2008/08/20 Council Agenda Packet

f 23. The Planning Department, Planning Commission and City Council have considered the following in determining the standards for the ECC institutional overlay zone in this location: (a) compatibility with surrounding uses, (b) the unique characteristics of the subject property (c) the unique characteristics of the proposed uses, (d) the arrangement of buildings and open spaces as they relate to each other within the institutional campus (e) visual impact of the institution on the surrounding area, (f) public improvements proposed in connection with the institution, and (g) the public benefit provided by the institution. WHEREAS CITY COUNCIL CONCLUDES: Any finding above that may be construed as a conclusion is included here as such by this reference. 2. The Comprehensive Plan amendment is supported by, or consistent with, the Comprehensive Plan. Land Use Policy 2.11.4 is the policy that most specifically applies to the consideration of ECC expansion that requires the redesignation of affected commercial and residential property. In this regard, ECC has identified its expansion needs, and the City has reviewed the proposed change to the commercial and residential land use designations in the context of the City's Comprehensive Plan, consistent with Land Use Policy 2.11.4. 3. The Comprehensive Plan amendment is also consistent with other policies which apply more generally and which the Council reads consistently with Policy 2.11.4. Specifically, Land Use consistent with Policy 2.1.3, refers to a condition under which a residential use, found west of Broadway, may be converted to college use, where College use is already well established. The ECC use is well established. The proposed amendment is therefore, consistent with Land Use Policy 2.1.3. (Findings 1, 5, 22 and 23) 4. Circumstances related to the subject property and the area in which it is located have changed sufficiently since the adoption of the Land Use Element to justify a change to the proposed land use designation. Specifically: (1) ECC has identified the need for future expansion based on student growth projections and (2) the expansion area has become available to the College, or been purchased, so that needed expansion could be carried out in an predicable, orderly manner over the coming years. (Findings 2, 3, 12, 13, 14 and 15) 5. The proposed land use designation is in the community's best interest. (Findings 1, 2, 3, 7 and 18) 6. The approval, as requested does not constitute a grant of special privilege to the proponent or any single owner of property because the College's expansion requirements in this area are unique and will be accomplished with the proposed change. (Finding 22) 7. The Master Plan expansion will not create pressure to change the land use designation of other properties in the vicinity. The Master Plan expansion accommodates long range 5