COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Planning and Building Department

 

DATE:

June 14, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 29, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

10-Day Notice

VOTE REQUIRED:

None

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

   

FROM:

Jim Eggemeyer, Community Development Director

   

SUBJECT:

SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REPORT: Report recommending issuing a comment letter on the California High-Speed Train Project EIR/EIS Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report for the San Francisco to San Jose Section

   
 

RECOMMENDATION:

Direct staff to submit a comment letter on the EIR/EIS Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report.

 

BACKGROUND:

Report Prepared By: Matt Seubert, Senior Planner, Telephone 650/363-1829

 

Your Board held a public workshop on the High-Speed Rail project’s potential impacts on the unincorporated North Fair Oaks neighborhood on June 8, 2010. The staff report originally prepared for that public workshop is attached to this supplemental staff report. This supplemental staff report focuses on public comment and Board direction at the June 8 hearing, and next steps.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE JUNE 8 WORKSHOP:

The Board hearing was attended by a number of North Fair Oaks residents and property owners, as well as residents of neighboring jurisdictions. Community Development Director Jim Eggemeyer gave an introductory presentation, followed by a more detailed presentation by Dominic Spaethling, of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project.

 

Public comment focused on several areas that should be considered in the HSR Authority’s Draft Alternative Analysis in terms of potential impacts on North Fair Oaks, including the following:

 
 

Consideration of below-grade alternatives, specifically including some variation of a covered and/or open trench

 

Impacts on the Garfield School, including mitigation of such impacts

 

Construction impacts on neighboring residential streets

 

Improved connections across the tracks and enhanced recreational opportunities

 

Coordination with other rail projects, such as the Dumbarton Commuter Rail

 

Diesel pollution, the use of electrical power for the project, and safety

 

Fairness in considering impacts on North Fair Oaks vis-a-vis adjacent jurisdictions

     

Several speakers also voiced support for renewed consideration of a US 101 or I-280 alignment alternative, as well as questioning the operating and financial assumptions of the project, highlighting errors in the EIR, and noting that the Program EIR for the HSR has not yet been certified. Speakers also requested more public notice and outreach.

 

Board members also asked questions and made comments about construction impacts, the source and impacts of electrical power and infrastructure for the project, train operating speeds and plans, and the public outreach and involvement process. Board members also emphasized the importance of treating the North Fair Oaks community fairly compared to neighboring jurisdictions. The Board directed staff to revise the draft comment letter on the EIR/EIS for the Alternatives Analysis to emphasize the community’s interest in seeing analysis of below-grade vertical alignment options, concerns about impacts on the Garfield School, and opportunities to enhance recreation in conjunction with the project.

 

Based on this direction from the Board, staff prepared a revised draft comment letter, which is attached to this supplemental staff report. The Board also asked for additional public input at the regularly scheduled June 17 meeting of the North Fair Oaks Community Council. Additional comments from that June 17 meeting are not reflected in the draft letter included with this report, but will instead be summarized at the June 29 Board hearing.

 

NEXT STEPS:

High-Speed Rail (HSR) staff has asked that San Mateo County submit written comments on the EIR/EIS Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report by June 30, and, as mentioned, staff has included a revised draft comment letter with this report. The HSR Authority will be reviewing comments from San Mateo County along with comments from other interested jurisdictions and agencies this summer.

 

The public involvement process and providing comments on the EIR/EIS for the HSR proposal contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of Livable Communities by ensuring growth occurs near transit and promoting affordable livable connected communities.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

No net County cost.