Redwood City Council Meeting: November 14, 2022 – Harbor View Project Approved with Historic Benefits
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Redwood City Council Meeting – November 14, 2022
The City Council held a hybrid meeting on November 14, 2022, at 6:00 PM. The meeting featured proclamations, a consent calendar, a major public hearing on the Harbor View development project (item 7A), a public health goal report, and a Mills Act historic preservation agreement. After lengthy discussion, the council approved the Harbor View project in a series of 5-2 votes, with Councilmember Howard and Vice Mayor Reddy dissenting.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Recognizing SAMCEDA for community grant programs during COVID-19; CEO Roseanne Faust accepted.
- Proclamation for United Against Hate Week (Nov 13-19); joined by Sequoia Union High School District trustees and community partners.
Consent Calendar
- Approved 20 routine items (6A-6Q, 6S-6T) unanimously, excluding item 6E (speed hump project) which was voted separately (4-0, with recusals).
- Items included: civilian oversight letter (6C), agreement for homeless outreach (6J), and others.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General public comment: Speakers addressed gun buyback, civilian oversight of sheriff, artificial turf concerns (multiple youth speakers from BayCAT), wood smoke pollution, and support for speed humps.
- Harbor View (item 7A): 15 speakers total (12 in-person, 3 virtual).
- In favor: Sister Christina Heltsley (St. Francis Center), Michael Pierce, Hugo Torres, Melissa Sandoval, Diana Kamal, Kathy Baird, Fernanda De Velasco, Laura Garcia, Florence Ortiz, Alana Ballon, Lily Milton, and union representative John Medina. They emphasized the historic community benefits, particularly 64 units of extremely low-income housing, and the positive impact on the community.
- Opposed: Chris Roble and Chris Johnson (virtual) argued the project would exacerbate traffic, housing imbalance, and environmental impacts. Greg Greenway (Seaport Industrial Association) highlighted long-term trade-offs for port industrial land and transportation.
- Public Health Goal Report (7B): No public comments.
- Mills Act (7C): No public comments.
Discussion Items
- Harbor View Project (7A): Staff and applicant presented the 27-acre redevelopment at 320-350 Blomquist Street and 15/30 Stein am Rhein Court. The project reduced from 1.144 million sq ft to 765,150 sq ft, four buildings (7, 6, 6 stories plus amenities), 2,551 parking spaces, 40% open space. Proposed general plan amendment from industrial to commercial office/professional technology, zoning change to commercial park, development agreement with community benefits valued at over $65 million. Benefits included: $8M+ annual property tax revenue, $12M for transit, $14M for parks and children/youth, $39M for low-income housing (including 64 ELI units at St. Francis Center, $2.5M to city housing fund). Planning commission recommended approval 5-1 after certifying EIR with statement of overriding considerations for unavoidable traffic and air quality impacts.
- Council discussion: Councilmember Espinosa Garnica expressed support despite unmitigated impacts, noting existing zoning would allow similar development. Councilmember G stressed the difference between community benefits and mandatory fees. Councilmember Howard opposed due to jobs-housing imbalance, sea level rise, and reliance on auto-oriented transit. Vice Mayor Reddy opposed citing insufficient housing benefits. Councilmember Martinez and Mayor Hale supported, highlighting the historic ELI housing and park funding.
- Public Health Goal Report (7B): Presentation on water quality, lead sampling, and corrosion control. All regulatory standards met. No council action required; public hearing held.
- Mills Act Historic Preservation (7C): Resolution approving historic landmark designation and 10-year Mills Act contract for 2312 Hopkins Avenue. Unanimously approved (6-0, Vice Mayor Reddy recused).
Key Outcomes
- Harbor View Project: Approved in five consecutive votes (each 5-2, with Howard and Reddy opposed):
- Certified Final EIR and adopted statement of overriding considerations.
- Approved general plan amendment to commercial office/professional technology.
- Approved zoning map amendment to commercial park.
- Introduced ordinance approving development agreement.
- Approved vesting tentative map and architectural permit.
- Mills Act: Adopted resolution designating 2312 Hopkins Avenue as historic landmark and approved 10-year preservation contract.
- Consent Calendar: Approved as noted, with item 6E (speed humps) approved 4-0.
- Council Matters: Reports from subcommittees; city manager announced new homelessness website (redwoodcity.org/homelessness) and upcoming community meetings on federal fund priorities and solid waste rates.
Meeting Transcript
That they are listed in on the agenda. With the hybrid meeting format, I'm going to talk through how public common procedures will work. In-person speakers will be called on first in the order in which the speakers' cards are turned in to the city clerk. The speakers cards are located at the back of the room and they are on the table. They must be turned in to the city clerk in advance of the item. And don't be shy, you can just walk right up and hand it in, even if we're speaking or if somebody else is speaking, that's absolutely fine. We do want you to indicate the agenda item on the card so we know when to call you. So that's pretty important. You'll look at the agenda, you'll look at the item you're here for, and then you'll write that on the card. For our virtual attendees who are joining us tonight via Zoom, you'll be called on after the in-person commenters, and the detailed instructions for public comment will be provided on the screen when it is your turn for public comment. We are also offering Spanish translation this evening. And to hear the meaning in Spanish, you can pick up a headset from our staff here at the Dais. And I will now ask our translator to give some brief instructions in Spanish. Okay, and City Clerk, would you please take the roll call? Good evening. Councilmember Aguirre. Here. Councilmember Espinosa Garnica. Here. Councilmember G. Here. Councilmember Howard. Here. Council Member Martinez. Here. Vice Mayor Reddy. Here. And Mayor Hale. Here. Thank you. Thank you. And now Councilmember Martinez Sabayos, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. This evening we have two presentations. This is a portion of our meeting where we acknowledge organizations or individuals in the community. And we're going to start this evening with a proclamation recognizing the San Mateo County Economic Development Association, commonly referred to as SAMCDA, for community grant programs. So tonight we're going to be recognizing Sam CEDA because they were absolutely instrumental in how we were able to respond to the unique needs of our business community during the COVID-19 pandemic. So on behalf of the City Council this evening, it's my pleasure to present this proclamation. And I'm just going to read a couple of the whereas statements so that you can get a sense of the work that they did. And I know it's not listed here, but they I'm perhaps Roseanne will have the number, but tens of thousands of dollars went to literally keep so many of the businesses that we know and love and frequent alive. They would not be here had it not been for this work. And this was not in their scope of work either. This was literally something that they chose to do for the good of the community, and we are so very grateful to them. So I want to welcome Sam Cita's CEO, Roseanne Faust, to the podium to uh give some remarks, and then uh I will be uh inviting her to take a photo with the council. Mayor Hale and members of the council, thank you very much for taking time this evening to recognize Sam CEDA. On behalf of our board of directors, I can I I'm pausing because many times organizations like SAMCA aren't used to being thanked. We just do. Uh that's been in our DNA since 1953. So I can tell you personally, having been with the organization 14 years now, heading into my 15th, this means a tremendous amount.
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