Agenda Item # 6.1 - Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Gilroy BPAC) | Received 07/18/2023July 17, 2023
Re: Architectural and Site Review (AS)
Project Number: AS 22-06
Project Title: McKim Headquarters
Project Applicant: Santino Orozco
Project Location: Located at 8820 MURAOKA DRIVE
Assessor Parcel No. APN 835-31-028
Gilroy Planning Commission,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the McKim Headquarters Architectural and Site
Review (AS). Comments below are based on the review of the AS. 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.
This project should include a robust Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program that
leverages nearby transit, bike lanes, 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. Thank you to staff for their great analysis
and recommendations.
We have the following recommendations and comments based on the McKim
Headquarters Architectural and Site Review (AS) and our General Plan 2040 Mobility-
REACH Code for Electric Vehicle (EV)-Gilroy’s 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.
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
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.
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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 this bike fixit station at a Public Outdoor Feature or near the bike
parking. This would add to the current network throughout the City.
https://www.dero.com/product/fixit/
General Plan Consistency-We agree with the following recommendations, and support the
City of Gilroy implementing their own Bike Parking Ordinance and VMT/TDM Ordinance so that
future developments don’t have to continue to rely on VTA.
-6-foot sidewalks and a total of 12 trees with seven (7) along the street frontage, two (2) at
the parking lot entry and three (3) between parking and property line.
-Bicycle Parking. The use will provide a minimum two (2) bike short term and one (1)
covered long term bicycle parking space. The racks shall be “inverted U,” style and
should be located near the building entrance (i.e., within constant visual range) unless it
is demonstrated that they create a public hazard or locating them there is otherwise
infeasible. If space is unavailable near building entrances, the racks must be designed so
that the lock is protected from physical assault. This complies with building code
requirements for such parking calculated based on 5% of vehicle parking. If parking is
expanded, additional facilities will be required.Provide clarification to the applicant that
these are inverted “U” style bike racks as written in the conditions. On packet page 25 the
drawings show a “wave” style bike rack which is no longer a city standard.
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.Support. 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 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?
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?
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 Frequent Route 68
(Monterey Rd/Leavesley Rd) and Local Route 85 (Forest/Leavesley Rd) both less than one-half
mile south 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. Three trains leave the Downtown Gilroy Transit Center at
5:54am · 6:31am · 6:52am. You can take your bike with you or park it at a locker at the Gilroy
Transit Center. 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)
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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.
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
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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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.)
● Expand Outthink’s Project Chrysalis E-Bike Program with the purchase of e-bikes or a
pool of e-bikes for rideshare in a central hub for the project.
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● Provide updated city bike maps to all employees/contractors from management in
correspondence.
● Provide routes to major transit connections, parks, schools, shopping, and restaurants.
● Annual presentation to the McKim 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,
Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Gilroy BPAC)
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://svcleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/CityChrysalis_FinalReport_29Mar2022_digital.pdf
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