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EIR No. 2014 -01, GPA No. 2014 -02, <br />ZOA No. 2014 -01 & AA No. 2014 -01 <br />October 7, 2014 <br />Page 2 <br />Based on this input, the plan is recommended to be revised as follows (Exhibit A): <br />Revise the description of the goals of development in the Transit Node district to place a <br />greater emphasis on non - residential development, including commercial, entertainment <br />and hotels. <br />Intensify development potential in the Transit Node districts. The Transit Node districts <br />each contain a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stop. Using these BRT stops as identifiers, the <br />three areas designated as Transit Node zones are recommended to be further classified <br />as North or South. The recommendations as proposed would not result in any new <br />significant impacts (Exhibit B). The uses and development standards for the North Transit <br />Node, at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue, are recommended to be revised as <br />follows <br />• Raise the minimum number of building stories from three to four and increase the <br />maximum allowed stories from six to 10. <br />• Remove three -story building types, such as townhouses, as permitted types to <br />eliminate stand -alone residential development. <br />• Remove frontage types, such as stoops and porches, as permitted types to ensure a <br />commercial character at the ground level. <br />• Require that all ground floor uses be non - residential. Where residential is proposed, it <br />must be part of a mixed -use project. <br />o Staff does not recommend making revisions to uses and development standards in the <br />two remaining South Transit Nodes. Many of the parcels in these two areas are too small <br />to meet the development standards and lot sizes required by the more intense standards <br />recommended for the North Transit Node. Restricting development to the standards <br />contained in the North Transit Node would effectively remove the ability to develop these <br />properties, potentially creating a taking of the property without compensation. In addition, <br />the surrounding uses in these areas are predominantly small -scale residential which is <br />less compatible with 10 -story development. Finally, these properties are not located <br />adjacent to the fixed - guideway stop that will be constructed at the North Transit Node and, <br />as such, have more limited potential for the same level of intense development. <br />The plan currently contains several design scenarios that address the need to make Harbor <br />Boulevard a more livable, walkable and bikable street, as well as one that will result in reduction <br />of speeds over time. In the near term, based on the existing right -of -way, a re- striped Harbor <br />Boulevard can accommodate three lanes of vehicular traffic with narrowed lane widths and a <br />buffered bike lane for much of the street's length. In areas where the right -of -way is constrained, <br />lane widths can still be narrowed and a painted shoulder can be added. However, the City <br />should continue to pursue long -term options that can result in a safer and more robust multi - <br />modal street. One significant constraint is overall public right -of -way. The potential for <br />acquisition of right -of -way to accomplish the needs of additional features, is limited and cost <br />75A -2 <br />