Agenda Item # 9.2 - Sean Reedy | Received 07/26/2022July 26, 2022
Re: Gurries Dr Architectural and Site Review (AS 21-14)
Project Number: AS 21-14
Project Title: Gurries Dr
Project Applicant: El Encanto Properties III
Project Location: Gurries Drive between Hanna Street and Church Street
Assessor Parcel No. 790-35-038, 039, & 054
Gilroy City Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Gurries Dr Architectural and Site Review coming
before you on August 1, 2022. Comments below are based on the review of the staff report.
Additional comments may be forthcoming pending final review. This project will have a direct
impact in the City of Gilroy by achieving our goal to reduce air emissions from on-road motor
vehicles. Improve air quality by encouraging our residents, commuters, employees to mode shift
from vehicles to cycling, increase walking as alternatives to driving for short and first/last mile
trips, and add new riders to the transit system.
This project and the previous phases of the project should include a Micro Transportation
Demand Management (TDM) Program that leverages nearby transit to reduce Vehicle Miles
Traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions. With its convenient location to transit,
shopping, and off street bike/ped facilities there are few barriers to reducing VMT at this project.
With the recent adoption of our City’s General Plan 2040, we as a community called for bold
actions that include continuing to promote cleaner modes of transportation. We encourage
existing and proposed development to incorporate Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
measures such as car-sharing, transit passes, and unbundling of parking (requiring separate
purchase or lease of a parking space) where such measures will result in a reduction in vehicle
miles traveled, reduction of required amount of parking or an increase in the use of alternate
transportation modes.
We are actively embracing, advancing ideas, and projects that promote the concept of free-
range people in the City of Gilroy. We advocate for building and planning that considers future
generations as well as current residents who don’t own cars. Advancing mobility options reflects
what we are teaching the youth in our community through Safe Routes to School and why we
are nationally recognized as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American
Bicyclists, as well as recognized by the World Health Organization as an Age-Friendly
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Community. Continuing to leverage our Measure B Education & Encouragement funding for
established work plans/programs will further enhance Gilroy’s efforts.
Providing an incentive that rewards the effort of biking/walking/transit is important. We thank city
staff for adding the mobility section analysis to the staff report. Including encouraging bike
parking in the garages, mentioning of bikeways around the project, a new sidewalk enhancing
the pedestrian experience along Gurries, and requiring a Transportation Improvement Fee, in
proportion to the project's share of transportation improvements needed to serve cumulative
development within the City of Gilroy. The funds shall be used to fund improvements identified in
the City Traffic Circulation Master Plan, which includes bikeways.
We have the following recommendations and comments based on the Gurries Dr
Architectural and Site Review and the General Plan 2040 Mobility-
General Plan 2040 Mobility-The Mobility Element provides the framework for decisions in
Gilroy concerning the citywide transportation system. It seeks to create a balanced
transportation network that supports and encourages walking, bicycling, and transit ridership.
The goals and policies address a variety of topics, including multimodal transportation, complete
streets, pedestrian facilities, bikeways, public transit, vehicular transportation, parking, and
goods movement.
Mobility 4.2- Transit and Development
Require new development to fully accommodate, enhance, and facilitate public transit,
including pedestrian and bicycle access to transit.What has this development done towards
meeting this general plan consistency?
Mobility 4.6- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
Coordinate with VTA on the planning of new transit routes within Gilroy and maintain a
strong relationship with VTA management to ensure continued cooperation.Was this
development project routed for plan review with our partner VTA?
Mobility 4.8- Consider Transit in Planning and Development Proposals
Coordinate with VTA on advance planning projects and development proposals that may
have implications for public transit and consider the VTA’s Transit Sustainability
Policy/Service Design Guidelines.What has this development done towards meeting this
general plan consistency?
Guest Parking- Guest parking is shared with the Hanna Court PUD.Providing an incentive
that rewards the effort of biking is important. We recommend adding short-term bike parking
(inverted “U” style) with existing guest parking, to free up guest parking for those that can’t ride
their bike to visit.
Transit Service- The nearest VTA bus stops serving Route 68 are located at the
intersection of 1st St/Monterey Rd, .25 miles east of the project site. Route 568 Rapid
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stops are located at Howson/Monterey Rd .28 miles northeast of the project and Route
121 Express Gilroy-Lockheed Martin at the Gilroy Transit Rail Station. Additionally, the
Gilroy Transit Rail Station serves connections to Caltrain. Caltrain provides service from
Gilroy to San Francisco (2-Hour Train Ride) Monday to Friday. Three trains leave the
Downtown Gilroy Station at 5:56am · 6:21am · 6:54am. You can take your bike with you or
park it at a locker at the Gilroy Transit Rail Station. Caltrain currently serves riders from
Gilroy to San Francisco and a future extension south to Salinas.1 This is a great opportunity
to promote the use of public transit to the residents and visitors through outreach programs
established in a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program. Leverage the Measure B
E&E funding the city has and the marketing outreach resources from Valley Transportation
Authority (VTA).2
Transportation Demand Management Mobility 1.12-Encourage existing and proposed
development to incorporate TDM measures such as car-sharing, transit passes, and
unbundling of parking (requiring separate purchase or lease of a parking space) where
such measures will result in a reduction in vehicle miles traveled, reduction of required
amount of parking or an increase in the use of alternate transportation modes.With the
VTA 68 & 568 Rapid transit stop .25 miles away, Gilroy Transit Station 1.0 miles away, bike
parking encouraged on site, Measure B Education & Encouragement, nearby bikeways, parks,
schools, shopping, grocery stores, restaurants, this project would be great for some form of a
TDM program.
Recommended TDM programs to include:
● Annual VTA Passes or VTA’s Eco Pass (The Eco Pass program allows employers,
developers, educational institutions, management companies or homeowners
associations the ability to purchase VTA transit passes at a bulk discount rate to provide
to employees or residents to encourage transit usage. Eco Passes are good for
unlimited use of VTA Bus and Light Rail services, seven days a week. The program also
includes an “Emergency Ride Home” provision that allows Eco Pass holders to take a
taxi home if they need to leave work in the middle of the day.)
● Expand Outthink’s Project Chrysalis E-Bike Program with the purchase of e-bikes for
every home or a pool of e-bikes for rideshare in a central hub for the project.3
● Provide updated bike maps to all residents from management in correspondence.
● Provide routes to major transit connections, parks, schools, shopping, and restaurants.
● Annual presentation to the El Encanto HOA of current bike/walk/transit options and
incentive programs offered by the City of Gilroy currently funded by the Measure B
Education & Encouragement program.
● Encourage Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s and the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission’s (MTC) new post-pandemic compliance option for the
regional Commuter Benefits Program: Telework “Flex Your Work” program. Carpooling,
3 https://svcleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/CityChrysalis_FinalReport_29Mar2022_digital.pdf
2 https://www.vta.org/faq/how-do-i-start-riding-vta
1 https://www.tamcmonterey.org/monterey-county-rail-extension
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