Agenda Item # 9.3 - Sean Reedy | Received 07/26/2022July 26, 2022
Re: 700 W. Sixth St 19 Lot Residential Subdivision and Zoning Amendment (TM 22-01)
and (Z 22-01)
Project Number: AS 22-01, TM 22-01, Z 22-01
Project Title: 700 W. Sixth St Residential Subdivision
Project Applicant: M. Bakri Musa, Gilroy Professional Group, LLC
Project Location: 700 W. Sixth St.
Gilroy City Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the 700 W. Sixth St. Residential Subdivision
Architectural and Site Review, Tentative Map, and General Plan Zoning Amendment 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 and
commuters to mode shift from vehicles to cycling, and increase walking as alternatives to driving
for short and first/last mile trips.
This project should include a robust 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, schools, 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 providing high
density housing options, affordable housing for all, and continuing to promote cleaner modes of
transportation. We encourage existing and proposed development to incorporate Transportation
Demand Management 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 Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American
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Bicyclists, as well as recognized by the World Health Organization as an Age-Friendly
Community.
We have the following recommendations and comments based on the 700 W. Sixth St.
Tentative Map and 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 M 3.6- Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Prioritize designs that favor pedestrian
and bicycle circulation improvements over those for vehicular circulation on existing or
proposed streets that provide opportunities to expand walking and bicycling as viable
alternative modes of transportation, particularly on streets identified in Figures M-2 and
M-3. Such improvements could include separate bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, and
bicycle/pedestrian-friendly intersection improvements.The proposed tentative map shows
that both 6th St and Princevalle St will be re-striped to have a true 5 ft bike lane. Thank you for
these improvements. We recommend adding a green bike lane for all approaches to the
6th/Princevalle St intersection, as it will provide a public benefit, increase safety, enhance our
access to transit, and Safe Routes to School program at this intersection.
General Plan 2040 Mobility Figure M-3- Project is located on a Planned Pedestrian
Network and is a Pedestrian-Oriented Street, A street which provides efficient walking
corridors between areas of the city. Such streets should receive a higher level of
pedestrian-oriented amenities to be provided by both public and private development.
Thank you for requiring the developer to improve the pedestrian crossings, on all corners of 6th
and Princevalle to current standards. Can staff further explain what this statement means
(project as proposed and conditioned would complete the connection between the existing
Princevalle and 6th street sidewalks.) and where the missing connection is?
Mobility 3.7- Traffic Impact Fee for Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
Support and finance the construction of pedestrian and bicycle improvements specified
in the Mobility Diagrams by using the comprehensive traffic impact fee.Will the applicant
be paying into the Transportation Improvement Fee? In addition to paying traffic impact fees, the
applicant shall pay 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.
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Goal of Mobility M4- Plan for efficient and convenient local and regional transit systems
that respond to the changing needs of Gilroy. 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.Transit Service- The nearest VTA bus stops serving Route
85 are located out front of the project at the intersection of Sixth St/Princevalle St. Route 568
Rapid stops are located at the Gilroy Transit Rail Station .55 miles east 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 85 bus stop in front of this
project, Gilroy Transit Rail Station .55 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
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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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 700 W. Sixth St. 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,
public transportation, vanpools, bicycling, walking and teleworking are flexible choices
Bay Area employees have when planning daily commutes. Both the new Commuter
Benefits Program Option 5: Telework and the “Flex Your Commute” program will
encourage sustainable commuting options as the Bay Area continues its recovery from
the pandemic and returns to the workplace.
Sincerely,
Sean Reedy
Community Organizer
Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Gilroy BPAC)
GilroyBPAC@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/GilroyBPAC
We are a community group actively embracing, advancing ideas, and projects that promote the concept of
free-range people in Gilroy. We are seeking your input whether you are a BMX rider, trail runner,
recreational bike rider, MTB rider, walker, and hiker! #GilroyBPAC
3 https://svcleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/CityChrysalis_FinalReport_29Mar2022_digital.pdf
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