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Home My WebLink About08 07 2025 Item 6.1 Two Industrial Buildings Myraoka Dr - Gilroy BPAC August 3, 2025 Re: Two Industrial Speculative Buildings Muraoka Dr Architectural and Site Review Project Number: AS 24-16 Project Title: Bruno and Taormina Family Project Applicant: Joe Torquato representing Cypress Development Project Location: 8831 and 8841 Muraoka Drive Assessor Parcel No. 831-31-015 and 831-31-016 Gilroy Planning Commissioners, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Two Industrial Speculative Buildings 8831 and 8841 Muraoka Dr 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 bike parking 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 1 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. This project connects to Forrest and Murray which are designated by the General Plan 2040 as a Pedestrian-Oriented Street. We thank city staff, consultant, and applicant for providing short and long term bike parking, TDM programs, street trees, and sidewalks. We have the following recommendations and comments based on the Two Industrial Speculative Buildings Muraoka Dr 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 Become a Bicycle Friendly Business for Visitors and Employees, 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. 2 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 Hexagon Analysis- We agree with their recommendations on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Mitigations to include TDM programs, and are excited to see the City of Gilroy implement their own Bike Parking Ordinance and VMT/TDM Ordinance so that future developments don’t have to continue to rely on VTA. 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 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. Existing Transit Services- The nearest VTA bus stops serving the development are Frequent Route 68 (15 minute headway Monterey Rd/Leavesley Rd) less than 1/2 mile west of the project site. Local Route 85 (1 hour headway Murray/Leavesley Rd) less than 1/2 mile east of the project site. Route 568 Rapid stops located at Gilroy Transit Center. You can take your bike with you or park it at an e-locker at the Gilroy Transit Center. 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)1. 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.2 Sincerely, Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Gilroy BPAC) GilroyBPAC@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/GilroyBPAC 2 https://mst.org/wp-content/media/59.pdf 1 https://www.vta.org/faq/how-do-i-start-riding-vta 3 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 4