Planning and Design Commission Reviews 2040 General Plan Outreach, Mobility, and Land Use on August 27, 2020
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Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting - August 27, 2020
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission met on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at 5:30 PM via teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting included consent calendar items, a withdrawn item, and three study sessions on the 2040 General Plan update: Phase 2 community engagement, mobility element, and land use element. Commissioners provided feedback on proposed strategies and approaches, and all study session items were received and filed.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of August 13, 2020 Minutes: Moved, seconded, and carried (Covill/Pluckebaum); (8:0:2:1). Abstain: Commissioners Hernandez and Burke (both absent from the previous meeting). Absent: Commissioner Macias-Reed.
- Director’s Report: Staff announced:
- City Council approved the West Broadway Specific Plan.
- New ministerial housing process effective August 27, 2020.
- Historic district plans awarded a Preservation Design Award by the California Preservation Foundation.
- Tom Pace selected as the new Community Development Director.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A caller expressed concerns about the 2040 General Plan outreach, stating that the virtual format is difficult for seniors to access. The caller asked about the inclusion of unincorporated areas and study areas in the plan, and requested better communication between communities and the city.
Discussion Items
1. 2040 General Plan - Phase 2 Community Engagement Update (File ID: 2020-00976)
- Staff presented results from the Virtual Citywide Workshop (May 18 to June 26, 2020). Over 1,100 households participated. Key findings:
- 93% support or are neutral about compact mixed-use development along key commercial corridors.
- 82% support or are neutral about expanding the city’s sphere of influence to include the Natomas Joint Vision Area.
- 81% support or are neutral about electrification requirements for new buildings; 75% for gradual electrification in existing buildings.
- 97% support or are neutral about using an equity framework for infrastructure investments.
- Commissioners asked about demographic and geographic data collection, outreach to underserved communities (e.g., through schools and community-based organizations), and the need to ask trade-off questions (e.g., willingness to give up parking for tree canopy). Staff noted a scientific survey of 10,000 residents is underway, and additional virtual community plan area workshops are planned for October.
- The item was received and filed.
2. 2040 General Plan Mobility Element Study Session (File ID: 2020-00968)
- Staff presented four big and bold strategies: free/affordable transit passes for low-income residents, youth, and seniors; eliminating city-mandated parking minimums and introducing parking maximums; transportation demand management; and right-sizing streets to prioritize active transportation and transit.
- Commissioners discussed:
- Need for a representative from Regional Transit (RT) at future meetings to discuss coordination and plans.
- Ideas for bike superhighways, closing streets to cars, free transit for all, and converting parking spaces to other uses.
- Challenges of cost and maintenance for protected bikeways (approximately $2 million per mile).
- Importance of addressing safety and comfort for all ages and abilities.
- Staff noted that lane reduction maps are being developed and will be presented in upcoming community workshops. The item was received and filed.
3. 2040 General Plan Land Use Element Study Session (File ID: 2020-00945)
- Staff proposed three major changes:
- Removing density (dwelling units per acre) as a regulatory standard and moving to floor area ratio (FAR)-based intensity.
- Decoupling land use designations from intensity requirements.
- Simplifying land use designations from 27 to 11 categories, including consolidating nine residential designations into one “Neighborhood” designation.
- Commissioners discussed:
- Ground floor retail requirements: Most commissioners favored flexible active frontage requirements over mandated retail, citing concerns about vacant retail spaces.
- Minimum FARs: Commissioners sought visualization of how buildings would look and emphasized avoiding unintended consequences (e.g., underutilization of space).
- Anti-displacement policies: Staff noted that these will be incorporated into the General Plan and subsequent zoning updates.
- The relationship between the Land Use Element and Housing Element update (2021–2029).
- Staff will incorporate feedback and return with maps and more detailed proposals. The item was received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- All three discussion items were received and filed (no formal votes).
- Consent calendar approved with noted abstentions.
- Item 6 (Folsom Boulevard Special Planning District) was withdrawn and rescheduled for September 10, 2020.
- Commissioners requested that an agenda item be placed for a future meeting to discuss commission process improvements, including better coordination among city commissions and committees.
- The meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I really do like the COVID casual poor heaven has to suit up and go to work, but the rest of us, you know. I bought stood up the other day, and I was like, yeah, we'll pull a bunch of guys. How'd you know? I'm like, you're wearing swim trunks. Yes. Hi. I don't know what's causing that. Can you hear me clearly? Or I can hear you clearly. Maybe it's I don't know if it's the city hall chamber mic on or what's faint music playing back here. You can hear us okay. I can hear the music. I can hear the music, but the oh now it's back. Comes and goes. So, Bill, is it my earbuds again? I don't hear it. I don't hear it right now. Here let me go on mute. So better, Jeff. It's still there. I think it's I think it's the chambers. Yeah. Um did you text me? Seven nine nine one five seven four. Fourteen seventy four. That explains it. Okay, check it. Yes, we're ready at your discretion. Well, good evening. Welcome to the August thirteenth, twenty twenty City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission hearing. Before we get started, if these uh Zoom meeting instructions sound familiar, there is a reason. Our past chair Ogilby did such a great job with her Zoom meeting instructions. I've been working real hard to plagiarize them. For members of the public that are joining the meeting, in addition to submitting e-comments, you have the option to phone in during the public comment period. And I just lost if you'd like to give e-comment during the meeting, please do so. E-comment posted after 5 p.m. today will be pulled up and we will take a moment to review them. Comments received that were submitted through email or e-comments before 5 p.m. today have been received by city staff and available for commissioners to review. If you're calling in on an item, please uh refer to the instructions on the screen after you dial in. You will be prompted to select a hearing item number to move into that item's queue. You can call in any time before or during the public comment period for that item, and you will be placed on hold until it is your turn to speak. Once you call in, please keep in mind it may take a minute or so for you to move into the queue. With that, let's move in to tonight's agenda. We do have one item change, item six, Folsom Boulevard Special Planning District, M20-002 has been postponed to September 10th hearing. With that, we'll move to the roll call. Commissioners unmute your mics. Commissioner Wong Conley. Commissioner Messiah 3. Commissioner Hernandez.
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