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848-1 June 25, 1999 Telephone: (650) 780-7234 Facsimile: (650) 780-0128 TDD: (650) 780-0129 Email: planning@redwoodcity.org Website: www.redwoodcity.org Planning Services Community Development Services 1017 Middlefield Road P.O. Box 391 Redwood City, CA 94064 Mr. Scott Sweeney 1559 Beach Park Blvd. Foster City, California 94404 Dear Scott: The City has reviewed your request to contribute funds toward the completion of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for development on Laurel Way. Specifically, you and your immediate neighbors wish to build 1800 - 2000 sq. ft. homes on Laurel Way and have agreed to put up $30,000 toward the needed EIR. You do not plan to remove any heritage trees and will try to design the homes so as not to impact views of the adjoining neighbors. As you recall, in 1988, the City Council established a policy that an Environmental Impact Report (including all necessary technical studies) be prepared prior to any development on Laurel Way. The EIR was to examine the full build-out of the street, and describe what impacts and mitigations would be needed. The document would provide the comprehensive information necessary to guide development on Laurel Way. The City Council policy was an attempt to the avoid "piecemeal development" of an area which had so many planning and engineering issues. In 1996, the City Council upheld a denial for four variances at 3738 Laurel Way. By so doing, the City Council reaffinned its policy that no development occur on Laurel Way until an EIR and other technical studies are completed. The City did eventually agree to contribute 18% of the total costs of such documents. I appreciate your concern and desire to build on Laurel Way. However, as stated in 1988, and in 1996, the City still desires an EIR to conduct an analysis of the entire development of Laurel Way, not only on just a few lots as you are proposing. Such an EIR including technical studies would cost at a minimum of $1 00,000. Besides these costs, a developer would have to pay for new topographical maps, soils studies, updating improvement plans, possible lot mergers, and then pay for all the necessary road reconstruction. It appears that your proposal consists of only a small portion of Laurel Way, and does not take into consideration the broader perspective needed for development. Although the City appreciates your willingness to contribute $30,000 toward the EIR costs, it will certainly not cover it in full. Nor does the money even cover any of the engineering and street reconstruction that will be necessary.