CC MIN 2013-09-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Erica Pretell, a parent volunteer at Kennedy Middle School and at Sequoia High School and president of Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF), said that RCEF wants to help fulfill the dreams of many Redwood City students to go to Stanford University one day. She spoke positively of the support they have received from Stanford for their participation, inspiration, educational programs and initiatives throughout Redwood City, and she spoke in favor of the Project. Ben Paul, a commercial real estate broker, said he focuses on Projects on the peninsula that are similar to the one being discussed tonight. He spoke in favor of the Project and opined that Stanford will be a great citizen, has designed one of the finest research and educational facilities in the area, and it will positively transform area. He noted this Project was approved by the Planning Commission and he commended Staff and the City Council for their work in being creative and providing a durable public benefit. M/S Gee/Seybert to close the Public Hearing. Motion carried 7-0 to close the public hearing. Council Discussion One Council Member spoke in support of the Project while commenting how neighborhood concerns were mitigated to the extent possible and that this will bring in needed open-space and beautification to the city. He also noted that this has been a negotiation where property taxes were taken off for Stanford, a nonprofit entity, and there is a need to ensure commitments made to the community are kept with Stanford as an active and contributing member into the future. Several other Council Members asked for more details relating to what distinguishes historic elements, including signs, and what the choice points are for the Project in leaving things as they are versus preserving historic resources. Mr. Ekern said the Historic Resources Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission, and all other consultants' analysis of three historic elements in the Project included the fountain, the relationship of the buildings, and the Ampex sign. They found that the relationship of Ampex to the city was historically relevant, but that there have been so many changes to the remnant and fragmented pieces from the 1960s going forward, that they are not historically significant at a state or national level. However, he noted that City Council makes the determination that can say if it is historically relevant on a local level and then they would need to work with Stanford on it as per the Precise Plan. Ms. Thompson, City Attorney, added that procedurally when the City Council considers the first recommended motion, they may consider adopting a resolution to adopt an EIR (Environmental Impact Report) and other items. She said the first resolution before Council, with minor modifications that Mr. Ekern had already reviewed earlier, says they agree with the Planning Commission's determination that the three items Mr. Ekern reviewed have local historic significance that is primarily based on the interest and meaning to the community. If this is the case, then there are various requirements that Stanford would need to fulfill and the Council would be making a statement of overriding consideration that the mitigations are not adequate to reduce the impacts to a less than CITY COUNCIL September 9, 2013 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 10 MINUTE BOOK NO. 64 Page No. 429