June 4, 2008 

 

Honorable Mayor Brad Lewis,
San Carlos City Council,
San Carlos Planning Commission,
San Carlos Traffic and Circulation Commission,
San Carlos Economic Development Commission,
San Carlos City Staff,
SamTrans/Caltrain/JPB,
Legacy Partners,

Concerning: San Carlos Transit Village Project

Based on the consistent input from many GESC (Laureola) residents, the GESC board is requesting that the following be either included as part of the development agreement, as part of the Redevelopment Agency Plan with a defined timeline or solved prior to approval of the San Carlos Transit Village Project. We have tried to break down the issues by whom we consider the appropriate parties and offer ideas to establish realistic solutions as well.

SamTrans/Caltrain/JPB (As landlord for the Project):

1) Parking Problems

Solve the parking problems throughout the GESC (Laureola) neighborhood caused by raising the tracks and the removal of existing free parking on Old County. This can be accomplished working with the city through the use of residential parking stickers, permit parking, signage and enforcement. We also want to ensure that the new plan includes adequate parking for the cars now being parked in the neighborhood and future increases in ridership.

2) Shuttle Problems

Solve the shuttle problems caused by having a new shuttle stop on the east side created when the tracks were raised. Problems include shuttles idling for long periods of time and racing up and down residential streets. Working with the city and requiring all shuttles to use a planned new drop off location on the west side can solve this issue. We would also prefer to see taxis use the new drop off location.

3) Noise Problems

We would like to see a mitigation plan for the increase in existing noise due to the raising of the Berm as well as a plan for the expected increase in noise from the planned project. We expect to see a plan that involves replacing windows, doors and installing chimney baffles on homes as well as ways to decrease noise from passing trains for residents enjoying their yards. To see an example of a successful noise impact mediation program we suggest contacting Dave Carbone with the Airport Community Roundtable who works on noise mitigation of homes and businesses around the San Francisco Airport.  Mr. Carbone can be reached at 650/363-4417.

4) Transit Issues

Since the project is called San Carlos Transit Village, we believe  
that all possible avenues should be utilized to encourage the  
residents of the new project to use transit. We would also like to see  
an increase in transit options for the current residents including  
more trains that stop in San Carlos.

Legacy Partners (As Project Developer)

1) Height

While we acknowledge that the developer has made some changes to the  
development, we feel that the developer has not addressed the height  
issue in any substantive way; therefore we still need to work with the  
developer to address ongoing neighborhood concerns that the  
development is still too tall.

2) Landscaping Plan

We expect there to be 4 layers of landscaping between the project and  
the neighborhood. The first will be working with the city to plant  
trees along the east side of Old County Road (this will involve  
removing some parking spaces, undergrounding utilities and shrinking  
the width of the road). The second is to replace the trees on the west  
side of Old County road east of the railroad tracks with appropriate  
sized trees. The third layer will be just west of the tracks and the  
last will be next to the project itself. We would like the landscaping  
plan (including types and size of trees, irrigation plans and  
maintenance plans) in place before project approval and to be included  
in the development agreement. The first, second and fourth layer must  
be guaranteed and adequate to screen the project as we realize that  
the third layer may disappear if the bullet train is ever approved and  
additional tracks are installed

3) Project Parking

We believe that the current parking Plan of 1.6 spaces per residential  
unit is not adequate. We also have a concern that parking for the  
retail/office buildings and plaza maybe inadequate. Given the existing  
parking problems, the failure to solve those for the past 10 years and  
that once the project is built we will have no recourse to solve any  
parking problems that develop, we want the project to have parking for  
residential units comparable to that required for an average  
residential home (2.0 spaces per unit) or a plan for solving existing  
parking conflicts and those that arise after the project is approved.

4) East Side Parks

Set up a fund for Laureola Park and future trail and park development  
on the East side. Since Laureola is the Park closest to the new  
development, the developers should contribute to a fund that will  
maintain the park and replace outdated equipment.

City of San Carlos:

1) Holly Street Intersection

Improve Holly Street intersection to match (pavers) what is planned  
for Holly / El Camino, San Carlos Ave. / El Camino and the Old County  
Street Crossing from the train station. With the new development more  
individuals will be crossing Holly Street to get to the park or  
businesses located on the East side, this intersection is very  
difficult for many residents and needs to be upgraded.

2) Improvements to Old County Road

Replace sidewalks and underground utilities on Old County from Brittan  
to Harbor. As part of raising the tracks, utilities from west of Old  
County were moved under the sidewalks on the East side of Old County  
and haphazardly patched leaving multiple levels of concrete. When you  
combine this with the existing telephone poles located in the middle  
of the sidewalk, the large number of posted signs and the failure of  
the public works department to repair crumbling sidewalks and curbs,  
it leaves us with a sidewalk that is difficult for the elderly, people  
with strollers and the handicapped to navigate as well as a challenge  
for the average individual.

3) Traffic Calming on Old County

Slow down traffic on Old County. Since the tracks have been raised  
there is a significant increase in the speed of vehicles traveling  
down Old County road. Putting stop signs at Taylor and Terminal way  
and lowering the speed limit between them to 30 mph can accomplish this.

4) Garbage

Code Enforcement for all the garbage that blows into our neighborhood  
from the train station and other surrounding businesses. (At minimum  
additional street sweeping and cleaning at the train station)

Additional List of items the GESC (Laureola) would like the city  
consider.

5) Additional Park on the East Side as well as Urban trails.

6) New Community Center to replace Laureola Building (One that would  
be useable by the neighborhood for events other than our meetings)

7) More parking at Laureola Park for Sporting events

8) Clean Sidewalks (This concern will disappear if we underground  
utilities)

9) Paint curbs red instead of continually posting signs and enforce.

10) A viable plan with timelines for fixing Holly Street working with  
the homeowners prior to approval.

11) Enhancements to facades of Old County Shopper businesses, and  
landscaping.

We would be happy to discuss any or all of the above.

Sincerely,

The GESC (Laureola) Board

Scot Marsters
Tim Hilborn
Ben Fuller
Sam Herzberg
Lorrayne Murphy
Jim Vick

 

 

 

SPECIAL NOTICE: Regarding May 27th Meeting

Tuesday, May 27th 6:30-9:00 PM GESC (Laureola) Neighborhood Meeting at the Laureola Building. This important meeting will include a detailed discussion of the San Carlos Transit Village project starting at 7:30. The developers will show their revised plan for this development that they have promised to update because of complaints regarding excessive height and other issues. Let's hope that the city of San Carlos and the Developers take GESC seriously. Please show up en masse to let them know what you feel. Thanks to the hundreds of you we talked with in recent days for voicing your opinions and signing up on our email list. To sign up for our email list, send your email to greatereastsancarlos@gmail.com

 

Welcome to the Greater East San Carlos Resident's Group Website

The Greater East San Carlos Resident's Group GESC (Laureola), was formed to provide a forum for the East Side residents to be kept informed on issues that affect our neighborhood.

Mission Statement/Purpose

The purpose of the GESC is to represent and inform the residential areas of San Carlos west of US 101 and east of Old County Road on issues that affect the quality of life in the described area. GESC shall promote logical zoning, improved traffic flow “around” the residential area, improved neighborhood aesthetics and parks, and in general, act in the best interest of its membership.

The Northeast San Carlos Residents (NESC) and Southeast San Carlos Residents (SESC) represent geographical areas both North and South of Holly St. that will allow us to focus on all issues with a more cohesive, efficient process of communication within our particular neighborhoods. This will also allow for a more balanced representation within GESC.