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7B�►. 149 of 41 <br />September 26, 2019 <br />SENT VIA EMAIL <br />Mayor Ian Bain and City Councilmembers <br />1017 Middlefield Road <br />Redwood City, CA 94063 <br />RE: Support - Lowe Development Project <br />Dear Mayor Ian Bain and City Councilmembers, <br />Let me begin by congratulating Redwood City for your admirable track record in <br />accommodating growth, both jobs and homes, in your community in a sustainable manner. If <br />every City in our region was as responsible as you have been we would not have a housing <br />crisis or the second worst traffic in the nation. <br />I am writing today concerning the Sequoia Station Redevelopment project and to express the <br />Bay Area Council's support for the plans presented to us by the project sponsor Lowe and for <br />their request for a General Plan Amendment. The current uses on the site, primarily surface <br />parking and low density retail, appears to us to be a huge missed opportunity given the size of <br />the site, its proximity to Caltrain, and its situation in the center of the world's most dynamic <br />economy. <br />The initial plans include upwards of 1.4 million square feet of new commercial space, over 400 <br />new homes, -225 of which will be below market rate, all while providing valuable ROW land for <br />Caltrain and retaining and expanding existing neighborhood serving retail establishments. <br />There is a significant need to introduce mixed-use spaces that combine existing infrastructure <br />with added community resources. For this and other reasons described below, the Bay Area <br />Council strongly supports this proposed community redevelopment: <br />Commuter Friendly — The project plans to accommodate future Caltrain station <br />upgrades, and increase pedestrian and commuter accessibility by introducing protected <br />bike lanes and new walkable streets between Downtown and neighborhoods. Drivers <br />can expect less traffic congestion with the expansion of Marshall Street and portions of <br />Jefferson Avenue and Middlefield Road. Planners kept safety and ambiance in mind by <br />including lighting and safety improvements for future CalTrain upgrades and enhanced <br />street planting and streetscape. <br />P 415.946.8777 353 Sacramento Street, 10th Floor 1215 K Street, Suite 2220 <br />F 415.981.6408 San Francisco, California 94111 Sacramento, California 149 <br />