AgdaPkt 2020-11-16 Special - Laserfiche WebLink

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F_RPA1669297 C,_W_IELD SAN JOSE SANTA ROSA WALNUT CREEK November 4th 2020 Redwood City City Council 1017 Middlefield Road Redwood City, CA 94063 RE: Endorsement of the South Main Mixed -Use Project Dear Redwood City City Council, GREENBELT ALLIANCE For over 60 years, Greenbelt Alliance has helped create cities and neighborhoods that make the Bay Area a better place to live - healthy places where people can walk and bike; communities with parks, shops, transportation options; homes that are affordable - and defend the Bay Area's natural and agricultural landscapes from sprawl development. Greenbelt Alliance's "Grow Smart Bay Area" goals call for fully protecting the Bay Area's greenbelt and directing growth into our existing communities, and accomplishing both in a way that equitably benefits all Bay Area residents. Our endorsement program helps further these goals by providing independent validation of smart infill housing (development of vacant land within urban areas) and mixed-use projects (allowing for various uses like office, commercial and residential). After careful review, Greenbelt Alliance is pleased to endorse the proposed 'South Main Mixed-Use"project This is a 540 -residential unit, 530,00ft' office, and 28,000ft' retail, mixed-use development, proposed by Greystar Development. With a commitment for deep affordability, 27% of units across the project (including 38 units in partnership with HIP Housing) will be offered at Below -Market -Rate Rents for households ranging from 30-120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and will remain affordable for 55 years. The project site is well located within a short walk or bike ride of the Redwood City Caltrain Station and Redwood City SamTrans Transit Center, along the El Camino Real corridor. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that the land -use potential is maximised. This currently underutilized area will contribute to the City's vision for high quality, higher -density development and mixed-use opportunities. This project will encourage a walkable and vibrant community in Redwood City for residents across the income spectrum, provide a public open space and family -friendly retail uses, support the local economy, and offer a host of other environmental and quality of life benefits. This is the kind of climate -smart development that we need in the Bay Area to meet our housing goals, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make sure that local residents are able to grow and thrive in their own communities. In closing, the development of the South Main Mixed-use project is another smart step for the City of Redwood City to ensure the creation of homes and vibrant communities near jobs, retail, and transit. We hope its approval will inspire communities around the Bay Area to redouble their efforts to grow smartly. Sincerely, 0000000** Zoe Siegel Director of Climate Resilience, Greenbelt Alliance