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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1997-07-16 Mayor Joseph A. Fernekes Council: James L. Datzman Eugene R. Mullin '""-John R. Penna Robert Yee AGENDA ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER: (Cassette No. 1) ROLL CALL: 2. Oyster Point Road system. 7/16/97 Page 1 MINUTES City Council Municipal Services Building Community Room July 16, 1997 V L. ACTION TAKEN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING 6:08 p.m. Mayor Fernekes presiding. Council Present: Council Absent: Datzman, Mullin, Penna, Yee and Fernekes. None. Mayor Fernekes stated he was rearranging the order in which the items will be heard, and item 1 will be heard after item 3. City Manager Wilson stated he had asked the staff member to control the presentation and honor the two hour focused meeting concept. Director of Public Works Gibbs related: problems previously discussed on widening of Oyster Point, and Caltrans and the exit of the ramp at the Gate- way; he showed artistic renderings of the project, its beginning and where it will pick up on the way to the Marina; he had consultants looking at all aspects of the project, including traffic counts and the EIR; they looked at the numbers both here and across the bridge at the hook ramps down at the end at Echols and they have an overall picture; the level of service (D is based on the type of intersection) is acceptable to Caltrans; with the flyover, the geometrics for the original design were put together with the origi- nal Phase One and Two of the Project; Caltrans is ready to accept this level, so we can actually build the Caltrans intersection, it's not a problem any more and they are all set to go ahead; this side is the archeological side where the original hook ramps dumped into the archeological site; because of the archeological site we started looking into alterna- tives, because there is work to be done, it has to be widened to an alignment with the hook ramps; we could not build the hook ramps on the archeolog- ical site because they would dump into the site; 101 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN /7/ 2___. Oyster Point Road system - Continued. 7/16/97 Page 2 is under the flyover ramp; the problem is the utility relocation, the estimate of time to relocate; there was a meeting with Brisbane and there is a problem with this in getting the south bound ramp on cost; there are excessive costs for relocating the utilities, plus the value of the land; Brisbane was supposed to have an on-ramp and then the archeological problem put a monkey in the works; there was always an agreement that when the owners of Terrabay devel- oped Phase 3, at that time, there would be a ramp built on 101 south and this is more complicated from the Sister Cities Blvd. Discussion followed: Terrabay is looking to con- struction for their workers and people in the com- munity's employment; they are looking for impacts for their workers headed southbound and at the future, for they have a five year plan that talks about growth; they are one of the largest land bankers for future development; when that starts to build out there is going to be a growing need; the question is, if you don't design this currently, you could pre- clude adding an on-ramp in the future; so, this plan is the seventh plan and it brings forward the reloca- tion costs and provides for the flyover and the hook ramps. Discussion followed: why is it going to matter when it is being built over ground; on the freeway side of the Bayshore, the utilities and a 4 inch gas line are at the surface and you can't get down to the freeway with the right curves - that is the problem; this scheme before Council takes the southbound ramp over the top of the utilities, but it means the flyover has to be raised at this point so you can get under it; Caltrans says you can't do that without doing something to the City's ramps; Brisbane, at the meeting, said we shouldn't build the flyover until this is done, but we need our flyover, for that takes 60% of the traffic; so the question is should we go ahead to redesign our flyover and deal with Caltrans when we move the Sister Cities Blvd. a few feet and we can get the alignment into an acceptable position; most of it will be in Brisbane or Caltrans' right-of-way; who is going to use the on-ramp; Terrabay with the hotels and Brisbane will be com- ing down Bayshore; Brisbane already has an exit on the freeway going south, so who are we accommo- dating in Brisbane; there is a fair amount of devel- opment that could occur and they will be headed south; if you go up to Airport Blvd. now, you see AGENDA ACI!ON TAKEN 172 :2. Oyster Point Road system - Continued. 7/16/97 Page 3 existing development, old and ratty, and there is light manufacturing and a fair amount of that land that will be redeveloped; when the staff was working with all entities, the State, Brisbane and ourselves the question was, do we have the ability to resolve all needs and perceived needs and can it be done; it is better to remake a design than to improve it in the future, if not engineering now then later; if we look for funding their way, there could be new wrinkles, but we are looking at a solution where the engineer- ing works to move traffic, wherever it came from, if they make a left on Sister Cities; what you have here is a project that will accommodate it as you get into the funding with the neighborhood community there is a lot of advantage to come up with a solu- tion that works for all; if we do the off-ramps and the on-ramps and make the curves now, we are coming off the S.S.F. project by the