RDA Min 1997-04-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Don Warren, 125 Stonybrook Road, Los Gatos, described his familiarity with the plan and his attendance at the previous meeting where this subject was thorougWy discussed. He said, "The decision you make on this particular parcel and on the Plan is very, very important because of the transition that that area of the City is in. In my opinion, the Franklin Street Area Plan needs to be more thorough than has been done heretofore, thought through... A specific plan with teeth in it, needs to be set by the Planning Commission and the Council.... I believe personally, that that area can support not only rental housing, but 'for sale' housing and various types of each if it is planned properly. Certainly the market is there for it. I am very concerned listening to what we have heard tonight by a land owner and then a developer under contract to that owner who have been working presumably under the auspices of the Plan for some year and a half now trying to get their project under way. As a former developer and land owner I think that these people deserve every recognition of the fact that they have been working diligently toward that, and they should be allowed to go forward with proper controls and proper design for that project. At the same time, I believe the City should instigate a more detailed planning effort in the Franklin area, and encourage 'for sale' housing on some of the other parcels. If the City doesn't do that, it would be my concern that that area because of the heat in the market right now, and the demand for any developable land in this area that can come to market, that that area will just grow like Topsy. That the City staff doesn't have much option but to respond to inquiries that come in, requests that come in and unless there is a Specific Plan with considerable teeth in it for them to fall back on, then it is very difficult for them to respond. My recommendation to you is that you give every consideration to the party that is before you tonight, and also give every consideration to encouraging on the remainder of the parcel, high quality 'for sale' housing and that you be very specific about the design elements of this project as it moves forward. Be very concerned about how it addresses the streetscape, the circulation plan, and the elevations of the plan. I think the rental housing can work. The Redwood City San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, although I am not specifically representing them tonight, did address this issue at their meeting last week, and they took the position on the proposal.... The Chamber's position was No. I to encourage the project to go forward, but with a emphasis on 'for sale' housing as opposed to rental housing, that was the first part of their deliberation. The second was to encourage the City, strongly encourage the City to do a plan similar to the one I am talking about, for the entire Plan area." Jeff Hansen, Shea Homes, 25 Metro Drive, San Jose, said everyone was more interested in what the Board Directors had to say at this point, but "I would just like to remind you that Shea Homes has certainly developed 'for sale' housing in areas such as we are contemplating here in the Franklin Street Area Plan; and that the concept of critical mass is very important, as you carve up sections of this Planning Area, the more you carve, the less critical the mass becomes. I think your staff recommendation to look at it more holistically or systemically makes sense." SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO.1 APRIL 21, 1997 MINUTES Page No. 420 PAGE 4