Been to a Planning Commission meeting lately?
My guess is that you have not. To be honest, it's been a while since I have been as well.
The Planning Commission is made up of appointed individuals who live or have an influence in Escondido. Many of them are professionals in the field of land use to some degree or another. The commission hears and decides on matters that cannot be approved at the front counter of City Hall. After the commission approves a matter it goes to City Council as an agenda item for final approval.
One of the items that the Planning Commission will vote on Tuesday, April 9, is a Density Transfer Program.
The purpose of the Density Transfer Program is to enable the City to transfer densities from un-developed or underutilized properties (sending areas) within the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP)to developing properties (receiving areas) to enable a developing property to increase its density beyond what current zoning would permit. The transferred density would be held in a Density
Credit Pool.
* Sending Area - Areas identified to be conserved or restrained from further growth or density.
This may include an area or property where development has occurred and is currently underutilized and further development is not anticipated. The unused density is transferred to a Density Credit Pool.
* Receiving Area - Area identified as having additional potential for development beyond that allowed by existing zoning. The increased density can only be utilized by transferring of densi
ty from a Density Credit Pool.
* Density Credit Pool - A Density Transfer Pool consists of unused density from undevelopedor underutilized properties. Available density with the Density Credit Pool could be transferred
to a developing parcel to increase the density beyond what is permitted through the current zoning. The overall transfer of density from sending areas to receiving areas would not exceed
the overall planned density of a specific area.
It is important to note that the density in question has already been approved via the Specific Plan. If approved by the Planning Commission, and then by City Council, the DTP would allow flexibility on how to achieve the density, it will NOT increase density.
I encourage you to attend the meeting on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00pm in the council chambers at City Hall.
Sincerely,
