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7.A. - Page 394 <br /> Michelle Littlefield, the project planner, gave an overview of the project. She gave <br /> background information of the project, noting that Costco submitted in 2005 for a total <br /> redevelopment of the warehouse. She stated that the Planning Commission had <br /> reviewed and certified a draft and final EIR for the Costco project in 2007 and thought <br /> the project was initially proposed with 16 pumps, the Zoning Administrator approved the <br /> project with 12 pumps. This was appealed to the City Council who upheld the project <br /> and decisions made by the Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission. She stated <br /> that now Costco is asking for an additional 8 pumps and gave an overview of the <br /> numbers including changes in square footage, trees and parking. She stated this is a <br /> proposal to modify the existing Use Permit application and apply for a new Architectural <br /> Permit for the expansion of the canopy for the gas station. If approved this will also <br /> require an approval of a Sign Permit for new signage on the canopy. She noted project <br /> milestones and stated that part of the evaluation is consideration as to which level of <br /> environmental review would be appropriate based on the whole record, including new <br /> information provided by Costco. She stated that Staff determined that an Addendum #2 <br /> would be appropriate and based on these conclusions the City found no significant <br /> environmental impacts or increases in previously identified impacts from the 2006 EIR <br /> for the Costco project. She noted that five comment letters were received, all by email, <br /> and spoke about one in particular. She stated the Mr. James Dombroski raised two <br /> points in his letter: the first was that the transportation impact analysis had errors, and <br /> the second was that if the project were approved by the City that a condition of approval <br /> be included that the project comply with the California Unfair Practices Act. She stated <br /> that the letter is addressing a transportation analysis done in 2006 and not the current <br /> analysis or Addendum #2 and therefore the Statute of Limitations to raise issues with it <br /> has expired. She stated that compliance with the Unfair Practices Act, as a standard <br /> procedure in the City to comply with all state, local and federal laws, is required. She <br /> introduced Aaron Carter with ICF, the consultant who helped prepare Addendum #2 to <br /> provide technical explanations regarding the comment on the 2006 transportation impact <br /> analysis. <br /> Mr. Carter spoke specifically to Mr. Dombroski's letter. He stated that the first comment <br /> relates to prior analysis, which was not used as a basis for current proposed <br /> modifications. He stated there are four basic issues raised by Mr. Dombroski and <br /> addressed each in turn. He stated that the three nearest intersections to the facility were <br /> evaluated both in the prior study and the current study and are sufficient. He stated that <br /> the letter claims that improper trip generation rates were used and noted that any issues <br /> with trip generation related to the existing facility are a moot point as it is already <br /> completed and the current numbers only reiterate what the previous study found. He <br /> stated that the sub-consultant for traffic analysis looked at trip generation rates at similar <br /> Costcos, in similar facilities with a similar orientation to this project and better data <br /> simply cannot be found for that analysis. He noted that the comment refers to ITE trip <br /> generation rates, which were not used in this analysis, as the sub-consultant's reports <br /> were very similar to ITE numbers. He stated that the most current available information, <br /> existing conditions, were used to confirm the report. He noted that any trips related to <br /> the existing facility and existing 12 pumps are irrelevant for the purposes of the proposed <br /> modifications. The new analysis and existing observed data on the ground couldn't be <br /> more accurate than it is now. He noted the claim that the prior study underestimated the <br /> level of service impacts on the surrounding intersection system and stated that <br /> comparing existing conditions on the ground now to prior analysis reveals that the prior <br /> analysis conclusions have held true. <br /> Jessica Manzi, senior transportation coordinator for Redwood City, discussed significant <br /> traffic thresholds. She stated that all three studied intersections are signalized and for <br /> Page 2 of 21 <br />