Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-21 City Council (8)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Planning and Community. Environment DATE:November 21, 1996 CMR:472:96 SUBJECT:Stanford Sand Hill Corridor Projects Study Session PURPOSE A study session regarding the proposed Stanford Sand Hill Corridor Projects has been scheduled for November 25, 1996. The study session will be held jointly with the participating members of the Planning Colnmission and Architectural Review Board. The purpose of the study session is to provide the Council with a base of information to assist in their upcoming review of Stanford’s project applications, and to highlight issues that have been raised during the public review process to date. BACKGROUND Prior information distributed to the City Council on these projects includes: Draft Environmental Impact Report. Volumes 1 through 4 and the Fiscal and Economic Analysis were distributed in June 1996. Volume 5, the Transportation Appendix, was not generally distributed, but is available from staff on request. Planning Commission Staff Report Binder. This grey binder was distributed in July 1996 and contained five separate Planning Commission staff reports dated July 24, 1996, one for each proposed project as well as an overview report. A video simulation of the proposed projects along Sand Hill Road (distributed with binder in July). Project Plans (distributed with binder in July). CMR:472:96 Page 1 of 4 POLICY IMPLICATIONS Policy implications of the projects have been detailed in the Planning Commission staff reports dated July 24, 1996. DISCUSSION At the study session, staff intends to present the following information to the Council: Project History and Description, including recent project revisions (there will be a presentation of two video simulations, one which shows the original project application and another which incorporates several project changes). Summary of Draft EIR - Key Conclusions and Mitigation Measures. including information regarding traffic modeling and transportation issues. Summau’ of Key Recommended Conditions of Approval. Planning Commission and Architectural Review Board members will inform the Council of the results of their review of the projects. *Over,dew of Upcoming City Council Project Review Process. Staff and members of the Civ,"s EIR consultant team will be available to answer questions during and following the presentations. The applicant will be in attendance at the session, but will not be making any presentation to the Council at this time. Staff has not vet prepared a City Council staff report outlining the issues and final recommendations for the various projects. This report will be presented to the Council when the Final EIR is completed, prior to the start of the public hearings. However. enclosed with this memo is a blue binder containing information that may be useful to the Council prior to the Study Session. Please retain this binder. When the staff reports for the City Council review process and other information are distributed at a later date, they will be provided in a format suitable for insertion into your binder. Information in the binder at this time includes: Attachments to this staff report: 1) Brief description of each proposed project; 2) Summa-D.’ of Key Issues Table - EIR and Conditions of Approval; 3) Summary of Project Alternatives analyzed in the EIR; 4) Proposed Council Review Calendar. Planning Commission staff report dated October 30, 1996 (this report provides a description of the most recent project plan revisions). CMR:472:96 ..Page 2 of 4 Minutes of Planning Commission meetings of July 24 and 31, August 1.3, 7.8 and 29, September 3 and October 30, 1996. Action Agendas from the Planning Commission meetings of August 3, 7, 8, and 29, September 3 and October 30, 1996. Architectural Review Board staff report dated September 12, 1996. Architectural Review Board staff report dated October 16, 1996. Minutes of Architectural Review Board meetings of September 12 and October 16. 1996. Minutes of Menlo Park Planning Commission meeting of July 8. 1996 and Minutes of Menlo Park City Council meeting of July 23.1996. A partial set of Project Plans. with only those sheets illustrating recent revisions to the Apartment Housing. the Senior Housing and the Shopping Center projects, is also provided with this memo. If there is additional information you feel is needed, or if you are missing any of the items distributed during the summer and would like another copy, please contact Lori Topley (phone number 415/329-2170) and arrangements will be made to get the information to you. ALTERNATIVES Attachment 3 contains a summary identifying the various project alternatives studied in the Draft EIR, as well as three new alternatives to be studied in the Final EIR at the request of the Planning Commission. A discussion of project alternatives will be provided in the staff report prepared for Council project review. FISCAL IMPACT A Draft Fiscal and Economic Analysis for the projects was prepared and distributed to the Council with the Draft EIR in June 1996. