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From:Rick <br />To:Council-Elmer MartinezSaballos; GRP-City Council; GRP-Planning Commissioners <br />Subject:Concerns Regarding Redwood Life Plan <br />Date:Sunday, March 30, 2025 1:45:21 PM <br />You don't often get email from rkscpa@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <br />March 30, 2025 <br />Dear Mayor Martínez Saballos, City Council Members, and Planning Commissioners, <br />As a concerned citizen of the mid peninsula, I am writing to express my grave concerns <br />regarding the proposed Redwood Life development project. This massive undertaking would <br />fundamentally alter the character of our community and poses significant threats to the quality <br />of life for residents, as well as the surrounding natural environment. <br />One of the most alarming aspects of the Redwood Life plan is the sheer scale of the proposed <br />buildings. The development would include structures up to 140 feet taller than the surrounding <br />landscape, creating unprecedented vertical expansion in our suburban setting. These towering <br />structures would disrupt cherished viewsheds and cast extensive shadows on nearby <br />residential areas, impacting wind patterns and potentially interfering with the flight paths of <br />the nearby San Carlos Airport. The dramatic height increase is simply incompatible with the <br />low to medium density character of our neighborhood. <br />Compounding these concerns are the drastic reductions in critical buffer zones between the <br />development and existing homes. Building setbacks would be slashed from 238 feet to just <br />146 feet, bringing the commercial activity dangerously close to our residential areas. This <br />would eliminate the established privacy barriers and expose residents to increased noise, light, <br />and activity from the commercial development, significantly impacting our quality of life. <br />The influx of traffic generated by this project is also a major source of worry. Plans indicate <br />the development could create up to 92,300 new vehicle trips per week from as many as 11,000 <br />employees. This massive increase in traffic would overwhelm our local road infrastructure, <br />leading to significant congestion, safety hazards, and environmental impacts throughout <br />Redwood Shores. The proposed parking garages facing residential areas, as well as the unique <br />24/7 biolab traffic patterns, would further exacerbate these issues, subjecting residents to <br />constant noise, emissions, and safety risks. <br />Perhaps most alarming is the projected 25-year construction timeline for this project. <br />Residents would be forced to endure decades of continuous disruption, including the sustained <br />noise and air quality impacts of extensive pile driving activities generating up to 115 decibels. <br />This prolonged construction period would significantly undermine property values, quality of <br />life, and environmental stability for an entire generation of Redwood Shores residents. <br />The environmental threats posed by this development are also deeply concerning. The site lies <br />adjacent to the Redwood Shores Ecological Reserve and wildlife refuge, home to over 170 <br />recorded species, including 9 threatened or endangered species. The degradation of this crucial <br />habitat, as well as the disruption of the Pacific Flyway bird migration route, would <br />permanently alter the natural character of our community and jeopardize vital conservation <br />efforts.