3B Public Hearing 2007 0904 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Joint BZAlPC Worksession Minutes Agenda No. 07-12 June 28, 2007 Page 4 016 August, and then recommendations on the final EIR, the amendments and the TOD Strategy going to the City Council for action in September. The CAC's top priorities, ranked at the group's May 8 meeting: · Negotiate with the owner of the fonner Albertson's site to pursue transit-oriented development at that site. · Develop a downtown Retail Marketing Plan; this is in process, as the City has hired a retail consultant to work with marketing and branding the downtown. · Facilitate parcel assembly and parking strategy at the downtown BART station. · Conduct a detailed study of San Leandro Boulevard. · Study improvements for neighborhood streets in the downtown area. · Assemble remaining parcels for Town Hall Square. · Contact developers and nonprofits known for high-quality development projects. · Prepare focused planning study for SP3. (The Special Policy Area 3 is Town Hall Square, envisioned as a civic gathering place and creek-side park.) · Institute a daily parking fee at the downtown BART station. · Explore funding incentives to encourage mixed-use development. · Facilitate implementation of the East Bay Greenway. Both private and public projects have been identified as catalysts to begin TOD Strategy implementation. On the private side, priority catalyst sites include the former Albertson's site, the BART station area, and Town Hall Square. Many of the items on the CAC priority list are in the public arena: the downtown marketing plan, the BART area parcel assembly, the San Leandro Boulevard study, neighborhood street improvements downtown, focused planning for Town Hall Square, incentives for mixed-use development, development of the East Bay Greenway. Also on the list are modifications for the Bicycle Master Plan. In conclusion, Ms. Livermore said that the TOD Strategy holds promise for San Leandro on a number of fronts: · Protecting the existing industrial base more effectively by concentrating more housing development downtown · Improving public health, with people getting around more on foot than in cars. · Reducing emissions, resulting in improved air quality and helping address climate control issues. · Enhancing traffic flow as a result of fewer cars on the streets and more people using public transit. · Attracting additional retailers to improve the mix by increasing the numbers of residential dwellings downtown. She invited Heidi Finberg and Esther Collier, the two Planning Commissioners who are also CAC members, to add any comments of their own. Acting ChairNice Chair DJugosh asked whether and Board members or commissioners had any questions. Board Member Pearson inquired whether a 1.5 parking ratio means that is the number of parking spaces required for a building. Secretary Livermore confirmed his understanding.