From: Mike Shah
To: Kelly Beggs
Cc: Elena Lee
Subject: Re: Woodland Park Euclid Improvements: Final EIR and July 25, 2022 Public Hearing Notice Date: Sunday, July 17, 2022 9:33:22 AM
THis project is a HUGE problem in the community and should NOT be allowed to proceed.
I have tried several times sharing this with the city and commission. STOP WOODLAND APT they are a cash guzzling machine. EPA city council and planning should understand that the real people are not happy with increased parking problem, huge water tank spoiling the area, increased accident risk, risk to small kids on the road, increased density, decreased pedestrian safety, decreased space per individual etc.
City should revoke Woodland apts
Community feels this project should be cancelled imediately So Why EPA city wants to proceed? THey should not proceed.
Woodland apts are only interested in $$$
They destroy the community
Stop the monopoly and solve real issues like the ugly parking problem on Euclid and Hamilton st, Okeefe st,
Loud noises are making the EPA section like a 3rd world country Why is city bent on drawing lines between EPA and Menlo Park/Palo Alto? THis is racial profiling and biased
increased parking problem,
huge water tank spoiling the area, i
ncreased accident risk,
risk to small kids on the road,
increased population density,
decreased pedestrian safety,
decreased space per individual
On Fri, Jul 15, 2022 at 2:25 PM Kelly Beggs <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello,
Please find the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Woodland Park Euclid Improvements Project published online at the project website:
https://www.cityofepa.org/planning/project/woodland-park-euclid-improvements-generalplan-amendment-zoning-amendment-and A direct link to the FEIR is located here:
https://www.cityofepa.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning/project/19369/euclid_f eir_mmrp.pdf
CAUTION: This e-mail originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you validate the sender and know the content is safe.
Please also find attached the public notice for the July 25th Planning Commission Hearing on the project.
Best,
Kelly
Kelly Beggs
Contract Planner
City of East Palo Alto
1960 Tate St
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
628.222.5985
[email protected]
July 18th, 2022
To Whom It May Concern:
The Housing Action Coalition is pleased to endorse Sand Hill Property Company’s Euclid Improvements proposal for Woodland Park in East Palo Alto. After a detailed presentation, our Project Review Committee determined the project exceeds our high standards in addressing our regional housing shortage.
The Committee applauds the project team for undertaking a community-centered approach, as Sand Hill hosted 32 community meetings, information booths, and small group listening sessions before submitting a project application and five additional community meetings and information sessions after submission..
Additionally, Sand Hill created relocation commitments after receiving valuable tenant input. These included granting current residents fully paid moving expenses, the right of return to the new apartments, a guarantee to pay the same rent upon return, a choice of a nearby apartment during construction, and a comparable number of bedrooms and square footage. After these discussions and commitments, Sand Hill constructed a plan that exceptionally meets the region's housing needs.
The project will increase the number of homes from 160 to 605 through a variety of building types. These new buildings would range between 5 and 13 stories, transforming a site that is currently comprised of lower density housing types. The Committee specifically commends Sand Hill’s prioritization and commitment to affordability and community. The project will provide 160 rent-stabilized homes offered to the current tenants at their current rent levels. Additionally, Sand Hill will build 75 BMR homes offsite in partnership with Eden Housing. These homes would be available to residents at 35%, 50%, and 60% of Area Median Incomes, which goes above and beyond the affordability requirements. To further enhance community space, Sand Hill plans to build a community park, accessible to all residents, in parity with on-site retail spaces. Lastly, the project will provide 369 bike parking spaces and 625 car parking spaces. Given the site’s proximity to public transit, the Committee encourages the project team to explore increasing bike parking and open space at the expense of the parking structure, but we understand the reality of financing, feasibility, and community concerns.
The Housing Action Coalition applauds the project team for striving to achieve the best possible project for the community. Ultimately, we are proud to endorse Euclid Improvements at Woodland Park, which will provide well-designed and well-located homes that help address our region’s ongoing affordability and displacement crisis.
Sincerely,
Todd David, Executive Director
Housing Action Coalition (HAC)
July 20, 2022
East Palo Alto Planning Commission
2415 University Ave.
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
SENT VIA EMAIL
RE: Support for Euclid Avenue Improvements
Dear Honorable Members of the Planning Commission,
The Bay Area Council is an employer sponsored public policy and advocacy organization dedicated to solving our region’s most challenging issues and improving the quality of life for everyone who calls this region home. On behalf of our over 300 members, I write in support of the proposed Woodland Park Euclid Improvements by Sand Hill Property Company.
