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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0490.092, No'Vember 5, 1992 HVNORABLE C!TY COUNCIL Palo Alt~, California , Status Report on An Ad Hec City-Stanford Committee InYEstigat1ng Pli~ning Is~u€s rocusing cn tr.e Area between Downtown and the Stanf~rd ShQPp1ng Center (Tn~ "Dream Team-) Members of the Council: REPORT IN BRIEF This is an informational report. No City Council action is required or reconrnended. lhe report describes the ~i:atlis of a spontane~us City-Stanford effort to investigate planning issues for the island of land bounded by Alma Street, Embarcadero Road, E1 Camino Real and San Francisquito Creek. The iss~es being discussed focus on both land uses within this island and the connection of acth'iths on the island t<l other areas and primari 1y Downtown and the Stanford Shopping: Center. Sorrle of the participants in this discussion process have dubbed the effort ~The Dream Team,- BACKGROUND Oaring the course of the past year, sporadic converSations occurred among some combination of City Planning staff, members of the Urban Design Committee and Stanford staff (primarily David Neuman, Stanford Architect, whose responsi~ bilities hive expanded to include all Stanford Plannir;g work). The general focus of these discussions has been use of the area aroJJnd the Palo Alto train station and the desirability of better connecting this area with Downtown and the Stanford Shopping Center. The "triggen" for these discllSSions inch.de the process leading to the draft Dcwntow!1 Urban Design Plan; the avai1ability of $3~OOO,OOO for upgrade of the train d~pot's p€destrian access to meet require ments of the Americans with Disabilities Act; inte-rest express~d by the Red Cross to replace and expand their facilities; the potential Civailability of Fede-ral Transportation ~unds for inno .. 'atlve mu1timodal transportation centers; and the forthcoming Comprenensive Plan Update process. These discussions Ted to an understanding that the ranga of issues a~d opportunities is such that a mare organized investigation is ~arranted. Bi;Iocause the effort is oriented to identifying whether a. broader iand use and acthity vision can be identified for CHR:490:92 --~,,"'.~. -"---.... -~~ ---" , ., this area, the term -The Dream Team~ was coined and is ust:-d by some of the p~rti~fpants to ~efer to this process. ne group recently became m'Otivated to dp..velop a more formal stri.:cture and sense of purpose. The first meeting to consider an organized approach to t~ese issues occurred on Munday, October S. 1992. The -Dream Team-was identified to inc1ude members of the Urban Design Comittee, Stanford plal'lning. transpurtation and hnds management staff, members of the City's Planning and Transportation divisiDns and, hopefully? representatives of t~e Joint Powers Board, SAMTRANS, and Santa Clara County Transit. p~efer to attached Exhibit C for Subco!mlittee structure and members~ip.) That ~eting led' to an initial agreelM!r.t on the goals identified below. Goal s It is important to er.lphasize that this undertaking is intended to support existing review and appro .... al process€s. 1f a broad vision for ttle area is identified, that concept will be forwarded into the Comprehen5i .... e Pla~ Update proc-ess. If specific proposals are identified, they will be brought throlJgn the appropriate City re .... iew and decision making processes. Tne goals of the group, adopted on October 5, include the following; 1. Bring Pa10 Alto and Stanford closer together, creating a large, sens~ of cOlTlTll,mitYt by creating conneetierls across