WGNA-PLANNING AND LAND USE COMMITTEE UPDATE REPORT

        Development located at/on Southeast corner of Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street:  The Planning Commission approved the development and is recommending City Council approve development PDC09-016 rezoning the real property @ 1098 Lincoln Ave. from CP Commercial Zoning District to CP PD Commercial Zoning District to allow 58,401 Sq.Ft. of commerical uses Offices and Retail with attached two story parking structure. City Council Public Hearing January 26,2010 Item 11.3.

        Developer has applied for ''LEED Building Certification-Goal Award" "Leadership In energy and Environmental Design".

Willow Street Street-scape Improvements: With funds from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Willow Street will undergo a major street-sidewalk resurfacing from Blewett Ave. to and including the replacement of the bridge at the Guadalupe River near intersection of Willow and Minnesota.Work to begin this spring. 

San Jose Public Works Dept. will be removing shrubs in the Median at Willow Street @ Bord Avenue and replace the shrubs with trees. Additional trees along Willow Street east of Lincoln Ave. are being considered.

      Minnesota/Alma Street Improvements: With Funds from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Street-scape improvements will begin at the intersection of Little Orchard Street@ Alma Street west along Alma/Minnesota to the intersection of Alma/Minnesota near Union Pacific R.R. crossing. Bike lanes will be added.

California High Speed Rail: HSR recently announced that consideration of a underground alignment will remain in the Alternative Alignment (possible route) study for the next phase of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) review process; leaving 3 options to be studied: 1) current UPRR - CalTrain right of way, 2) an elevated alignment over the I-280-87 interchange using 87 and 280 space to minimize impact on neighborhoods, and then, 3) an underground alignment. Coty of S.J. Staff, HSR  and members of the community are working closely to understand risks, costs and benefits of each.

     See WGNA Position Paper on HSR. This system is an important source for economic growth for the City of San Jose. Every opportunity we have to work with staff to see this program a reality will be supported.

Electrification of Cal-Train: Caltrain CEO Michael Scanlon announced at last weeks meeting of JPB meeting that the federal Government has granted environmental approval for Cal-Train electrification. Approval is a big step forward from the Federal Government to electrification.Cal-Train began environmental clearance 25 years ago, and has been waiting for 9 years for funding issues.

Truck Routes: San Jose has plans for establishing truck routes in many areas of the City. Willow Glen-Willow Street is under consideration for alternate routes for trucks.

 Ohlone Development/Green Republic of San Jose: Development at Auzerais-Sunol-San Carlos Blvd.,Mixed-Use TOD with approx.8.25v acres, is again on hold, pending solutions on several issues.Live-work space has been canceled (15,000 sq.ft.) and retail has been expanded from 15,000 sq.ft. to 30,000sq. ft.. Architect designs must be submitted. Height of all three towers is a concern because of public safety and the expansion of the S.J. International Airport and OEI standards vs. FAA standards.

     Park Site:Serious contamination problems, Parks Dept has refused to receive the 3.9 acre proposed park site until developer removes contaminated dirt. W.G. and the Burbank-Del Monte NAC residents need this park. This proposed park will join the 2.2 acre Del Monte Park (which includes a dog park).

    TOD plans are on hold,the proposed San Carlos Light Rail Station has been canceled due to lack of VTA funds.

Green Print 2009: Plan has been approved.Willow Glen-Bike lanes have been added  to the plans for Lincoln Avenue in Green Print 2009 hard copy,figure 4. Bike lanes on Lincoln Ave begin at Park Avenue and follow Lincoln Ave.south to Husted Ave. This Lincoln Ave bike lane will connect with bike lanes at San Carlos Blvd.-Willow Srtreet-Minnesota-Curtner Ave.These Bike lane additions are part of the City of San Jose Plans to expand the bike lanes to 500 miles within the City, and become a "bicycle-pedestrian friendly city'', encourage multi-model forms of transportation, and reduce dependence on  increased automobile traffic. 

Main Street Classification: W.G.`s Lincoln Avenue has been given a "Main Street Classification" by S.J.DOT.Lincoln has been confirmed as a "Minor Arterial Street''. 

