REDEVLOPMENT AGENCY

OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA 

NOTICE of SPECIAL MEETING 

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 at 5:00 P.M.

COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL

100 SANTA ROSA AVENUE, SANTA ROSA 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Santa Rosa will hold a Public Hearing at 5:00 p.m. at 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California.  The purpose of the public hearing will be to receive public comment and recommendations prior to the Redevelopment Agency acting on the requested Design Review Approval for the proposed Museum on the Square project.  The Agenda for the meeting is: 

AGENDA 

1.                  CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL           

2.       CITIZEN PUBLIC APPEARANCES (PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE LIMITED TO TOPIC OF THE SPECIAL MEETING) 

3.         STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION

4.         ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING

4.1       MUSEUM ON THE SQUARE DESIGN REVIEW

BACKGROUND:  The Redevelopment Agency and City Council approved a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) on June 29, 2010, for the Museum on the Square Project (Project) after determining that the adaptation and improvement of the site as described in the DDA is consistent with General Plan, Redevelopment Plan, Zoning Code and other City and Agency policy documents, and that the Project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. 

Approval of the DDA included, among other things, approval of the price and terms of the disposition and approval of the project concept, such as the mix of uses and number of stories for each use.  The DDA approval did not include the Project’s design, which was specifically intended to be addressed separately.   

Design Review authority for the Project is granted to the Redevelopment Agency by the Santa Rosa Zoning Code.  Prior to taking action, the Agency may consider, among other things, advice provided by the Design Review Board (DRB), which reviewed the Project on August 19, 2010.

The DRB’s advice/comments include the following points:  1) consider economical enhancements to the east façade residential floors; 2) consider use of vegetation or vegetated shade structures in the rear parking lot; 3) provide tenant amenities and shade structures on the south podium; and 4) identify locations of required bicycle parking.

Economic Development and Housing and Community Development staff have analyzed the Project design in light of the City’s design policies and find that the Project is consistent with the applicable design goals and policies of the General Plan, Downtown Station Area Specific Plan and Design Guidelines. 

RECOMMENDATION:  It is recommended by the Economic Development and Housing Department and the Community Development Department that the Redevelopment Agency, by resolution, grant preliminary design review approval for the Museum on the Square Project, subject to conditions attached to the resolution, and grant final design review authority to the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency or his designee. 

Additional Attachments to item: Museum on the Square Preliminary Design Review Package and Museum on the Square application.

4.2     ADJOURNMENT OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SPECIAL MEETING 

No other business will be considered at this Special Meeting. 

                Dated:      August 26, 2010                  Susan Trinkler, Administrative Secretary