California is experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis that will worsen without significant intervention. The California Department of Housing and Community Development estimates that the state must plan for 2.5 million new units of housing by 2030 to address the state’s housing affordability crisis – an estimated 312,500 units annually and over 200,000 more units than we are currently permitting. This shortage continues to disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color that are being priced out of Bay Area communities by the lack of housing options. To combat this, every county and city must do its part to produce more housing at all levels of affordability.
East Palo Alto remains challenged by high housing costs driven in large part by the shortage of new homes being built across our region. The proposed Euclid Improvements is a great opportunity to replace 160 rent-stabilized units with 160 new rent-controlled units, 445 market rate units, and 0.9 acres of public open space. The development will also provide funding and land for 89 deeply affordable units at another location in East Palo Alto. The site is a prime location for mixed-use development, and while we believe it should include even more housing, we understand the dynamics that make it difficult to include additional density.
In addition to housing, the development will provide 0.9 acres of open space, including a large public park space in an area where very little parks and open spaces exist. Euclid Improvements leads in environmental design, pursuing LEED certification and planting 2.3 trees for every tree it removes to build a green, people-centered community.
We are also impressed with Sand Hill’s involvement with the East Palo Alto community, receiving feedback early on to incorporate input from neighbors and community stakeholders into their proposal, including inspiring the final project design.
This site is an excellent candidate for dense, mixed-use development and meets all accepted smart growth standards. The project is a clear example of sustainable and inclusive growth for future generations, and we encourage you to support it.
Sincerely,
Louis Mirante
Vice President, Bay Area Council
1 MEMO
TO: East Palo Alto Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission & City Attorney’s office FROM: Bernadette M. St. John, JD
DATE: July 24, 2022
RE: My comments for the July 25, 2022 zoom meeting re 2001 Manhattan Ave., EPA and 1.5 million gallon water tank offsite at 375 Donohoe Ave., EPA.
Good evening,
Thank you to everyone here this evening and to all those who serve our city of East Palo.
My name is Bernadette St. John. I am a homeowner in East Palo Alto for the last 23 years. I am President of our Homeowner’s Association. And I have worked in Special Education for Palo Alto Unified School District for the last 12 years. I also have a translating/interpreting business that serves our local community. Thank you for inviting the public to be here today and to share our questions, comments and concerns.
We appreciate that the City of EPA is looking for solutions related to water. I have spoken to neighbors and to 2 different water companies (Judy Windt, Board member at O’Connor Water and Daniel McFarland, Manager at Veolia Water). I want to thank them both for their time and for their insights.
Thanks also to Monica Camp and Elena Lee at the City of East Palo Alto for listening to my concerns and for emailing me the zoon info and the agenda. • So, how big is a 1.5 million gallon water tank? Well, to give a visual - the average Olympic size swimming pool holds 660,000 gallons. So this is roughly the size of 2.27 Olympic swimming pools, crammed onto a small property, thus exerting tremendous pressure on the water tank, the underlying ground and the neighborhood. • How high will the 1.5 million tank be? What are the exact measurements of the 1.5 million gallon tank? Please advise.
As we know, EPA already grapples with flooding (especially in the Baylands area). This particular location is already low lying & susceptible to flooding. A recent KQED article wrote:
“…When it comes to sea level rise, East Palo Alto will be one of the first and hardest-hit areas of the Bay Area. It’s already prone to flooding now, and the city is leading the way when it comes to community-led solutions. But no matter how hard East Palo Alto works to build its resiliency against sea level rise, it won’t be enough; the Bay Area’s interconnected ecosystem suggests what its neighbors do to combat the issue matters to the entire region’s survival…”
2 https://www.kqed.org/news/11871855/sea-levels-are-rising-in-the-bay-and-east-paloalto-is-on-the-front-lines • The ground level at 375 Donohoe, EPA is at approximately 30 ‘ above sea level. Thus, a sub-terranean tank below sea level compounds flooding issues and concerns.
EPA Planning Manager Elena Lee told me that she believes that the tank will be 36’ high (approx. 2 stories). Is this correct? So, will the 1.5 million gallon tank be 1/3 above ground (500,00 gallons above) & 1 million gallons below ground? How will it be reinforced? Or ½ above (750,000 gallons above & 750,000 gallons below)? • Flooding and location. 375 Donohoe is immediately adjacent to the 101. It is also relatively close to 2 fault lines (the Hayward Fault and the San Andreas Fault). During the inevitable 7.0+ earthquake, the immediate release of 1.5 million gallons of water will cause sinkholes, buckle the 101 (freeway) and render it inoperable.
