Redwood City Planning Commission Meeting – November 1, 2022: Harbor View Project Public Hearing
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Redwood City Planning Commission Meeting – November 1, 2022: Harbor View Project Public Hearing
On November 1, 2022, at 6:00 PM, the Redwood City Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the Harbor View project at 320–350 Blomquist Street and 30 Stein Am Court. The applicant, Jay Paul Company, requested a general plan amendment, zoning map amendment, development agreement, vesting tentative map, and architectural permit to develop a 765,000‑square‑foot office complex, a 35,000‑square‑foot employee amenities building, and 2,591 parking spaces on a 27‑acre former Malibu Raceway site. The project would also preserve 64 existing housing units as extremely low‑income (ELI) units operated by St. Francis Center (19 currently occupied, 45 available within 90 days). Staff recommended certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and approval of the entitlements, citing a $65 million community benefits package—the largest in Redwood City history. The Commission took public testimony, deliberated, and voted to recommend project approval to the City Council.
Consent Calendar
- No items were on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
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In‑person speakers (all supporting the project):
- Hugo Torres (St. Francis Center) urged approval, stating “something is better than nothing” and that 64 units would help families on the waiting list.
- Miriam Toscano shared her struggle to find affordable housing and how St. Francis Center helped her family.
- Diana Caamal described how St. Francis Center supported her education and housing; she supported the project.
- Imelda Arroyo asked for more low‑income housing in the city.
- Alma C. Gongora (St. Francis Center employee) recounted how the Center provided her family with stable housing and her children’s education; she supported the project.
- Perla Pimentel (St. Francis Center community manager) said she receives daily calls from people needing housing; the project would help many families.
- Adelina Cortez, a single mother of six, said St. Francis Center helped her find housing and that many families need similar support.
- Carolina Velasquez, a college graduate who lived in St. Francis Center housing, urged approval to keep low‑income families in the Bay Area.
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Virtual speakers:
- Iliana Garcia (PAL Community Health Director) supported the project, especially the $13 million for new park fields and youth sports.
- Chris Robell opposed the project, arguing the large increase in office space would worsen the jobs/housing imbalance and create more traffic; he called for a commercial office moratorium.
- Florence Ortiz (Redwood City Education Foundation) supported the project, stating property taxes would provide much‑needed funding for local schools.
- Gita Dev (Sustainable Land Use Committee, Sierra Club) agreed with Robell, noting the site is designated light/heavy industrial and that office use would generate far more traffic than industrial use.
- Sister Christina Heltsley (Executive Director, St. Francis Center) supported the project, calling the ELI housing a “generous gift” that would help the most vulnerable.
- Gail Raabe (Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge) thanked staff for recommending deletion of problematic language in mitigation measure BIO 3A regarding bird‑safe building requirements.
- Kris Johnson opposed the project, citing increased office space, traffic, sea level rise vulnerabilities, worsening jobs/housing imbalance, and an affordable housing deficit according to the city’s 2015 commercial impact study.
- Dennis Symanski stated 64 units of housing are insufficient and expressed concern about traffic and sea level rise.
Discussion Items
- Staff Presentations: Community Development & Transportation Director Mark Muenzer and Contract Principal Planner Curtis Banks presented the project summary, site plan, general plan amendment, zoning map amendment, environmental review, and staff recommendation. The applicant team (Janette D’Elia, Tom Gilman, etc.) presented the reduced proposal (765,000 sq ft office, 35,000 sq ft amenities, 2,591 parking spaces) and a community benefits package valued at over $65 million, the largest in city history.
