HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 13353 (Downtown Station Area Plan)RESOLUTION NO. 13353
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL TO
ACCEPT THE DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL STATION AREA PLAN
WHEREAS, in 2004, the City Council adopted General Plan 2020, which included a
number of policies related to the two planned Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit ("SMART") rail
stations in San Rafael, to be located in Downtown and at the Civic Center; and
WHEREAS, staff pursued grant funding for planning the areas around these stations
consistent with General Plan 2020 policies and programs including: G -23b Grants, N1 -1-88a
Transit Oriented Development, NH 88b Safe Walkways and Bikeways, NH 36 Hetherton Office
District, C17 Regional Transit Options and SMART, C18 Local Transit Options and C20
Intermodal Transit Hubs; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, City staff and staff from other agencies met to prepare and submit
a Station Area Plan grant application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission ("MTC").
The public agency partners for the Downtown Station Area Plan were the City of San Rafael,
SMART, Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, Marin Transit District and
the Transportation Authority of Marin ("TAM"), collectively the Joint Project Team ("JPT"); and
WHEREAS, on May 3, 2010, the City Council authorized the City Manager to Accept
and Expend a Grant in the Amount of $528,000 from the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission for Station Area Plans for the Downtown and Civic Center San Rafael Stations, of
which a total of $388,000 was for the Downtown Station Area Plan; and
WHEREAS, the JPT partner agencies provided grant matching funds in the amount of
$97,000. The City of San Rafael provided matching funds of $1,000, SMART provided $41,000,
Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District provided $33,000, Marin Transit
District provided $20,000, and the Transportation Authority of Marin provided $2,000; and
WHEREAS, the City Council appointed the Citizens Advisory Committee on Economic
Development and Affordable Housing, formerly the Citizens' Advisory Committee on
Redevelopment ("CAC") which represents neighborhood, business, and property owners in San
Rafael, including the Downtown, to work with the community to develop the Downtown San
Rafael Station Area Plan and to advise the City Council on such Area Plan; and
WHEREAS, between July 2010 and May 2012, the CAC worked on the Draft Station
Area Plan at seventeen meetings; reviewed background data; participated in two walking tours
of the area; hosted two community outreach workshops, and a series of presentations on the Draft
Station Area Plan including presentations to the Boards of TAM and Marin Transit, the
Transportation Committee of the Golden Gate Bridge and Transportation District, and the San
Rafael Design Review Board and the San Rafael Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, consistent with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines, the Downtown San Rafael Station Area Pian has been reviewed to determine
appropriate environmental review. As the Downtown San Rafael Station Area Plan is a planning
study that would not result in any actions to change or amend City policies or municipal code
regulations, it has been determined that this project is exempt from environmental review per
CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies); and
WHEREAS, on June 4, 2012, the CAC presented its recommended Downtown San
Rafael Station Area Plan to the City Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San
Rafael accepts the Downtown San Rafael Station Area Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael does
hereby thank the CAC for their extensive work on the Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael does
hereby direct staff to consider the Station Area Plan when making future amendments to General
Plan 2020 to incorporate relevant policy objectives and programs and to pursue implementation
of the Station Area Plan as infrastructure grant funding and staff resources become available.
I, ESTHER 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 fourth day of June, 2012 by the following vote, to
wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Connolly, Heller, Levine, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ESTHER BEIRNE, City Clerk