To: HONORABLE MAYOR AND From: Stephen M. Haase[PL1]
CITY COUNCIL
Subject: URBAN DESIGN SERVICES Date: June 4, 2003
AGREEMENT AMENDMENT
COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3
SNI AREA: Spartan-Keyes
RECOMMENDATION
The Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement recommends that the City Council approve an amendment to an existing consultant agreement with the ROMA Design Group extending the term of the contract for urban design services for the Martha Gardens Specific Plan from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003.
BACKGROUND
The Martha Gardens Specific Plan area (formerly East Gardener Specific Plan) is generally bounded by: Highway 280; a line approximately 120 feet easterly of South 6th Street; a line varying from 750 feet to 1,000 feet southerly of Keyes Street; and South First Street. This approximately 134-acre area is located within the larger Spartan-Keyes Strong Neighborhoods Initiative Improvement Plan area and is also a part of the City’s Housing Opportunities Study area.
Planning staff is currently working with the ROMA Design Group and the Spartan-Keyes community to complete the Martha Gardens Specific Plan. The Plan will allow the City, property owners, and the community to take advantage of the many opportunities in this area to create a new neighborhood that compliments the Downtown as well as existing neighborhoods to the east, south, and west. The final draft of the Martha Gardens Specific Plan is being prepared and will be presented to the community in July.
The Specific Plan has been developed with the assistance of the community-based Spartan-Keyes Specific Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC) and closely coordinated with the Spartan-Keyes SNI Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC).
ANALYSIS
The original Specific Plan area was expanded in mid-2002 to address community concerns and additional land use factors that emerged through the Specific Plan process, thereby expanding the scope of services and extending the schedule of performance for the consultant contract with ROMA. The consultant, City staff and the community have continued to fine-tune the vision for an exciting new community, and have successfully reached the end of the planning process. ROMA staff has played a key and very successful role in developing the Specific Plan, and are a vital resource for putting the finishing touches on the Plan, which will be brought forward to the City Council as part of the Fall 2003 General Plan Amendment hearings.
An expanded Initial Study is being prepared to provide necessary environmental clearance for the Martha Gardens Specific Plan. Staff anticipates that the Initial Study will be available for circulation later this summer, and that the Plan will be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council in the fall. This contract amendment extends the term of the agreement to allow ROMA to complete the Scope of Services for the Plan.
BUDGET
REFERENCES
This amendment extends the term of the contract with no additional cost. Funding for the study has already been encumbered.
PUBLIC
OUTREACH
Public outreach has been extensive during the development of the Martha Gardens Specific Plan. This outreach has been coordinated with and incorporated within the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative public outreach efforts. With approval of this Amended Agreement, additional and intensified public outreach efforts are anticipated for the fall 2003 General Plan hearings.
COORDINATION
The preparation of this memorandum and contract was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and Risk Management.
CEQA
Not a project.
STEPHEN M. HAASE, DIRECTOR
Planning, Building and Code Enforcement