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Another Council Member thanked Mayor Gee for going over the history of the Downtown Precise Plan. She asked Director Aknin about the previous Zoning and the heights allowed. Director Aknin said that in certain locations the overall heights have been reduced and there are set back codes too. One other Council Member also pointed out that if the City made adjustments to the Maximum Allowable Density, it still needed to fall under CEQA requirements. He also added that the vision that the Council had for the City and its goals and guiding principles are not changing, but only tweaking it to create a vibrant downtown. He asked about the 740 housing units within the DTPP and converting them, and what percent of the units are below market rate. He also asked that if they are built outside the DTPP, what opportunity does the City have to affect the affordability of those units? Director Aknin said an opportunity would be through the Community Benefits ordinance. The same Council Member said then that the greater opportunity is outside the DTPP. Dr. Bell added that the Redevelopment Agency could have helped, but it is no longer in place. He also commented that the upcoming EI Camino Real Corridor Plan as well as the Community Benefits are opportunities. Mayor Gee asked Director Aknin to speak about the many stakeholder meetings he had to discuss this item. Mr. Aknin replied that he indeed met with many people like the Downtown Retailers. Economic Development Manager Brooks added too that the market has changed and is responding well to the Plan. Public Comment Geoff Carr opined that the vision of the Downtown Precise Plan is not being enforced, there is nothing approved that looks like what was pictured on the Plan and he spoke in favor of a moratorium on the Downtown Precise Plan Phase I until the Crossing 900 project is done. He opined that the process is not working. Kevin Frederick, a owner of 605 Middlefield, spoke in opposition to the recommendation by City planners and he is against doing an EIR (Environmental Impact Report) and Phase 2 of the Downtown Precise Plan. He is concerned about the quality of life in terms of housing, traffic, and the CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act). Diana Reddy, with the Redwood City Local Housing Committee, opined that she always considered the Downtown Precise Plan a piece of art and has been impressed with it as a housing advocate, but is surprised by the loss of affordable housing. She expressed concern about converting housing units and said that about one third of city residents are renters and that many are already displaced. She spoke in favor of taking an aggressive stand on creating affordable housing, stating that low income drivers do not take Caltrain and they drive long distances from places they can afford to live in. She disagrees with adding more office space. Jimmy Hedges expressed concerns about having sufficient police and fire protection across Whipple (the freeway) and cited Marina One and the Inner Harbor areas as examples. He questioned what would happen if there was a fire there during rush hour. He opined that there has been a lack of communication in being told the real story and JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD December 8, 2014 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 11 MINUTE BOOK NO. 65 Page No. 293