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT One Draft EIR was prepared co;¢ering all the projects. All comments received during the public review will be responded to in a Final EIR. The Final EIR is expected to bb available for public review and provided to the Council on January 10, 1997. STEPS FOLLOWING APPROVAL No approval actions are being considered at the study session. CMR:472:96 Page 3 of 4 ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1:Characteristics of the Projects Attachment 2:Summary of Key Issues Table - EIR and Conditions of Approval Attachment 3:Summary of Project Alternatives Analyzed in the EIR Attachment 4:Proposed Council Review Calendar Blue Binder, with information listed on pages 2 and 3 of this report (Council Members only) Plans (Council Members only) CC:Stanford Management Company Stanford University. Menlo Park Portola Vallev Santa Clara County Planning San Mateo County Planning PREPARED BY:Lori Topley DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: KENNETH R. SCHREIBER Director of Planning and Community Environment CMR:472:96 Page 4 of 4 ATTACHMENT 1 CHARA CTERISTICS OF THE PROJECTS: STANFORD WEST APARTMENTS Location The site is located on the 47.8-acre site near the intersection of Pasteur Drive and Sand Hill Road, adjacent to San Francisquito Creek and near the City of Menlo Park, the Stanford Medical Center, and the Stanford Shopping Center. Characteristics ¯628 rental units of which 156 will be Below Market Rate rental units per .the City of Palo Alto BMR rental guidelines. ¯Buildings would range from two to three stories in height. ¯Project would primarily provide housing for employees of Stanford University, and other employees working on Stanford University lands. ¯Project would also include common open space (a Village Green), a community center (for residents’ use), internal roadways and parking, and infrastructure improvements. ¯Public open space is planned along San Francisquito Creek to preserve archaeological resources, buffer tlse biologically important Creek corridor, and provide for a Creekside trail system. ¯Approximately 1,260 residents, including approximately 290 school-age children. w Approximately 10 new jobs. Schedule Project would be constructed in three phases over a three-year period starting in mid-1997 and being completed prior to the end of the Year 2000. Page 1 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECTS: STANFORD WEST SENIOR HO USING Location The site is located on the 22.3-acre site formerly occupied by Children’s Hospital at Stanford, near the intersection of Arboretum Road and Sand Hill Road, adjacent to San Francisquito Creek and near the City of Menlo Park, the Stanford Medical Center, and the Stanford Shopping Center. The site was primarily vacated when the new Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford was constructed. Characteristics Project would provide a full continuum of care for senior residents, along with a full range of living, support, and care services. Minimum age for entry would be 60 years, but Stanford expects that over time the average age of residents would be in the mid-80s. 388 independent living/condominium units. Health Care Center housing a 62-room assisted living facility and a 46-room skilled nursing facility. Condominum buildings would be primarily four stories in height,with three story elements at building ends. Health Care building would be one and two story. Would house approximately 667 residents. Would create 165 jobs. Schedule Project would be constructed in three phases over a three-year period starting in mid-1997 and being completed prior to the end of the Year 2000. Page 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECTS: STANFORD SHOPPING CENTER EXPANSION Location The site is located at the existing Stanford Shopping Center at the northeast comer of the Stanford University campus. Characteristics Stanford Shopping Center currently consists of 1,332,362 square feet of retail space and 5,751 par’king spaces. Project would add 160,000 square feet of retail space for a total of 1,492,362 square feet in the Shopping Center. ¯Project