Minutes 2009 0302 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES Page 5 City of San Leandro City Council and San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Joint Meeting-March 2, 2009 Jim Hussey, San Leandro resident and business owner, addressed the City Council, expressing support for the project, and urging the Council's approval. Mr. Hussey commented that he would like the employees of his San Leandro business to be able to find affordable housing in San Leandro. There being no further comments from the public, and without objection, the Public Hearing was closed. Councilmember Gregory commented that the project helps to further the City's goals of creating a vibrant downtown and combating climate change. He commented that it is a quality project, and the developer has done an exceptional job with community outreach. Councilmember Starosciak stated that everything the experts say about these types of developments fits with what San Leandro is trying to accomplish, and she is excited to support this project. Councilmember Starosciak commented on the railroad crossing from Alvarado to Martinez, and expressed appreciation for the "paseo" that was designed to allow safe pedestrian passage from the west side of San Leandro to the BART Station. She noted that many Muir and Wilson students would be able to utilize the passageway. Councilmember Starosciak commented that she has spoken with members of the School Board about finding capacity in the schools, and stated that she believes it will be an ongoing conversation, as it is a huge issue for the schools, and because the Council recognizes the importance of quality schools in San Leandro. Councilmember Starosciak expressed confidence that the project would add a strong element of safety around the BART Station, because the property would be well- managed and the residents would police themselves and their neighborhood. Councilmember Prola thanked the speakers for their comments, and stated that he wanted to address some of their concerns. He pointed out that the demographic projections indicate that the project will not have an adverse impact on our schools. Regarding the environmental concerns, Councilmember Prola noted that all the environmental organizations that have weighed in on the project have spoken in favor of it. He commented that the most important thing the City can do to reduce its carbon footprint is to get people out of their cars and onto transit, which is what this project would do. Councilmember Prola quoted a study that found that low-income people are twice as likely to utilize transit ashigh-income earners, so transit use is maximized when affordable housing is located near transit. He quoted a projection that the project was expected to increase income for downtown businesses by $4.5 million annually. Vice Mayor Stephens expressed appreciation to everyone who came to the meeting to hear this item, noting the passion that people have about their positions on the project. For his own and the audience's benefit, he asked staff to explain the purpose of the Mitigated Negative Declaration. Planning Manager Kathleen Livermore stated that there was an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the TOD Strategy, which addressed the impact of 3,400 new residential units developed between now and 2030. A Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared after an initial study to review the