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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 13618 (Civic Center Station Area Plan Amendment)RESOLUTION NO. 13618 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AMENDING THE CIVIC CENTER STATION AREA PLAN (P10-002) WHEREAS, in 2004, the City Council adopted General Plan 2020, which included a number of policies related to the two, planned SMART rail stations (Downtown and Civic Center). Specifically, General Plan 2020 Policy NH -88 (SMART Station) and Program C-1 7a (SMART) recognize that if the SMART service is initiated: a) construction of a station should be supported; and b) a plan should be encouraged to support high density housing/transit-oriented development, bus transit connections, parking for the station and pedestrian/bicycle access; and WHEREAS, in 2009, a grant was awarded to the City to partner with several Marin agencies to prepare the Civic Center Station Area Plan, and WHEREAS, in 2010, the City Council appointed a 16 -member committee (Committee) to oversee the preparation of the Civic Center Station Area Plan. Between 2010 and 2012, the Committee worked to complete the Draft Civic Center Station Area Plan; and WHEREAS, in July 2012, the Draft Civic Center Station Area Plan was completed and published. The Plan a "vision" for the'/ -mile area surrounding the Civic Center SMART station. The Station Area Plan presents a list of recommendations for station access and connectivity, station parking, land use and urban design. While the Station Area Plan recommends studying specific sites for additional housing around the SMART station, the Plan respects the current General Plan 2020 traffic policies, land use capacity and planned transportation improvements; and WHEREAS, on August 20, 2012, the City Council conducted a public meeting in which the Committee presented the Civic Center Station Area Plan and recommendations to the City Council. Following public comment, the City Council adopted Resolution 13401 accepting the Plan; and WHEREAS, in 2013, following public concern regarding the designated Civic Center Priority Development Area and the recommendations of the Civic Center Station Area Plan, the City Council PDA Sub -Committee directed City staff to respond to a list of community questions. The community questions address information on the Civic Center PDA and its relationship to the affordable housing. Civic Center Station Area Plan, Plan Bay Area and the San Rafael General Plan 2020; and WHEREAS, on September 6, 2013, the City Council held a study session to discuss the responses to the community questions on the Civic Center PDA and to discuss the recommendations of the Civic Center Station Area Plan. Following lengthy discussion and public comment, the City Council directed staff to prepare a resolution amending the Civic Center Station Area Plan for presentation at the regular City Council meeting scheduled for September 16,2013; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael hereb\ amends the Civic Center Station Area Plan by amending tine Final Civic Center Station Area Plan Fxecutive Sunman presented in Attachment A of this resolution. With this action, City staff is directed to make the appropriate amendments to the Final Report- Civic Center Station Area Pian to reflect the amendments in Attachnnent A. and BE IT FL'RTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of' San Rafael supports and adopts the Plain recommendations for Parking ( recommendations I through 5), and Acce,s and Corlllectk ity (recommendations I through 13), which are listed oil pages 3 through Q of the amended Fxecutibe Summary (Attachment A). I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 16`h of September 2013, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: CoUncilmembers: Colin, Connolly, E{eller, McCullough and Mayor Phillips NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None Esther C. Beirne, City Clerk Attachment: Attachment A- Amendments to Civic Center Station Area Plan Executive Summary (V SAP amendment 9 Ib 13 ATTACHMENT A AMENDED SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 BY RESOLUTION 13618 Final Civic Center Station Area Plan Executive Summary .This project is funded in part through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Station Area Planning Program. The preparation of this report has been financed in part by grants from the U. S. Department of Transportation. