AgdaPkt 2012-05-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

8.A. - Page 1 I'-��'ORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the Saltworks Ad-Hoc Committee May 7, 2012 SUBJECT Options regarding The Saltworks Project Application RECOMMENDATIONS Direct staff to prepare findings and a resolution denying the current application, on the grounds that after being on file with the City for three years, the developer has yet to submit a complete project description and the application remains inactive. If and when the developer presents a new and complete project application to the City, the City will determine whether and how to proceed on that application at that time. BACKGROUND On May 19, 2009, the City of Redwood City received an application from DMB Redwood City Saltworks, LLC for a General Plan Amendment, an Environmental Assessment, and a Zoning Map Amendment for the 1,436-acre site owned by Cargill Incorporated. Since then, City staff and its support consultants have been in the process of reviewing the submittal for adequacy and completeness. The proposal submitted by the developer, DMB Associates, outlined development plans for the 1,436-acre Cargill salt ponds property in Redwood City. The proposal envisions 50 percent of the property to be used for a mix of housing and commercial uses and 50 percent dedicated for wetlands restoration, open space and recreation. There are 355 acres of residential development proposed with 8,000-12,000 housing units. The City made clear at the time that accepting and reviewing DMB's development application did not constitute denial or approval of the proposed project, but only started a lengthy and thorough process of public and City staff review, comment and analysis. On November 4, 2011 in an internal review and evaluation meeting of its submitted proposal, DMB instructed the City to stop processing the current application and indicated that it would be submitting a revised project description. At the time, DMB indicated they would be submitting a revised description in the Spring of 2012. To date the City has not yet received a revised project description and has not been given an indication of when one might be submitted. At the April 9, 2012 City Council meeting, speaking as an individual, Rosanne Foust asked the City Council to consider an advisory vote on whether the City should continue to analyze a new or revised project description. At the April 23, 2012 City Council meeting, Mayor Aguirre appointed a Council ad-hoc committee to conduct a broader examination of Council options as they relate to the current but stale application and project description, and also to identify any options as they relate to future proposals. Mayor Aguirre appointed Council Member Ira and Council Member Pierce to the ad- hoc committee. 1