CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 2, 2015
PREPARED BY: John W. Baty, Senior Planner/Community Development
APPROVED BY: City Manager
Title
MORGAN HILL 2035: NEW GENERAL PLAN POLICIES
END
RECOMMENDATION(S)
RECOMMENDATION
Provide input on proposed General Plan policy additions
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Enhancing public safety
Protecting the environment
Maintaining fiscal responsibility
Supporting youth
Fostering a positive organizational culture
Preserving and cultivating public trust
2015 Focus Areas
Stimulate Economic Development
Participate in Regional Issues
Infrastructure Funding and Advocacy
General Plan Update
Community Engagement Effectiveness
REPORT NARRATIVE:
The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council with an opportunity to review and provide input on proposed new General Plan Policies that were drafted to address several key unresolved policy issues raised in earlier discussions and feedback from the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), stakeholder interviews, public workshops, and City Council/Planning Commission study sessions. These Policies address particular issues which were identified as needing further discussion before the City Council.
The proposed Policies and background information on the issues that they address is provided in the two attachments.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Collaborate
The General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) discussed policy options for the General Plan Update at meetings in late 2014 following a series of stakeholders meetings. These discussions focused on key unresolved policy issues that were raised in earlier public workshops, stakeholder interviews, GPAC meetings, and City Council/Planning Commission study sessions.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
Provide comments on the proposed policies in the context of the City Council’s review of the Draft General Plan. The Draft General Plan should be available for public review in late October 2015 with workshops scheduled with the GPAC, the community, Planning Commission, and City Council through January 2016.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
The Planning Commission met on August 11, 2015 to review and provide input on the proposed new General Plan Policies. The Commission provided input (see attached summary) on proposed policies in the following categories: Neighborhood Centers/Non-Traditional Uses in Shopping Centers; Residential Design Standards; Youth and Senior Services; Community Health; and Community Gardens. The Planning Commission is scheduled to continue their discussion and input at their September 8, 2015 meeting.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
Preparation of this report and presentation to City Council is within the budget and work plan for the Morgan Hill 2035 project.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Not a Project
LINKS/ATTACHMENTS:
• New General Plan Policies Memorandum
• Policy Memo Attachment - Background Information
• Summary of Planning Commission Feedback from August 11, 2015