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Home My WebLink AboutCC Resolution 12561 (West Francisco Blvd. Area Development)RESOLUTION NO. 12561 RESOLUTION OF' THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL GRANTING 2008 PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS (PSP) DETERMINATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE WEST FRANCSISCO BLVD AREA; City File No's. PSP08-007 & PSP08-006 WHEREAS, the Circulation Element of the San Rafael General Plan 2020 analyses current traffic levels and the existing limitations on the transportation infrastructure and identifies limited traffic capacity as a major concern among San Rafael's citizenry and as a potential impediment to the health, safety and welfare of the City; and WI IEREAS, on November 15, 2004, the San Rafael City Council adopted Resolution No. 11666 establishing the Project Selection Process (PSP), to implement San Rafael General Plan 2020 Policies LU -2 (Development Timing) and LU -3 (Project Selection Process) and Program LU -3a (Project Selection Process) to mitigate traffic impacts resulting from new development. PSP was established to: a) provide that any future adverse traffic impacts resulting from new development are avoided or minimized by relating the timing of construction of new development to the timing of construction of necessary circulation improvements associated with said new development; b) maintain the traffic LOS (LOS) standards consistent with General Plan Circulation Element Policy C-5 (Traffic Level of Service Standards); c) achieve desired projects with significant public benefit; and d) prioritize and allocate limited traffic capacity among development proposals citywide; and WHEREAS, on October 15, 2007, the San Rafael City Council adopted Resolution No. 12364 revising the procedures for PSP and rescinding Resolution No 11666; and WHEREAS, the circulation -impacted areas are Citywide and have been divided into four geographic areas, North San Rafael, Central San Rafael, West Francisco Blvd and East San Rafael and findings and recommendations for the other three areas of San Rafael have been made through adoption of separate resolutions; and WHEREAS, on February 19, 2008, the Community Development Director initiated PSP 2008 and published a Notice of Invitation to submit applications for Project Selection Process determination. An April 4, 2008 application deadline date was established; and WHEREAS, two PSP applications for development projects along the West Francisco Blvd area were submitted by the filing deadline; and WHEREAS, the PSP Committee, comprised of staff members from various City Departments, reviewed the PSP applications and ranked them in accordance with the review criteria established by City Council Resolution No. 12364. The Committee's recommendations for Project Selection Process determination have been forwarded to and considered by the Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, on July 15, 2008, the Planning Commission conducted a public meeting on the PSP applications in the West Francisco Blvd area and considered all reports, recommendations, letters and testimony; and WHEREAS, on a 4-0-3 vote (Commissioner's Colin, Lang and Sonnet absent), the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 08-15 recommending to the City Council the approval of the two PSP applications in the West Francisco Blvd area; and WI IEREAS, on Monday, August 18, 2008, the City Council conducted a duly -noticed public hearing on the two PSP applications for the West Francisco Blvd area, accepting public testimony, reviewing the written report of the Community Development Department and considering the recommendation of the Planning Commission. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council has utilized the review criteria prescribed in the implementing PSP Resolution (City Council Resolution No. 12364) for evaluating development projects competing for PSP determination. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that for the West Francisco Blvd, the City Council herebyrg ants Project Selection Process determination for New Smart Car Dealership and Expansion to Existing RAB Mercedes Dealership (440, 540 550 West Francisco Blvd) and New Dealership (694/720 West Francisco Blvd.). based on the following findings: PSP08-007; NEW SMART CAR DEALERSHIP & EXPANSION TO RAB MERCEDES DEALERSHIP (440/540/550 WEST FRANCISCO BLVD.) Traffic A total of 29 A.M. and 37 P.M. peak hour trips would be generated by this project. The traffic analysis prepared by the City Traffic Engineer concludes that the development would: a) not have a significant impact to the affected intersections and the amount of new trips is significantly less than the historical trips along this corridor. The affected intersection would operate within the acceptable LOS standards. Therefore, an "Excellent" rating is assigned Oualifier High Tax Generating Using the conservative estimates for sales tax generation, it is estimated that this project would generate approximately $386,250 in additional sales tax paid directly to the City. This amount of sales tax would result in $5,852/ per new vehicle trip, thus an "Excellent" rating. This amount of additional sales tax generated by this project is found to be a significant contribution to the City's sales tax base and would therefore provide a great deal of public benefit. Findings A similar version of this project was granted PSP determination in 2006 and the Council hereby grants PSP authorization again this year. The project proposes to construct a new car dealership and expand an existing dealership to provide a dedicated pre -owned sales lot. This project would generate a significant amount of new sales tax ($386,250) directly to the City of San Rafael and would bolster the City's tax base. In regards to traffic, the project would result in less trips along this roadway and nearby intersections than historical levels and would not exceed any LOS standard. The project has not yet submitted for all required planning applications nor has environmental review been completed. It is likely that planning applications and environmental review process could be completed within the two-year PSP time frame. Therefore, a "Minimal" rating is assigned for project readiness. Granting PSP authorization is warranted due to the fact that the significant additional sales tax generated by this project and limited impacts on the circulation system. PSP08-006; NEW VW/AUDI DEALERSHIP (694/720 WEST FRANCISCO BLVD.) Traffic A total of 114 A.M. and 147 P. M peak hour trips would be generated by this project. The traffic analysis prepared by the City Traffic Engineer concludes that the development would: a) not have a significant impact to the effected intersections and the amount of new trips is significantly less than the historical trips along this corridor. The affected intersection would operate within the acceptable LOS standards. Therefore, an "Excellent" rating is assigned Oualifier High Tax Generating Using the conservative estimates for sales tax generation, it is estimated that this project would generate approximately $312,500 in additional sales tax paid directly to the City. This amount of sales tax would result in $1,197/ per new vehicle trip, thus a "Preferred" rating. This amount of additional sales tax generated by this project is found to be a significant contribution to the City's sales tax base and would therefore provide a great deal of public benefit. Findings This project was granted PSP determination in 2006 and the Council herebyrg ants PSP authorization again this year. The project proposes to construct a new car dealership. This project would generate a significant amount of new sales tax ($312,500) directly to the City of San Rafael and would bolster the City's tax base. In regards to traffic, the project would result in less trips along this roadway and nearby intersections than historical levels and would not exceed any LOS standard. The project was granted all required approval and environmental review in November 2007. It is extremely likely that construction can be initiated within the two-year PSP time frame. Therefore, an "Excellent" rating is assigned for project readiness. Granting PSP authorization is warranted due to the significant additional sales tax generated by this project and limited impacts on the circulation system. 3 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 said City held on Monday, the 18`" day of August, 2008 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Brockbank, Connolly, Heller, Miller and Mayor Bora None None 4 "-�' 5 , 14Ei�-4 e ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk