Redevelopment Agency Minutes
September 13, 1999

REDWOOD CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

CHAIRWOMAN  DIANE HOWARD
VICE CHAIRMAN  IRA RUSKIN

DIRECTOR RICHARD S. CLAIRE
DIRECTOR JIM HARTNETT
DIRECTOR JEFF IRA
DIRECTOR COLLEEN M. JORDAN
DIRECTOR MATT LEIPZIG

REGULAR MEETING
7:30 P.M.
September 13, 1999

CALL TO ORDER - 7:33 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Agency Members Present: Claire, Hartnett, Ira, Jordan, Leipzig, Vice Chair Ruskin and Chairwoman Howard

Staff Present: Assistant City Attorney Sorba, Agency Attorney Kessler, City Clerk Howe, Senior Deputy City Clerk Ponte, City Manager Everett, Financial Services Manager Somers, Building Inspector Lepori, Police Chief Bolanos, Sergeant Matuszak, Police Sergeant Cesena, Community Development Services Director Nelson, Planning and Redevelopment Manager Church, Community Development Services Manager, Housing Coordinator Jones-Thomas, Parks and Recreation Manager Centeno, Traffic Engineer Haygood, Public Works Services Director Ingram, Volunteer Balsamo

1. PUBLIC COMMENT - None

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of August 9, 1999 as submitted;

MINUTE ORDER RD 99-13

M/S Ira/Hartnett to approve the minutes. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

3. GENERAL - None scheduled

4. PUBLIC HEARING on Approval of Disposition and Development Agreement for Franklin Street Project Shea Homes Limited Partnership

Housing and Redevelopment Manager Church gave a chronology beginning in 1993 and outlined various meetings held pertaining to the project. The project is based on direction from the Agency to staff to develop a master plan for the entire piece of property. The land is bounded by Jefferson, the railroad tracks, Maple Street and El Camino Real. The agency also indicated strong interest at that time in for sale housing. During the summer of 1997 their was consensus to request staff to seek an exclusive right to negotiate with a developer to look at redevelopment of the entire area described consistent with the Franklin Street area plan adopted in 1994. The project would include approximately 500 units of housing and possibly include a retail component. With that direction, in October of 1997, the Agency gave authorization to send out an owner participation offer for a third time for the entire area encompassing a much larger area of owners. Out of the 9 responses most said they were interested or they were only interested in a portion of the piece. A supplemental questionnaire was sent out asking for their ability to finance and experience. Three responses were received: El Camino Developers, Dr. Richard Haars, and a consortium of Shea Homes and Irvine Apartment Communities. After the agency board accepted the proposal from Shea and Irvine the ERN was entered into. The DDA with Irvine was approved on August 9, 1999. The DDA that Shea is proposing is 300 units of for sale housing, 84 townhouses and 216 condominiums. This will provide the mechanism to begin the site assessment that will take from 4 to 6 months.

Associate Planner Riordan outlined the outreach program throughout the project.

Redevelopment Agency Attorney Kessler recapped some prior actions by the agency in preparation for this DDA, particularly, actions under the California Environment Quality Agency (CEQA) and replacement housing. Because Shea and Irvine proposed a project that was generally in conformity with both the redevelopment plans for the area and the Franklin Street plan previously adopted and the general requirements of the zoning and general plan, the agency determined that the environmental review could be tiered off those previous documents. The agency prepared an initial study and eventually a mitigated negative declaration where noticing and hearings occurred and the recommendation from the Planning Commission to the agency. The groundwork was laid when the finding was made by the agency that the projects presented no substantial evidence that they would have significant impacts that would not be mitigated by either the project itself or previously considered. The replacement-housing plan is required by redevelopment law where a possibility of displacement could occur of low and moderate-income persons. The replacement-housing plan was noticed, circulated for public comment and reviewed at the same time as the negative declaration. The requirements and commitment are to replace housing units that are occupied by low and moderate-income persons within a 4-year period with 75% of the units affordable to the income groups displaced. Mr. Kessler pointed out some errors in the index that should include a reference entitled "Security for Shared Infrastructure" on page 10. The next is in a list of attachments where there should be a reference to "Attachment 12" which is entitled, "Form of Affordable Covenant and Restrictions of Resale". On page 5, there is a reference to Section 306 and should be Section 307.

Jeff Hansen of Shea Homes expressed excitement and appreciation to staff and the agency.

8:35 p.m. - Mayor Howard opened the public hearing.

Ted Hannig speaking on behalf of his clients requested a modification of the DDA, for compliance with the owner participation rules and duty of reasonable and good faith in dealing with the property owners.

He suggested the DDA return to staff for amendment urging owner participation.

Robert Lico, El Camino Developers, indicated disappointment with the process and sought amendment of the DDA to include long term property owner representation.

Jim Bigelow supported the housing and encouraged looking ahead and approval of the DDA.

Don Warren, Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, urged approval and unanimous vote on the DDA citing its transit orientation.

Dr. Richard Haars, Sequoia Veterinarian Hospital, showed area map indicating lack of appropriate areas for relocation of his hospital.

Maria Diaz supported the project because of commuter accessibility and regaining of the old feeling.

Marcus DiFranco representing a business operator in the area sought assurances for businesses such as a certificate of preference.

Carl Guardino supported development not only because of the additional housing, but the transit accessibility and assistance toward jobs/housing balance.

Andrew Butler, Greenbelt Alliance, actively supported the project as attractive and located appropriately, but expressed concern for the current tenants.

M/S Ruskin/Ira to close the public hearing. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

Council discussion included request for Agency Attorney explanation of "owner participation", explanation of the business owner relocation procedure; and the amount of subsidy and the time frame involved. Interest in increase of subsidy to businesses was expressed and urging of moving forward citing State protection of businesses as assurance.

Agency Attorney Kessler explained the owner participation issue and Karen Edelman explained the relocation process for business and residence owners.

M/S Hartnett/Claire to adopt RESOLUTION RD 99-31 OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ("DDA") WITH SHEA HOMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FRANKLIN STREET PROJECT;

The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

5. CLOSED SESSION - None scheduled

6. ADJOURNMENT - 9:40 p.m.

M/S Leipzig/Ruskin to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia S. Howe, CMC
Agency Secretary

Copyright © 1999. The City of Redwood City. All rights reserved.