AgdaPkt 2019-12-16 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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Build Up ■ for SMC's Children Child Care Coordinating Coundl December 16, 2019 The Honorable Diane Howard, Mayor City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road Redwood City, California 94063 Dear Mayor Howard and Members of the City Council: On behalf of Build Up for San Mateo County's Children, a county -wide initiative designed to grow and improve the supply of child care and preschool facilities in San Mateo County, we urge the City Council to adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve amendments to the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance for Mixed -Use Live/Work areas to allow: a greater diversity of uses; permit height and density increases in exchange for community benefits; simplify standards for live/work units to address development barriers; and revise the name of the Zoning District and General Plan designation to "Mixed- Use Transitional" moving forward. These amendments are needed in an effort to create more housing for families at all income levels in Redwood City, especially along the Caltrain corridor and in areas just outside the downtown core, and to encourage more uses such as child care. Most importantly, the introduction of a points -based community benefits process in order to seek approval of greater heights and densities is consistent with the city's overall strategy of seeking community benefits from developers and will create a clear, well defined approach to allow for additional much-needed uses such as child care and affordable housing. The issue of child care intersects with community development and the needs of Redwood City's residents in several ways. High-quality affordable child care and preschool, conducted In appropriate facilities, is a critical support to working families. Furthermore, high quality early childhood education has been shown to improve the school readiness of children, allowing them to do better in school and potentially close achievement gaps. Lastly, child care and early learning are a steady source of employment for workers in our community and early learning programs contribute to the economic vitality of the area. Thank you in advance for your time and continued leadership on this issue. Sincerely, cftirw� Pa4uwl bjz_� Christine Padilla David Fleishman Director, Build Up for SMC's Children Executive Director, 4Cs of San Mateo CC: Planning Commissioners, City of Redwood City Sobrato Center for Nonprofits 1330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 119, Redwood City, CA 94065 650.517.1436 lbuildupsmc@sanmateo4cs.org I www.buildupsmc.com