Contractor's Yard (AS 23-18)November 1,2024
Re:Contractor's Yard Architectural and Site Review
Project Number:AS 23-18
Project Title:Contractor’s Yard
Project Applicant:William O'Neill for O'Neill Lath and Plastering Corp
Project Location:230/260 Las Animas Ave
Assessor Parcel No.835-02-061 &835-02-016
Gilroy Planning Commissioners,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Contractor's Yard Architectural and Site Review.
Comments below are based on the review of the Architectural and Site Review.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 and
future developments.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.
We are glad to see the inclusion of nearby transit,bike lanes,bike parking,and walking routes
to further reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)and greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions.With its
convenient location to transit,shopping,and 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 suggest all new construction
incorporate an all-electric model and be fossil fuel free in order to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
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
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Bicyclists,as well as recognized by the World Health Organization as an Age-Friendly
Community.Continuing to leverage our Measure B Education &Encouragement (E&E)funding
for established work plans/programs will further enhance Gilroy’s efforts.Measure B E&E Bike
to Work Day,Community Bike/Walks Counts,Community Engagement,General,Online Media
Campaign,and Safe Routes to School work plans.
While there might be portions of our city that are isolated from transit,this development is not in
one of those areas.Gilroy has a fully connected bike network and transit options.We have a
large population that works,visits,and attends schools in Gilroy that benefits from local transit
and rideshare.Gilroy has the vision that the glass is half full,we have the ability to innovate,and
adapt to programs that will further reduce our VMT.
Providing an incentive that rewards the effort of biking/walking/transit is important.We thank city
staff,consultant,and applicant for providing short and long term bike parking,street trees,and
the addition of a bike lane on Las Animas Ave.
We have the following recommendations and comments based on the Contractor's Yard
Architectural and Site Review and our General Plan 2040 Mobility-
REACH Code for Electric Vehicle (EV)-The recent adoption of the 2022 California Green
Building Standards Code pertaining to electric vehicle (EV)charging for new residential and
non-residential construction REACH codes for EV’s applies to this project or CALGreen Tier 2
whichever requires more.
Recommend Installation of Electric Vehicle (EV)Charging Stations as mitigation for the
Bay Area Air Quality Management District 2022 Consistency with GHG Reduction
Performance Standards-We recommend electric car charging stations with city and developer
partnership through such services as Chargepoint and EVgo with a total utilization of up to 10%
of the total parking spaces planned for this development.
Land Use and Location (VMT/vehicle charged):The type of land use (residential,
commercial,institutional,etc.)affects the character of vehicle trips (home-based,work-based,
and other)associated with the charger location.The location of the charger will influence the
amount of use,the types of trips,and the distance of trips that are facilitated for EV use.The
combination of land use and location determined the vehicle-miles traveled (VMT)associated
with home-based,work-based,or other based trips shifted from fossil fuel to EVs.There are
several different approaches to estimating VMT for use in estimating EVCS benefits.
Method 1:EVCS Charging Activity Approach.Under this method,VMT is estimated based on
the expected charging activity per day.This approach assumes that the GHG reductions for an
EVCS are only related to the charging activity.The electricity (in kWh)delivered by the charger
is converted to miles using the average efficiency of a battery electric engine (kwh/mile),which
is then used to estimate both fossil-fuel vehicle GHG emissions and EV GHG emissions.This
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approach requires estimation of daily charger use (see below),and EV GHG efficiency/mile to
establish associated mitigation.
Method 2:Location-Based VMT Approach.Under this method,VMT for EVs is based on the
land use and location of the EV charger,the number of vehicle charges per day,and vehicle
trips associated with that land use.For example,a residential EVCS would be assigned the
benefit of shifting all residential fossil-fuel vehicle VMT to EV VMT.Alternatively,the assumption
could be limited to home-based trip VMT.For non-residential development,VMT per charging
parking space would need to be estimated or VMT could be assigned based on work-trips only.
This approach requires estimation of VMT per residential vehicle or non-residential charging
space.This is the approach used in the three CAPs reviewed for EVCS benefit quantification.
Recommend Shower,Locker,&Dressing Facilities-Provide employee showers and
dressing areas for each gender.Provide dressing rooms for each gender and one locker for
each required long-term bicycle parking space.Required lockers shall be located in relation to
required showers and dressing areas to permit access to locker areas by either gender.
Recommend a Dero Bike Fixit Station with Air Kit Bike Pump and Public Outdoor Feature-
We recommend placing a bike fixit station near the required bike parking.This would add to the
current network throughout the City.https://www.dero.com/product/fixit/
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.
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 developments 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?Partnerships with cities are essential for
improving access to public transit.
Mobility 1.7:Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled.Reduce VMT and GHG emissions by
developing a transportation network that makes it convenient to use transit,ride a
bicycle,walk,or use other non-automobile modes of transportation.Support
Policy M 4.2.Transit and Development.Require new development to fully accommodate,
enhance,and facilitate public transit,including pedestrian and bicycle access to transit.
Support
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Policy M 5.3:Promote Non-Auto Modes of Transportation.Consider offering incentives
as part of a multimodal system approach,for projects that incorporate travel demand
management techniques and promote transit ridership,biking,and walking in order to
reduce air pollution,energy consumption,and GHG emission.Support
Existing Transit Services-The nearest VTA bus stops serving the development are Frequent
Route 68 (Monterey Rd/Las Animas Ave)less than 1/4 mile west of the project site.Route 568
Rapid stops and Route 121 Express Gilroy-Lockheed Martin located at Gilroy Transit Center.
Caltrain provides service from Gilroy to San Francisco (2-Hour Train Ride)Monday to Friday.
Four trains leave the Downtown Gilroy Transit Center at 5:52am ·6:31am ·6:52am ·7:31am.
You can take your bike with you or park it at a locker at the Gilroy Transit Center.You can take
your bike with you or park it at a locker at the Gilroy Transit Center 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.Bus service between Santa Clara County
and Monterey County with 4 round trips Mon-Fri on Bus Line 59 running between VTA’s Gilroy
Transit Center and Salinas Intermodal Transit Center/AMTRAK.3
Sincerely,
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 support building projects that are energy resilient and promote the
reduction of greenhouse gasses (GHG).We are seeking your input whether you are a BMX rider,trail
runner,recreational bike rider,MTB rider,walker,and hiker!#GilroyBPAC
3 https://mst.org/wp-content/media/59.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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