Redwood City Planning Commission Meeting - October 4, 2022
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Redwood City Planning Commission Meeting - October 4, 2022
On October 4, 2022, the Redwood City Planning Commission held a regular meeting at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers (1017 Middlefield Road) and virtually via Zoom. The meeting, which adjourned at 7:50 PM, featured four public hearing items: two Mills Act historic preservation contracts, a permit for an expansion in a historic district, and a public hearing on a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). All votes were unanimous (6-0). Commissioners present: Bondonno, Chu, Meunier (via Zoom), Sturken, Vice Chair Crnogorac, and Chair Hunter. Staff included Assistant Community Development & Transportation Director Exline, Contract Principal Planner Banks, Assistant Planners Dotson and Turner, Assistant City Attorney Beyers, and Administrative Secretary Mateo.
Public Comments & Testimony
- 505 E. Bayshore Road (Draft EIR): Gita Dev, speaking on behalf of the Sierra Club Sustainable Land Use Committee, expressed concern about the project proceeding during Redwood City's sea level rise risk analysis (approved September 2022, projected one-year duration). She noted that the site is in a flood zone and sea level rise impact zone, questioned the feasibility of a retaining wall descending into bay mud, and raised long-term infrastructure and habitat risks.
Discussion Items
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1417 Middlefield Road – Mills Act Contract (Historic Property Preservation): Assistant Planner James Dotson presented the contract for a historic landmark built in 1883 (Italianate style, contributor to the Stambaugh Heller Historic District). The applicant, Ellen E. Jamason, outlined the current dilapidated condition and a 10-year improvement plan (including foundation inspection in 2028, new landscaping, low-water irrigation, and seismic retrofit assessment). Commissioners expressed strong support for restoring the property and dividing it into three units (two main units plus an ADU), which will provide naturally affordable housing. No public comments. Motion to recommend approval passed 6-0 (Resolution 22-03).
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2312 Hopkins Avenue – Historic Landmark Designation & Mills Act Contract: Assistant Planner Dotson presented the request for a 1928 Colonial Revival brick-veneer home (eligible for historic designation since 1995). Applicant Matt Johnston described a 10-year plan including repointing brick, seismic retrofitting survey (set for 2029), window repairs, foundation assessment (in 2028), and roof inspection. Commissioners debated prioritization: Vice Chair Crnogorac urged moving the seismic retrofitting earlier to ensure the building's long-term survival, while Commissioner Bondonno cautioned against dictating financial timing. Chair Hunter proposed tightening the language of the improvement plan (e.g., adding "and implement measures as needed" to review years). Johnston agreed to non-binding language adjustments. No public comments. Motion to recommend designation and contract approval passed 6-0 (Resolution 22-04), with staff to work with the applicant on clarifying amendments before City Council consideration (tentatively November 14, 2022).
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718 Hopkins Avenue – Permit for Expansion in Mesysville Historic District: Assistant Planner Jonathan Turner presented a proposal for a 183 sq. ft. rear addition and new garage/office on a non-contributing 1945 minimal traditional home. The project had received unanimous HREC recommendation and no public comments. Staff found it met permit criteria as it conforms to prescriptive standards and does not adversely affect the historic district. Motion to approve (Resolution 22-05) passed 6-0.
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505 E. Bayshore Road – Draft EIR for Townhouse Project: Contract Principal Planner Banks and consultant Michael Lisenbee (David J. Powers & Associates) summarized the draft EIR for a 56-unit townhome project (including 8 moderate-income affordable units) on a 2.5-acre Allen Steel site. The EIR identified significant impacts in air quality, biological resources, hazards, and transportation, all mitigable to less-than-significant. The public comment period runs through November 7, 2022. Commissioners raised questions on soil contamination (under hazards), pedestrian/bike connectivity to downtown, raised site height (5-6 feet above current grade), sea level rise risk (site to be 13 feet above mean sea level), emergency access during construction, and funding for transit passes (via HOA). Chair Hunter requested analysis of the Bloomquist extension's traffic impact and worst-case sea level rise flooding risk. No action taken; this was a comment-only hearing.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 22-03 (1417 Middlefield Road): Approved 6-0 recommending City Council approve the Mills Act contract.
