As stated in the responses to Policies A.17 and A.18 and Policies B.22, B.23, B.28 and B.29, the S-SW <br />zone allows a variety of uses, including retail, office and a range of different residential types. The <br />permitted uses (EC 9.3840) also include parks and open spaces. Based on these findings, the <br />proposed amendments and zone changes are consistent with Policy E.1. <br />E.3 The planting of street trees shall be strongly encouraged, especially for all <br />new developments and redeveloping areas (where feasible) and new <br />streets and reconstruction of major arterials within the UGB. <br /> <br />The Street Design Standards of the S-SW zone specify requirements for street trees where feasible in <br />conjunction with redevelopment projects. Based on these findings, the proposed amendments and <br />zone changes are consistent with Policy E.3 <br />E.4 Public and private facilities shall be designed and located in a manner that <br />preserves and enhances desirable features of local and neighborhood areas <br />and promotes their sense of identity. <br />E.5 Carefully develop sites that provide visual diversity to the urban area and <br />optimize their visual and personal accessibility to residents. <br />E.6 Local jurisdictions shall carefully evaluate their development regulations to <br />ensure that they address environmental design considerations, such as, but <br />not limited to, safety, crime prevention, aesthetics, and compatibility with <br />existing and anticipated adjacent uses (particularly considering high and <br />medium density development locating adjacent to low density residential). <br />E.8 Site planning standards developed by local jurisdictions shall allow for <br />flexibility in design that will achieve site planning objectives while allowing <br />for creative solutions to design problems. <br /> <br />The S-SW zone includes regulations for building heights, step-backs, transition elements, active street <br />fronts and architectural design that preserve and enhance the identity and character of the existing <br />neighborhood. The active street fronts and architectural design standards require visual diversity in <br />design elements, building articulation, materials and colors. The architectural design standards are <br />written as menu of options, allowing multiple paths to compliance and encouraging a variety of <br />architectural styles. Based on these findings, the proposed amendments and zone changes are <br />consistent with Policies E.4, E.5, E.6 and E.8. <br /> <br />F. Transportation Element <br /> <br />Land Use <br />F.3 Provide for transit-supportive land use patterns and development, <br />including higher intensity, transit-oriented development along major <br />transit corridors and near transit stations; medium-and high-density <br />residential development within ¼ mile of transit stations, major transit <br />corridors, employment centers, and downtown areas; and development <br />and redevelopment in designated areas that are or could be well served by <br />existing or planned transit. <br /> <br />Findings - 15 <br />