The development of the Conservation District has spanned many years and followed a Council goal adopted in 1999. Numerous meetings have been held since this time with notices sent to affected property owners. The properties under consideration for the District are in the boundaries of the City's Old Quad and surrounding area, generally bounded by Newhall Street, Scott Boulevard and the Railroad.

The City Council considered adoption of the draft Ordinance and draft Design Guidelines on November 9, 2004. Questions still arose regarding the implications of the ordinance, types of properties included and how the development review process would change under the proposed ordinance and design guidelines. The City Council acted to defer the matter to the new City Council that would be seated on December 7th. In light of this deferral, a special study session was set for January 11, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to review the proposed Ordinance and Design Guidelines. At the January 11, 2005 City Council meeting, following the study session and public testimony earlier the Council directed staff to return on March 22nd with some new ideas. Some of the issues identified at that meeting included unequal treatment of properties within the proposed district compared to those outside, having tract houses inside the District, applying historic design guidelines to non-historic houses, including commercial properties in the District, limiting the benefits of streamlining the review process and flexible zoning standards to just the District. The overall theme was that the benefits should be applied citywide.

On March 22nd the City Council considered new options. Based on Council comments and public input, the City Council reconsidered adopting a District and opted instead on an alternative approach that will include the following:

1. No Neighborhood Conservation District or Overlay Zone and no Floor Area Ratio (FAR).

2. Amend the Single Family Residential Zoning District (R1-6L) standards to allow flexibility for existing non-conforming properties citywide.

3. Adopt new single-family design guidelines for the entire City. These guidelines have been in development for the past two years. Use the nearly complete guidelines that the Architectural Committee has developed for the tract areas of the City. Identify an area (pre-1940s, close to the original Conservation District boundaries) with separate guidelines geared to historic properties and their immediate neighborhood. This would address more specific development and architectural considerations associated with historic houses, and their environs.

4. Approve new citywide procedures to streamline the review process
a. Staff approval for projects consistent with the design guidelines
b. Architectural Committee review of non-historic projects inconsistent with the design guidelines or for demolitions
c. Historical & Landmarks Commission review of historic projects inconsistent with the design guidelines or for demolitions

The City Council commented that a citywide application of single family zoning flexibility and design guidelines would be a more equitable approach and addresses concerns from citizens expressed at the meetings. The proposed review process under consideration is more timely and easier than the current process allowing all additions to properties to be approved administratively, subject to compliance with the design guidelines. Projects not in compliance would only have to go to one decision-making body, either the Historical and Landmarks Commission or the Architectural Committee.

With this City Council action taken, potential single-family zoning amendments and proposed historic and neighborhood design guidelines will return to Council in May or June for preliminary review, then return with a report on August 30, 2005 to City Council after consultation with the Historical and Landmarks Commission and the Planning Commission.

If you would like further information or have questions, please contact Gloria Sciara, AICP in the Planning Department at (408) 615-2450 or by email at gsciara@santaclaraca.gov.