archeological site by Bayshore freeway; the realignment of Airport Blvd. goes on to S.S.F. property, so when that happens doesn't it take it away from Brisbane; yes; so why do you have to have an agreement with Brisbane; because Brisbane controls the right-of- way; Airport Blvd. is our obligation and the right- of-way is Brisbane's; later the Council has to decide who is going to maintain this; Brisbane does not have any problems, but wants to be assured that if we go ahead and build the flyover, when the timing is right, that they could put this on-ramp out there; Director of Public Works Gibbs stated there is 95% approval and he is going to present this to Caltrans and all he is doing is raising this a little to accom- modate a future project; hook ramps were always components, but not immediate needs; when staff went back for the third time for Measure A funds to close the Project, one of the strings hung on it by Brisbane was for a vote of approval and the City proceed to get the hook ramps completed because they have always been thought of as part of the total solution; staff is proceeding with the engineering on lengthening of the on-ramp and continuing with Cal- trans; staff wanted to make sure the Gateway touch down would work and the engineering will proceed with the drawings from the Gateway to the Marina, so we will proceed with the components; there will be a joint application for funding; staff will try to develop more and more of the pieces and come back to the Council once we have a better picture of the phasing and money; Director of Public Works Gibbs wants to get the flyover, within 60 days, through Caltrans, but the hook ramps will take AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 17.~ 2. Oyster Point Road system - Continued. 3. Terrabay Plan review. 7/16/97 Page 4 longer; the traffic problems that Councilman Datzman is concerned about will be mitigated with the flyovers; there is opportunity to look at the signage and the timing and a little greater enforce- ment; etc. Chief Planner Harnish related: last week we re- ceived the application for Phase 2 and 3 for the proposed project and modification to the Specific Plan adopted in 1982; next is to initiate a consultant for the EIR and it will focus on the changes that this project over the issues analyzed in the past; we have a contract planner, Allison Knapp, who has been working in the Dept. for the last few weeks and will work exclusively on Terrabay; the review and ap- proval process will be done over the next nine to twelve months; the project completion is scheduled for April 1998; the EIR is taking a long time, but because of the limited scope we hope we can process it in a reasonable amount of time and the other depts, are working on the application; the transpor- tation and hook ramps have already been discussed; the second issue is the prehistoric midden mounds which have also been previously discussed; etc. Mr. Dennis Breen, Sunchase, described the things being modified in the Specific Plan: the hook ramp and traffic are the major issues that drive the market place; Phase 1 is moving along quickly and has brought in nice housing; in Phase 2 we have Terrabay Woods that is east and west, that is config- ured for the single family detached homes; in Terrabay Commons there is a condo setup and it was extremely difficult to build and it went up like a nine story structure; it is a combination duplex, triplex and some single family detached and be- comes one piece; in another section of Terrabay is the commercial and the health spa and we don't believe there is a market for that, so the whole area here is what Sunstream Homes is going to build with enough of a volume of homes that are large enough homes to meet the market demands; the change in residential is a lowering of density to 669 units from 745 units, and an increase in size to meet the market demands of the builder; in the commercial section we focused on those kinds of markets for commer- cial uses to bring revenue to the City and reduce the traffic demand. Vice Mayor Mullin asked, if this is to compensate for the lack of commercial but there is a commiser- AGENDA ACTION TAKEN ~3. Terrabay Plan review. 1. Economic development update. 7/16/97 Page 5 ate rate reduction of revenue to the City. You said your new specific plan is going to substitute com- mercial to duplex and triplex. Mr. Breen stated there were tennis courts in here that were changed, but the rest stays commercial. Mr. Larry Carter explained: the site plan and con- figuration of the recreation center; they propose to continue the parking spaces in back of the fire sta- tion; there is a wind screen around the tennis courts; the gymnasium; views from the interior meeting rooms and offices; there is landscaping with ground cover across the back; etc. Discussion followed: there is so much wind up there, it will be surprising if it can be blocked; it will help the tennis courts, but nothing else; anyone entering the building is greeted by a receptionist and there is a lounge area adjacent for pickup and drop offs; the gym has a collegiate size court with retractable basketball courts so the area can be used for other purposes; there is a Director's Office, vending machines, telephones, weight room, lock- ers, a commercial kitchen that can serve rooms 2 and 3; etc. Discussion followed: the rooms can accommodate 60 people; the Developer wants to start construction on the recreation center in October or November and completion in September of next year; etc. Coordinator of Economic & Community Develop- ment Beyer highlighted his staff report to acquaint Council on what he has