Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC 2018-08-02 AgendaAugust 2, 2018 CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THIRD FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL 7:00 P.M. AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of July 5th Meeting Notes 3. Presentation of 44-Unit Townhome proposal, 350 Merrydale Rd. 4. Project Updates a. Station Areas and Transit Center b. Hotel (B & 5th) c. Mission & Lincoln d. General Plan progress e. Others 5. Overview of economic development, including new businesses downtown 6. Public comment on non-agenda items 7. Suggestions for Future Agenda Items: CAC Annual Dinner – September 6th 8. Adjournment Citizens Advisory Committee for Economic Development and Affordable Housing (CAC) CIty of San Rafael Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall July 5, 2018 Meeting Summary Notes CAC Members Present: Kati Miller, Bill Carney, Gladys Gilliland, Andrew Naja-Riese, Dirck Brinckerhoff, Glenn Koorhan, Roger Smith CIty Staff Present: Danielle O’Leary Members of the Public: Dave Coury, Joanne Webster, Jim Geraghty, Bonnie Marmor Guest Presenter: Steve Kinsey 1. Call to Order: Chair Carney called the CAC meeting to order at 7:02 pm. 2. Approval of June 7 Meeting Notes: Chair Carney noted that certain data points from Seagate’s presentation on 703 3rd Street at the June 7 meeting were different from their project submission to the City of San Rafael. CAC members discussed whether the notes should reflect what was stated at the meeting, even if it was incorrect. After discussion, the committee voted to change the notes to read that only 7.5% rather than 10%, of the total units would be affordable. The minutes were approved with 5 votes in favor, 1 vote against, and 1 abstention. 3. Discussion of Transit Center Concepts: Steve Kinsey, of Alta Planning + Design, Inc., returned to the CAC to present the four new concepts for the San Rafael transit center. After the City Council and public expressed reservations over the three concepts developed by Kimley-Horn, a new design process resulted in four options inspired by the City’s blueprint and guidance report for the downtown transit center. The Golden Gate Bridge District is developing the new transit center design, with the goal of finalizing a design in September for approval by the City Council.The overall goal of the project is to provide efficient bus operations, connectivity among transit lines, and accessible routes to the transit center while supporting 4th St. vitality. Other objectives include an enduring design, green principles, and a strategy to account for sea level rise. Mr. Kinsey stated that bicycle and pedestrian safety is a top priority along with mitigating traffic congestion. The City also has shown care for the Whistlestop building and asked that it be incorporated into the design. After the City Council approves the design concept, the timeline includes an additional year and a half of CEQA and NEPA studies, a year of design development, and a couple years of construction. Mr. Kinsey presented four concepts: the two-story concept, the 4th Street gateway concept, the Whistlestop block concept, and the under the freeway concept. A total of 17 bus bays would be included in each concept, with varying locations and connectedness between the bus bays. All concepts factor in transfer activity between bus routes and between the SMART station and buses. The designs account for the development of a 4th Street gateway and take care to build around Whistlestop. Mr. Kinsey reported the pros and cons of each concept while also introducing a potential fifth concept that comprises the entire block between Hetherton, Irwin, 4th and 5th Streets. While the CAC members did not reach consensus on a preferred design, members felt that the Whistlestop Block Concept and the Across the Freeway concept were the most promising. They also were interested in the potential fifth concept described by Steve Kinsey that would take up the entire block under the freeway between 4th and 5th streets without having to use the Citibank site. We believe this option should be formally added to the mix. Some CAC members stated that they would like the design to be “user-centered” and limit length of transfer time, particularly for commuters with mobility challenges. Mr. Kinsey reported that only five bus routes have significant transfer activity, yet CAC members expressed that having all buses in one place is desirable. CAC members noted that the two-story concept presented an opportunity to have all bus bays off the street, yet the added project costs for this structure seemed unreasonable. CAC members discussed the limitations in having to build around Whistlestop. Most members felt that preserving the Whistlestop building should not be considered a design constraint. One CAC member did not believe that the Bettini site is suited for retail development. Creating public space that is welcoming and ensuring the creek remains as open as possible were also discussed. Members of the public shared their reactions to the design concepts, too. One member of the public stated that putting the buses underneath the freeway is unsightly. Two other guests said that placing 3 bus pads on 3rd St. is impractical. Another public guest commented that having more bus bays co-located west of Tamalpais Ave. would be preferred. Lastly, a member of the public questioned how adaptable the designs are and which would best meet the needs of current and future bus riders. After discussion, the CAC voted to draft a letter to be addressed to the City Council with our reactions to the design concepts. CAC members also requested Mr. Kinsey to forward existing data on the transit and commuter patterns to help inform our analysis and comments. 