Conservation Committee, Loma Prieta Chapter – 8/23/2004 Meeting Minutes

(Approved, 9/27/04)

Attendees:  Alice Ringer, Joe Laclair, Lynne Trulio, Cathy Moyer, Ernie Goitein, John Wilkinson, Eric Larkin, Roget Dettloff, Bob Groff, Kurt Newick, Ed Smith, Tim Ridner, Shiloh Ballard, Melissa Hippard, Irvin Dawid, Tim Frank, Barbara Pierce, Bonnie McClure, Ginny Laibl, Ruth Troetschler

Call to Order

Session called to order by Alice Ringer, Chair., at 1905 (7:05 PM).

Minutes taken by Eric Larkin.

Agenda Item 3: Appeal by People for Housing not Highrises of the SLU Committee's recommendation to not endorse their Marina Shores Village (MSV), Redwood City referendum petition (SLU Committee, Tim Frank)

            Alice Ringer reviewed the process by which subcommittees make their decisions and present recommendations to the chapter. 

Irvin Dawid pointed out the minutes of the 26 July ConsComm meeting summarized this process, with additional discussion on how to handle people or groups outside the Sierra Club who wish to appeal a subcommittee recommendation (this is still an open question for ConsComm).  Irv went on to briefly address the SLU Committee’s work on presenting a recommendation to ConsComm on the MSV (Marina Shores Village) development.

            Tim Frank summarized the interplay of higher density versus sprawl on resource use, trip mile reduction, and other impact metrics.

            The floor was opened up to a generalized question and answer period between ConsComm members, SLU Committee members, and visitors representing points of view both for and against the MSV development.  Questions and discussion points included:

• Questions raised on possible increase of bird strike on some of the taller buildings due to proximity to Bair Island wetlands and bird fly ways
• Concerns about development being so close to Bair Island, a protected wetland area – would the development be an opportunity for dogs and feral cats to gain access to Bair Island?
• Height of buildings compared to others in the area – the tallest MSV buildings are 17 feet taller than the Oracle Corporation office buildings, located a short distance further north along Highway 101
• Question on wetland mitigation – where would the 1-for-1 area mitigation land come from when MSV is built?  Tim Ridner, representing the developer, said the mitigation land had not yet been identified.
• Concerns about fish breeding grounds – the driving of piles and the disturbance of soil during construction might have adverse affects on local fish populations.
• Some discussion about pedestrian and bicycle access to nearby retail, and across Highway 101 – bicycle and pedestrian paths are planned.
• Concern raised about this being the first of many waterfront projects here, and does the Sierra Club want to be seen as promoting waterfront development along the Bay?

After completion of the question and answer session, a motion was made and seconded to vote in support of the following recommendation provided by the SLU Committee:

SLU Committee Recommendation:  The Sustainable Land Use committee of the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club does not support the referendum petition requesting rezoning of the bay front area in Redwood City; nonetheless the committee retains serious questions about the Marina Shores Village project as it is currently planned. 

Therefore the Sustainable Land Use committee recommends to the Conservation Committee that they NOT support the resolution prepared by People for Housing not Highrises to ‘repeal the rezoning’.

ConsComm voted on whether to support the SLU recommendation, and the motion passed, with 5 votes for, 4 votes against, with 1 abstention.

Following the vote, Irvin Dawid suggested that, space permitting, a summary of the discussions and presentations for both sides of the MSV development be put in the upcoming issue of the Loma Prietan.