3B Public Hearing 2007 0904 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Agenda No. 07-16 August 23,2007 Page 12 of 19 City make less than that. The low-income level is $58,000, she added, which excludes quite a number of families, including blue-collar and retail workers. Ms. lmai also pointed out what she described as a "huge" housing imbalance, with 30,000 people commuting into the City every day because housing prices have risen tremendously over the past few years. With the TOD Strategy she sees a real potential for addressing the need for more affordable housing by adopting some of COR's recommendations. She feels that the Final EIR does not address these issues, including the housing-jobs imbalance and the future need for affordable housing as well as the potential for resident displacement in the TOD area. She said that 61 % of those living in downtown San Leandro are renters, and although the housing market may be shaky at this time, the Bay Area has consistently had strong housing markets, so with more private and public investment downtown it is just a matter of time before property values again increase and consequently raise rents. She urged the Planning Commission before approving the TOD Strategy to make a strong recommendation to the City Council to modify the Strategy to address these concerns. Gary Wong, President of Westlake Development Partners, said that his company represents the owners of parcels Sp8, parts of B and most of C. He commended the TOD Strategy and the effort expended in its development. He said it represents a very sound, smart plan for managed growth for San Leandro's future. He said that Westlake representatives have attended numerous meetings with the intent of listening to citizens and staff. As a developer, he said they will try to address as many of the remaining concerns - particularly for affordable housing - as they reasonably can and they hope to build and help develop in the TOD area something compliant and in the sprit of the Strategy. They have met with COR, BART and the City as well. They are encouraged by the enthusiasm expressed by all constituencies, and believe the TOD Strategy represents something very exciting here for the City. Motion to Close Public Hearing Dlugosh / Nardine 7 Ayes, 0 Noes Chair Reed invited Commissioners to make comments and ask questions. Commissioner Collier expressed a number of questions and concerns that she said she had brought up as CAC member, and some additional ones raised by the EIR. She said that people are being asked to ride BART and AC Transit more, but at the same time yet we're restricting parking nearby. She asked why one would want to park five or six blocks away and walk to BART to use it. She said that her next-door neighbor commutes daily on BART, 1.2 miles from to the station. He leaves at 6:15 a.m. to arrive at work at 7 a.m., because he has flexible hours. If he went later, he would not be able to find a parking place, either in the lots or on the street. She said that it doesn't make sense that there will be plenty of parking elsewhere if people want to use BART. Another concern is about safe bike paths across railroad crossings; she sees no reason to encourage bicyclists to cross railroad tracks because there are a lot of places for them to ride. She said that not every street in the area needs to have a bike route. She said perhaps it could be every other street. She said, that streets were made for cars and if she's driving downtown she wants to be able to drive safely and not worry about a lot of bicyclists. She said that she