would add 616 parking spaces for a total of 6,367 spaces in the Shopping Center. ¯Buildings one and two stories in height for retail, three stories for parking structures. ¯Retail space would be added in nine new buildings around the Shopping Center. Parking changes would require redesign of all the existing parking lots, demolition of the existing parking structure at Quarry Road and Arboretum Road, and construction of three new separate but adjacent three-level parking structures between Arboretum Road and E1 Camino Real on the Quarry Road side of the center ¯Project would create approximately 356 new long-term jobs at the Shopping Center. Schedule Project would be constructed in three phases over a three-year period starting in mid-1997 and being completed prior to the end of the Year 2000. The first two phases would involve redesign of the parking lots and circulation system. The last phase would include construction of the retail space and the par’king structures. Page 3 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECTS: SAND HILL ROAD EXTENSIONAND RELATED ROAD WAY PROJECTS Location Along Sand Hill Road between Santa Cruz Avenue (in Menlo Park) and E1 Camino Real (in Palo Alto), and in the immediate vicinity. Characteristics ¯Extension of Sand Hill Road in a four-lane configuration from the existing Arboretum Road to E1 Camino Real. Widening of Sand Hill Road from two lanes to four lanes between Santa Cruz Avenue and Arboretum Road. Widening of the existing two-lane bridge over San Francisquito Creek by approximately 31-feet to accommodate four traffic lanes, two bike lanes and two sidewalks. Construction of a new frontage road with a cul-de-sac, parallel to Sand Hill Road, between Santa Cruz Avenue and Oak Avenue in Menlo Park. Widening and improvement of Quarry Road to a four-lane road from Arboretum Road to E1 Camino Real. Modification of the existing main entrance to the Stanford Shopping Center on E1 Camino Real to remove the traffic signal and existing "jug handle" turn area. Addition of a new two-lane entry/exit to Stanford Shopping Center from E1 Camino Real. Modification of E1 Camino Real between University Avenue and San Francisquito Creek. Construction of a new, private, two-lane roadway from Sand Hill Road to Quarry Road behind the existing Nordstrom store. This would be "Vineyard Lane." Realignment and extension of Palo Road between Palm Drive and Quarry Road. Realignment of Pasteur Drive between Welch Road and Sand Hill Road. Page 4 Extension of Stockfarm Road from Campus Drive West to Sand Hill Road. Modification to the Stanford University Golf Course to accommodate the widening of Sand Hill Road, including reconstruction of Holes #2, #3, and #4. Improvements to pedestrian and bicycle trails, paths, and sidewalks in the project area. Schedule Project would be constructed in three phases over a three-year period starting in mid-1997 and being completed prior to the end of the Year 2000. Phase 1 would include: ¯Widening of Quarry. Road ¯Extension of Palo Road ¯Modifications to Stanford Golf Course Phase 2 would include: Construction of Sand Hill Road Extension from E1 Camino Real to the first entrance to the Shopping Center (about 400 feet) Construction of Vineyard Lane Modifications to E1 Camino Real Phase 3 would include ¯ ¯ [] ¯ ¯ ¯ Construction of the .remainder of the Sand Hill Road Extension Completion of modifications to E1 Camino Real Widening of Sand Hill Road from Arboretum Road to Santa Cruz Avenue Widening of the San Francisquito Creek Bridge Extension of Stockfarrn Road Realignment of Pasteur Drive Page 5 ATT~ CHMEN27 Z Z Z 2 0 Z Z om ATTACHMENT Summary of Alternatives Analyzed in EIR for Individual Projects Apartment Housing Alternative Density DEIR Page Reference No Project/No Development Vacant 6.1-5 No Project/No Action 800 -900 units 6.1-15 Reduced Density - 75 % of Project 482 units 6.1-26 Reduced Density - 50% of Project 315 units 6.1-42 Housing/Limited Shopping Center Expansion 630 Units 6.1-58 No Housing Vacant 6.1-60 West Campus site 630 units 6.1-64 Hyatt Rickey’s site*200 units 6.1-74 Sand Hill Road!I-280 site*430 units 6.1-79 Greater Quarry Road/El Camino Park sites To be analyzed in the Final EIR at request of Planning Commission Senior Housing Alternative Density DEIR Page Reference No Project/No Development Vacant 6.1-9 No Project/No Action Medical Reuse 6.1-20 Reduced Density - 75 % of Project 291 condos 6.1-33 53 assisted units 36 skilled nursing units IReduced Density - 50% of Project 194 condos 6.1-49 35 assisted units 24 skilled nursing units Housing/Limited Shopping Center Expansion All Units 6.1-58 No Housing Vacant 6.1-60 West Campus site All Units 6.1-64 Quarry/El Camino site*225 condos 6.1-69 70 assisted units 48 skilled nursing units *Indicates Environmentally Superior Alternative Page 1 Shopping Center Expansion Alternative Density.DEIR Page Reference No Project/No Development No Expansion 6.1-11 No Project/No Action 49,000 s.f. expansion 6.1-23 Reduced Density - 75 % of Project*120,000 s.f. expansion 6. !