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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 3 <br />prohibitive. Staff recommends that the best option is to begin to explore a reduction in the <br />number of vehicular travel lanes from three in each direction to two, thereby freeing up additional <br />width that can be used to improve the street design. This would require the participation of <br />OCTA due to the fact that Harbor Boulevard is identified as an arterial in the County's Master <br />Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) and, as such, is required to adhere to the design guidelines <br />contained in the MPAH. In order to receive Measure M funding, which is used for a wide variety <br />of street improvements, cities must show that they are in compliance with the MPAH, therefore, <br />any changes to the lane configurations of Harbor Boulevard would need to be done in concert <br />with OCTA. Staff recommends that the City Council provide staff direction to begin to explore <br />this option. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION <br />On August 25, 2014, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt a <br />resolution certifying Final Environmental Impact Report No. 2014 -01, to approve the mitigation <br />monitoring program, findings of fact, and statement of overriding considerations for the Harbor <br />Mixed Use Transit Corridor Specific Plan; adopt a resolution approving General Plan Amendment <br />No. 2014 -02; adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2014 -01; and <br />adopt an ordinance approving Amendment Application No. 2014 -01 by a vote of 7:0 for the <br />Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Specific Plan ("Harbor Corridor Plan "). The <br />Planning Commission recommended that the design of bicycle and pedestrian travelways be <br />given additional consideration. Thus; the street cross - section designs have been removed and <br />replaced with illustrative conceptual images, and text added that final design of the street cross - <br />section will be determined during the process of the Public Realm Improvement Implementation <br />Program. Other minor modifications to the Plan included the clarification of definitions for <br />housing types, required bike parking, and the enhanced design of parking structure facing Harbor <br />Boulevard (Exhibit C). <br />DISCUSSION <br />The Harbor Corridor Plan proposes a new land use and development vision along Harbor <br />Boulevard, and would replace the existing 425 -acre North Harbor Specific Plan (NHSP) with a <br />reduced plan area of 305 -acres generally along Harbor Boulevard. The previously - adopted NHSP <br />also included 120 acres of property that was comprised primarily of the Wiilowick Golf Course and <br />existing residential neighborhoods near Harbor Boulevard. These areas are recommended to be <br />removed from the plan and to have their zoning reflect the existing land uses of open space and <br />single - family and two - family development. The proposed Harbor Corridor Plan creates a more <br />sustainble vision, introducing housing and higher intensity mixed use development opportunities <br />near the existing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Harbor Boulevard and future fixed guideway routes <br />The proposed Harbor Corridor Plan allows for a minimum of 10 acres to be designated for <br />residential use, as required to maintain a State certified Housing Element requirement to provide <br />adequate zoning for affordable housing opportunity. <br />75A -3 <br />