AgdaPkt 2020-11-09 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Greg Greenway To: GRP -City Council Subject: Public Comments on South Main Project Date: Monday, November 9, 2020 1:47:28 PM Dear Mayor Howard and Members of the City Council: am writing to express my support for Greystar's South Main Mixed -Use Project and to encourage you to take the three actions recommended by staff. My perspective is shaped by my positions as chair of the Chamber's transportation & housing committee and executive director of Seaport Industrial Association, but I am offering my comments as a private observer and not a representative of either organization or their boards (although the Chamber has given a full endorsement). You are well aware of the broad benefits that the project will bring to the community. It is particularly exciting to see the potential for so many new homes, many of them affordable to moderate- and lower-income households. The mix of uses and amenities is a model of smart development, with the inclusion of a child care facility as a highlight. Its proximity to transit means the project will help alleviate traffic congestion, meaning it touches on all of the City's top three strategic priorities. I also want to offer my support because of the positive impact the project will have on the port area. The developers will make a fair share contribution to the 101/Woodside Road Interchange Project of almost $4,000,000. While this is a relatively small portion of the overall interchange project cost, it combines with contributions and impact fees from other projects (e.g., Broadway Plaza) to give Redwood City a significant local match that can be leveraged to obtain regional, state and federal funds. The interchange project is vital to traffic circulation for industrial businesses and expanded cargo capacity at the Port. In addition, the project's proximity to Woodside Road could create opportunities for shuttle routes to the Port, allowing residents and employees to access the ferry and further reduce commute congestion. Just last week, the Water Emergency Transit Authority accepted the Port's feasibility analysis for future Redwood City ferry service, which depends critically on ridership projections. Thank you for your consideration, and for your continued leadership and hard work during these difficult times. Sincerely, Greg Greenway