- Commissioner Questions & Debate: Commissioners asked about the 64 existing ELI units (19 occupied, 45 available immediately), whether they count toward RHNA (likely not), the relationship between VMT and level of service impacts, sea level rise adaptation (site raised for end‑of‑century projections), tenant protections (existing tenants can remain indefinitely; units become deed‑restricted only upon voluntary move‑out), parking requirements, and the jobs/housing imbalance. Commissioner Koch emphasized the transportation demand management plan and existing transit options. Vice Chair Crnogorac expressed concern about parking requirements and the lack of high‑quality transit near the site; he noted the project would increase the number of employees by about 400 over existing zoning. Commissioner Chu argued for abundant housing to address the imbalance and suggested pricing parking to discourage driving. Commissioner Sturken highlighted the preservation of 64 permanently affordable ELI homes and the need for funds to complete the Woodside/101 interchange. Chair Hunter questioned trip generation inconsistencies and requested bird‑safe lighting; the applicant confirmed sensor‑based lighting to reduce bird strikes.
Key Outcomes
- Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Certification: Motion (Chu/Espinoza) to recommend that the City Council certify the Final EIR, adopt all required findings and a Statement of Overriding Considerations (citing community benefits), and adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, with a modification to mitigation measure BIO 3A making bird‑safe building requirements mandatory. Passed 6‑0 on a roll‑call vote (Commissioner Bondonno absent; Espinoza and Koch initially abstained on minutes but voted on this item).
- Project Approvals Recommendation: Motion (Espinoza/Sturken) to recommend City Council approval of the General Plan Amendment, Zoning Map Amendment, Development Agreement, Vesting Tentative Map, and Architectural Permit, subject to combining conditions of approval 53 and 79 and a minor revision to condition 80. Passed 5‑1 (Vice Chair Crnogorac opposed) on a roll‑call vote.
- Follow‑up: Staff will correct Exhibit C of the Development Agreement (missing last three community benefits) before forwarding to the City Council, which is scheduled to hear the item on November 14, 2022.
Meeting Transcript
Chair Hunter, we're ready when you are going to be able to do that. In the order in which they are listed on the agenda. Comments on other agenda items, which would be primarily item number five, will be taken only when that item is called. We will have in in-person speakers comment first, followed by virtual attendees. Um, in-person speakers. If you haven't already, please fill out a speaker's card and give it to the staff at the uh front of the room. Um I will be uh calling uh the speakers in the order that those cards are received. For everybody who's joining virtually, you may use the raise hand feature on Zoom to speak. And to do that, if you um if you're joining the teleconference by phone, you may raise your hand by dialing star nine, and then when you're called on, dial star six to unmute your microphone. Please only raise your hand at the time that the item on which you're calling speaking is called. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes. Uh that time may be reduced if we have a large number of speakers, but I think it looks like we are okay on that right now. Um for in-person speakers, uh, the podium is right there, and there will be a light on the podium to let you know how much time you have left and a buzzer when your time is up. Uh for virtual speakers, there will be a timer on the screen. Lastly, we know that we all bring different perspectives to this uh to this item, you know, to all the discussions, especially to this. And we want to be sure that everyone has a chance to be heard without interruption. So uh we would ask that you be respectful of all speakers. Um, no cheering or applause or booze. Um and thank you for your attention and consideration during this process. And uh may we have a roll call. Yes. Commissioner Chu. Here Commissioner Espinoza. Here, Commissioner Coke, here Commissioner Sturkin. Here Commissioner Bondano is absent. Vice Chair Srinagaretz. Here. And Chair Hunter. Here. And for the purposes of this meeting, I would also state that I am Sue X Line, staff liaison to this commission. And other city staff that are attending this meeting are Curtis Banks, Principal Planner, Mark Munzer, Community Development and Transportation Director, Veronica Ramirez, City Attorney, Jessica Manzi, Transportation Manager, Jennifer Byers, Assistant City Attorney, and Christina Mateo, administrative secretary and meeting host. Thank you, Ms. X Line. The next uh item on the agenda is the approval of minutes. Um is there a motion to approve the meeting the meeting minutes of September 6th? Yes, Commissioner Stirkin. Thank you, Chair Hunter. I move to approve the minutes. Okay, thank you. A second? Second. Okay, and you have a roll call, please. Commissioner Chu. Yes. Commissioner Espinoza. Abstain. Commissioner Koch. Yes. Commissioner Sturkin. Yes.
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