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rPIPER <br /> April 18, 2022 <br /> Page Four <br /> However, neither the applicable interim standards under Specific Development 84 plan nor the Harbor <br /> Specific Plan allow the Lined Block typology at the Sites, but the more intensive Flex Block typology is <br /> allowed under Specific Development 84's CDR standards. However, it may be the case that, for the Sites <br /> and other sites within Focus Areas, the less intensive Lined Block typology would provide the most <br /> efficient, advantageous building design. And even though the Lined Block typology is less intensive than <br /> the Flex Block typology, a Flex Block building would be allowed at the Sites but a Lined Block building <br /> would not. <br /> To eliminate the potential for eliminating advantageous development design opportunities, we request <br /> language be added to the General Plan indicating that, where an interim development standard allows a <br /> certain building typology, any less intensive typology can also be allowed at the same location. This <br /> would provide new development applicants and City decisionmakers the flexibility to consider the best <br /> design for the particular site at issue. <br /> III. Clarify the Applicability of FAR and Density Limits in Focus Areas <br /> The applicable development standards in the Land Use Element for Focus Areas and, in particular here, <br /> the UN-30 designation, alternatively state that the applicable Floor Area Ratio ("FAR") and Density is 1.5 <br /> FAR and/or 30 du/ac," but elsewhere they state the standards is 1.5 FAR or 30 du/ac." (See, e.g., GPU, <br /> at pp. LU-23, LU-40.) <br /> These differing statements may create ambiguity as to whether the Land Use Element's respective FAR <br /> and density limits both apply to development projects or whether they apply in the alternative, the latter of <br /> which could create confusion and cause unintended consequences. In the absence of this point of clarity, <br /> it may be unclear to staff and future zoning ordinance drafters how the applicable FAR and density <br /> standards should be applied. If applied in the alternative, for example, a mixed-use project may not be <br /> able to fully utilize available density while also providing the full scope of job-producing commercial uses <br /> within the allowed FAR, e.g., if a project's density is maxed out at less than a 1.5:1 FAR, a project could <br /> be prohibited from adding additional floor area for commercial uses up to the 1.5:1 FAR limit. <br /> We do not believe such a result is what is intended by the standard, especially given the already <br /> conservative 1.5:1 FAR limit applied in the UN-30 zone. <br /> Thus, we request the Land Use Element be updated to state 1.5 FAR and/or 30 du/ac"wherever density <br /> and FAR limits cited and eliminate all references that only include the word "or." The same change should <br /> be made for other land use designations presenting the same issue. This revision would clarify the <br /> applicable standard and avoid potential confusion. <br /> WEST\298365149.1 <br />