Redwood City Planning Commission Special Meeting – October 25, 2022

The Redwood City Planning Commission held a special meeting on October 25, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA, with virtual participation via Zoom. The purpose was to consider a formal recommendation on the Redwood City Transit District Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) Amendments and the Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR). All seven commissioners were present. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 PM.

Consent Calendar

• There were no consent calendar items, and no minutes were approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Daniel Parovati, owner of 21 Duane Street, spoke during non-agenda public comment. He stated that his project had been delayed for two years by historical review, despite two reports from the city planning historian finding the property not historical, and requested a hearing on the property's historical status.

During the public hearing on the transit district, all public speakers expressed support for the plan, including:

• James Clifford supported the plan but noted the lack of east-west transit and recommended a feasibility study on restoring the 1970s bus system.
• Dylan Finch strongly supported the amendments and the focus on transit, density, and walkability, and supported extending the car-free street on Broadway and removing parking minimums.
• Sean Reese, field representative for NorCal Carpenters Union Local 217, supported the plan, noting it could create up to 1,100 housing units, roughly 300 affordable units, and complete more than 22% of Redwood City's housing expectation through 2031.
• Elan Scheinman supported the plan but expressed concern about filling office space and suggested designing some space for future conversion to housing; he also called for protected bike lanes from the transit district to the Bay Trail.
• Matt Regan, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the Bay Area Council, supported the plan, stating that it would help stop residents from moving to carbon-producing states; he cited that 40,000 Californians leave for Texas each year and that per-capita greenhouse gas emissions rise from 9 tons in California to 27 tons in Texas.
• Dahlia Chazan, Deputy Chief of Planning at Caltrain, supported the DTPP amendments and SEIR, noting that Lowe Enterprises had partnered with Caltrain to dedicate land needed for grade separation and expansion from two tracks to four; she cited the 2040 service vision reducing 110 metric tons of GHG emissions daily and taking nearly a million vehicle miles off Bay Area roads.
• Kalisha Webster, Senior Housing Advocate at Housing Choices, supported the plan for residents with developmental disabilities and noted Redwood City needs about 6,800 new homes under its housing element.
• Greg Greenway, on behalf of the Chamber of San Mateo County, supported the plan.
• Ali Sapirman, on behalf of the Housing Action Coalition, supported the plan, highlighting up to 1,100 homes and more than 300 affordable units.
• Ken Chan, Senior Organizer at Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County, supported the plan and noted 20% affordability through the Sequoia Station proposal.
• Larisa Ocanada, on behalf of San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA), supported the plan.
• Vince Rocha, Vice President of Housing and Community Development at Silicon Valley Leadership Group, supported the plan.
• Adrian Brandt supported the plan and suggested a mode filter at Franklin and Hamilton to allow emergency and service vehicles while preventing cut-through traffic.
• Malek Jelassi, on behalf of Greenbelt Alliance, supported the plan as climate-smart development.

Discussion Items

• Principal Planner Lindy Chan presented the transit district proposal, key amendments, environmental analysis, and next steps. The proposed transit district totals 16.6 acres and includes the Sequoia Station shopping center, Caltrain-owned transit center, and the Perry Parcel. The amendments would allow 1.23 million square feet of office and 1,100 residential units, with up to 343 affordable units, while the SEIR studied 1.63 million square feet of office and 1,100 residential units.
• Staff proposed the 'Reduced Office Alternative' as the preferred land-use mix, with 1.23 million square feet of office and 1,100 residential units. Staff noted that a January 2020 City Council financial feasibility study found a more housing-intensive mix would be difficult to pencil out.
• Staff corrected the staff report: the environmentally superior alternative is the reduced development alternative, not the reduced office alternative.
• The draft SEIR comment period ran from May 6 to June 21, 2022; the final SEIR was released October 14, 2022. Significant and unavoidable impacts remain for air quality and climate change/resources, requiring a statement of overriding considerations.
• Proposed circulation changes include removing a new lane parallel to the tracks, replacing Hamilton as a 100-foot grand connector with a 60-foot city street, requiring Class IV protected bike lanes on El Camino Real, James, and Brewster Streets, and requiring a HAWK beacon at El Camino Real and Hamilton.
• Franklin Street would remain open to vehicles as a bike boulevard, with possible future project-level evaluation of a street closure. Several commissioners expressed interest in closing Franklin to private vehicles, while staff and Vice Chair Crnogorac raised concerns about circulation, fire access, and drive-by pharmacy access.
• Parking ratios would be updated: vehicle minimums eliminated, vehicle maximums lowered, and bicycle parking ratios increased and tied to density, consistent with AB 2097 and MTC transit-oriented communities policy.
• Commissioner questions addressed the absence of existing residential units in the district, VMT and bike-trip calculations, the choice of the reduced office alternative, Franklin Street circulation, Broadway track crossing geometry, Reach code timing, and bus operations under the tracks.

Key Outcomes

• The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to adopt Resolution 22-06, recommending that the City Council certify the Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the Redwood City Transit District DTPP Amendments (SCH No. 2021080554), adopt CEQA findings of fact, a statement of overriding considerations, and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
• The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to adopt Resolution 22-07, recommending that the City Council approve the General Plan Mixed Use – Downtown designation amendments and DTPP amendments to add a Transit District, using the 'Reduced Office Alternative' as described in the Final SEIR.
• The City Council was scheduled to review and act on the amendments and SEIR on November 28, 2022, pending the Commission's recommendation.

Matters of Commission Interest

• Staff reported that on October 24, 2022, the City Council adopted an urgency ordinance imposing a moratorium on firearms retail sales and directed staff to study potential regulations on retail establishments selling firearms and ammunition.
• Staff noted upcoming meetings: a regular Planning Commission meeting on November 1, 2022, and a November 15, 2022 meeting with projects at 2966 Bay Road and 970 Edgewood.

Adjournment

• The meeting adjourned at 7:33 PM to reconvene at the next regular Planning Commission meeting on November 1, 2022, at 6:00 PM.