Redwood City Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Date: December 6, 2022, at 6:00 PM

The Planning Commission held a public hearing to receive comments on the Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (DSEIR) for the Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) Plan-Wide Amendments and General Plan Amendments, and held a public hearing to consider a recommendation for approval of a 6-story, 130-unit residential building at 1330 El Camino Real. The Commission also reviewed and approved the minutes from previous meetings.

Consent Calendar

• No items were listed on the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 5.A (DSEIR for DTPP Amendments): A written public comment from Cary Bloomquist, a retired civil servant, opposed the DTPP amendments. The commenter argued that California faces water shortages and inadequate sustainable energy supply, and that further development should not be supported. The commenter stated that global climate change necessitates limiting new development.
• Item 5.B (1330 El Camino Real project): Tina Kyriakis, a property owner at 163 Madison/803 Adams, expressed concern about parking impacts, stating that the neighborhood already has severe parking shortages. She argued that the proposed 110 parking spaces for 130 units is insufficient and that bundled parking would exacerbate the problem. She also noted that tenants often own multiple cars. Adrian Brandt submitted a comment urging the Commission to deny the request for bundled parking, citing the inequitable effects of bundling parking into rent and noting the project's proximity to transit. He also requested more secure bicycle parking.

Discussion Items

• 5.A – Draft SEIR for DTPP Plan-Wide Amendments: Staff presented the DSEIR, which analyzes potential environmental impacts of increasing office capacity by 1,167,100 sq. ft. and residential capacity by 830 units within the DTPP, as well as other amendments. The DSEIR identifies significant and unavoidable impacts related to cultural resources, air quality, and climate change, and proposes mitigation measures for other impacts. The Planning Commission held a public hearing to receive comments; no action was taken. The public comment period runs through December 29, 2022.
• 5.B – 1330 El Camino Real Project (RWC Discovery): The project proposes a 6-story, 130-unit residential building (105 studios, 14 one-bedrooms, 8 two-bedrooms, 3 three-bedrooms) with 110 parking spaces (via stacker) and 22 bicycle spaces. The project includes 26 affordable units (13 moderate, 6 low, 7 very low-income) and requests a density bonus concession for additional height (6 stories/64 feet) and a waiver of the daylight plane standard. The project also seeks a DTPP amendment to remove the historic resource designation for the existing Record Man building at 1322 El Camino Real, which the Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) determined is not a historic resource. The Architectural Advisory Committee (AAC) recommended approval with seven guideline deviations. Staff recommended approval.

Key Outcomes

• Item 5.A: The Commission received public comments on the DSEIR. No action was taken. The comment period remains open until December 29, 2022.
• Item 5.B: The Planning Commission adopted Resolution 22-13, recommending that the City Council approve the DTPP Amendment, Downtown Planned Community Permit, Tentative Parcel Map, State Density Bonus Law concession and waiver, and Affordable Housing Plan for the 1330 El Camino Real project. The Commission also determined that environmental review is complete under CEQA Sections 15168 and 15183. The vote was unanimous (6-0). The project will proceed to the City Council for final action.