been working on: time was spent with commercial real estate brokers and devel- opers exploring development opportunities for cli- ents; staff met with over sixteen brokers during the past four months; Council dealt with the freight forwarding issues staff brought them; working on the retail commercial use of the Macy's site to keep it in commercial use as it now exists, instead of reverting to high density residential use which was the case when the BART agreement is executed; 349 Oyster Point Blvd. - Trammel Crow Co. met with staff on this property for a freight forwarding facili- ty, this site is two parcels removed from the Bay West Cove development at Shearwater; staff indi- cated that a freight forwarding use was not appro- priate, Trammel Crow is now back with a 105,000 sq. ft. biotechnology project which has been ap- AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. Economic development update. 7/16/97 Page 6 proved by the Planning Commission as an applica- tion; he felt there will be more such applications in the future; the Hines people, who acquired the Homart holdings in Gateway two years ago, sold off the undeveloped parcels quickly; staff received an application for an Extended Stay of America hotel on a 1 + acre site, plans included taking out most of the landscaping on the Gateway/E. Grand Ave. corner, staff saw the design and artwork and told them it was unacceptable, they could not do it and they dropped it; the view was expressed that the front parcel should be developed in conjunction with the old Marriott property and that is happening now; soon Britannia acquired both parcels and has the Fibrogen (Marriott) building under construction and it is expected this fall that the second building for Tulerik will commence construction; in a short time there will be four biotech buildings at that corner; staff stressed the importance of quality develop- ment to the Hines people for their remaining proper- ty in the Gateway, the talks have centered on Lot g9 which is the 14 acre undeveloped parcel at Gateway Blvd. and Oyster Point Blvd., for there is a great deal of interest from commercial real estate brokers looking for sites for biotech buildings and several wanted to build a series of two story buildings on Lot #9; staff held firm on the need to build a struc- ture higher than two or three stories to make a statement and support the two high rise buildings on the adjacent parcel; so Hines decided to develop this parcel and one other large remaining undeveloped parcel themselves and there is a plan for a phased development including a six story office building; Hines has prepared an amendment to the OPA that will be coming to the Agency in August or Septem- ber; the change will call for more development of research, development and biotech space in the Gateway than is now permitted and a commensurate reduction in future office development; Britannia has acquired the Pointe Grand Business Park and has commitments to construct an additional 100,000 sq. ft. on the corner of Harbor Way and East Grand if the property can be acquired; staff has been working with Mr. Philpott, present owner of the property, to insure that if his property is acquired by Bri- tannia, every effort will be made to relocate the business within S.S.F.; future expansion of Harbor Blvd. is a good potential for future development; the market survey of the Macy's site, even though the presentation was not desirable, the fact that the study was not desirable, the fact that the study was AGENDA ACTION TAKEN ._3.1. Economic development update. 7/16/97 Page 7 undertaken went a long way in the discussions with Lincoln Properties and they came into the City with a proposal that might include all retail use to the site; the last thing they spent time on was the Bay West Cove/Shearwater Project which is a project that ebbs and flows which has been affected by other issues than the site itself; those issues are the flyover and the expansion of Oyster Point Blvd.; one use is auto sales that would be a high intense use from the trips generated; they are proposing two or three hotels and those will come on line before Terrabay; the ground breaking is in October assuming the agreements are done on the hotels; need for the Specific Plan, the EIR and a general plan amend- ment; there will be a Home Depot or a big box use at that time; etc. Discussion followed: Councilman Datzman and the Mayor met with Kaiser to solicit information for the public on their future plans; the general plan consul- tant will meet with our consultant and be asked to indicate what there future expansion plans are; if Kaiser sits on its haunches the areas of expansion will be taken; staff had an inquiry for a retail use for the driving range site; will the City have to give the School District more or less pass through mon- ey; the downtown plans; Vice Mayor Mullin had heard there were asbestos problems with the Metro Hotel, yet this document says it will be finished in the summer of 1988; no, the restaurant can finish after the rest of the hotel; the Vice Mayor would like to see a Sam's or Tadish type restaurant; Mr. Beyer is meeting next week with a realtor who invests in downtowns and he will show him what we have to offer; he approached EDS to do a joint letter soliciting interest; do we want to encour- age S.S.F. Scavengers to relocate here; they asked staff, can we have assistance on sites available, however, staff has not gone out and looked for sites to say we want them to stay in the community; is the site the Scavenger's are interested in, is that the highest and best use of the site; it is, but it is not a site we recommended for they found the site them- selves and feel the Haskins site best suits their needs; is it possible to reserve a site like the Travel Lodge for three or four years until the market is back into full service hotels; yes, but we cannot force them to build a full size hotel, but we can make whatever type of incentives to get that accom- plished and make it attractive to do that; staff has heard rumors that Travel Lodge is going to be raised AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. Economic development update. 