NEXT PUBLIC MEETING OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Project History:

    In April 2011, the City Council discussed, among other topics, current economic conditions in the Shadelands Business Park. Council members acknowledged that there are currently several successful, valuable businesses within the Shadelands, but pondered future alternative land uses that might revitalize the business park to make it a more competitive economic development engine and a force within the commercial real estate market. Council members discussed alternatives to the permitted uses within the Business Park for the Safeway site, including but not limited to, senior housing or residential care facilities, educational institutions, medical offices, and a large grocery store complex.

    In May 2011, Safeway Stores Inc., as the owner and applicant, submitted a Pre-Application request for the City Council to consider an amendment of the existing General Plan land use designation (GPA) from Business Park (BP) to General Retail (G-R). A GPA would be required to allow the site to be rezoned to one or more compliant retail zoning districts, which would permit construction of a variety of retail uses on all or a portion of the site. The applicant filed the Pre-Application request to determine if the City Council believes the time is right to consider/study possible development of non-business park related land uses on this site.
    
    On August 2, 2011, the City Council reviewed a pre-application for a GPA filed by Property Development Centers (PDC), and endorsed the idea of processing a GPA through the creation of a specific plan. Given the site’s prominent location and the opportunity presented, one of the Council’s intended goals was to ensure the process is inclusive and participatory so that the project incorporates the public’s vision for a future use(s) at this prominent corner identified in General Plan 2025 as a gateway to the City. The City Council also expressed a goal of balancing the needs of the community with those of the applicant in order to create a viable, competitive vision for the future of the 25-acre area. The Council reiterated its commitment to an inclusive public process, one in which the interests of all parties may be expressed, considered, and vetted through an open, public dialogue.