- Resolution 22-04 (2312 Hopkins Avenue): Approved 6-0 recommending historic landmark designation and Mills Act contract, with staff directed to work with the applicant on minor language amendments.
- Resolution 22-05 (718 Hopkins Avenue): Approved 6-0 conditionally approving the expansion permit.
- 505 E. Bayshore Road: Public hearing held; comments will be incorporated into the final EIR. No vote taken. Project entitlements expected to be heard by Planning Commission and City Council in early 2023.
- Commissioner Meunier was thanked for her service as her term expired June 30, 2022. New commissioners appointed: Rudy Espinoza (full-time seat) and Kimberly Koch (partial seat) effective October 18, 2022 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
We I think we can begin. Thank you. Okay. I forgot chairman ship one oh one to turn the speak turn my microphone on. Um good evening again and welcome to the planning commission meeting. Um as a reminder, items will be taken in the order they are listed on the agenda. Uh before we get started, I wanted to briefly go over the public comment procedures for the meeting. For those who may be joining us for the first time. Public comment on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest, and items not on the agenda will be taken during item number two of the evening's agenda. Comments on other agenda items will be taken only when that item is called. And this is for in-person speakers. Please uh fill out a speaker's card at the front of the council chambers and bring to staff. For those joining virtually, you may rate use the raise hand feature on Zoom to speak. If you're joining the teleconference by phone, you may raise your hand by dialing star nine, and then when you're called upon, dial star six to unmute. Each speaker is allowed is allotted three minutes, but that time may be adjusted if there are a large number of speakers. And a buzzer when the time is up. For virtual speakers, you will have a timer on the screen. Thank you for your attention and consideration during this process. Commissioner Vandano. Here. Vice Chair Shinogareth. Here. And Chair Hunter. Here. And I'll just say for the purposes of the teleconference that I'm Sue Xline of a staff liaison to the commission. And the staff that are attending this meeting are James Dotson, Assistant Planner, Jonathan Turner, Assistant Planner, Curtis Banks, Contract Principal Planner, Jennifer Byers, Assistant City Attorney, and Christina Mateo, administrative secretary and meeting host. And Christina Mateo, administrative secretary and meeting host. Great. Thank you. At this time, we'll take public comment from those joining us in person or uh through Zoom. These are public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest, and items not on the agenda. And uh I see that there are actually uh um no approval of minutes and no consent it calendar items uh today. So are there any are there any public comments on items not on the agenda and uh any from our virtual attendees? Okay, all right, thank you. So as I said, uh item number three is approval of minutes, um, and there are none, so we'll move to the consent calendar. Um there are no items on the consent calendar. So we'll move now to item five, which is our public hearing. And uh the first up is item five a request for um 1417 Middlefield Road, and this is a contract for historic property preservation, also known as a MILS Act contract for the property located at 1417 Middlefield Road. Um and the rec staff recommendation is to adopt a resolution recommending that the city council approve the contract for historic property reserve preservation uh at that address. Is there a staff presentation? Uh yes, there is, thank you. Um chair. Uh good evening, everyone, good evening, commissioners, good evening, members of the public. Uh my name is James Dotson. I'll be presenting on behalf of a Mills Act request for 1417 Middlefield Road. Um next slide, please. So the process of a review for the request um is the the uh contract request would go to HRC for a public hearing, um, including in this is a virtual tour of the exterior of the property um and then a recommendation to planning commission on August 25th. The project went to HRC and was approved and recommended or was uh recommended for approval to planning commission. Um today we are now um holding the planning commission hearing um in which commission will make a recommendation to city council. Um next slide, please.
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