During a major earthquake, the tank walls above and beneath the ground will not hold.
The commensurate flooding will buckle the 101 freeway. It would cut off traffic on this major transport artery during this emergency. The 101 freeway could be left inoperable – perhaps for months.
• Why would the City of East Palo choose to incur this level of liability and danger? Why is the City of East Palo Alto considering placement of this water tank in such a high density neighborhood street (with homes, cars, families, a church, etc. in the immediate vicinity?
• East Palo Alto needs to act in the interest and safety of its citizens and constituents.
East Palo could instead follow the lead of other towns and cities who build and store its water tanks outside of densely populated neighborhoods and major vital freeways. For example, look to San Diego, who is building a water tank under their local park trails.
Thus, San Diego residents do not have to deal with the eye sore of water towers nor the concern of it flooding their immediate neighborhood.
• What better choices can we make to truly be “One East Palo Alto” as the city website says? We need a safer location for this 1.5 million tank and/or expand our water pipes and infrastructure. A location that does not endanger our citizens and subject our City of East Palo Alto to liability due to the consequences of this ill proposed location. • Closer to home, we can look to Palo Alto, who stored their municipal water tank under the sports fields (opposite the Stanford Shopping Center). Again, this is not an ideal location, however it is better that it is stored under a park and would not shut down the 101 due to flooding during an earthquake.
3 • Additionally, proper notice for this meeting was not given. I received a hard copy notice of the hearing in my mail on Thurs. 7/21/22. The notice says that questions /concerns are to be raised 5 days or more prior to the hearing. Thus, many people were not given ample notice of this important hearing. The notice is adversarial and says, “A challenge to the above item in court may raise only those issues that were raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence to the City of East Palo Alto at, or prior to the public hearing.”
• Who is the developer for both projects – at 2001 Manhattan and at 375 Donohoe? Is it Woodland? Sand Hill Property Company? Another company? Why won’t the developer construct and place the 1.5 million water tank at 2001 Manhattan Ave? Liability concerns?
• What recourse do neighbors in the community have when the 1.5 million gallon tank inevitably either: leaks, gets contaminated, contains insects or rodents and or explodes? What is the plan for water tank maintenance? And who is doing the maintenance? • The city of Lemoore, CA had a 1.5 million water tank that exploded last year. It caused a tsunami of water, killed one employee (40 year old Mr. Dion Jones, a carpenter and father of 3), may he rest in peace. The water tank explosion injured others and contaminated their water supply. Here are 2 videos that show both the explosion and the aftermath. Please watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWSCEPFIacY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5zYNqTJ0Io
• By placing the water tank at 375 Donohoe, all the neighbors (in addition to being in harm’s way) will now need to pay more in insurance due to now living in a flood zone.
Effectively, the City of East Palo Alto and /or developer are proposing to build a reservoir at 375 Donohoe Street and in our neighborhood. This is not safe, prudent and too much of a legal liability for the City of East Palo Alto to bear due to the adjacent 101 and the imminent damage that a tank rupture would cause to the 101. • Developers who want to “cash in” on development in East Palo Alto also need to shoulder their expense of water infrastructure upgrade. EPA’s water system was implemented in 1939. And EPA is conservative in its water use:
• Hillsborough uses 215.8 gallons per capita per day
• Bear Gulch uses 153.1 gallons per capita per day
Palo Alto 90 gallons per capita per day
• Menlo Park 67.2 gallons per capita per day
• East Palo Alto 38.1 gallons per capita per day.
We all need to collaborate to find workable solutions to our city’s water concerns.
Alas, the proposal for 375 Donohoe to house a 1.5 million gallon tank is not the correct location/solution. Keep looking for a safer location. Thank you for your time.
July 25th, 2022
East Palo Alto Planning Commission
RE: Endorsement of Euclid Improvements at Woodland Park Dear East Palo Alto Planning Commission,
For over 60 years, Greenbelt Alliance has helped create cities and neighborhoods that make the Bay Area a better place to live. Greenbelt Alliance’s Climate SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented—Development Endorsement Program provides support for projects that advance the right kind of development in the right places. By promoting climate-smart development we can create thriving, resilient neighborhoods with ready access to transit and housing choices for all of the Bay Area’s people.
After careful review, Greenbelt Alliance is pleased to endorse the proposed Euclid Improvements at Woodland Park project.
