AgdaPkt 2019-02-11 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

growth in SF, SC and SJ Counties what happens to our community. In other words what happens to 101, 280, jobs housing imbalance to Redwood City and there was NO development on that site? No option for mitigations to help current transportation congestion, housing imbalance, schools etc. Would we not have all the impacts North and South of us (congestions and lack of housing) and no opportunit, for mitigation or improvements in Redwood City? I have appreciated our past councils and how hard they have fought for community benefit far beyond our normal fees i.e. housing impact fees, school fees, park fees, public art fees ... past councils have worked very close with property owners to understand their responsibility goes beyond what our fee schedule is ... and I believe projects are better for it, our community is better for it. We know what the Draft EIR says as far as impacts and what is mitigable and what would not be. It is my hope you will think like past councils and understand the community benefit if we do allow for a zoning change and or higher density. With a project like this we can finally complete Blomquist extension, we can envision a future for the Woodside road interchange project, we can really build affordable housing and not just put money into a fund that can't be used, we can build community partners and deliver affordable housing AND the services necessary to support our families. I read a post this weekend written by a community member that simply made me angry. This person tried to minimize the decades of public service of Jeff Gee and John Seybert to simply stating they were "developer cheerleaders". These people continue to try and put you in a development or no development bucket. I know you all know this to be different and can appreciate the complexity of development, supporting the economy so that we can deliver safer roads, better roads, more housing, better parks, more parks and create a quality of life we are all proud of. Projects like Harbor View can get us there. Tonight, I hope we will all adhere to project facts and the elements of the draft EIR. Thanks for your leadership. I understand the crossroads you face and hope that once we are through the comment phase of the EIR we can get to the real conversations about what this project could bring to our community far beyond the development itself. I will be in the audience tonight but again hoping my comments might be entered into the record without having to lengthen your meeting by another 3 minutes tonight. BTW- while this comment is not within any response to the draft EIR, I also disagree with a few of our community members who might say community involvement shouldn't be a consideration for a project. You bet it should. We have worked hard to develop a culture of community and have spent much time raising the land owner and developer bars in understanding they must be a part of this community, contribute to the fabric of this community, be a part of our non -profits, employees should be involved, their corporate culture should match our culture of philanthropy and community. So yes, we should continue to expect folks who come into Redwood City, give back to Redwood City. And I believe we have achieved that. We all can look at projects, developments and companies that contribute well beyond an ordinance or zoning mandate. That is something I thank you as council members, our chamber, our school boards and schools and our community members for valuing the relationship vs. the transaction! Good Luck tonight ... More to come I am sure Dani Gasparini GB Consulting