05/19/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Tom Jordan, Palo Alto, expressed his opinion as a former land-use attorney that the Town had not been properly notified during the comment period of the EIR. He suggested that • the Town request that the comment period be reopened to permit a full review of the report including the traffic management plan. Jordan suggested that there had not been an "effective notice" of the project and public hearing. Dru Anderson, Saddle Court, encouraged the Council and Palo Alto and regional participants to integrate what was actually being reviewed and seek a solution for the traffic being introduced onto Arastradero Road. She would like a review of potential future problems by the region and hoped Council would seek a long-term solution for the residents. Resident, noted that he was a "walker" and was very concerned about the increase of traffic along Arastradero Road. He believed that any additional construction in the Stanford Research Park would create traffic congestion. R. K. Arnand, Saddle Mountain Drive, offered that the existing traffic signs on Arastradero act as governors and regulate speed. He noted that traffic lights would potentially divert traffic through Town and suggested that the Town and Palo Alto address the situation by seeking a long-term solution with the proposal of a future increase of square footage at the Research Park. Betsey Allyn, Palo Alto resident, addressed Council and described the efforts of the twelve neighborhood's surrounding Arastradero to work with the City of Palo Alto to • develop a safe neighborhood residential arterial corridor along Arastradero Road to ensure safety for the pedestrians, bicyclists, students and residents of the area and to maintain their quality of life. She expressed her frustration with the process and believed that the Mayfield Development Agreement would eventually lead to Arastradero becoming a four-lane road from Foothill Expressway to Highway 280. Sandy Humphries, Fremont Road, questioned why Stanford was increasing the square footage of their Research Park when there was not an apparent need, noting the current vacancy rate of the facilities. Dot Schreiner, Saddle Mountain Road, applauded the Town residents for their excellent comments. She questioned why the notification radius had been limited to 650 feet and offered that this did not reflect the true impact of the project. Schreiner believed the project was in direct conflict with the Town's goals as defined in the Circulation Element of the General Plan and suggested further discussions between the Town, Palo Alto and Stanford noting the regional impact of the proposed Development. Fred Bahln, Palo Alto, College neighborhood, explained that he had formed a "grass roots" neighborhood effort to respond to concerns regarding housing compatibility and traffic impacts from the proposed Development. He suggested that the Mayfield Development review process had been rushed and filled with oversights and offered several supporting examples including the omission of the Town during the comment period. He believed that the traffic analysis contained serious flaws and offered that • 5 City Council Meeting Minutes May 19,2005