ATTACHMENT B
PUBLIC COMMENTS
August 16, 2023
Saima Qureshy
City of San Marcos
1 Civic Center Drive
San Marcos, CA 92069
Sent Via Electronic Mail: [email protected]
Re: Draft Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance and Policy Dear Ms. Qureshy:
Thank you for the opportunity to review the City of San Marcos Draft Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance and Policy.
The North County Transit District (NCTD) supports the usage of a half-mile walking distance from transit as a criterion for eligibility for select strategies in the TDM. As there was a recent re-routing of BREEZE route 347 in April 2023, NCTD encourages an update of the walkshed map to reflect this additional service down San Marcos Blvd.
NCTD also has suggestions for the following strategies:
Strategy 3: NCTD recommends that the project site design specifically allow for sufficient Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paths to connect pedestrians within the development to access nearby transit stops and minimize the walkshed when possible.
As described in NCTD’s Bus Stop Development Handbook (2018), new developments should be designed to provide clear and direct access to bus stops (existing or new) and should emphasize pedestrian access, activity, and safety. Gated or walled developments should provide openings through walls to minimize the walking distance and provide a more direct route to bus stops. Developments with parking lots should be designed with clear pedestrian walkways.
Distinct walkway networks should be provided where bus stops and/or transit centers can be linked with building entrances.
Entrances to buildings should face the street with pedestrian access located close to the nearest bus stop.
Strategy 7 and 13: NCTD supports Strategies 7 and 13 and can provide contact information and resources for entities to assist in establishing these types of programs.
Re: Draft TDM Ordinance and Policy
August 16, 2023
Strategy 18 : NCTD recommends emphasizing that this shuttle bus service should be planned to complement the existing transit service. NCTD also recommends providing credit for entities that subsidize or partner with NCTD to support existing or new transit/microtransit services.
Strategy 26 and 27 : NCTD is supportive of both Strategy 26 and 27 as proper stop and amenity placement throughout the system area helps to improve customer satisfaction as well as encourage the use of the transit system, and in turn, help communities achieve established sustainability goals and improve the overall quality of life.
NCTD recommends that any bus stop improvements include the construction of one ADA- compliant bus stop pad for passenger boarding. This design should include a clear, concrete sidewalk area with an 8-foot-deep by 5-foot-wide boarding and alighting area that meets standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and that is connected to the curb and street. This clear area cannot have any street furniture or impediments in the 8’ by 5’ space.
The construction of this ADA bus pad at a transit stop should be considered for inclusion in Strategy 4 and 25.
Thank you again for allowing NCTD to review and comment on this project. Should you have any questions related to this review, feel free to contact me at (760) 966-6683 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Katie Persons
Director of Service Planning
cc: Chris Orlando, Chief Planning Communications Officer, NCTD Ioni Tcholakova, Transit Planner, NCTD
From: Conrad Pawelski
To: Saima Qureshy
Cc: Rick Gittings
Subject: RE: Transportation Demand management Policy August 8th Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023 4:13:24 PM
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Saima: I have some notes regarding the Public Work shop for the Transportation Demand Policy and would like a response to the items below. Our main issue is redundancy of what this creates.
Saima Qureshy
City of San Marcos
Transportation Demand Management
Public Discussion meeting August 8,
, 2023
This public meeting zoom call was to bring to the public the policy that is to be brought to Traffic Commission, Planning Commission and City Council .
Initially I was informed by a third party regarding this meeting and in attendance found this to be attended by less than 20 individuals mostly being City Staff, Consultants to the City , and outside project managers/planners. If this was to have public input, they were not in attendance.
Usually, a scoping session where there is community input. With little to no one in attendance, and I asking the only public comment.
Issues with the Transportation Demand Management Policy
1. Why develop a policy which is duplicative with State Regulatory code, that being CEQA.
1. CEQA defines the need for transportation or not through the EIR process or through City (LEA) review as to whether it is necessary to have an EIR in the first place.
2. CEQA review is deemed necessary reviews the need for traffic management if the project generates traffic.
2. City of San Marcos has limited control as an LEA to effectively manage the issue.
1. State Highway 78 and all intersections of the freeway controlled by the State.
2. Air traffic on the approach way to Palomar airport files over the city within our airspace and under 4,000 feet since we are close to runway.
