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EIR No. 2020-01, GPA No. 2020-02, & AA No. 2020-01 – The Bowery Mixed-Use Development May 11, 2020 Page 9 process to update its General Plan, which is the blueprint for future development. A key component of the update is to focus new growth and development along major corridors reducing the pressure for growth in low-density neighborhoods and to identify areas for future development, including but not limited to higher density residential development. As part of the update, the City has evaluated new land use designations for the General Plan and development opportunities in the area surrounding the project site known as the 55 Freeway/Dyer Road Focus Area. Identified goals for this area include protecting the industrial and employment base, attracting economic activity into the area, providing complementary housing, and maintaining hotel and commercial uses. The proposed general plan amendment and mixed-use development are consistent with the goals of the broader 55 Freeway/Dyer Road Focus Area considered in the comprehensive General Plan update and would provide complementary housing, contribute to the employment base, attract economic activity, and provide complementary commercial uses. Amendment Application (Zone Change) The applicant’s request to change the existing zoning of Light Industrial (M-1) to Specific Development (SD) will facilitate construction of the proposed development. The SD is the appropriate zoning designation for the subject site as the M-1 zoning allows primarily industrial activities with ancillary, supportive commercial uses such as restaurants. Residential uses and a full spectrum of commercial uses are prohibited by the M-1 zoning district. Alternatively, the SD zoning district allows flexibility for developments that are master-planned and often mixed-use in nature, such as the proposed project. The SD is established for the purpose of protecting and promoting the public health, safety and general welfare of the City and its residents. This new zoning designation for the site is crafted to be consistent with the proposed project. The project’s draft SD zoning designation, if approved, would contain allowable uses, development standards, parking requirements, landscaping standards, and signage regulations that address the specific needs of the development. The SD document will be of a format consistent with recently-approved SD documents for similar projects such as The Heritage and Legacy Sunflower at 651 West Sunflower Avenue. In addition, the proposed SD to allow the use of the site for residential development is supported as the location has elements to make the site a viable mixed-use commercial and residential development. The elements include having regional access to freeway and transportation systems and being within proximity to employment centers and nearby retail and commercial shopping opportunities. The applicant’s request for a zone change will also establish consistency with the proposed General Plan land use designation, and will assist with implementing the General Plan through the appropriate zoning designation. The zone change is also consistent with the goals identified in the 55 Freeway/Dyer Road Focus Area considered in the comprehensive General Plan update. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) The applicant submitted a development proposal that requires the approval of several discretionary applications. Given the size and location of the project, as well as the proposed zoning and general plan modifications, extensive environmental review was needed. After completion of the Initial 3-9