Redwood City Planning Commission Special Meeting - November 4, 2025
Redwood City Planning Commission Special Meeting - November 4, 2025
The Redwood City Planning Commission held a special meeting on November 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public hearings on a development agreement continuation, two Mills Act historic preservation agreements, and the designation of a new historic landmark. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- No items were on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 5B (1018-1020 Main Street): Glenn Babbitt, a Redwood City resident and Historic Resources Committee member speaking personally, provided historical context on the properties, noting their role as a transition between historic districts and the importance of adaptive reuse. He showed slides illustrating the history of the Offerman family and the buildings' moves.
- Item 5C (979 Arlington Road): Glenn Babbitt again spoke personally, providing background on architect Gilbert Hodgson, highlighting his notable works in Calgary and locally, and supporting the designation and preservation agreement.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes (Items 3A and 3B): The commission unanimously approved the joint study session minutes of October 21, 2025 (6-0-1, with Commissioner Robinson initially absent but later present for the second vote) and the special meeting minutes of October 21, 2025 (6-0-1, with Commissioner Robinson absent).
- Item 5A – 1548 Maple Street (Fourth Amendment to Development Agreement): No public comment was received. The commission voted unanimously to continue the item to the next regular meeting on November 18, 2025, as recommended by staff.
- Item 5B – Mills Act Contract for 1018-1020 Main Street: Applicant Steve Pierce, owner of the two historic commercial properties (the Yard coffee shop and a former restaurant space), presented the history and 10-year improvement plan. Commissioners expressed strong support, noting the public accessibility, community hub nature, and preservation of historic character. The commission voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend approval to the City Council.
- Item 5C – Historic Landmark Designation and Mills Act Contract for 979 Arlington Road: Assistant planner Jonathan Turner presented the proposal for the 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival home designed by notable architect Gilbert Hodgson. Commissioners commented on the home's integrity and compatible addition. The commission voted unanimously (7-0) to adopt the resolution recommending landmark designation and approval of the historic preservation agreement to the City Council.
- Matters of Commission Interest: Staff liaison Sue Xline noted the November 18, 2025 meeting will include the continued 1548 Maple item, and a potential special meeting on December 2 or 16, 2025. The Greater Downtown Area Plan study session was moved to January 2026. The YMCA entitlement and master agreement changes will be heard by City Council on November 10, 2025.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved: October 21, 2025 joint study session and special meeting minutes both passed 6-0-1 (one absence each).
- 1548 Maple Street: Continued to November 18, 2025 (6-0-1).
- 1018-1020 Main Street Mills Act contract: Recommended to City Council for approval (7-0).
- 979 Arlington Road: Historic landmark designation and Mills Act contract recommended to City Council (7-0).
- Next regular meeting scheduled for November 18, 2025, with a potential special meeting in December.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, and thank you for joining our November 4th, 2025 Planning Commission special meeting. As a reminder, reminder, items will be taken in order they are listed on the agenda. 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. Public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of the commission interest, and items not on the agenda will be taken during item number two tonight. Comments on other agenda and items items will be taken only when the item is called. We are continuing to offer in-person and remote options for our planning commission meetings, however, due to the continued recent disruptions during public comment at open hearings throughout the region and state, we've modified our comment procedures. At this time, we're temporarily suspending public comment provided by Zoom. Is there some feedback? Our public comment procedures are as follows. Public comment will be taken in person during the meeting or in advance. We are emailed to PC at rebel city.org. In-person speakers must turn in their speaker card to an admin or staff that is on the dais to be recognized to speak. Please be sure to indicate the agenda item number you wish to speak on. Comments that were emailed to PC at RoboCity.org by 5 pm today, maybe read into the record by the staff liaison and will be made part of the final meeting record. Both in-person and email comments are subject to the three minute time limit. I will now turn it over to staff for the roll call. Commissioner Bond. Present. Commissioner Cornejo here. Commissioner Finch here. Commissioner Hunter. And uh Commissioner Robinson is joining us remotely, but he is not yet online. So we'll check back in and see if he comes on. Vice Chair Koch. Here and Chair Swanagar Ratz. Here. I'm Sue Xline, the assistant community development director, and staff liaison to the commission. Other city staff attending this evening. Rick Jarvis, consultant city attorney. Ryan Kutchnick is online, he's our senior planner. Evelyn Garcia, associate planner. Jonathan Turner, assistant planner, and Christina Mateo, administrative secretary and meeting host. Thank you, Miss Xline. And I will uh just wanted to check. I think Craig is now online. Uh Craig, are you on you here? Hello, Craig Robinson present. Thank you, Craig. Okay, sorry, you can continue with the item number two. Great, thank you, Miss Xline. I'm just gonna ask staff if there are ability to reduce volume. Maybe on the microphones. Yes. Oh, this looks great. Okay, thank you. All right, item number two public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission interest and mining items not on the agenda. Um if you have joined us in person, please fill out a speaker card and bring it to the staff. Are there any cards present at the dais? No, okay. Um, you have if we if there's no objection, I will now close the public comment.
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