E1 Camino Real. 2. Jmprowe the q~ality of life in the ilTlTlediate! area by enhancing the usability and interconnectedness of the Downtown, the Stanford Shopping Center, Town and Country Shopping center, the Urban lan~ Area. £1 Camino Park, the Red Cross and other lJ~es loeater! bet weer, thE ra 11 road t r.:tcic. and E1 Camino Real. 3. Establish a y~s;on and a framework f~r future land use and transportation decisions for the -interfacfI! irea-whith occupies territory bounded by fmbarcadet"o Road en the south .. San francisQuit.1 CreeK on the north, Stanford Shopping Ce~ter on the west and Downtown an the east (RefEr to Exhibit A). 4. Upgrade the existing internodal transpcr-tation hub by impro'Jing tne transit depot and 1 inkages to It, so that a range of transportat io~ aHernatives, including pedestricln and bicycle, can be easily ac:colll'l1odated. Schedule Of Meetings A schedule of meetings of the ~Dream Team" Steering COnlTlittee is attached (Attachment F). This s'ubcorrmittee is meeting in the ~ed Cross Building next dOGr to the MacArthur Park restaurant and the Trarsit Depot. The meetings are open CHR:490:92 1 \/5/92 Page 2 • '--,,--, to the public: and intet"ested parties. A schedule of meetin9s for the Subgroups 1 s forthcoming. 19n9-and ShQl't-Ran~~jectilie$ One of the iR"media.te objectivES ldentHied by the group is tl.J conduct a workshop (i.e .• a desi~n c~arette) to whic~ professional designers are invited to explore various options for the area under r.onsid~r~tion. The profe5sional c~a~ette is tentati\lely scheduled to occur in february, after the public r~view of the Urban Oes1gn Plan and the b!9"nning of the tcm."ret:enSi',lf Plan Update effort. The Dream Team I s iDll1ediate ftlcus ; s to develop a framework for that workshop and the l~gi$tics ~f Qrganizing the event. [de as and r.:oncepts which have been discussed .and might be explorild at the profe.s=sional dlarette are induded bela... Please note that these ideas, particularly those in the mid-and lanq-rangp. categories, are a collaboration of creative concepts. ~any may be revn1ed as impractical as they are further explored. Additional ideas will emerge during future discussions and the charette. Obvious1y, a formal review through the Comprehensive Plan process or other appropriate apptoval processes will be needed prior to any implementation. Short-Tenm Opportunities L Pedestrian tunnel s to the transit depot are schedul ed to be improved using $3 million a~ailable from the ~tropalitan Transportation Commission for Ameri~ans with Disability Act renovation. Can these monies be parlayed into i broader access conce~t in addition to the improvements for persons with ~isabilities? 2. Passage of the Intermodal Surface and Transportation and Effi cie-net Act (ISTEAJ has provided an <lpportunity for private enterprise, 10ca1 government and the education community to seek grant funding for innovative transportation programs. (Refer to Attachment e, a letter from the California Department of Transportation dated Aug~st 26. 1992.) 3. The Rea Cross is planning an expansion. (Refer to attached Extlibit D. 1 etter from Margaret Donohoe and R. ~ichael Kasperzak to Nancy Lytl e, dated Sept. 25, 1992.) This may necessitate a modification of the boundary of E1 Carnine Parle Ho.., can their plans enhance opporlurlities on EI Camino Park ishnd? 