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Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
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Greenbelt Alliance In the News September 20, 2007 Revised condo project moves ahead Developer made changes to driveway location, height Shaun BishopAs land becomes increasingly scarce around Redwood City, developers will have to think upward instead of outward. It looks as though that's what will happen with a Mediterranean-themed condominium project on Woodside Road after it was given the planning commission's unanimous approval on Tuesday. If given a final OK by the city council, the 43-unit, five-story complex will be built on an unusual L-shaped plot comprising just two-thirds of an acre - an example of the city using less land to build more housing. " It's all about ushering new growth to existing urban areas," said Marla Wilson, who supported the project on behalf of urban planning nonprofit Greenbelt Alliance. "Otherwise, it's just going to be sprawl." The approval process has not been without snags. When the developer suggested putting in a driveway that would spill out onto Horgan Avenue, angry neighbors spoke out, saying the street would become clogged with extra traffic. As a result, the city council in April told Menlo Park-based developer Lamb Partners to move the driveway onto Woodside Road, which Lamb agreed to do after getting Caltrans approval in August. The total height of the building has also been slightly reduced, from 61 feet to 58 feet, and the architecture has been changed to lessen shading on homes just behind the property. Senior Planner Maureen Riordan said the changes appeased many neighbors, but a few remain unhappy. Donald and Susan Allen said in a letter that the extra cars "will significantly impact an already overloaded condition" on that corner. " While you can't please everybody, it seems to be pleasing some folks, and it addressed some of the major concerns they have," Riordan said. The commission rezoned the property and approved a precise plan, laying out stipulations on the project's architecture, design and other attributes. Along with 92 parking spaces, the development will include a 350-square-foot bike storage room to encourage human-powered transportation around town. While it is not within easy walking distance of Caltrain, the city still considers it a "transit-oriented development" because there are nearby bus stops, workplaces and shopping. A gas station sits on the 11,000 square feet in the middle of the L-shaped site, and a carwash and nursery school are just across the street. Wilson of Greenbelt Alliance said the project was not in an ideal location because of the distance to Caltrain, but she praised other pedestrian-friendly improvements, such as a widened sidewalk on Woodside Road. ### |
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