AgdaPkt 2021.02.08 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Nori Jabba To: GRP -City Council Subject: Letter to Council Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021 1:16:54 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Mayor Howard and Members of the City Council: I did not get a chance to speak at the January 25th council meeting due to a technical glitch. I am, therefore, submitting this email regarding the Transit District Study Session that has been continued to the February 8, 2021 City Council meeting. I am writing to express my concern about folding the Autozone/A-1 Rental project into the Transit District/Sequoia Station project. While the proximity of the proposed project is close to Caltrain, and, therefore, requires careful consideration in the context of the Transit District regarding grade separation and engineering, the proposed project itself is not part of the Sequoia Station proposal and has a different developer. I am concerned that folding it into the timelines and requirements of the Sequoia Station review process will lead to extensive delays and result in the lowering the priority of this project that made it through the Gatekeeper process last fall. An example of this project getting lost in the mix is that the developer of Autozone/A-1 Rentals was not invited to speak as an applicant at the January 25th meeting, while the developer of Sequoia Station was given 10 minutes to give a presentation. Instead, the Autozone/A-1 Rentals developer was limited to 2 minutes as part of public comment. Of greatest concern is the timing associated with financing the affordable housing component of the project. Extensive community engagement and studies needed for Sequoia Station and the Transit Station will likely delay the Autozone/A-1 Rentals project to the point that the affordable housing element of the project becomes infeasible. And, nearly all the focus from the community will likely be on Sequoia Station. I do not want the Autozone project to be viewed as an afterthought or add-on project.. I urge you to move forward with Autozone/A-1 separately or in parallel (but with an expedited schedule) with the Sequoia Station and the Transit District to ensure that the City is able to deliver the community benefits, including the much needed youth center, Chrysanthemum Plaza, and 60 units of affordable housing that make this project a valuable addition to our downtown. Additionally, I encourage the City of Redwood City to consider specifying life science space for the commercial portion of the Sequoia Station project and other downtown office proposals. Life science space is in great demand in San Mateo County and Redwood City has a unique opportunity to become a hub for life sciences. While there are many life science users in the