Politics & Government
Pete's Harbor Project Postponed
City Council sends the project to the Planning Commission for further environmental review.
Redwood City's City Council unanimously approved an appeal to the Pete’s Harbor project Monday night, delaying a housing and retail development with a $1 billion price tag from breaking ground any time soon.
Tensions were high.
Multiple groups arrived at the Council meeting Monday to debate the crux of the matter which was whether or not the project had changed enough since its original approval to be considered an entirely different project under CEQA laws.
In June 2004, the city approved Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Marina Shores Village Project, which was composed of Pete’s Harbor and other plans for a new marina on the Peninsula. The city also approved a General Plan amendment that year, which rezoned the area, modifying the area's land-use laws and facilitating development.
The proposed Marina Shores project would have included 1,930 housing units, 50,000 square feet of commercial space, 150,000 square feet of office space, and a 200-room motel. The Pete’s Harbor portion of the Marina Shores project is located on property.
Leslie Webster of Save Pete’s Harbor, Inc. (SPH), the group that initiated the appeal, submitted statements on the behalf of Brett S. Jolley, the lawyer who represents them.
"It is our understanding from the staff report released on May 2, 2013, that staff is recommending that the City Council remove the project to the Planning Commission for further modification and potentially further environmental review," reads the statement.
"SPH supports that recommendation and encourages the City Council to adopt the staff’s recommendation to remand the matter."
A May 2 staff report recommended that City Council remove the project until the city’s Planning Commission could modify and potentially further environmental review; the Council agreed, believing the 2003 report to be outdated.
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Some members of the public said the project will allow people to live close to the Bay and bring more business to the area. Other said there’s been too much bullying online trying to take down those in opposition to the project.
The project’s developer Paul Powers defended the proposed plan.
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One citizen said that a small minority should not be allowed to stop projects that will benefit a good portion of the city.
Ultimately, the council decided to hold off on the plan, pending further review.
“We’re here to look at the appeal, not to comment on whether it’s a good project or a bad project,” said Mayor Alicia C. Aguirre. “Review gives the Planning Commission the opportunity to hear more public comment and for the community to have more input on a revised plan,” Aguirre said.
James Lee, Occupy Redwood City organizer and secretary for SPH, said he felt both relief and vindication because the group has been working really hard on this outcome for seven months.
“What we’ve been saying to city and the public is to accommodate public marina and to make changes that wasn’t just for private use,” he said.
“It’s a relief to see that city is listening now. I'm surprised the vote was unanimous because I didn’t know which way it would go.”
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