Euclid Improvements is the model of what a Climate SMART zero-displacement project should look like when replacing out-of-date residential buildings in a low-income community. This project goes above and beyond our Climate SMART goals as this project will increase the housing supply, provide better parking and mobility options, increase the climate resilience and provide a significant amount of affordable housing. Of the 605 units they plan to replace the 160 rent stabilized units and allow all tenants of the original units the right to return to a new rent stabilized unit. They will also be providing for an additional 89 off-site affordable units at deep affordability levels.
On the environmental side, according to their GreenTrip certification, this project will result in 1,628 fewer miles driven every day compared to the San Mateo County average and 9% fewer GHG impacts every day compared to the San Mateo County average. In addition to being LEED certified,
2.3 trees will be planted for every tree removed and they are working to keep as many trees as possible on the property. Additionally, they are building a 1.5 million gallon water tank and pump system in a nearby location to serve the project and the broader neighborhood to increase water pressure for fire suppression and increase overall fire protection.
This development would not only contribute to meeting the city's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) goals, but also target both low income and Missing Middle housing. In Euclid Improvements at Woodland Park, the City of East Palo Alto has the opportunity to create new, infill housing that will contribute to the State of California’s collective efforts to respond to our ongoing housing crisis.
Greenbelt Alliance believes Euclid Improvements at Woodland Park will play a pivotal role in reimagining a more resilient and inclusive East Palo Alto for all residents to enjoy and we are proud to give this project our endorsement! We hope its approval will inspire cities around the Bay Area to redouble their efforts to grow smartly.
Sincerely,
Jordan Grimes
Resilience Manager, Greenbelt Alliance
July 25, 2022
East Palo Alto Planning Commission
2415 University Avenue
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Re: Support Woodland Park Euclid Improvements - Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County
Dear Members of the East Palo Alto Planning Commission, The Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County (HLC) works with our communities and their leaders to produce and preserve quality affordable homes.
On behalf of HLC, I’m writing to express our support for the Woodland Park Euclid Improvements proposal by the Sand Hill Property Company - which seeks to renovate 160 existing rent controlled homes at existing rents, and include 445 new homes; 89 of which will be affordable. HLC’s Board spent significant time deliberating over this proposal and came to the conclusion that it is the best option for your city to keep those existing homes habitable for your residents, while also providing additional affordable homes for your community members - which is why we support this proposal.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. We urge you to support the Woodland Park Euclid Improvements proposal and to move it forward to your leaders on the City Council for a decision.
Sincerely,
Ken Chan
Organizer
Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County
2905 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403 • (650) 242-1764 • hlcsmc.org From: Elena Lee
To: Kelly Beggs
Subject: Fwd: Euclid Improvements Comment
Date: Monday, July 25, 2022 9:51:23 PM
Begin forwarded message:
From: Webster <[email protected]>
Date: July 25, 2022 at 9:49:38 PM PDT
To: Planning Commission <[email protected]> Cc: Michael Mashack <[email protected]>, Javanni Brown-Austin <[email protected]>
Subject: Euclid Improvements Comment
I think the area needs to be redeveloped. I support that, but I have two general comments on the water tank and the parking situation.
I share the same concerns that commissioner brown-austin spoke to, since I live and own a condo adjacent to this project. I only saw that a proposed development sign for the water tank was placed a week or two ago, and I almost missed it because it was hidden behind all the cars that currently surround the site, which is ironic considering how terrible the parking situation already is.
This is the first time I’m seeing the illustration of the water tank, and it was only included in the revised plans submitted this month. It makes me question how much planning has gone into this…. Can someone please put more information about the water tank on the city and project website? I actually couldn’t find it on the website that was created for this project. But I see it was included in the plans that were revised this month...
I think saying the water tank is a community benefit is a bit of exaggeration, if you consider that woodland park owns a large majority of the apartment complexes and buildings on the west side where fire protection is inadequate. The water tank will not only serve this project, but it will serve any new development that will occur in areas that are owned by woodland park.
What other options have been explored in terms of supplying adequate fire protection for all the proposed development on the West side? Can smaller water tanks be integrated into new buildings or inside the parking structures? This would require the size to be scaled down, but it would probably be enough to meet the needs of this project and some of the surrounding areas as they’re redeveloped. Has placing or integrating the water tank with the university circle been explored, where parking is prevalent and barely used? 97% of the existing units being replaced are studios or one bedroom apartments and are already overcrowded as it is given the cost of living. The new development will increase the percentage of two bedroom apartments from 3% of existing units to 30%. Nevertheless, I think parking is going to be terrible for anyone who isn’t single, living by themself, or working within two for three miles CAUTION: This e-mail originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you validate the sender and know the content is safe.
of East Palo Alto (would serve Facebook, Amazon, or at Stanford University employees when people return to office).