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8.B. - Page 229 <br /> Commissioner Radcliffe stated that she had a store downtown for a while with a very short <br /> term parking space in front of it which was perfect because the turnover was very fast. She <br /> asked if there is any thought of going to some short-timed spaces since all of downtown at the <br /> moment is not short term. <br /> Mr. Ekern stated that is being worked on. <br /> Commissioner Borgens stated she parks all the time at the Safeway underground parking and <br /> it is never a problem. <br /> MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING <br /> M/S: (Holt/Borgens) <br /> Motion Passed: All yes. <br /> Chair Schmidt noted there were no public speakers. <br /> MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING <br /> M/S (Holt/Borgens) <br /> Motion Passed: All yes. <br /> Vice Chair Holt asked for a 5-minute break. <br /> Commissioner Borgens stated that she has a concern dealing with the motorists themselves. <br /> She stated if you get on Jefferson during early morning commute, and in the afternoon, it is <br /> gridlocked from Veterans to Middlefield. She stated all this traffic coming out of the parking in <br /> this development will be that experience. She stated that one in and one out area is a lot of <br /> traffic coming out into an already congested area. <br /> Mr. Ekern stated it is an issue for the City and the developers. He stated that traffic is <br /> essential to function well to have happy tenants. He stated that they are still trying to make a <br /> pedestrian friendly downtown which will restrict the cars. He stated that they are looking over <br /> time at issues that the project will have to adapt to. He stated there is not much capacity on <br /> Jefferson but the City made a conscious decision to make that street more pedestrian rather <br /> than a thoroughfare. He stated that he does not have a specific solution but traffic studies <br /> indicate the cars should move in and out and eventually people will hopefully start thinking <br /> more about biking rather than driving. <br /> Mr. Lyon stated that one unique thing about Redwood City's downtown is the grid system. He <br /> stated when Jefferson was narrowed, people were speeding much faster than the speed limit <br /> until that was narrowed. He stated that change benefited Main Street the most because <br /> people began using other streets. <br /> Commissioner Bondonno stated he is concerned about having the exit from this site onto <br /> Theater Way. He stated it might be worth studying a hybrid such as not closing Theater Way <br /> but rather prevent people going straight through from the project onto Theater Way. He stated <br /> they could think of keeping Theater Way open so it can operate much as it does today without <br /> having the entire flooding of traffic exiting straight across. <br /> Mr. Lyon stated that Staff looked at a variety of design options and are of the opinion that this <br /> will function in the way that it is designed. He stated the City has the right to come back and <br /> look at it. <br /> Page 9 of 13 <br />