7/16/97 Page 8 for they see it as an albatross; parking in Willow Gardens which Mid-Peninsula is looking at; a letter was received talking about the ordinance and some of the issues and the people were surprised at what was going on; the City spent a lot of time five or six years ago with tenants and property owners, but changing parking and other things would suggest that logics would dictate talking with the owners and Councilman Datzman questioned if that was part of the plan; one solution is the nuisance abatement ordinance and the other is an investment of redevel- opment funds in Mid-Peninsula; yes there will be discussions with the property owners, but staff is still struggling with the decision; there are plans to create a different environment, but we do not know how best to achieve a design of the maximum num- ber of parking spaces; Councilman Penna feels it is a matter of parking rather than landscaping for it needs management when picking up block areas and try to get them to go into a management program that provides quality housing for quality people; we need to create better, softer interior and exterior to get the better tenants from the community and be able to maintain the family atmosphere and making the project attractive; Councilman Datzman stated the Councilman was talking about Plan A which was done five or six years ago and it didn't work, and he is looking forward to Plan B; so there would be a 20% tax allocation, however, the Vice Mayor does not understand that for it is a valuable document and he commended staff for their proactiveness; he would like to have on-going status reports on the progress rather than absorbing fifteen projects at once; Councilman Yee asked the status on the wrecking yard site; staff is exploring a trade with Caltrans on their vacant lot for the other two lots are available; the City is in the first position to be of- fered the Caltrans lot; Councilman Yee asked if the City required a clean site before this development goes forward; only if it affects people, if they exca- vate and have reason to believe it is polluted; Mid-Peninsula is getting seven acres from Greystone, going to do 37 below market units and the City is going to participate to increase our low income housing; there is a community event in Buri Burl Park later this month; is the City going to respond to the Lambertsons; staff began noticing property owners affected by the nuisance abatement ordinance, then noticed people atending the meet- ings, but not the Lambertsons; staff invited the Lambertsons yesterday morning and they chose not AGENDA ACTION TAKEN /7'5 1. Economic development update. o Closed Session, pursuant to GC 54956.9, conference with legal counsel on existing litigation - Johnson vs. City of S.S.F. RECALL TO ORDER: ADJOURNMENT: to attend, and have now brought in their attorneys; due to the Statewide initiative the interest level has dramatically increased in the last few weeks, and we are having weekly conference calls and the Police Chief has been apprised; we are in intensive discus- sions to come to an agreement; Councilman Penna asked, where is expansion of the Parking District in the staff report; that is not a redevelopment project, it is the Parking District's problem; but, that has an effect on the type of development taking place and along those lines where is staff; Director of Eco- nomic & Community Development Van Duyn stated he has a list of the property owners on the potential expansion of the parking upgrade over to Baden and Spruce, including the entire commercial district and that was in connection to an acquisition; he is sug- gesting a petition to solicit interest from the property owners in expanding the District and go door to door and once that is accomplished there is a lot of legal hurdles, after which staff will come back and ask the Council to expand the District; it has to be lot by lot, 100% agreement; there was a cool recep- tion to expanding the District to Linden; the prepa- rations to prepare the property at Linden and Pine did not work out when doing the Art Rise for we could have gone out to the community; what staff has to do before expanding the District is to show parking facilities; Vice Mayor Mullin is concerned with Hillside and School Street being used by drug dealers, its being an eyesore and they are using it at night when it was boarded up; etc. Council entered a Closed Session at 8:38 p.m. to discuss the item noticed. Mayor Fernekes recalled the meeting to order at 9:14 p.m., all Council was present, no action was taken and direction was given. M/S Mullin/Penna - To adjourn the meeting. Carried by unanimous voice vote. Time of adjournment was 9:15 p.m. 7/16/97 Page 9 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Barbara A. Battaya, Ci City of South San Francisco APPROVED. Ca'/' of S~outh San Francisco The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. Oral communica- tions, arguments and comments are recorded on tape. The tape and documents related to the items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for inspection, review and copying. 7/16/97 Page 10