Redwood City Planning Commission Regular Meeting – June 6, 2023
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Redwood City Planning Commission Regular Meeting – June 6, 2023
The Redwood City Planning Commission met on June 6, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers and via Zoom. Commissioners present: Alvarez, Chu (via teleconference), Espinoza, Koch, Lazarus, Vice Chair Crnogorac, and Chair Hunter. Staff presented two major public hearings: (1) Zoning Code and General Plan amendments to implement the 2023–2031 Housing Element, and (2) Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) Plan-Wide Amendments, including an 80,000 sq. ft. office capacity increase and updated development standards. The Commission approved minutes, appointed committee members, and voted to recommend the Housing Element and DTPP packages to the City Council.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Niles Tanakatsubo (in-person): Spoke about the depth of experience needed on the Architectural Advisory Committee (AAC) and suggested reconsidering term limits for the AAC.
- Richie Cruz (Carpenters Union Local 217, in-person): Expressed strong support for AB 2011 labor standards (prevailing wage, healthcare, apprenticeship) and urged alignment with the Housing Element.
- Dylan Finch (in-person, on both items): Spoke in favor of increased density, mixed-use zoning, reduced parking minimums, and better biking/walking infrastructure.
- Robert Feign (MidPen Housing, virtual): Supported the proposed modifications to the Affordable Housing Ordinance (land donation, phased payments, TCAC rent definition) and commended the city’s approach to affordable housing partnerships.
- Pat Willard (virtual): Welcomed rezoning for affordable housing but expressed concern that reduced parking would negatively affect seniors and downtown accessibility.
- Peggy Hall (virtual): Urged the Commission to reconsider minimal parking requirements and suggested parking permits and handicap/loading zones.
- Gita Dev (Sierra Club, virtual): Supported the DTPP amendments but warned about fire exiting issues for rooftop uses and urged careful oversight of biosafety levels (BSL) in R&D labs, noting BSL-2 involves infectious diseases like measles.
Discussion Items
A. Housing Element Implementation (Zoning Code, General Plan, Affordable Housing Ordinance Amendments)
Staff (John Francis, Patrick Heisinger) presented a package to meet the city’s 150% RHNA target (~7,000 units). Key proposals:
- Allow “missing middle” housing (duplexes, triplexes) in R districts with reduced lot sizes (5,000 sq. ft.), parking (1 space/unit, zero near transit), and per-unit open space.
- Increase heights in mixed-use districts (e.g., 85 ft. in Mixed-Use Corridor) for residential and mixed-use buildings only.
- Implement SB9 provisions for duplexes/quadplexes on single-family lots.
- Rezone ~20 parcels: commercial office to mixed-use corridor (along Veterans Blvd.), Woodside Road parcels to mixed-use neighborhood, mobile home parks to mobile home park zone, and correct inconsistencies.
- Affordable Housing Ordinance updates: phased deposits, clearer land donation criteria, and allowing TCAC rent definitions (80% TCAC, 20% city level) to improve feasibility. Commissioners asked clarifying questions on parking definitions, non-conforming uses, height/story equivalency, and the completion guarantee process. Several commissioners expressed full support for the package, noting the need for inclusive, climate-friendly housing. No opposition was voiced during public comment.
B. Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) Plan-Wide Amendments
Staff (William Chu) presented amendments to:
- Add 80,000 sq. ft. of office capacity reserved for small projects ≤20,000 sq. ft. each.
- Require large projects (requiring General Plan or DTPP amendment) to go to City Council for final action and negotiate a development agreement.
- Conditionally permit R&D lab uses (Biosafety Levels 1 & 2) in Downtown General and Transit districts with a conditional use permit and specific standards (e.g., vertical separation from sensitive receptors).
- Eliminate parking minimums for all uses downtown, set maximums (residential: 1 space/unit; office: 2.5/1,000 sq. ft.).
- Allow rooftop accessory structures for recreational uses (publicly accessible no size limit; private limited).
- Provide exceptions for sites with creek/open space or Caltrain right-of-way constraints.
- Certify a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) with a Statement of Overriding Considerations for significant unavoidable impacts (cultural resources, air quality, climate change). Commissioners discussed preservation of retail, the definition of large projects, lab uses, and the need for future discretion on individual gatekeeper projects. Public comment (Dylan Finch in favor, Gita Dev with caution on labs and rooftop safety) was supportive overall.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of Minutes (May 2, 2023): Motion passed 7-0.
- Appointment to Architectural Advisory Committee (Full term to May 2026): Niles Tanakatsubo appointed (5-0-2, Chu absent from interviews, Lazarus abstained).
- Appointment to Historic Resources Advisory Committee (Two full terms to May 2026): Glenn Babbitt and Suaima Figueroa appointed (5-0-2, same abstentions).
- Housing Element Implementation (Commissioner Chu recused):
- Resolution 23-11 (General Plan Land Use Map update): Passed 6-0.
- Resolution 23-12 (Zoning Code and Zoning Map amendments): Passed 6-0.
- Resolution 23-13 (Affordable Housing Ordinance Article 29 amendments): Passed 6-0.
- Downtown Precise Plan Amendments (Commissioner Koch absent):
- Resolution 23-14 (Certification of SEIR with Findings, Statement of Overriding Considerations, and MMRP): Passed 6-0.
- Resolution 23-15 (Approval of DTPP Plan-Wide Amendments, including corrected Use Chart 2.2 for R&D lab): Passed 6-0.
- Adjournment: 8:40 PM; next regular meeting June 20, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Limit on what you can discuss as long as it's a public meeting and it's agendized and all that. Yeah. Maybe maybe it's on yeah, I don't know. The only reason not to do that would be it's a policy decision from the council. And I don't know why they would do that, but if there's no legal issue as long as it's a public meeting. Someone told me that commission commissioners used to attend the uh architectural advisory commission. Oh, sit on it. Oh, to be a member? I think. Oh, well, you I don't think you could be a member. I don't think no, not being a member, but you said be like a natural liaison. I think maybe because then they wouldn't allow to vote once that came to us. Yeah, I mean it would certainly make sense. It seems like it would be that when we're there, we can't. I don't know why they couldn't be there. I mean, you know, we can show up for city council meetings. Right, exactly. I haven't done so recently. Sure. But you could have a ready. Good evening. And thank you for joining our June sixth, twenty twenty three Planning Commission regular meeting. As a reminder, items will be taken in the order in which they are listed on the agenda. Uh before we get started, I wanted to briefly go over public comment procedures for the meeting for those who may be joining us for the first time. 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. For in-person speakers, please fill out a speaker's card at the back of the council chambers and bring uh bring them to staff. Uh and for those joining virtually, you may 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 star six to unmute your microphone when called upon. Please only raise your hand at the time that the item on which you are speaking is called. Each speaker is allotted three minutes. And for in-person speakers, there will be a light on the podium to let you know how much time you have left and a buzzer when the time is up. For virtual speakers, there will be a timer on the screen. Lastly, we know that we each bring different perspectives to the discussion. And we want to be sure everyone has a chance to be heard without interruption. So thank you for your attention and consideration during this process. We will now proceed with the roll call. Commissioner Alvarez. Here. Commissioner Chu. Here. Commissioner Espinoza present. Commissioner Koch. Here. Commissioner Lazarus. President. Vice Chair Sona Gorx? Here. And Chair Hunter. Here.
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