Redwood City Planning Commission Meeting – September 17, 2024
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Redwood City Planning Commission Meeting – September 17, 2024
The Redwood City Planning Commission met on September 17, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at 1017 Middlefield Road. The meeting included two major public hearings: a 72-unit 100% affordable housing development at 847 Woodside Road (linked to the 1900 Broadway office project) and a 256,205 sq. ft. office development at 1900 Broadway with a land donation to fund the affordable housing. Commissioners present: Alvarez, Chu, Cornejo, Finch, Koch, Vice Chair Crnogorac, and Chair Hunter. Commissioner Koch recused herself from both public hearings due to proximity to her residence. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 PM.
Consent Calendar
- No items were on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment (Item 2): Jean Yang spoke about traffic safety concerns at Brewster and Nevada intersection near Laurie Duncan Park, requesting crosswalks and traffic calming measures. Staff said they would follow up.
- Public Hearing – 847 Woodside Road: 12 in-person speakers and 17 emails were read into the record. Speakers expressed both support and opposition. Supporters (e.g., Shishir Bhat, Jordan Grimes from Greenbelt Alliance, Ken Doran) emphasized the severe housing shortage, the need for affordable family units, and the project's climate benefits. Opponents (e.g., Cath Trindle, Paul Morgan, Dennis Symanski, Jill Clardy, Anthony Lazarus, Ken Tehaney via email, businesses at 801 Woodside Road) raised concerns about insufficient parking (57 spaces for 72 units), spillover parking on neighborhood streets, safety of the loading zone crossing the bike lane, loss of a community-focused organization (Casa Circular Cultural), and the building's height and massing. Several neighbors acknowledged the developer's compromise in reducing units from 86 to 72 and improving design.
- Public Hearing – 1900 Broadway: 9 in-person speakers and 26 emails (including 16 form letters) were read. All speakers expressed strong support. Speakers included Larry Moody (JobTrain), Beth Mostovoy (arts advocate), Veronica Escamez (Casa Circular Cultural), Erendida Cerrillo, Amy Buckmaster (Chamber San Mateo County), Ali Anyna (business owner), Florence Ortiz, Christine Mireles (Peninsula College Fund), and others. They highlighted the $47 million in community benefits, 72 affordable housing units donated to Eden Housing, the public plaza, ice rink potential, retail activation, and the revitalization of a long-vacant site. No opposition was voiced.
Discussion Items
- 847 Woodside Road – 72-Unit Affordable Housing Development: Staff (Associate Planner Sam Hughes) presented the project, noting the 25% density bonus, 57 parking spaces, 90 bicycle spaces, and a robust TDM program including free transit passes. The project is off-site affordable housing for the 1900 Broadway office development. The applicant (Eden Housing) and architect (Kate Conley) described design changes after AAC and neighbor feedback: reduced unit count from 86 to 72, improved parking ratio from 58% to 79%, preserved redwood trees, added privacy screening, and used lighter materials. Commissioners discussed parking, bike lane safety on Woodside Road (a Caltrans-controlled highway), transit frequency (bus every 30 minutes peak), and the possibility of neighborhood parking permits. Commissioners Chu and Finch noted the need for affordable housing and the viability of car-free living. Commissioner Alvarez asked about the driveway and parking allocation. The public hearing was opened and closed, and the commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval to City Council.
- 1900 Broadway – Office Development with Land Donation: Staff (Contract Principal Planner Darryl Boyd) presented the project: 256,205 sq. ft., seven stories (92 ft), ground-floor retail, public plaza (12,000 sq. ft.), community room, and 538 parking spaces (478 office, 25 retail, 35 for Sequoia Hotel). The project requires a General Plan amendment and Downtown Precise Plan amendment to increase the office cap. The affordable housing requirement (25 units or $5.7 million fee) is satisfied by donating land at 847 Woodside Road (valued at $9.3 million, net community benefit $3.6 million). A Development Agreement (DA) was negotiated, including community benefits such as $500,000 to nonprofit partnerships, public access to the plaza, and public parking on nights/weekends. The applicant (Lane Partners) and architect (DES Architects) emphasized placemaking, activation of the Broadway-Main Street corner, and design refinements per AAC feedback. Commissioners discussed the change from on-site to off-site affordable housing, tree removal (28 new trees planted, plus 28 mitigation trees), public safety, and the ice rink possibility. Commissioner Cornejo asked about nonprofit funding timing and relocation assistance for Casa Circular Cultural. The public hearing was held, and the commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval to City Council.
- Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair: The commission appointed Vice Chair Filip Crnogorac as Chair (motion by Koch, second by Hunter; passed 6-1, Crnogorac abstained) and Commissioner Isabella Chu as Vice Chair (motion by Koch, second by Crnogorac; passed 6-0, Chu abstained).
Key Outcomes
- 847 Woodside Road (Resolution 24-06): Approved 6-0 (Commissioner Koch recused) to recommend City Council approve the CEQA checklist, architectural permit, vesting tentative parcel map, density bonus with concessions/waivers, affordable housing plan, and land donation agreement.
- 1900 Broadway (Resolution 24-07): Approved 6-0 (Commissioner Koch recused) to recommend City Council approve the CEQA checklist, General Plan and Downtown Precise Plan amendments, Downtown Planned Community Permit, Use Permit, Vesting Tentative Parcel Map, Affordable Housing Plan with off-site land donation, and Development Agreement with community benefits.
- Minutes of June 4, 2024: Approved 7-0.
- Chair and Vice Chair Appointments: Filip Crnogorac elected Chair (6-1, abstained); Isabella Chu elected Vice Chair (6-0, abstained).
- Other: Commissioner Finch requested that future agenda include discussion on reinstating Zoom public comment, which was noted for potential future agenda item.
Meeting Transcript
This is our first meeting in in quite a while, so it's good to be back and good to see so many people here uh who are interested in these topics this evening. Um as a reminder, items will be taken in the order that they are listed on the agenda. Before we get started, I wanted to briefly go over the public comment procedures for the meeting for those who may be joining us for the first time. Public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest, and items not on the agenda will be taken during item number two on this evening's agenda. Comments on other agenda items will be taken only when that item is called. We're continuing to offer in-person and remote options for our planning commission meetings. However, due to continued recent disruptions during public comment at open meetings throughout our region and state, we've modified our public comment procedures. The city welcomes public comments on topics within the city's subject matter jurisdiction, and this can be provided in person during the meeting or by email ahead of the meeting. At this time, we're temporarily suspending public comment provided by Zoom. Our public comment procedures are as follows. And Chair Hunter. Here. So first I'd like to welcome our new commissioners, Corneho and Finch, the first meeting. This evening. We're very excited to have you join us. For the purpose of this meeting, I'm Sue Xline, the Assistant Community Development Director. And the liaison to the Planning Commission. I'm here tonight with Alexandra Barnhill, consultant attorney. Daryl Boyd, consultant, principal planner. Sam Hughes, associate planner. Christina Mateo, administrative secretary, and meeting host. We have Alin Lancaster, our housing leadership manager, and Melinda Hugh, a principal planner. Online, we also have Malahat Orang, our principal transportation planner. Great. Excuse me. Thank you. And I will I want to second the warm welcome to our new commissioners, Mickey Cornejo and Dylan Finch. And uh I think you're gonna I hope I hope you enjoy doing this. It's it it can be a lot of work and a lot of fun too. So welcome. Um at this point, uh we go to agenda item number two, public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest and items not on the agenda. We'll take public comment from those joining us in person only, as we are temporarily suspending public comments provided by Zoom, as I had just mentioned. If you joined us in person, please fill out a speaker's card and bring it to the staff if you have not yet. Um I have one speaker card uh for yes, I think Commissioner Cole has to use pardon me. For the entire meeting. Okay, um I think I think we can um I have one speaker card uh for our Jean Yang. Um I also have a speaker card without the um item number on it by by Jill Clarke. So if uh Jill, if you are here, could you let me know what item you were speaking on? Uh not the approval 847 looks like both of the okay, thank you. Okay, uh Jean Yang, um, if you are here, uh you uh please go up to the um the speaker podium there, and you will have three minutes to uh speaker. Thank you. Can everyone hear me? Yes. Great. My name is Jean Young, and my neighbors and I request your help in traffic safety around Laurie Duncan Park. My husband and I chose to live in the Mount Carmel Eagle Hill neighborhood because we love how walkable it is and how people of all ages are outside playing, walking, doing their thing. Unfortunately, drivers have been making it less safe for all of us who live in the neighborhood, and two of our neighbors, Yana and Judy are here with us tonight. So just last week a car drove onto our lawn. Uh kid uh crashed through the intersection, two car oxident, ended up on our lawn, shattered, two lengths of fence. And unfortunately, this was the second of two car on lawn accidents at our intersection since July of last year.
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