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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 148-07City of Palo Alto C ty Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT FEBRUARY 12, 2007 CMR: 148:07 APPROVAL OF ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW RE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOR THE SAND HILL CORRIDOR PROJECTS (CONTINUED FROM JANUARY 22, 2007) RECOMMENDATION Staffrecommends that the City Council: 1.Find that Stanford University has complied in good faith with the terms and conditions of the development agreement. Direct staff to issue a Certificate of Compliance to the University, according to the provision of Section 10(a) of the Agreement, stating that: a) The Agreement remains in effect, and b) Stanford University is not in default. DISCUSSION The Council was originally scheduled to review this item at the January 22, 2007 meeting (see Attachment A: CMR 120:07). In advance of the meeting, Council members asked whether ongoing construction and the relocation of a pathway nearby on Stanford lands are consistent with the terms of the Sand Hill Corridor Development Agreement. The Council voted to continue the item allowing staff opportunity to follow up on the questions. Staff has reviewed the construction ~lans, contacted Stanford representatives, and determined the following: CMR:148:07 Page 1 of 3 The project consists of a golf course practice range and associated grading. The project is consistent with the land uses (academic or recreational, including golf course) allowed in Area B in the Sand Hill Corridor Development Agreement. The project also includes deletion of the trail along the Searsville Road alignment, and construction of off-road, lighted pedestrian and bike paths along Sand Hill Road and Stockfarm Road. This alignment would maintain pedestrian and bike access and crossings at existing signals across from Oak Creek Apartments (Searsville connection), at Stockfarm, and at Oak Avenue in Menlo Park. These connections were shown in the Sand Hill Corridor Development Agreement, but the route along Searsville was outside the scope of the Agreement. The result is a somewhat longer route from Sand Hill Road to Campus Drive for some walkers and cyclists. The new trail sections and realignment are consistent with the C-1 Trail alignment in the County Trails Master Plan and do not affect those trail segments completed with the Sand Hill Road Projects or required by the Trails agreement reached between Santa Clara County and Stanford. The plans were routed to the City in July 2006 and reflected the trail relocation, but the deletion of the Searsville Road trail component was not highlighted. Stanford has indicated that it will be more proactive in identifying if pedestrian and bike routes outside the City limits are to be affected in future project submittals. Staff continues to recommend that the Council direct staff to issue a Certificate of Compliance,, indicating that the Agreement remains in effect and that Stanford is not in default. PREPARED BY: CURTIS WILLIAMS Assistant Director DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: STEVE EMSLIE Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: EMILY Assistant City Manager CMR:148:07 Page 2 0f3 ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: CMR 120:07 COURTESY COPIES: Stanford Management Company (Jim Inglis) Stanford University (Larry Horton) City of Menlo Park (David Boesch) County of Santa Clara (Ann Draper) County of San Mateo (Gaye Quinn) David Newman Charles Carter Bill Phillips Jean Snider CMR: 148:07 Page 3 of 3 Attachment A C ty City of Palo Alto Manager’s Report- TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT JANUARY 22, 2007 CMR: 120:07 ANNUAL REVIEW OF COMPLIANCE WITH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOR THE SAND HILL CORRIDORPROJECTS RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Find that Stanford University has complied in good faith with the terms and conditions of the development agreement. Direct staff to issue a Certificate of Compliance to the .University, according to the provision of Section 10(a) of the Agreement, stating that: a.The Agreement remains in effect, and b.Stanford University is not in default. BACKGROUND In June 1997, the City Council approved Comprehensive Plan amendments, zoning changes and design al3plications for the Sand Hill Corridor Projects (Projects). The Projects include the Stanford West Apartments (Apartments), senior, housing, Shopping Center modifications and a set of roadway modifications, including the widening of Sand Hill Road to four lanes from Santa Cruz Avenue to Arboretum Road and a two-lane extension from Arboretum Road to E1 Camino Real. A development agreement vesting these approvals was entered into between Stanford and the City and was effective on August 14, !997. The development agreement requires annual City Council review of Stanford’s compliance with the conditions and requirements of the agreement. CMR:120:07 Page 1 of 3 DISCUSSION The attached September 8, 2006 memo from Stanford Management Stanford’s fiscal year 2005-06 activities related to implementation agreement. These activities include: Company describes . of the development The number .of Below Market Rate (BMR) units increased from 63 to 105 units at the Stanford West Apartment development in