3. Cal State University San Marcos is outside of the regulatory responsibility of the City and controlled by themselves and they are entirely within San Marcos
4. Palomar College same as above
3. The carbon output sets the size to a level beyond small projects.
4. Why develop a policy that has very limited control and is redundant.
5. Take the lead where additional regulation is not necessary to manage the community’s transportation.
6. The mandatory strategies are conditions for development depending on the nature of the project already some are onsite, and others are public improvements.
Thank You,
Conrad Pawelski
Chief Financial Officer
(760) 759-2215
[email protected]
Diamond Provides Temp.- Restrooms, Fences, Power & Pumping
From: Saima Qureshy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 5:25 PM
To: Conrad Pawelski <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Transportation Demand management Policy August 8th
*** This is an external email ***
Mr. Pawelski - Thank you for reaching out to us with your TDM related question. I presented the TDM info at the workshop on the 8th. Please let me know if you have any questions or if you need any information.
For your information, here is the flyer that we sent out related to the TDM Ordinance.
Notice of Release of Draft Transportation Demand Management Ordinance and Policy for public comment
To implement the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) measure and to reduce traffic impacts from the development projects, the City of San Marcos has drafted a TDM Ordinance and Policy which is posted on our web site for public comment.
https://www.san-marcos.net/departments/development-services/draft-tdm-ordinance-and-policy
The TDM Ordinance and Policy will be applicable to any development project that is not exempt from CEQA requirements and would result in emission of more than 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide (MT of CO2) per year. Developments that are below the 500 MT of CO2 threshold are encouraged to voluntarily include TDM strategies to facilitate alternative mobility options.
Key TDM Ordinance and Policy highlights
• The TDM Ordinance and its implementing Policy are applicable to all development projects that emit more than 500 MT of CO2 per year and are not exempt from CEQA • The TDM Policy lists six (6) mandatory strategies that are required for all projects to implement.
• The TDM Policy lists twenty-two (22) optional strategies, each assigned a specific point value.
• Applicable projects would have to establish a project specific TDM Plan that should include all mandatory and a selection of optional strategies to achieve a minimum of 10 point score.
Public Workshop
The City has scheduled a virtual public workshop on August 9, 2023 at 6 pm to inform interested parties what is included in the TDM Ordinance. If you are interest in attending, please see the link below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 272 498 220 529
Passcode: eXA7KY
Download Teams | Join on the web
Learn More | Meeting options
Public Comments
The City is requesting its CEQA consultants, development community and members of the public to review and comment on the TDM Ordinance and Policy. Please provide your comments by 5:30 pm on August 16, 2023.
You can email your comments to : [email protected] Or send them via mail to this address:
Saima Qureshy, Principal Planner
Development Services Department
1 Civic Center Drive
San Marcos, CA 92069
Next Steps
The City will review comments received on the draft Ordinance and its implementing Policy and incorporate updates, if needed. Staff will hold Planning Commission hearings in September, 2023 and City Council hearings in October, 2023 to formally adopt the TDM Ordinance and Policy.
Questions?
Contact: Saima Qureshy, Principal Planner, City of San Marcos Email: [email protected]
Phone: (760) 744-1050, ext. 3222
Saima Qureshy, AICP, Sustainability Program Manager/Principal Planner City of San Marcos | 1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos CA 92069 T: (760) 744-1050 ext. 3222
[email protected] | www.san-marcos.net
At the City of San Marcos, the health and safety of our community is our top priority. For real-time updates about the City’s response to COVID-19, visit www.san-marcos.net/covid19.
From: Conrad Pawelski <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 5:05 PM
To: Traffic Division <[email protected]>
Subject: Transportation Demand management Policy August 8th
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The meeting held by the City of San Marcos on the 8th had no contact information in the information attached for the meeting nor can I find it on the Cities website under transportation or Planning Dept. Coul you email me with the contact information for the presenter at the meeting
Thank you,
Direct: 760.759.2215
Main: 1-888-744-7191
Conrad Pawelski
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
807 E. Mission Road
San Marcos, CA 92069
diamondprovides.com
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From: [email protected]
To: Saima Qureshy
Subject: TDM Ordinance
Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023 6:03:21 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Stop with this nonsense. This does nothing but add costs with no demonstrated benefit.