AgdaPkt 2012-10-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8.B. - Page 2 Corporation Yard The Corporation Yard is approximately eight acres at the gateway to the City. From a development perspective there are numerous uses that are of a higher and better use, both economically and as a signature for entry into the City. Staff is regularly approached by the development community interested in acquiring this property. As important as determining the appropriate development and use for the site is finding a new and equally appropriate home for the City's Public Works needs. There are various ongoing discussions with other neighboring jurisdictions about finding a site for a shared Public Works Yard, in the interim staff has advised the various interested parties that they should do their due diligence and identify potential sites for at least Redwood City use. The Corporation Yard harkens back to another day when there was plentiful land on which to spread operations. Staff recognizes the constraints of finding eight unencumbered acres also located in an appropriate area of the City for such a use. The Corporation Yard likely fits best in an industrial zone of some sort, which is of limited supply in Redwood City. Staff recommends that the Council entertain offers of development only if the proposer demonstrates the ability to deliver a new Public Works Corporation Yard site and infrastructure, including necessary office and other support buildings and fueling systems. The site must be controllable by the proposer and deliverable to the City, which means any environmental review, is complete. Prior to proceeding with a Request for Proposals, staff will obtain preliminary title information so as to identify any potential restrictions or conditions on the land. Based on staff's analysis of other properties acquired and owned by the City, it is apparent that the City obtains property in myriad ways, many of which have restrictions that raise issues that must be resolved before clear title can be assured. Pine Street The Pine Street property is undevelopable right-of-way. The City acquired a street right-of-way interest in the Stambaugh Heller neighborhood. In 2011 the City paid nearly $80,000 to clean up the property, which had become a toxic dumping ground. The site is bounded by the railroad right of way owned by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, a rail spur line owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, a small remnant triangle of land owned by San Mateo County, and property owned by W.L. Butler. A portion of the property was fenced after the City's clean up, a portion serves as street access to the Butler property, and a portion is fenced and actively used by the tenants of the Butler property. Because of the complexities of how the City's rights are held, in that it does not appear that the City holds the property in fee, but rather has public right-of-way rights over the land, and there are other property owners whose lands could also be included in a general clean up of the property boundaries, representatives of W.L. Butler have done considerable research to identify these issues.