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The full report can be found at www.citvofsanrafael.orq/stationareaplans. The San Rafael Civic Center Station Area Plan is the culmination of nearly two years of work by the City of San Rafael and a citizens committee to identify a community vision for the area around the future Civic Center SMART station in North San Rafael. The Plan builds on previous planning efforts, and sets out a conceptual framework for development and circulation improvements in the area. No environmental review has been done as part of this conceptual planning effort. Future, detailed plans will be needed to further develop and implement the concepts in the plan and conduct environmental analysis. SMART The SMART District is proposing implementation of passenger rail service along a 70 -mile rail corridor extending from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to a station located near the Larkspur ferry terminal. Two stations would be constructed in San Rafael, one Downtown and the other in North San Rafael at what is called the Civic Center Station. The first phase of the SMART project will connect the Downtown San Rafael station to the North Santa Rosa station and will include the Civic Center station. The Study Area and Citizens Advisory Committee The Civic Center SMART station is located underneath US 101, just north of the Marin County Civic Center and adjacent to Civic Center Drive. The Study Area is the land within a one-half mile radius of the station, with particular emphasis given to that within a quarter mile. w J CC^9� tl9 �zuytD mile and ;d mile radii around SMART station ATTACHMENT A New Development Near Station Should Preserve Character of Area. One purpose of this Plan is to identify sites for new residential and commercial development that would encourage use of the train. The Committee endorsed this idea while stressing the importance of preserving the existing character of the area, including preserving views and protecting the creeks and wetlands in the area. The Plan recommends new development close to the station, within the traffic capacities identified in the General Plan, with design guidelines to ensure that the character of existing neighborhoods remains. Summary of Recommendations The Plan includes many recommendations and implementation actions. The following is a compilation of the recommendations included in each section of the Plan. More details and illustrations are provided in the plan and should be consulted in all implementation actions. Access and Connectivity: 1. Provide "Complete Streets" treatments, such as wider sidewalks, improved bicycle facilities, calmed traffic, and improved streetscaping on all streets within the Study Area, but specifically on Merrydale Road (both north and south of the railroad tracks), the Merrydale Overcrossing, and McInnis Parkway. These treatments may be challenging to implement due to right-of-way, cost, or engineering constraints. However, the City should pursue improvements on these streets as opportunities become available. 2. Complete the Promenade from Las Gallinas Avenue to North San Pedro Road, along Merrydale Road, the SMART Multi -use Pathway and Civic Center Drive. As a longer-term recommendation, consider extension of the Promenade north from Merrydale Road, through the Northgate III parcel to the Las Gallinas Road/Northgate Drive intersection if the Northgate 111 parcel were to redevelop. As another longer-term recommendation, consider construction of a Class I shared bicycle/pedestrian path along Civic Center Drive instead of the Class II bicycle lanes proposed as part of the North San Rafael Vision. 3. Complete the sidewalk network, including portions of Civic Center Drive, North San Pedro Road, and Los Ranchitos Road, such that all streets have adequate facilities on both sides of the street. Long -Range Vision Concept for Promenade ATTACHMENT A Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan would not only facilitate improved local circulation and connectivity by bicycle, they would also provide much needed connections to major regional bicycle facilities proposed in Marin and Sonoma Counties, including the Bay Trail, the North/South Greenway (SMART Multi -use Pathway) and the North/South Bikeway. When feasible and in alignment with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, upgrades to bicycle facilities are desirable. Specifically, construct the following improvements: Class 1/11 Bikeways: • North San Pedro Road, from Los Ranchitos Road to Civic Center Drive (Class 1/II) (If feasible, Class I facilities are desired on North San Pedro Road between Los Ranchitos Road and Civic Center Drive) • Civic Center Drive, from North San Pedro Road to Merrydale Overcrossing (Class 1/II) (if feasible, Class I facilities are desired on Civic Center Drive, from North San Pedro Road to McInnis Parkway) • Merrydale Road, north of SMART tracks to Merrydale Road, south of SMART tracks, including new at -grade crossing on west side of SMART station (Class 1) • SMART Multi -use Pathway, from Northern City Limits to the Puerto Suelio Hill Path at Los Ranchitos Road (Class 1) • Walter Place Pathway, from Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Ranchitos Road (Class I — although this pathway already exists, the Plan calls for upgrades to meet design standards for Class I facility.) Class II/III Bikeways • Los Ranchitos Road, from Northgate Drive to North San Pedro Road (Class II/III) • Merrydale Road, from Las Gallinas Avenue to Puerto Suello Hill Path (Class II/III) • North San Pedro Road, from Civic Center Drive to Golf Avenue (Class 11) (If feasible, Class II facilities are proposed between Civic Center Drive and Golf Avenue and desired between Golf Avenue and Woodoaks Drive) Class III Bikeways • Las Gallinas Avenue, from the Walter Place crossing at the SMART MUP to Merrydale Avenue • Merrydale Road, from the Merrydale Overcrossing to the SMART MUP (This improvement could be done as an interim step prior to completing this section of the Promenade, as recommended above.) • Merrydale Road, from the Merrydale Bridge, just south of the SMART MUP to Las Gallinas Avenue. 