Agenda Item # 9.3 - Sean Reedy | Received 11/15/2022CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:Gilroy BPAC
To:City Clerk
Subject:EXTERNAL - Public Comment for Item #9.3 (Proposed Rezoning, Tentative Map and Architectural and Site
Review Royal Way Townhomes)
Date:Tuesday, November 15, 2022 8:11:04 AM
Attachments:Royal Way Townhomes AS 21-17.pdf
City Clerk,
Attached is our public comment for Item #9.3 (Proposed Rezoning, Tentative Map and
Architectural and Site Review Royal Way Townhomes)
Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Gilroy BPAC)
GilroyBPAC@gmail.com
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
November 15, 2022
Re: Royal Way Townhomes, Located at 6680-6687 Royal Way
Project Number: AS 21-17; Z 21-05; TM 21-04
Project Title: Royal Way Townhomes
Project Applicant: TMP Royal Way, LLC
Project Location: Located at 6680-6687 Royal Way
Assessor Parcel No. APN 799-44-93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 101, 109 & 110
Gilroy City Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Royal Way Townhomes Architectural and Site
Review coming before you on November 21, 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 should include a 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/developer for adding bike parking around the site. We encourage using the inverted “U”
bike racks which are the most efficient for maximizing the number of bikes in a limited space
and our city standard. We highly recommend that you include language to future residents to
encourage bike parking in the garages (i.e. Gurries Townhomes). Thank you for the mentioning
of bike parking around the project, a new sidewalk enhancing the pedestrian experience around
the site, 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 Royal Way
Townhomes 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 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.Thank you for
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.
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 to
enhance pedestrian and bicycle access to transit?
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, we have the opportunity to
shift riders towards transit through a robust Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
program?
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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?
Transit Service- The nearest VTA bus stops serving the development are Route 86
(Gavilan College/Downtown Gilroy) located at the intersection of Princevalle/Johnson, .17
miles east of the project site, Route 568 Rapid stops are located at Gilroy Transit Rail
Station .85 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 5:54am ·
6:31am · 6:52am. 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 86 (Gavilan College/Downtown Gilroy) .17 miles away, 568 Rapid and 121 Express transit
stop .85 miles away, Gilroy Transit Rail Station .85 miles away, bike parking 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 Clipper Card, VTA Passes or VTA’s Smart Pass
https://www.vta.org/go/fares/smartpass (The Smart 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. Smart 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 Smart Pass holders to take a
taxi home if they need to leave work in the middle of the day.)
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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• 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 Royal Way Townhomes 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)
GilrovBPACaamail com
httDs://www.facebook.com/GilrovBPAC
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
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