4. Applications for the Stanford West project and a cmrrbined Sand Hill RGad Extension and Stanford Shopping (e~ter Expansion project ha~e been filed, and ErR's will soun be in process. The residential development projected to come from tne prQP~sil would (reate a new neighborhood for Palo Alta, with a 4 percent increase in o'olerall City papulation. How is this proposed neighborhood to connect with the rest of the community. tf1€ Downtown, schcols, etc? What kinds of opportunities are revealed ~ith a road connecticn and shopping center c1rculation cnanges? CMR:490:92 ,,:\CII'Y ....... cnY 11/5/92 Page , ".--" .'jf. 5. Plans for a bicycle p~th connection along the south side of the railroad tracks from the Hign Schoel side of Embarcadero to the railroad depot are ~nderway. How does tn:s pTan relate to the other propcsals? 6. The Palo Alto Medical FOlmaation is actively pursuing plans to relocate to Urban lane. How do their pTans c~eate opportunities for conn~cting this area t~ the b~oader community? MiG-Range Opportunities 1. Stanford staff have noted thot a ne ... theatei'" for the Drama Department is needed 1n the futur~. Courd this need b~ combined with the Urban Design (oDmittee's idea of a Performing Arts Theater for the Downtown? Tne night '1qhting and evening acti~ity on £1 Camino Park ball f;e105 is an asset to the vttal tty of the area. Combined with a potenth.l theater use and its associated eVE"nir.g perfcnnanc~s and downtown restaurants, the three could be cOll'1patible. 2+ Tne Joint Powers Board, no~ in charge of operating the commuter trains~ antic.ipates expanding the Palo AHo (Le., University A .... enue) train station in their long-range planning. Could a par~ing structure, which would almost undoubhdly be ~ecessary. provide opportunity for shared parking with other uses? The station has great potential for ~1talization~ but surrounding uses and uses lfiIIithin the faciTity win be the key to r~alizin9 this objective. 3. Housing may be a potential use on El Camino Real lsland. Becal,ise the island is physical1y isolated from other areas, it is possible that higher intensity development might work there. Housing near the Downtown is desirable and encouraged in tha Draft Urban Des 19n Pl an. 4. The Circulation of tne Shopping Center could change and might allow opportuntties for I new at-grade connection from Alma to [1 Camino Real closer to tne University interchange. A new c~ossing could deter traffic from the Downtown North neighborhood and alTow the current Palo Alto Aven:.!e connection fror.: Alma to El Camino A"rrra to close, freeing terri'~Dry for a more integrated or expanded par( use. S. An above-grade pedestrian link over El (amino Real frcm the Shopping Center to the transit depot and its parki~g structure could more directly connect all activities and integrate their ~se. lo"g-Ra~ge 1. The corrmuter rail is e .... entually llkely to be converted to an electric train. Should the freight line be abandoned, the opportunity is created to either underground or ele .... ate the entire rall 1j~e. While tne strong preference of the Urbaf1 DeSign (omm; ttee is to un-1erground it, ei lher option opens a wide range of possibilities for better urban design. CMR:490:92 llj5/S2 Page 4 • CONCLUSION This staff report nas described a spol1tar-eOl.is effort tha.t ;n\lol\1es members of the City staff) Stanford University staff and the public. The effort. if successful, will ellentua'1y generate ideas for the Comprehensive Phon lIpd~te andlor other public-TelileW processes. Cit.