4. Project Updates a. Seagate properties: CAC members reviewed and discussed a draft letter addressed to the City Council on the residential project at 703 3rd St following our June 7 meeting. Members decided to express support for more units in the building in general, including a greater proportion of moderate and affordable units. Other changes to the letter include removing the reference to renter protection provisions (to be tabled until a future CAC meeting) and mentioning public-private partnerships and other financing mechanisms to increase affordability. b. BioMarin/Whistlestop: Nothing to report. c. Downtown parking signage proposals: Director O’Leary reported on the second phase of the downtown parking signage project that increases awareness of parking garages and also encourages walking and cycling. Two CAC members have participated in the City’s wayfinding group to review prototypes of wayfinding signs and banners. A new 6 month pilot with free parking on Saturdays in the A and C St. garages will begin soon. Local business owners are very excited about the new signs and banners. The proposed work includes pole and banner signs, but no signs attached to buildings. d. General Plan progress: Committee members took an informative bus tour around San Rafael. e. Lincoln & Mission - Director O’Leary shared updates on the new senior living project administered by Aegis Living that will include an 88 bed facility. The project will next be heard by the Design Review Board. f. Others: Director O’Leary announced that a new hotel with 140 rooms and conference center was proposed for the vacated site at 5th and B Street. The project will be heard by the Design Review Board on July 17. 5. Public comment on non-agenda items: One member of the public stated interest in expansion of the B Street Community Center by adding another floor. 6. Suggestions for future agenda items: ● Overview of affordable housing financing by CAC member Andrea de La Fuente and others ● Renter protections such as those being considered by the County ● Transient occupancy tax for short-term rentals that may be considered by the City ● Annual CAC dinner at the State Room in September 7. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:21 pm. Respectfully submitted by Andrew Naja-Riese July 20, 2018 • • • Citizens Advisory Committee San Rafael, CA 94901 Mayor Gary Phillips and City Council City of San Rafael 1400 Fifth Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 Dear Mayor Phillips and Council Members, On July 5, the CAC received a presentation of the four proposed transit center concepts from Steve Kinsey. We appreciate the development of four new concepts in response to widespread reservations over the three design concepts previously presented. We applaud the City and Golden Gate Bridge District in leading a series of public forums and conducting a survey to determine residents and commuters’ preferences on the new downtown San Rafael transit center. The development of a permanent transit center presents a significant, one-time opportunity to create a new gateway to the City of San Rafael while connecting transit users with retail, housing, employment, and tourism. After discussing the four proposals, the CAC has some broad observations for consideration in moving forward with the project: 1) In the Two-Story concept, the opportunity exists to create a structure rather than a parking lot that would co-locate all 17 bus bays off-street to meet current and future needs. The CAC is concerned that this concept would be far more expensive than the others. The visual impact would also be a difficult challenge to manage. 2) In the 4th Street Gateway concept, the bus facility would be placed on either side of 4th St., along with 3 bays on Hetherton St. We are deeply concerned by bus driveways fronting on both sides of 4th St. and by eliminating right turns from Hetherton St. onto 4th St. 3) In the Whistlestop Block concept, while the design is fairly compact with 10 bus bays on the Citibank site, the bus bays located on 3rd St. are undesirable because of their negative impact on traffic and pedestrians near Lincoln Ave. Additional congestion may result on 4th St. An alternative approach to the 3rd St. buses might be to widen Tamalpais Ave. to place them there. 4) In the Across the Freeway concept, the area under the freeway south of 4th St. would be utilized, along with the Citibank site and some adjustments of Hetherton St. The CAC was intrigued with the possibility of using this project to improve and utilize a currently visually blighted area and believed it to merit thoughtful consideration. It was noted that pedestrians would be able to access buses from 4th St.; however, walking across Hetherton and under the freeway may be less desirable. Walking between the SMART station and bus bays under the freeway may present a particular challenge for individuals with limited mobility. Given their preliminary nature, the CAC did not reach a consensus on these concepts. However, members felt that the Whistlestop Block Concept and the Across the Freeway Concept were the most promising. They also were interested in a potential fifth concept described by Steve Kinsey that would take up the entire block under the freeway between 4th and 5th streets without having to use the Citibank site. We believe this option should be formally added to the mix. It would be optimal to arrive at a design that enables seamless and compact connectivity between SMART and bus routes. Most members felt that preserving the Whistlestop building should not be considered a design constraint if it materially conflicts with achieving this goal. Creating public space that is welcoming in the area of the creek was also discussed. We look forward to reviewing available data to indicate which types of bus-to-bus and SMART-to-bus transfers are most commonly used, in order to inform the location and design of the bus bays. Please see the enclosed draft minutes of the July 5 meeting for further points made by the CAC and members of the public in attendance. Respectfully, Andrew Naja-Riese, CAC Secretary Attachment: Draft CAC minutes, July 5, 2018 Copies: Raymond Santiago, GGBHTD; Steve Kinsey; Danielle O’Leary; Jim Schutz San Rafael Transit Center Relocation WEST TAMALPAIS ILLUSTRATING WHISTLESTOP SURROUND