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covering architecturally distinctive/historic buildings or historic points of interest. The impact of the 847 Woodside
<br />project component, including but not limited to impacts on trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a
<br />state scenic highway, would be less than significant, and no mitigation would be required because it is consistent with
<br />the existing land uses surrounding the project site, is within the maximum allowable height (a small portion of the
<br />stair penthouse would not be noticeable in light of screening provided by redwood trees that will remain), and would
<br />not substantially obstruct, interrupt, or detract from an existing scenic resource. For these reasons, the 847 Woodside
<br />project component would be consistent with the analysis in the Focused GPU EIR and would not create new impacts,
<br />increase impacts, and there is no new information of substantial importance for CEQA purposes.
<br />c. As discussed in the Focused GPU program EIR (p. 4.1-10), the project component site is located in an urbanized area,
<br />and based on the infill nature of the development and adopted architectural standards, visual change from new
<br />development would be limited and the characteristics of surrounding neighborhoods would be substantially preserved.
<br />For this reason, the Focused GPU EIR concluded the impacts of new development would be less than significant.
<br />The proposed project component would be required to comply with adopted General Plan goals, policies, and
<br />implementation programs intended to preserve scenic beauty and maintain community aesthetics, as discussed in
<br />Impact AES-1 and Impact AES-3 of the Focused GPU program EIR; the Regulatory Framework section of the Focused
<br />GPU EIR (“4.1.2 Regulatory Framework”); and other policies and programs identified in the Redwood City General
<br />Plan, especially those related to Goal BE-13 “Enhance the Woodside Road Corridor.” In particular, Policy BE‐13.4
<br />provides: “Support new higher‐density residential development on Woodside Road, while ensuring that new
<br />development is sensitive to adjacent single‐unit residential neighborhoods.” All of these adopted policies and
<br />programs help protect views along major corridors, such as Woodside Road. The proposed project component would
<br />be consistent with General Plan Policy BE-13.4 as it would result in higher-density residential development on
<br />Woodside Road.
<br /> The Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MUN) Zoning District is intended to provide opportunities for moderate-scale
<br />developments that facilitate pedestrian-friendly environments with the goal of providing areas for a variety of activities
<br />such as commercial, office, and moderate-density residential uses, or a mix thereof. The 847 Woodside project
<br />component is consistent with the vast majority of the over-50 development regulations, including building height,
<br />setbacks, site design, and landscaping requirements. The development standards that the 847 Woodside project
<br />requested modifications to result from an applicant request to apply the State Density Bonus law in order to provide
<br />the proposed 86 units of 100 percent affordable housing at the site, as also described in the project description (item
<br />#8 above). The two waivers to development standards that relate to architectural design include the waiver of daylight
<br />planes standards and the building length standards. In regards to daylight plane, the upper stories of the building would
<br />protrude past the daylight plane and in regards to the building length standards, the proposed building would exceed
<br />the maximum building length by approximately 20 feet. However, because the applicant is entitled under state law to
<br />certain deviations that are needed to accommodate affordable housing, they do not conflict with applicable scenic
<br />quality regulations.
<br />As discussed in the project description (item #8 above), proposed project component exterior materials would include
<br />concrete, metal panel, brick veneer, cement plaster, and tile, plus metal accents (light bronze) and metal railings and
<br />trim, primarily of earthtones with dark gray, dark brown, beige, and some dark blue. In addition, a mural is proposed
<br />along the northern street front portion of the project component (Plan Sheets PA3.1, PA3.2, and PA5.3, 10/27/23).The
<br />building footprint has corners and recesses, which provide variety in its external appearance. The site design provides
<br />outdoor open space, a recessed front entry, and semi-outdoor walkways, and integrates existing trees in the site design.
<br />These characteristics assist in defining the space with a semi-open, pedestrian-oriented feel and integrating with an
<br />important urban corridor. The inclusion of a 15-foot-deep rear yard that retains the 9 existing mature Coast Redwoods
<br />at the rear of the property enhances the visual quality of the building while also providing a buffer to the adjacent
<br />lower-density neighborhood.
<br /> The proposed project component was reviewed at the April 25, 2024, Special Meeting of the Architectural Advisory
<br />Committee (AAC) to review the building, site, and urban design and to forward a recommendation to the Planning
<br />Commission. Staff recommended that the AAC forward a recommendation to the Planning Commission for approving
<br />the project. The AAC did not support the waiver for the intrusion into the daylight plane and recommended variety in
<br />the long flat elevations in light of the building length waiver and did not recommend approval of the design. [Note the
<br />project has since been revised to reduce the need for these deviations as is described in the attached memo.]
<br />As discussed in subsection (a) above, there are large redwood trees currently on the site that vary in height between
<br />approximately 30 and 75 feet tall adjacent to the residential uses to the east. These trees will be preserved in the
<br />redevelopment project and exceed the height of the proposed development and therefore the project’s intrusion into
<br />the daylight plane would not have a substantial impact on the existing scenic quality from the single-family
<br />ATTY/RESO.0070/CC RESO 1900 BROADWAY (CEQA) - EXHIBIT 1 - CEQA CONSISTENCY CHECK LIST
<br />REV: 10-23-24 VR
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