CC MIN 2014-05-12 Joint w Planning Commission

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i 10. STUDY SESSION(S) (Joint City Council/Planning Commission) A Inner Harbor Specific Plan Land Use and Circulation Update (613) Recommendation: Hold a Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission for an Update from the Inner Harbor Specific Plan Task Force The Mayor welcomed the Planning Commission to the Study Session. City Clerk Vonderlinden did a roll call vote showing all Planning Commissioners present. Mayor Gee introduced the item and stated that this is a great opportunity for everyone to hear the item and provide public comment. Mr. Bill Ekern, Assistant City Manager, first acknowledged the various community members of different interests coming together to build this Task Force. Together, for over a year, they shared how they envisioned what the development should or could be. Mr. Ekern wanted to make clear that this Study Session is to look at the many potential land uses discussed by the Task Force, and not to focus too much on the details, because they have a long way to go through the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process. Assistant City Manager Ekern began his presentation (on file) by showing where exactly the Inner Harbor area is and what properties are currently in this location. He spoke about the vision of the Task Force and the importance of connecting land and water. Mr. Ekern stated that there were seventeen (17) Guiding Principles that are critical to the formulation of the Task Force plan. These Guiding Principles are important, because they established the land use and water use, how it's connected to the City, and how it's connected to the Bay Area larger region. Assistant City Manager Ekern demonstrated what properties and interests are on the existing land and how it's related to the current General Plan Land Use Plan. He spoke about the various important topics and presentations that the Task Force discussed, and mentioned how former Mayor Aguirre brought graduates from the Arizona State Landscaping Program to discuss their vision of the Inner Harbor and how Redwood City can be on the water. He also spoke on the importance of sea level rise and that they are looking at how Redwood City can plan for this situation. Continuing on with his slide presentation, Mr. Ekern pointed out the biological habitat areas, stormwater management and habitat facilities dual uses, sea level rise from the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), air quality constraint, noise contour, water access, walk shed and how it's close to downtown and Caltrain, transit access, and bicycle access. He said that the Task Force recognizes all of these issues and how these relate to the environmental studies. Assistant City Manager Ekern presented the Task Force's Sea Level Strategies and Land Use Strategies, and the alternatives of development. He presented refined concepts of Scenario A and Scenario B and how elements of each merged and morphed, and at the end of the meetings there was consensus to have both Open JOINT CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION May 12, 2014 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 8 MINUTE BOOK NO. 65 Page No. 155