HACIENDA REPORT - Laserfiche WebLink

HACILND that this memo has been prepared in consideration of the overall future vision for Hacienda, and does not focus on site specific development characteristics. Summary of Findings This review suggests that the draft General Plan elements show strong support and encouragement of Transit Oriented Development and mixed-use development in Hacienda Business Park. The following list summarizes the major findings of this review related to future development in Hacienda. • The overarching General Plan policy direction strongly encourages compact, infill development, and embraces sustainability, walkability, and alternative modes of transportation (besides the single-occupancy automobile). • One of the major themes of the General Plan is sustainability, which is woven throughout all of the elements, and is included as a citywide priority in the General Plan Vision Statement. sustainability is one of the major planning principles for Hacienda Business Park, in terms of creating a compact development footprint, reducing automobile trips, and enhancing the pedestrian environment. • The vision for Hacienda and the planning efforts that have occurred to-date are consistent with General Plan policy direction found in all elements. Specifically, the Land Use Element contains detailed direction for Hacienda, including higher density development around BART stations, and emphasizes the importance of affordable housing, walkability, and reducing traffic congestion. • The General Plan elements consistently support and embrace TOD community development opportunities within Hacienda, and refer to a Specific Plan as a way to implement the envisioned TOD and associated community character elements. However, this memo will suggests that planning alternatives are available which can also outline the overall vision and set of guidelines for future development within the Park, consistent with General Plan policy direction. • An important conclusion of the analysis, as will be shown in this memo, is that the future vision for Hacienda could be implemented through an alternate planning mechanism to a Specific Plan, such as PUD zoning. The analysis has shown that much of the policy framework that would be used in a Specific Plan document to help define details of future development at Hacienda is already included in the General Plan. Because of the support of TOD and sustainability contained in the General Plan Update, the City has the opportunity to expedite Hacienda planning through the Hacienda Business Park General Plan Review December 2007 Page 2