accordance with the Development Agreement. Restoration of grasslands completed in conformance with the Native Grassland Restoration Monitoring Report, progressing toward development of a native grassland meadow. Continued operation of the on-site retail store at the Stanford West Apartments; Stanford is subsidizing the store to offset the on-going loss from operations.. Construction completed of the Classic Residence by Hyatt with more than 90% occupancy. Construction completed on the final segment of the Sand Hill .Road Improvements after approvals from the City of Menlo Park (November 12, 2002) and the County of San Mateo (June 10, 2003). The roads phase of the Sand Hill Road Project is now complete. There were no changes occurring at the Stanford Shopping Center during the 2005/2006 -reporting period. The City consented on November 17, 2003 to the Assignment .and Assumption Agreement between Stanford University and the Simon Property Group for a 51-year lease of the Stanford Shopping Center. During this reporting period, Simon Property Group has submitted preliminary plans to the City for expanding the Stanford Shopping Center by approximately 250,000 square feet and adding a 120 plus room hotel. This expansion would require amending the Sand Hill Development Agreement. RESOURCE IMPACT There are no resource impacts stemming from the action recommended on the development agreement compliance program. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This report does not represent any changes to existing City policies. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Issuance of the Certificate of Compliance is not a project under the California Eiavironmental Quality Act, and no environmental assessment is required. ATTACHMENT September 8, 2006 memo from Stanford Management, Company CMR: 120:07 Page 2 of 3 PREPARED BY: Roland A, Rivera Planner DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Assistant City Manager cc:Stanford Management Company (Jim Inglis) Stanford University (Larry Horton) City of Menlo Park (David Boesch) County of Santa Clara (Ann Draper) County of San Mateo (Gaye Quinn) David Newman Charles Carter Bill Phillips Jean Snider CMR:120:07 Page 3 of 3 Attachment STANFORD MANAGEMENT COMPANY September 8, 2006 ¯Roland Rivera City of Palo Alto " Department of Planning and Community Environment 250 Hamilton Avenue P.O. Box 10350 Palo Alto, CA 94303 Re:Sand Hill Road Projects Annual Report August 2005 - July 2006 Dear Roland, Pursuant to the. Development Agreement between Stanford and the City of Palo Alto, this report is being, provided for the period from August 1,2005 to July 31, 2006. Development Agreement compliance continues to be strictly adhered to by Stanford .... The following highlights the significant activity for the above reporting period: Stanford West Apartments The Stanford West Apartments are now in its sixth year of operation. In accordance with terms of the Development Agreem.ent, during this period, the number of Below Market Rate units incre~;~d from 63 units to 105 units. Adetailed BMR report is submitted to the Palo Alto Housing Corporation each year in accordance with the Development Agreement. ¯Stanford has completed the requirement for a viable native grassland habitat in the area between the Stanford West Apartments and the San ,,... Francisquito Creek, as specified in the Sand Hill Road Corridor Projects ", . Apartments Mitigation Monitoring Progr&m 4.7-3(a-e). The grasslands "\ .............. have achieved greater than 50% survival after the initial planting of the native grass/plants in early 2001. Our fifth and final annual monitoring report was submitted to the city in 2005. ¯The on-site retail st~re, which opened on June 2, 2002, continued to operate during the reporting period. Stanford provided the subsidization required to offset the on-going loss from operations. Sand Hill Road Projects Annual Report August 2005 - July 2006 Page 2 Senior Housinq ’ As of July 31, 2006, Classic Residence by Hyatt’s independent living units were 92% occupied. The Skilled Nursing facility was completed by the end of October 2005, with the first resident taking occupancy in January 2006. Stanford.. Shoppin.q Center Stanford Shopping Center was sold to Simon Properties Group. On November 17, 2003, City Council approved the Assignment and Assumption.Agreement transferring Stanford Shopping Center performance responsibilities from Stanford to SPG Center, LLC under the 1997 Development Agreement. Roads Construction on the final segment of the Sand Hill Road Improvements (located primarily within the City of Menlo Park) commenced in April 2004 and was substantially complete by December 2005. Santa Cruz Avenue between Junipero Serra Boulevard and Sand Hill Road was closed to traffic for bridge and retaining wall construction in April 2005, and reopened to traffic on November 4, 2005. The Roads phase of the Sand Hill Road Project, including Roads within the City of Palo Alto, City of Menlo Park, County of Santa Clara and County of San Mateo are now complete and open to the public. Enclosed is check #540013 in the amount of $2,000, dated September 6, 2006, for costs incurred during the review and approval period. Sincerely, Manager of Design and Construction cc: Sandy Skaggs/Bingham McCutchen 2770 SAND HILL ROA]3, MENLO PARK, CA 94025 PHONE: 650/926-0200 FAX: 650/854-9268