Tonight marks the end of more than two years of community-based work to update the 
Land Use & Circulation Element (LUCE), a 20-year plan that will guide future decisions on housing and business development, preservation of environmental resources and policies, and infrastructure related to traffic, bike and pedestrian circulation. Proposed updates in the LUCE include specific policy direction to add critical residential housing in the southern part of town to help address the city’s jobs-housing imbalance. Policies have also been updated to support traffic reduction measures in neighborhoods and increased infrastructure to support bicycling, walking and improved regional connectivity. Key to adding residential capacity will be the city council’s consideration this evening of overruling the Airport Land Use Commission’s determination that the LUCE is incompatible with current noise zones, a finding countered extensively by aviation experts hired by the City. Much of the City’s long planned infill and increased housing in the southern areas of the city are at risk should an overrule – which requires a four vote majority – not occur. The Chamber is in strong support of the adoption of the LUCE updates and will be advocating for the city to move forward this evening with the extensive community input it has received on how to plan growth and circulation within the city.