>' staff concludes that the energy and creativity evidenced among Stanford ~taff and members of the public is valuable and should be reinforced. Thus, oil limited amount of City staff time will b~ a11oc:ated to this effort as in adjunct to ongoing City p1anning and transportation work. Respectfully submitted, /iL"7-<g' ',1. /4'!u.if' NANCY ~AOOOX LYTLE Chlef Planning Official ~~~ Interim City Manager Attachments: Exhibit A Exl\ib!t B Exhibit C Exhibit D Exhibit E KENNETH R. SCHREIBER Director of Plann:ng and Community Environment Map of !nterface Studies Area Intermo<fal Surface Transportation Effic;t·ncy Act Grant Opportunilles Organizallon Chart American Red Cross letter 15TfAjDream Team Steertng Committee Prcposed Meeting Schedule cc: Planning Conmission Architectural Review Board Urban Design Committee Palo Alto Medical Foundation (Dr. Robert Jamplis. Robert Boyle) Town and Country Shopping Center (Ronald ~illiams) City of Henlo Park (Don de 1a Pena) Dream Team Me~bers Holiday Inn (Clement Chen) American Red Cross (Ma~garet Donohoe) Downtown North Neighborhood (Tony Badger) Dena Massar CMR;490:92 11/5/92 Page 5 .. .. 'tt. I t~ 1 t I <" 'L ,..J - DE~ARtM~NT OF TRANSPORTAnON a1JllN , . \ p.a IIOlC ~ Q42?4-aP1 TIX>~8)~ • 19,6) 654-2463 etanrord pwnnjng SEP 1 1992 ~.'V0 Stanfo=d Un1ver~ity plannir.q o~t!ce 855 Serra Street Stanford, CA 94305-6115 At~er.t1on ~ebbie~ ~ IptoTIDQQa1 SurfAce TraD$PQr~ntion EfficIency act Gr§n~ Qpportl1citjeg ':'he Federal government l",a.e provid.ed. a tJniq'.le opp~rtunity fOr pr~vate enterprise, local government, the education com.onur.ity, end the. State to obt:ain qrant fundin'if for innovati ve tr.!..:'lsporta~ion programs. The lnter:nodal Surrace 'l'ransportatio::l Effic.iency Act (ISTEA), passed into law cn DeceMer 18, 1991, provides S:frant opportunit1ea tor ~ variety of transpcrtation programs ir.t.nd~d to lead the United States of America into the 21!t cent~ry. 7he IS~EA was design6d to encoL:raqs coopera-t:ive et't'orts in the research and development of multi-modal and other innovative transportation optiona such as high speed rail, electric vehicles, and magnetic levitation projects, A more exceneiv. list ~f the new diecretionary tranaport~tion qrant opport~1ties is attached. ; Over .$2 billion is a.~..-a.ilable nationWide for developing economical, energy ~tfic1.nt, and environm6ntally !Ou~d methods of movin9 people and qoods. This grant money will be available during the six-year effective period of the ISTEA (l~91-1Sl9'). The California Department of Tr~na:portation (Caltran,) is seeking proposals ana ideas from :'oeal governr."lenta.l aqenc1i!$, the ed'J,cat ion com:nun-1ty, and priv!lte enterprillfll. To !h!.re yo'.;r ide!!.!! or proposals, please ,-;:all or ""rite tOI MS. Ro.:in~ Martin~z Departrnent~l Grant& O!f1C~r Divisioo of Eudge~~ Depa=trnent 0: Tra~sportat1on 1120 N' Street Sacrarr.en':c, California .95814 (916) 654-2463 W'6 lnvita 'jo\J to lROC~ wit.h 'U' irl de;vt<l~:;:ir.q t.he iAnovA'tive J.d.... ilt.d eoch.tol"9Y thn "ill be !\ .. ~d.d t<> "' •• " th. ehAUenqu tao-ins-"t.ransportation. .ttL C)J.11tot'r.ia., C .. ltrlln* is eOl!ll'!l.ttt::f:d. tc joinin.q wi"C.h our pa:rtn.at's in t.he 'tr~n,port.a.tion c¢~J1i.u.nj.t.y t~ 1evel~p proposa!s tor these gra~t opportunitles. Sinee:e'f!"l'l, ~::~!~ O~pa~m~n~a. Q:.nt~ C!~ic.r Pivi.ion of ~~dq.t3 • fA PROCEDUR~-S-----~ , PA-NANCY LYTLE • SU-BILL PHILUPS SU-CHARLES CARTER PA-JOHN MONTGOMERY PA-MARVIN OYERWAY SU-ANOY DOTV * .. da1rs p:\org.pln 5 ORGAHIZAllOll PA/SU INTEJI.IIOD/I.l. INTERFACE ZONE STEERING COMMITTEE J ,-,- PA-NANCV lVTLE • SU-DAVID NEUMAN • URBAN DESIGN-TONY CARASCO TRANSPORT-MARVIN OVERWAY' LA~D OWNER-Bill. PHILLIPS 'PA-KEN SCHREIBER r B lAN~ U::S-E -----J--,-[TRANSPORTAT10N I,DESIGN r, ____ _ Ie 1 1-PA-GEO. ZIMMERMAN PA-JIH GILLILAND PA-TONY CARASCO PA-SHIRlEV WILSON SU-DAVID NEUMAN • PA-RDXY RAPP PA-JIH BAER SU-JEFF TUMLIN SHe-lEONI BATKIN PA-MARYIN DVE~.WAY • SU-JEFF TUMLIN JOINT POWERS BOARD SAM TRANS S.C. TRANSIT GEORGl Z I~HERMAN JOHN MONTGOMERY • I~ " . , \\ " ! . \ ,,", " ""1 , ''',\ " .. ~-jo'I.J,:,!:f'" + American Red Cross September 25, 1992 Ms. Nancy Lytle City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025 Dear Nancy: , r-_ :,~, > Pillo Ahe Area Chapler +:\' ~!ll,J."n Lan,' I a, :~::'" j.