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<br />Here we are, eighteen months later, and the City’s team has completed those tasks. The <br />Sensitivity Analysis, while giving a helpful preview of the issues and topics that will be <br />addressed in much more detail in the EIR, showed no significant environmental factors that <br />would preclude development at the site and showed that, as expected, the most meaningful <br />project component to adjust is project size. Therefore, instead of leaning on environmental <br />factors, the City (and Longfellow) looked primarily to community voices to develop two <br />reduced project alternatives. Alternative #1 presents a reduction of net new square footage <br />of about 10% from the project application; Alternative #2 takes a much larger cut and <br />reduces the net new square footage by 20%. Alternative #2 also materially increases the <br />distance of new buildings to the nearest neighbors to 250 feet, doubles the setback of <br />buildings from the slough, increases the acreage of open space by over five acres, reduces <br />vehicle trips and parking spaces, and reduces the total number of new life science buildings <br />by three. <br /> <br />The response in the community has been positive and many Redwood Shores neighbors <br />are now coalescing around Alternative #2. This consensus is best demonstrated by Stop <br />Redwood LIFE, which represents over 1,500 petition signers from Redwood Shores who <br />were all previously opposed to the original project application. Stop Redwood LIFE <br />circulated a survey in February describing Alternative #2 and asking their supporters <br />whether Alternative #2 is acceptable. Over 65% of the 129 respondents voted ”YES.” We <br />now ask that City Council direct staff to proceed with the dual-track EIR that will <br />study the project application and Alternative #2, the plan chosen by Redwood <br />Shores residents. <br /> <br />The item before you on Tuesday is not a project approval or a redo of the 30+ year-old <br />Westport Specific Plan. It is simply the next step in the process to study the project—both <br />its potential environmental impacts and its numerous community benefits—so that the City, <br />the community, and all other interested stakeholders can have the information necessary to <br />meaningfully consider approval of the project at a later date. <br /> <br />We remain committed to producing a project that is a win-win-win for Redwood Shores <br />residents, the City, and our tenants with the aid of data, compromise, and a robust <br />community engagement process. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to <br />continuing working with you, the residents of Redwood Shores, and all Redwood City <br />stakeholders on this important opportunity. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> ​​​​ <br />Peter Fritz <br />Regional Managing Director <br />M 720 314 0936 <br />lfrep.com <br />