Planning Commission - public_hearing

Okay, I'm going to go ahead and get started. Can someone on the attendees give me a thumbs up if you can hear me? We are not allowed to. Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Okay, I saw two raised hands, so I'll take that as a yes. So thanks everyone for joining us. My name is Rebecca Boussos. I'm the principal planner. overseeing the stationary specific plan. Tonight is the CEQA scoping meeting as we have released the notice of preparation and are kicking off the environmental impact report process. So here's a quick agenda. We'll do introductions. I will provide some project background, just some basic information about the project. Our SQL consultant from David J. Powers, Fiona, will go over the EIR process, and then we will both be here to take comments or suggestions. So as I said, I'm joined today by Fiona Fung with David J. Powers. She is our project manager on the SQL side, and she'll be overseeing the entirety of the SQL process through adoption of the EIR. So this map shows you the general boundaries of the station plan. It's about 244 acres, bounded by De La Cruz Boulevard, Reed Street, and Martin Avenue to the northeast, and Franklin Street and El Camino to the southwest. So at the center of this area, and hopefully you can see my cursor, right here is the Santa Clara Transit Station, which is served by many transit options. So they have Caltrain, Altamont Commuter, Express, Rail Lines, Valley Transportation Authority, VTA, Bus Service. And it's also going to become the terminus for the VTA's planned extension of BART. So it's also known as, if you're familiar with this area, the BART Silicon Valley Phase II. So to kind of dive deeper into what the project is. So the city is developing a specific plan for the station area. This was identified as a specific plan area or also as a focus area in the city's 2035 general plan. So the focus areas signify areas where the general plan supports future growth through redevelopment and intensification of existing land uses. And because of the location and all the opportunity in this area, changes in these areas offer an opportunity to implement the general plan major strategies. The goals and policies are outlined in the general plan for the focus areas, and the intent of development of this specific plan is to provide guidance for future public and private investment in the area over the next 25 to 30 years. Part of the specific plan process, we are preparing an environmental impact report to assess potential environmental impacts of the project on the environment. So at this point in the project development, we have our land use plan. So this is what establishes the proposed land uses and allowable development densities for each of the properties within the plan area. So based on these designations, the maximum development potential, including the number of residential units and the amount of commercial floor area, is calculated. So you can see from this plan, we are looking at upwards of 5,950 residential units throughout the plan area, as well as 2.2 million square feet of commercial space. So these development totals form the basis of the project description, which you would have seen outlined in the NOP if you reviewed that, and represent the level of development that will be analyzed in the environmental impact report. So these are our maximums within the plan area and the EIR will study these maximums. So here's another land use plan visualization where you can kind of take a look at how it would look 3D-wise. Again, here is the transit station with the BART extension as well. And some of these do represent existing structures, such as the Costco or Gateway Crossing that is currently under, well, mostly developed, but still has a bit more construction to do. So with that, basically, explanation of the specific plan and what the intent is, I will turn it over to Fiona to talk about the actual EIR process.

Thank you, Rebecca. So as she had mentioned earlier, my name is Fiona Fong and I am a project manager with David J. Powers, our firm's assisting the city with preparation of the Environmental Impact Report, or EIR for short, for the specific plan. So before we go over the EIR process, I just wanted to briefly go over the purpose of CEQA and the purpose of an EIR. So the purpose of CEQA is to disclose environmental impacts, identify and prevent environmental damage, disclose decision making, enhance public participation, and foster intergovernmental coordination. And the purpose of an EIR is to inform the public and decision makers about potential environmental impacts of a project, and provide problem-solving tools such as mitigation measures and alternatives to avoid any impacts. So for the EIR process overview, once the lead agency determines that an EIR is required, a notice of preparation, or NOP for short, is prepared and circulated to the public for 30 days. So for this project, the NOP started circulation a couple weeks ago on June 12th, and written comments will be accepted until July 13th. All comments received will be considered in the EIR, and after the NLP circulation period, the EIR is prepared, which will identify the significant environmental effects anticipated to result from build out of the project. Okay, next slide. So the EIR is intended to be a program-level document that will analyze the broad environmental effects of the project. So at this time, no specific development projects are being considered. Rather, the analysis will focus on reasonably foreseeable direct and indirect physical environmental effects that could result from the specific plan. The EIR will include an analysis of 20 resource areas, which are listed in the slide. And upon completion of the analysis, the EIR will circulate for 45 calendar days. Okay, next slide. So there are several opportunities for public input. You can submit written comments by 5 p.m. on July 13th, speak or submit comments during the scoping meeting, provide comments during the 45-day EIR public circulation period, and provide comments during the planning commission and city council hearings. Next slide. So how are your comments addressed? Written and verbal comments will be included in the EIR. Comments pertaining specifically to the scope of the environmental review will be addressed within the text of the draft EIR. Once the EIR is complete, the city will circulate the EIR for 45 calendar days And the study will respond to any comments received during the circulation period in the final EIR, which will be made available to the public 10 days prior to the first public hearing. And verbal comments will be taken at both Planning Commission and State Council hearings. Okay, next one. So how can you provide scoping comment? You can provide scoping comment or write comments, verbal comments at the scoping meeting, or you can send written comments via mail or email to Rebecca as listed on this slide. What's next? So here's our proposed schedule. Right now, we're at the first step of the EIR process, which is the NOP circulation and EIR scoping. As mentioned on the previous slides, the NOP comment period ends July 13th. The EIR will be done and is anticipated to be circulated by winter 2027, and the final EIR hearings are anticipated by spring of 2027.