-:-A '41 ;,,' 1 r-.:',t'r h ::-,.,· ~..: • .; <:-.:p' Cli'r . _-,.1 UFr::-...... ,,,, .. ; .. ~ l' .... PALO ALTO -Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with Bill and me conceting the future expansion of Palo AlIa Area Red Cross facilities. While we understand the oomplexil)' and pvlitics thaI surround the "Parklands". the future of Red Cmos services requires the cooperation of Sumford and Palo AI:", The foD£N.ing sum:marizes OU.f facility's needs and plans for much needed expansion. Curren' SjlUBtjog • We have outgrawn our current space and have immediate needs for 1,000 sq. fL of appropriate classroom/meeting space. We anticipate that by 1994 our space needs will have more than doubled. • After 2 years of evaluation, we find that it is more feasible and cost effective to rebuild than to renovate or add on to the existing building in light of building codes and t.'le age of the building. 'NO e have utilized an of our current electrical capacity-ex:i5ting sewer lines in the area are in poor condition. • There are 22 years left on our current lea.o;e-at the end or the lease all hnprovements reven to Stanford if no Dew lease is negotiated. • Ibe Red Cross Board ~ committed to historical presence at this site. Our current time schedule calls for: City, Stanford and National Red Cross Approvals: August 92 -April 93 August 93 -May 94 May -N avember 93 Marcb-Ju'_)'/Augnst 94 Capital Campaign: land/Space Planning: Construction: ~;--~.", ... ,-.. ----- 'I l I i >' •• • The Red Cross urgently needs mOf'=-sfa.r:e for programs. staff and par king. • We need a long-term lease: and stability to support cas"! for capita! fur.draj~ing and expansion. Urban Ministry is in need of permfUlent offi~e/d.jent space to support their programs tbro'lghout Palo Aho. • There are a number of !.Ocial service agencies that are leaving Palo Alto due to high costs., lack of space and "NlMBY" environment This 1a.'1d is a unique ~i51and" that is close to public transportation and truly not in anyone's backyard. • Increase our lease parceL to include a portion of the land to the north, toward, but not including. the fence<l area of the parlL A new building (approximately 20,000 sq. ft.) that could house expanded Red Cross Programs, Urban Ministry and (possibly) a sm.all social service agency. that is facing space and "NIMBY' restrictiol15. '" Using the site of LiJe current fadlity~ once a new building L<;' completed, for parking for the Red Cross lUll! McArthur Park Restaurant. • The Red Cross would like to extend our current lease to at least 40 years and increao;,e the size of the parcel of land. This would provide the Red Cross with much needed room for expansion wiLiJout committing the fl.lture of El Camino Park. Again. our thanks for your support Let's hope tha! this new com.m..ittee will bring a joint resolution to this land issue. Sincer-:ly, /?7./ZJc:vL ~~arel Donohoe F....,.1;ecutive Director cc: Jim Baer, Leouie B-atkio-Allen, Bill Fdiman .. ,"---~--.-----~ " ISTEA/Dreatn Tram Steering Commiflee Pcopcst'd MeeHl'lg S~hf"dule Wednesdays 3:30-S:00 p.rn. Red Cros, Headquarters Oc,axr 2 i. 1992 Novernber4 Noyember 18 December. December 16 Det.-embcr30 January 6,1993 January 2Q February 3 February 17 March 3 M;m;h 17 M=h31 April 14 April 28 May 12 May 26 June 9 June 23 -" ,.'