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<br />MINUTES <br />City of San Leandro City Council and San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Joint Meeting-July 30, 2007 <br /> <br />Page 8 <br /> <br />on the site. Councilmember Proia commented that residents of District 6 would be <br />severely impacted by possible traffic impacts. He noted issues with air quality due to <br />the proximity to the freeway and noise from aircraft, both of which would be <br />incompatible with housing. Councilmember Proia agreed with Councilmember Souza's <br />suggestion that the item be referred to a Council committee. <br /> <br />Vice Mayor Grant pointed out that the proposed action was to approve an agreement for <br />a consultant to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and does not give <br />approval or pern1ission for any particular kind of use. Vice Mayor Grant stated that she <br />would also have concerns about housing on the site, but this action would not yield to <br />. any particular use. <br /> <br />Councilmember Starosciak stated that this was just the type of subject that should be <br />considered by the Business and Housing Development Committee. She expressed <br />concern that the scope of services only addresses four settings: the first setting being the <br />existing conditions and the other three settings which include residential uses. <br /> <br />Mayor Santos concurred with Vice Mayor Grant that the EIR could move forward. He <br />expressed concern that this was the first time he had heard of mixed-use residential as <br />part of this development. <br /> <br />Mr. Jermanis stated that the previous Council had sent a clear message that it would not <br />entertain residential development on this site. Mr. Jermanis indicated that there is <br />currently no proposal, and so at this point there is nothing for a committee to review. <br /> <br />Interim Community Development Director Luke Sims stated that the agreement would <br />allow the study to be performed that would ultimately provide the Council with the <br />necessary information to make a decision on the type of project that would be <br />appropriate for this site. Mr. Sims noted that this is the beginning of the process, where <br />a major project of this scope and size starts. Once the EIR is completed, staff would <br />provide the Council with a recommendation on what land uses are appropriate for the <br />development of this site. <br /> <br />Interim Planning Manager Kathleen Livermore reported that in September 2006, the <br />City Council approved a similar agreement for the preparation of an EIR for the Kaiser <br />Hospital replacement facility with a retail component. When Kaiser pulled back to <br />consider its options, it allowed the retail developer to move forward with its portion of <br />the site development. Ms. Livermore explained the purpose of an EIR and noted that <br />the City would want to consider as many options as possible for the site, including all <br />the things a developer may be considering. Ms. Livermore indicated that Kaiser is <br />studying its options, including a replacement hospital for its Hayward facility, and it <br />would be prudent for the City to consider what could occur in the event Kaiser did not <br />move forward with a hospital. Ms. Livermore reiterated that the initiation of an EIR <br />process does not mean a project has been approved. <br /> <br />Mr. Sims stated that the developer is not proposing any specific project at this time. <br />The scope of the EIR includes a residential component, since some of the most <br />