-38 Reduced Density - 50 % of Project 80,000 s.f. expansion 6.1-54 Reduced Density - 50% of Project, with To be analyzed in the Final EIR at request of new retail relocated primarily to south side Planning Commission of Shopping Center Housing/Limited Shopping Center Expansion 49.000 s.f. expansion 6.1-58 No Housing 160,000 s.f. expansion 6.1-60 Sand Hill Road Extension and Related Roadway Improvements Alternative DEIR Page Reference No Project/No Development 6.1-13 SRC 1: Two-Lane Extension of Sand Hill 6.2-3 (Also discussed in the Overview Staff Road Report, page 21 and the Road Improvements Staff Report, page 33) 6.2-6SRC 2: Two-Lane Extension of Sand Hill Road/Limited Turn Movements at E1 Camino Real SRC 3: Two-Lane Extension with No Widening of Sand Hill Road SRC 3A: Two-Lane Extension with No Widening of Sand Hill Road, land use base 6.2-8 (Also discussed in the Overview Staff Report, pages 21-22) To be analyzed in Final EIR at request of Planning Commission includes only projects approved by Palo Alto and neighboring jurisdictions SRC 4: No Extension, No Widening of Sand Hill Road SRC 5: No Improvements to Sand Hill Road West of San Francisquito Creek SRC 6: Alma Street Closure at Sand Hill Road/E1 Camino Real Intersection 6.2-12 (Also discussed in the Overview Staff Report, pages 21-22) 6.2-15 ( Also discussed in the Road Improvements Staff Report, page 34) 6.2-20 (Also discussed in the Road Improvements Staff Report, page 34-35) * Indicates Environmentally Superior Alternative Page 2 SRC 7: Through Movement Allowed from Sand Hill Road to Alma Street SRC 8: Right-In/Left-Out Only at Sand Hill Road/Oak Ave. Intersection SRC 9: Full Movement at Sand Hill Road/Oak Avenue Intersection SRC 10: Oak Avenue Closure SRC 11: No Direct Access to Sand Hill Road from Leland and Stanford Avenues SRC 12: No Stockfarm Road Connection SRC 13: Two-Lane Quarry Road with Single Left Turn Lanes SRC 14: Aggressive Transportation Demand Measures SRC 15: Addition of Connecting Road Between Main Street and Oak Creek Apartments 6.2-22 (Also discussed in the Road Improvements Staff Report, page 35) 6.2-24 6.2-26 6.2-28 6.2-29 6.2-32 (Also discussed in the Overview Staff Report, page 22) 6.2-34 (Also discussed in the Overview Staff Report, page 22) 6.2-36 6.2.39 * Indicates Environmentally Superior Alternative Page 3 West Campus (36 Acres) Rd. 0 Quarry,’ El Camino- Arboretum (6 Acres) Stanford University Campus ,," O FOOthill ,’Veterans" EAST PALO ALTO LOS~TOS HILLS 5TAN’FORD SHOPPING CENTER EM PORI U M QUARRY/EL CAMINO ALTERNATIVE - APPROXIMATE SITE BOUNDARIES HYATT RICKEY’S ALTERNATIVE - SITE BOUNDARIES IIIIII ttttttttttt - GREATER QUARRY ROAD AND EL CAMINO PARK ALTERNATIVES APPROXIMATE SITE BOUNDARIES (to be ~alyzed ~n F~I EIR) ATTACHMENT 4 TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAYSUNDAYMONDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY :S 6 Policy and Services Committee Meeting 27 Regular Planning Commision Meeting 15 22 Planning Commission Meeting for Regular Agenda Finance Committee ? 29 Regular Planning Commission Meeting - Comp. Plan Deliver Sand Hill Corridor Council Packet Council Hearing - Sand Hill Corridor ~Public Testimony 16 23 Publish Sand Hill Corridor Final EIR ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::i :i : : : ::::: ::!:i :~:~:i:i:~:i:i:i:i:!:!:i:i:~:i:~:i:i:i:i:!:~:!:!:~:~:~:~:~:i:i:i:i:~:i:~:~:!i~!i~ii!!i!ii!i~!i!!!~!~i~ii!~ili~i!~iiiiii~i!~i!ii!iiiiiii~!i!i~iiiii 31 ¯ Information regarding Planning Commission and Council Committee Meetings is provided to aid in scheduling. February SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 3 4 Council Hearing - Sand Hill Corridor Public Testimony I0 11 Council Hearing - Sand Hill Corridor Deliberation Planning Commission Stud)..’ Session l Comp. Plan Regular Planning Council Hearing - Sand Hill Corridor Deliberation Commission Meeting 13 14 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 18 Finance Committee Meeting ? 19 2O 27 21 Regular P~nning Commission Meeting SATURDAY ¯Information regarding Planning Commission and Council Committee Meetings is provided to aid in scheduling. ¯February 4th Finance Committee and February 11th Policy and Services Committee Meetings would be rescheduled.