU-T designation would apply currently have an Office specific plan land use designation, and defers to the Office District for uses. However, the zoning district for these properties is one of the following: C-C District(maximum height of 40 feet), Office District (maximum height of 30 feet), or RM-1,500 (maximum height of 40 feet; proposed to be modified to 30 feet). Questions for Task Force 1 . Does the Task Force agree with the proposed specific plan text amendments related to height, including elimination of stories as a measure of building height in the specific plan? 2. Does the Task Force agree with the proposed municipal code text amendments related to height, including modification of the measurement methodology and height exceptions as outlined in Attachment 4? 3. Does the Task Force agree not to further pursue the community benefits discussion as it pertains to the specific plan? 4. Does the Task Force agree with the proposed height maximums for the Mixed Use — Transitional and Mixed Use — Downtown districts? Ground Floor Residential Uses The Task Force has consistently indicated that it does not support ground floor residential in the existing civic center area (should it be redeveloped). The existing specific plan echoes this sentiment, indicating that housing is prohibited on the first floor of buildings in the Downtown Commercial area "in order to protect land designated for commercial use from being displaced by residential development." This meets the objective of preserving first-floor building areas for commercial use. In applying the existing specific plan policy, however, decision-makers have allowed first-floor residential at the rear of a site if it would be behind an existing or proposed building, with the interpretation that this achieves the objective of maintaining a commercial- oriented "street wall," but also facilitates infill housing on the ground level at the rear of a property where it may be more feasible, or allow for additional residential density. The proposed modifications to the Land Use chapter continues to prohibit housing on the first floor of buildings fronting the street (and clarifies that this applies to the portion of buildings fronting the street), and continues to encourage housing on upper floors. However, revisions to the text of the specific plan also more explicitly state that residential uses on the ground floor if located behind an existing or proposed building. If the Task Force agrees with this change, staff would suggest a further refinement to this Prepared for the April 24, 2018 Downtown Specific Plan Update Task Force Meeting Page 7 of 13