5 ATTACHMENT A 9. Construct vehicular turnaround areas at the ends of Merrydale Road north and south of the railroad tracks. These improvements would allow residents on the west side of the tracks to drop off and pick up passengers without having to cross US 101. The turnaround at the end of Merrydale north of the railroad tracks could be constructed within existing right-of-way; the turnaround at the end of Merrydale south of the tracks would require some space from the existing mini -storage site, and would thus only be possible as part of potential redevelopment of that site. 4 Vehicular tum -around and bus pull-out at station 10. Construct improvements at Las Gallinas Avenue, from Merrydale Road to Del Presidio Boulevard: Remove parking and widen the street to provide four travel lanes (one southbound, two northbound, and one two-way left turn). 11. Construct Improvements at US 101 / Freitas Parkway Interchange as specified in the General Plan 2020 : a. Freitas Parkway and Del Presidio Boulevard: Explore the feasibility of providing double turn lanes for northbound right turns form Del Presidio Boulevard to eastbound Freitas Parkway, as well as widening the on-ramp to southbound US 101 from eastbound Freitas Parkway. This improvement should be considered carefully, since double right -turn lanes can be difficult for pedestrians and cyclists. b. Freitas Parkway / Northbound US 101 Ramps / Civic Center Drive / Redwood Highway: Widen ramps and signalize. (Note that this improvement requires acquisition of right-of-way.) c. Freitas Parkway / Northbound US 101 Ramps / Civic Center Drive / Redwood Highway: Construct new flyover ramp from Civic Center Drive to Freitas Parkway. 12. Signalize US 101 Southbound Ramps / Merrydale Road Intersection 13. Install directional signage for all modes directing people to and from key destinations in the area. This information should be accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers, with a particular focus on pedestrians and cyclists. 7 ATTACHMENT A 4. Reduce parking requirements. If coupled with other strategies that can demonstrably show a reduced demand for parking, such as transit incentive programs, carsharing, shuttles, unbundling parking, and shared parking, new development may need less parking than the current ordinance requires. Developments seeking to provide less parking may be subject to periodic review for efficiency. 5. Provide bike parking. Provide adequate bike parking at the station and in new development. The demand for bike parking at the station should be monitored over time and additional space provided if needed. Land Use and Urban Design: 1. Protect existing residential neighborhoods. No changes are proposed for the existing single-family residential neighborhoods. These neighborhoods should be protected from adverse impacts of new development. New development should be both in scale with the existing neighborhoods and complementary in community character. 2. Encourage residential uses within walking distance (generally a '/4 -mile) of the station. To the extent additional multi -family residential development occurs, affordable units will be included throughout the Station Area through conformance with existing and future City housing policies. 3. Allow limited retail in proximity to the station. Current market demand does not appear to be strong enough to support significant additional retail in the area. However, some additional station -serving and neighborhood -serving retail should be allowed, though not required, in areas appropriate for mixed-use development. 4. Develop design guidelines to ensure compatibility with the existing neighborhoods. Design guidelines should reflect the unique character of each of the three planning areas, based on the guidelines in this plan. East of US 101 Area Design Guidelines need to: o Preservation of views from the hillside residences c Establishment of view corridors along Avenue of the Flags to the hills, Mt. Tam and the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Civic Center o Height step -backs and buffers from single-family neighborhoods o Continue the City's creek and wetlands policies. Redwood Highway Area Design Guidelines need to address building height transitions, building fapade articulation and massing, and setbacks to ensure compatibility with the adjacent residential neighborhoods and prevent the appearance of a solid wall to the adjacent single-family neighborhood. Northgate Area Design Guidelines need to buffer existing neighborhoods from the height increases of new development. 5. Restore and enhance the natural resources in the station area. The station area has an abundance of natural open space, hillsides, creeks, and wetlands. These resources should be restored and enhanced per the General Plan and zoning designations. They should also be celebrated by new development. New development should celebrate natural resources. Restore and enhance the natural environment by improving and protecting creeks, wetlands and hillsides as provided in the General Plan and zoning provisions.