             "Main Streets are roadways hat are located along the City`s Planned and identified Growth areas where the city  envisions increased density of commercial and residential development.The Main Street physical form supports many transportation modes,with significant emphasis given to pedestrian activity. M.S.`s are streets on which high volumes of pedestrian traffic are encouraged on adjacent sidewalks.Each main Street should reflect the key characteristics of surrounding neighborhoods.Sidewalks should be wide with ample pedestrian amenities, including street trees,high quality landscaping ,pedestrian curb extensions or bulb-outs and enhanced street crossings.Signals should be timed to minimize pedestrian delay.Pedestrian crossings should have high priority.Street buildings should have high levels of pedestrian interest''.

Grand Boulevards: "Meridian Avenue" and the "Alameda" have been designated by the City as "Grand Boulevards".

            "Grand Boulevards" serve as major transportation corridors that connect City neighborhoods.In most cases these are primary routes for VTA Light Rail,bus rapid transit (BRT) and standard community buses as well as other transportation vehicles.Exclusive transit lanes,are provided, including automobiles,bicycles, and trucks, but if there are conflicts,transit has priority.Pedestrians are accommodated with ample wide sidewalks on both sides, and pedestrian amenities are enhanced around transit stops".

Diridon Station Area Development Good Neighbor Committee update: The next meeting of this committee will be January 27,2010 at City Hall Wing rooms, first floor @ 6:00pm. The December 7th 2009 meeting, the committee listened to the presentation by the high Speed Rail staff.Committee was told the below grade option had been dropped from the EIR. A vote was taken of committee members prior to the end of the meeting,resulting in 100% of the committee members requesting the "below grade option study be done and become part of the EIR'. Diridon Station plans for a facility to be able to handle 600 trains per week, including;CalTrain,Ace Trail,Amtrack, Light Rail,High Speed Rail,and BART. A S.J. Airport  Connector rail from Diridon Station,is planned. The system used in Copenhagen denmark is being considered.

    No new news on the Ballpark. The EIR report was returned, incomplete.We expect a new complete EIR soon.

Trails update: The S.J. Parks & Rec. Commission has unanimously adopted Save Our Trails wording for preservation of the trail alignment. Councilperson Pierluigi Oliverio`s interest in revival of the fund raising focus group with Friends of the Guadalupe and SOT.Developer Michael Mulcahay`s has agreed to support the Spur Trail Corridor as a property owner.The Greenprint 2009 has kept the Three Creeks Trail alignment on the Willow Glen Spur Trail.

   WGNA P&LU Committee has approved and gained WGNA Board approval of a position paper on Willow Glen Spur Trail/TCT and Stucco Supply Co. Hearing-see web site for more information Date of paper August 20, 2009.

   June 18th the Mayor,City Council and Parks & Rec. Dept confirmed the construction plans for the Los Gatos Creek Trail along the planned new Autumn Parkway & Los Gatos Creek from Santa Clara Street near the H.P.Pavilion to San Carlos Blvd. and took committee members of the DDAGN Committee on a walking tour. The link of this segment of the Los Gatos Creek Trail across San Carlos Blvd. near Orchard Supply is waiting for the direction of the HSR.

Saint Elizabeth Park Opening in WG: November 21,2009 Willow Glen received a turn creek park. The dedication was highlighted by speeches from Mayor Reed,Supervisor Ken Yeager,Council Person Pierluigi Oliverio, and District six leadership Chair person Randi Kinman. Representing Willow Glen were Richard Zappelli WGNA P&LU Committee and Past President of the WGNA Larry Ames.

VTA in Willow Glen: Alex Byers owner of the new development at Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street is incorporating in his planned development a new VTA buss "duck out" along with new wide sidewalk improvements. This improvement should improve traffic congestion east bound at this intersection while increasing VTA ridership. The positioning of the new bus stop is designed to protect residents enjoying a sense of place outdoor dinning plaza from bus particulate matter from diesel fumes.

Envision 2040 update: Goals adopted,"plan for people,not just cars.create a walkable City.Build out to 500 plus bike lanes. Integrate Land Use and transportation Departments creating a integrating City. Reduce Green House Gasses. Promote land use that gets people out of their cars.Truck route throughout the City.New way of looking at our streets,"Complete street concepts".

Mayer Electric/Rubino Property Development: Southwest corner of Meridian Ave. and San Carlos Blvd. Project is on hold,pending financing.

Sunol Court Development: Denied zoning change. Property located across from the proposed Green Republic Ohlone Development located at intersection of Auzerais-Sunol-San Carlos Blvd.

JHC 1/24/10