Redwood City Planning Commission Regular Meeting - April 4, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Redwood City Planning Commission Regular Meeting - April 4, 2023
The Redwood City Planning Commission held a regular meeting on April 4, 2023, at 6:00 PM, adjourning at 7:10 PM. Commissioners present were Alvarez, Chu, Koch, Lazarus, Vice Chair Crnogorac, and Chair Hunter; Commissioner Espinoza was absent. The meeting covered three public hearings: a continuation of 505 E. Bayshore Road, approval of a six-townhome project at 2336 El Camino Real, and approval of a duplex within the Stambaugh Heller Historic District at 1425 Middlefield Road. All votes were unanimous 6-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Glenn Babbitt (speaking personally, not as an HRAC member) thanked the applicant at 1425 Middlefield Road for changing the paint color from darker bark to a lighter ash tone, stating the change addresses his concerns about compatibility with the historic district.
Discussion Items
- 505 E. Bayshore Road – The item was continued to a date uncertain by a motion from Commissioner Chu, seconded by Commissioner Koch, and passed 6-0. No public comments were received.
- 2336 El Camino Real – Staff presented a proposal for a lot split to allow six for-sale townhome units (approx. 2,200 sq. ft. each, three stories, 35 ft. tall) on a 23,000 sq. ft. lot currently housing a daycare. The project includes a 7-ft. CMU wall to separate residential and commercial uses, widening of Linden Street sidewalk to 9 ft., and nine new street trees. The site is within a 0.1-mile walk of a high-quality transit stop (El Camino & Charter with 15-minute headways), making parking optional under AB 2097; however, the applicant opted to provide two-car garages per unit plus guest parking. Commissioners discussed ADA accessibility (carriage units exempt), bike parking (three outdoor spaces plus garage storage), the 11-inch public access easement for sidewalk widening, and construction impacts on the adjacent daycare. Commissioner Chu expressed disappointment with the amount of parking and the creation of a new driveway on Hemlock Street, suggesting reduction of conflict points. Vice Chair Crnogorac and Chair Hunter voiced strong support, noting the project’s efficient use of space and transit proximity. The applicant, Abha Nehru, stated the city’s Engineering Department recommended retaining street parking. The commission approved Resolution 23-04 (motion by Crnogorac, second by Koch) 6-0.
- 1425 Middlefield Road – Staff presented a proposal for a new two-story duplex (25 ft. tall) within the Stambaugh Heller Historic District, on a lot created via prior subdivision. The design uses a low-pitched gable roof, stucco and cementitious woodboard siding, and a lighter color palette (white changed to light gray, bark changed to ash) per HRAC recommendation. An ADU shown on plans will be reviewed ministerially separately. Vice Chair Crnogorac commented that the Beach Street side elevation has a large blank wall and suggested adding a window or planting taller trees to screen it. The architect (Dan) noted that a window would disrupt the floor plan and bedroom practicality; Commissioner Chu suggested a clerestory window. Chair Hunter clarified that the commission cannot condition approval on such changes due to the Housing Accountability Act, as the project meets all objective zoning standards. The assistant city attorney confirmed state law mandates ministerial approval for ADUs. Public comment was closed after Glenn Babbitt spoke. The commission approved Resolution 23-05 (motion by Chu, second by Crnogorac) 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- 505 E. Bayshore Road – Continued to a date uncertain (unanimous 6-0).
- 2336 El Camino Real – Approved Architectural Permit AP2020-060, Tentative Map 2021-002, and Condominium Permit CP2020-005 with conditions (unanimous 6-0).
- 1425 Middlefield Road – Approved Architectural Permit 2022-081 and Historic Preservation Ordinance permit with conditions (unanimous 6-0).
- Future Meetings – Staff noted the next regular meetings are April 18, May 2, and May 16, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
And thank you and welcome to for joining us and welcome to the uh April 4th, 2023 meeting of the Reverend City Planning Commission. Um as a reminder, uh items will be taken up in the order in which they are listed on the agenda. Um before we get started, I wanted to briefly go over the uh public comment procedures for the meeting for those who may be joining us for the first time. Um public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest, and any items not on the agenda will be taken during item number three on this evening's agenda. Uh comments on other agenda items will be taken only when that item is called. In-person speakers will be called first, followed by virtual attendees. Um in-person speakers, uh, if you uh wish to speak on a topic, uh please get a speaker's card from the back and turn it in to uh Christina over there, and um then you will be called on in the order that we receive the cards. Uh for those joining virtually, uh please use the raise hand feature to speak on Zoom when the when the agenda item is called. And if you're joining by phone, you can raise your hand by dialing star nine, and then when the agenda item is called, you can dial star six to unmute your microphone. Uh and each speaker will be allowed three minutes of time. Um and we will now proceed with the roll call. Thank you. Commissioner Alvarez? Commissioner Chu? Here. Commissioner Espinoza. Absent. Commissioner Koch. Here. Commissioner Lazarus. Here. Uh Vice Chair Sergonerac. Here. And Chair Hunter. Here. Um for the record we show that we have a quorum. Um also for the purposes of tonight's meeting. I'd also like to state that I am Lindy Chan. Uh staff liaison to the commission and other staff that are attending this meeting are Jonathan Turner, assistant planner, Sam Hughes, associate planner, Jennifer Byers, Assistant City Attorney, and Christina Mateo, uh administrative secretary and meeting host. Thank you. Um the first thing I want to do before we get to our agenda items is we have two brand new planning commissioners at this meeting and wanna uh introduce them and welcome them. Uh Anthony Lazarus and Noemi Alvarez. Um have both been appointed by the uh planning by the city council. Congratulations to you both. And um we welcome you and look forward to your contributions over the coming several years. So welcome. Um, next item is um AB twenty-four forty-nine notifications and considerations. Um meeting participation by teleconference. This has to do with if there are any commissioners who might be attending by teleconference, and currently we do not have any commissioners meeting remotely. Third is uh public comments on approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest and items not on the agenda. Uh I have no public speaker cards um in person. Um Lindy, are there any remote uh um hands raised? Thank you. I do not see any hands raised. All right, thank you. Uh number four, approval of minutes. The next item will be the approval of the minutes of March seventh, twenty twenty-three. And I would like to ask the commissioners if there is a motion and a second to approve those minutes. Still moved. Second?
openpublica.com