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7.A. - Page 2 of 41 <br />There has been significant recent planning work near the Sequoia Station site around public transit and <br />the Redwood City Transit Center, which includes both the Caltrain station and the SamTrans bus depot <br />with related "last -mile" shuttles and transportation options. Additionally: <br />• Redwood City completed the City's transportation plan called RWCmoves, and utilized a grant to <br />look at short and long-term options for the Transit Center. <br />• Caltrain is completing electrification, which will increase train service while reducing greenhouse <br />gas emissions to Redwood City, and recently adopted a long-term vision for the Caltrain Business <br />Plan which would further enhance train service. <br />• Cross Bay Transit Partners is studying a long-term option for Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project, <br />with a potential connection to the Redwood City Transit Center from the East Bay. <br />These service expansions require adjustments to the existing station area and may require additional <br />space for tracks, bus operations, and related transit. One of the primary constraints to station <br />improvements is the proximity of the CVS and Safeway buildings to the track edge, limiting potential <br />widening of the tracks or platforms. On November 4, 2019 and January 27, 2020, the City Council <br />approved moving forward with creating a Transit District made up of key properties around the Transit <br />Center and starting a larger Central Redwood City visioning effort to obtain community input on future <br />development within the boundaries of Veteran's Boulevard, Whipple Avenue, EI Camino Real, and <br />Woodside Road. In these meetings, the City Council supported the City -led effort for a new Transit District <br />within the Downtown Precise Plan area, and was informed of the General Plan Initiation request by <br />Sequoia Station property owners represented by Lowe. <br />In September 2019 Sequoia Station property owners requested consideration of a General Plan <br />Amendment for all of the properties that would be a part of the proposed Transit District, including <br />property controlled by the Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), <br />and the private property of A-1 Party Rentals (corner of Broadway and California Street). Since that time, <br />the City Council has directed staff to proceed with the Transit District planning actions, emphasizing the <br />importance of the City leading this planning process. Both SamTrans and Caltrain have submitted letters <br />supporting a General Plan Amendment Initiation, but indicating that they do not yet have development <br />plans for their properties. The owner of A-1 Party Rentals has also described interest in participating in <br />the Transit District, but does not have immediate plans for redevelopment or wish to be included in an <br />initiation process. <br />Lowe is requesting to submit a comprehensive development application in the near term for the seven <br />parcels owned by Regency, Safeway, and SamTrans that comprise Sequoia Station. This would allow for <br />community outreach and environmental review on the proposed redevelopment of Sequoia Station, a <br />process that will be shaped by the City and will support the larger City -led study of the Transit District. As <br />shown in Figure 1 below, the Transit District includes Sequoia Station as well as the current Transit Center <br />and property owned by SamTrans and CalTrain. Initiation of the Sequoia Station project would allow the <br />City to consider and encourage transit -supportive development as a first step in that effort. <br />Page 2 of 12 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore <br />196 <br />