AgdaPkt 2018-09-24 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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X FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Key Findings The key recommendations of this memorandum - based on initial evaluation against the Site Evaluation Criteria and with additional review and input by City Staff, the Parks Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Complete Streets Advisory Committee - are as follows: • Library Lot A and Roselli Park (Site 02) and City Hall/ Main Street (Site 03) are recommended for further study as a Downtown park under Phase II of this project. • Bradford Street/Redwood Creek (Site 06) is recommended for further study as a Downtown connector via a distinct effort within this project (parallel to the Phase II studies of Sites 02 and 03). These recommendations were based on the following process / findings: After visiting all 6 sites and mapping, compiling, and analyzing data and developing site opportunities and constraints, the team conducted an initial site ranking based upon the Site Evaluation Criteria outlined in Chapter I; the sites were originally ranked as follows: #1 Site 03: City Hall / Main Street #2 Site 01: Winslow Street #3 Site 02: Library Campus/ Roselli Park #4 Site 04 & Site 06: Marshall Street Garage and Bradford Street/ Redwood Creek #5 Site 05: Spring Street Following this initial site ranking, the team workshopped the findings with City Staff, who provided additional context and perspectives. A revised set of findings was presented to the Redwood City Parks Commission at a public hearing on January 24, 2018 and to a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Complete Streets Advisory Committee on February 20, 2018. Key takeaways from these sessions were: Some consideration should be given to the potential to build out any of these City -owned properties as uses other than parks or parking lots. Given its proximity to transit and other amenities - and therefore its potential real estate value -a park may not be the highest and best use for Site 01 (Winslow Street). It was recommended that the Winslow Street lot be studied for other uses (such as affordable housing or a boutique hotel) before being dedicated as a park site. 156 APPENDIX The Site Evaluation Criteria are not as applicable to Site 06 (Bradford Street/ Redwood Creek) as they are to the rest of the sites (and therefore its low ranking). However, it was noted that development of this site into a trail / linear park with ecological restoration of the creek is essential for providing connectivity to the residential uses east of HWY 101 and for providing connectivity to the regional trail system. It was recommended by several Planning Commissioners, including Chair Nancy Radcliffe, that Site 06 move forward in a separate track parallel to Phase II within the Downtown Parks Site Assessment Feasibility Study. • The noise from the adjacent Cal train corridor should be considered for at least two of the potential park sites. Specifically, the loud noise of the adjacent trains could be a deterrent for potential users, particularly if the Winslow Street lot or Library Lot B were to be converted to Parks. Recommendations SITE 01: WINSLOW STREET It is recommended that Site 01 be further studied by the City in order to determine the highest and best use for this parcel. If developed into a park at this time, it would be very difficult to convert that public space to a private development in the future. Other development options for the site that have been identified by City Staff and various Commission members include an affordable housing complex or a boutique hotel. This site could be described as the easiest to develop in the near- term given its location, proximity to Cal train, and the fact that it has been "offline" for parking for the last few years. However, it was also noted that this site is smaller than the other preferred park locations, noise from Cal train would be a big deterrent to park users, and the current Cal train Station is likely going to be relocated as park of the electrification process. DOWNTOWN PARKS SITE ASSESSMENT 6 FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT v e� CD CD