City Council Minutes
February 16, 1999
REDWOOD CITY CITY COUNCIL
MAYOR DIANE HOWARD
VICE MAYOR IRA RUSKIN
COUNCILMEMBER
RICHARD S. CLAIRE
COUNCILMEMBER JIM
HARTNETT
COUNCILMEMBER JEFF IRA
COUNCILMEMBER COLLEEN JORDAN
COUNCILMEMBER MATT
LEIPZIG
SPECIAL MEETING
Study Session with Planning Commission
7:30 P.M.
FEBRUARY 16, 1999
Planning Commissioners Present: Chairman Verdone, Vice-Chair Garcia, Giannini, Moore, Sanfilipo, Bursak
Council Members Present - Mayor Howard, Vice Mayor Ruskin, Hartnett, Leipzig, Jordan
The study session commenced at 7:30 p.m. with Senior Planner Passanisi presenting the staff report and overview of the Redwood Shores Subcommittee recommendations.
Staff answered questions regarding both the Subcommittee and staff recommendations.
The revised "RSB" District would be more restrictive than the current "TP" zone. By not rezoning Area H now, it may be a disincentive to developers because they will need significant money to complete the process. There is no history of the City paying for the CEQA costs. The costs generally go to the developer.
The question was raised about who the proponent is of the additional commercial and residential uses besides the developer. The Subcommittee recommends both uses. Another option may be to rezone Area H to the revised "RSB" district. That way there would be a public process in place and undesirable uses would not be permitted.
Would down zoning from "TP" to "RSB" be considered a taking? Assistant City Attorney Sorba replied that it is not considered a taking if some type of development would still be permitted.
Eddie Peebles - representative of KGEI property. He and his client would like to encourage the end of the moratorium.
Kendall Patton - Attorney representing RWS properties. He stated that he believes the purpose of moratorium and the subcommittee was determine more compatible and permanent uses for the "TP" districts. He said that it is reasonable to require a public hearing for any proposed development.
Mike Spence - SBSA meeting attendee and chairman of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. He stated that this area is the "Last remaining open space on the Peninsula". He marked the new Dog Park in Redwood Shores as contradictory to the predator control efforts in the same environmentally sensitive area. He displayed the USGS map showing the underlying Bay Mud of the area as geologically different than the surrounding areas. Several endangered species (57 species by the Audubon Society) reside in the area. He advocates retaining the existing zoning and deleting incompatible uses.
Laverne Atherly - A Subcommittee member. He stated that they did take environmental issues into account and they determined what they do not want in the area.
Ralph Nobles - He stated that a Wetland determination could be made in two cases: (1) in a development proposal and (2) at the request of the property owner. He encouraged the City not to spend taxpayer's money on Environmental Review.
Mike Gibson - Redwood Shores Owners Association. He agrees that the Staff recommendation of the revised "RSB" district is very close to the Subcommittee recommendation. Although the Subcommittee recommended to have a Specific Plan required for both areas. He would like the City to adopt the "RSB" district for both areas to eliminate unwanted uses.
Don Warren - Speaking as a Committee member. A large part of Redwood Shores used to be zoned "TP" (all area past Shell Blvd). It is the typical process for the developers to request for the rezoning of an area. The community is not comfortable with the current allowable TP uses. He supports the rezoning to the "RSB" zone. He does not see a great difference between the Area H and KGEI sites. Both sites are developable, though may be costly. He supports the Subcommittee recommendation.
John Murphy - Property owner in Redwood Shores. He supports the recommendation of the Subcommittee. The radio station sites were never part of the Improvement District of the area and therefore he does not see the urgent need to improve the areas now.
Al Pace - Resident of Redwood Shores. He is the representative of the developer buying the KGEI site. The existing zoning allows the proposed uses of storage and a driving range. These uses are the most economically viable for the land. They have had preliminary studies done and determined not all land is wetland.
Pat Dixon - Sub-committee member. The Subcommittee did discuss the viability / feasibility of commercial neighborhood uses. She would not like any dense uses because of traffic concerns. Perhaps a park.
Ralph Nobles - Pond A-12 (50% wetlands) vegetation was modified. Not typical wetland plants. Area H has healthy pickle weed.
Close of Public Comments
Council member Hartnett - Opposed to City fronting monies for EA. Concerned with arrangement of reimbursement. Eliminate TP zoning uses (staff rec.) He would like to reconsider the additional uses of commercial and residential for Area H. The staff recommendation is reasonable (Defer decision on Area H) before moratorium expires.
Council member Jordan - Staff recommendation for SBSA land. Area H should adopt the same RSB District.
Council member Hartnett - Don't want unexpected uses in TP to be allowed. (Adopt RSB for Area H).
Council member Leipzig - Asked about the future process. There will be future public hearings.
Council member Ruskin - Agree with Hartnett. What else could we eliminate in the TP/RSB district?
Commissioner Bursak - It is important owners know what is allowed on the land. It is essential to add stability of land uses to the Redwood Shores area (property owners concerns).
Council member Howard - Treat parcels separately.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Maria Laval, Planning Secretary
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