Redwood City Planning Commission Regular Meeting - August 16, 2022

The Redwood City Planning Commission met on August 16, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers and via Zoom. The meeting included a public hearing on a historic district addition, a scheduled continuation of an SB 9 zoning ordinance item, a study session on Downtown Precise Plan amendments, and the selection of a new Commission Chair and Vice Chair. No minutes or transcript from the meeting are available; this summary is based on the published agenda and staff reports.

Selection of Planning Commission Chair and Vice Chair

• The Commission was scheduled to select a new Chair and Vice Chair. No further details on the outcome are available from the agenda.

Public Hearing: 413 Alden Street – Historic District Addition (Item 6.A)

• Project: A permit for a one-story 231-square-foot addition and interior remodel to a contributing structure in the Mezesville Historic District. The site is a 796-square-foot single-family residence built around 1925, zoned Multi-Family – High Density (R-5). The addition would include a pantry, enlarged kitchen, and living room, resulting in a 1,027-square-foot one-bedroom, one-office, two-bathroom home. The addition would be clad in stucco to differentiate it from the historic wood siding, per the recommendation of the City’s architectural historian.
• Environmental Review: Staff determined the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15301(e) (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) and does not cause a substantial adverse change to a historic resource under Section 15300.2(f).
• Staff Recommendation: Adopt a resolution conditionally approving Permit No. AP2022-009, based on compliance with Chapter 40 of the Redwood City Municipal Code. The Historical Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) had previously recommended approval (4-0) on June 9, 2022.

Continuation of SB 9 Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Amendments (Item 6.B)

• Request: Staff recommended that the Commission continue consideration of zoning and subdivision ordinance amendments to implement Senate Bill 9 (SB 9), which allows up to two‑unit developments and urban lot splits in single‑family (R‑1/RH) zones. The recommendation was to continue the item to a date uncertain, pending further analysis and public outreach.

Study Session: Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) and General Plan Amendments (Item 7.A)

• Purpose: An informational overview of proposed amendments to the Downtown Precise Plan and General Plan, intended to facilitate review of eight “Gatekeeper” projects that would increase office and residential development capacity, clean up inconsistencies, and adjust policies on approval processes, uses, parking, and rooftop amenities.
• Key Topics Discussed:
  • Development Capacity: The amendments would study an increase of 1,167,100 square feet of office space (with up to 30% potentially permitted as Research & Development/Laboratory uses) and 830 residential units (15–20% affordable). An 80,000-square-foot “small office” set-aside is also proposed.
  • Approval Process: Large projects requiring General Plan/DTPP amendments would be decided by the City Council (with a Planning Commission recommendation) and would be required to enter into a Development Agreement.
  • R&D Laboratory Uses: Staff sought input on whether to allow “R&D, Laboratory” as a conditional use in the Downtown General areas, subject to performance standards on hazardous materials and compatibility.
  • Parking and Bicycle Parking: Proposed reductions in minimum parking ratios (e.g., residential parking minimum eliminated in Zone 1 near transit, lowered in Zone 2) and increased bicycle parking ratios (1 space per unit for residential, 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. for nonresidential).
  • Exceptions Process: Certain projects could request exceptions to DTPP standards if they provide community amenities such as creeks, publicly accessible open space, or rights‑of‑way for Caltrain improvements.
• No Formal Recommendation Was Requested – Staff requested Commissioner feedback to inform the draft SEIR and final amendments.

Key Outcomes

• The public hearing for 413 Alden Street (Item 6.A) was held; the outcome is not recorded in available materials, but the staff recommendation was for conditional approval.
• The SB 9 item (Item 6.B) was continued to an uncertain date.
• The study session on DTPP amendments concluded without a vote; staff will incorporate Commissioner comments into the environmental review and final proposal, anticipated in fall 2022–spring 2023.
• The Commission selected a Chair and Vice Chair (specific names not available).