So that concludes our presentation. I'm happy to answer any clarifying questions, but really the intent of this meeting is to get feedback on what we should be looking at in the environmental impact report as we start this work. And I know we're in a webinar format, so if you do have a question, just raise your hand or a question or comment, I should say, just raise your hand and I will unmute you and we'll take your comment and also we'll be taking written comments, of course, through the circulation or the circulation period. So first hand raise I see is Wanda Buck.

Hi, I don't know if this is the appropriate place to ask, but I wonder how this all fits in or if it's coordinated with the downtown planning for the downtown center Is it going to be environmentally or otherwise considered along with a master downtown plan? It seems to overlap in some places.

So the boundaries actually do not overlap. The downtown plan completed its own environmental analysis. And so this is separate from that. However, in the actual land use plan and the plan, not the AR, the plan we are considering the downtown and making sure there's not too much overlap in terms of the land uses. We're really focusing retail development and commercial for the downtown.

Does that answer your question? Not really. I would think that the two would be considered together in some way. It sounds like this is going to happen before the downtown plan is accepted. The downtown plan is approved by council. Right, but they're not moving forward on it.

Yes, we have not had much interest on the development within the plan area. That's correct.

So I'm still wondering, and I would think it'd be really important, even if it isn't overlapping, there's some outcome. It's right adjacent to it. So in a way, it will be an extension of downtown. Yeah.

Yeah. And the plan is considering downtown. And like I said, making sure the land uses are compatible between the two, but it's just not subject really to the environmental impact report.

Right. So it's going ahead, even though before, because they're, they're actually waiting for reports for downtown. And again, I, I just don't understand how to approach this development because it seems the only consideration is the environment. It's what we're talking about tonight. Is that correct?

Yes. So tonight we're specifically talking about the environmental impact report and the analysis that will be done for this specific plan. However, it seems like your comments are more geared toward the actual plan development, so the land use policies.

Yes.

And so we do have other opportunities for input on that. We have a stationary task force that meets once a month, similar to the process that the downtown went through. You can also email me any comments, general comments you have.

Yes, I might do that. And thank you. Thank you, Rebecca. You're welcome. Bye-bye.

Bye. The next hand raised is Ayer Stewart, apologies on the pronunciation.

Hi, this is Erie Stewart from JP Denafly Companies. We are property owners on Martin. OK. And the specific question is, there are some hazardous materials that are used by some of our tenants on Martin. With the proximity of the residential, are those existing uses going to be impacted?

Do you want to take this question, Fiona?

Are you asking if there's any hazardous materials that would be used that would impact existing residents? No.

The residential that's proposed is very close between Martin and Coleman. And we have buildings on Martin that currently have an assembler. We have an ambulance that has medical air. So we have a number of tenants that have uses that involve hazardous materials. And I'm wondering with the close proximity of the residential, is that going to be impacted?

At this point, we're not sure because we're at the beginning stages where we're taking scoping comments and feedback on what people would like us to analyze. But we will be having a phase one report, which will analyze all hazardous materials impacts.

Okay. But a phase one really looks at existing contamination and not necessarily at uses.

And Fiona, can you speak to CEQA in reverse and basically how existing uses aren't impacted by new development in that sense?

So for certain sections, there are areas where we talk about non-CEQA effects, so impacts that existing conditions affecting... Wait, sorry. Okay. Can I take a second to think about this? Yes. Or my answer, sorry.

Yeah, and I'll try and stumble through it, and then you can add to it. So to partially answer your question, CEQA doesn't allow us to analyze. It's very confusing. CEQA does not allow us to analyze the impacts of existing uses on future development. We are looking at how the future development impacts the environment. So, existing uses can remain in place. They're not going to be affected by the environmental analysis.

Okay, thank you.

Do you have anything to add on that?

No, I think you got it.

Okay. Okay. Um, any other hands raised. Give everyone a second to have anything. And again, we'll be taking written comments through July 13. And Michael, we have one hand raised here. Laurie.

Yes, I just wanted to know if there is a sense of interest from developers in the station area.

Oh, generally? Well, so I think it's important to note we do have several projects that are pipeline projects that are already under development that are within the plan area. So I think from that sense, we do have interest in this area as a whole, and this is going to provide clear guidance moving forward. I don't know if you're familiar with some of the projects going on in the area. Maybe I can go to the map. But there's several housing projects develop several housing projects already under development or approved by council. So this project here, and there's another one as well. So there's definitely interest in this area and this will provide more guidance on the density for the projects and the design as well.

Okay, but the blue in there, there's nobody yet.

Correct. Okay.

And the area there by the railroad tracks, I think it is, that's replacing some of those low, like one or two story buildings. Yeah.

And this is, again, looking forward 25 to 30 years. This isn't like eminent domain or anything like that where the city's taking land. This is providing guidance for future development when private entities are interested in selling or redeveloping properties. Okay.

Can you show the key again so we understand what the colors are? Oh, is there a way to see the block diagram with the colors?

Let me see if I can, oh.

That diagram with colors.

No, I don't think the colors match 100%, do they?

Okay, so can you just walk through what those various colors mean on this document?

Sure. So low intensity residential.

Not this document, the next document. That one.

Oh, so generally yellow is going to be residential, blue is commercial or office. Purple, I think, let's see, I think purple is industrial uses, red is civic uses, or I think properties owned or in close proximity to the university. And the coral. Coral.

The two little coral ones there.

I believe these are existing retail buildings. So retail. Thank you. Yeah, you're welcome. That was Lori Steven.

No, Lori.

No, Steven. Oh. Stephen had his hand raised.

Can you hear me now?

Yes.

On the potential housing component, the residential, are any of those projects in the pipeline affordable housing?

So all the projects in the pipeline are subject to our affordable housing ordinance. So they would have a I don't know the exact numbers, but they are subject to our affordable housing ordinance and either have to provide a unit on site or they can pay an in lieu fee, but none of the projects are wholly affordable. Okay. Thank you so much. I don't know if you're re-raising your hand or this is a holdover, but I'll unmute you.

I'm just asking if this slide deck is available or at least the land use portion of it. The land use slides are very helpful.

Sure, yeah. I can put it up on the website or if you just want to send me an email after the meeting, I can shoot it over to you.

I'm probably not the only person who wants it.

Well, yeah. It would be nice. Yeah, I mean, it would be faster if you, like, want it tonight or first thing tomorrow. I can email it to you. But otherwise, I can put it up on the website tomorrow or Thursday. Yeah. Robert?

In mute here. Hi, thank you for taking my question is like the area of Matthew Street, which is right off with Dela Cruz. It is in between Martin and Reed Street. Does this I couldn't quite understand the map here. So I just had to throw my question out. And that is in this in this schematic.

Yeah, let me what was the address you mentioned? I'm just gonna at the street.

Yeah. I believe that is included. Let me double check. Between Reed and Martin. And if you could point your arrow towards where that generally is. It's very different to see it in this kind of schematic.

Yeah, so here's. Can you see my cursor? Here's Martin.

Here's Martin, yeah.

Here's Brokaw. Yeah. So I believe. Oh, wait. This is the interchange right here. So yeah, I believe Matthew's a portion of it's behind here.

Okay. And is this environmental report, you had mentioned something of it being not an eminent domain and also being in a 25 to 30 year plan? Yes, that's correct. Okay. So we're safe for the next five to ten years, I would hope, in our property and our doings there.

Yeah, if you are a property owner, you have a lease that is still well in effect.

Yes, I do. Two of them. Okay, great. Thank you so much.

And I'm not seeing any other hands. Let me scroll back to my contact information in case you need it. So any comments? We took down your comments tonight, your verbal comments, but if you have written comments, you can feel free to send those to me. Sorry, seeing one more hand, Sean.

Hey, Rebecca, Sean Collins.

Hi, Sean.

Just a quick question. Is the development proposal at 451 El Camino Real, has that been approved? Because on the website it says it's still in review.

451 El Camino Real.

That's the Bixby Morley Brothers project.

You're right. That is still under review. I was speaking more of the townhome projects that's a little further down Coleman, but the Bixby one is still under review.

Okay, perfect. Thank you.

Mm-hmm. Okay, again, so here's my contact information. You should have it if you received a flyer in the mail as well. We'll be taking written comments through June 13th if you have ideas on what we should be looking at in more detail as part of this environmental impact report. So anything to add, Fiona? Are we good? Oh, sorry. I wasn't looking at you. Did you?

Okay. Well, thank you everyone for joining us.

I look forward to hearing you from you. If you have further comments. Thanks.