June 3, 2014 Dear Kentfield/Greenbrae Neighbors, I appreciate the continued interest and involvement on the part of so many Ross Valley residents regarding the Larkspur Landing Station Area planning (LSAP) proposal. Your engagement and participation are key to ensuring that decisions around this important land-use issue avoid negative impact to the immediate area and the broader community. I have been very clear in my statements, and in all communications, that the LSAP area is already at overcapacity and cannot handle increased development of any kind. Traffic, circulation, transit connectivity, bike and safety issues must be addressed before additional development is considered. The silver lining of the LSAP process has been to help focus attention on existing challenges. We can use the process, and the broad community attention, to advocate for improvements. This communication is to provide a status update on the Larkspur Station Area Plan process. Formal comment on the adequacy of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) closed yesterday, June 2. The Larkspur Council is continuing to accept comments on the merits of the project. I requested that relevant county departments and agencies provide comment on the Draft EIR and have attached those letters below. I also include comment letters from the Kentfield Planning Advisory Board, Golden Gate Bridge District, and my own comment letter (submitted in writing on May 28, and verbally at May 22 Larkspur Planning Commission/City Council meeting). On Wednesday, June 18, at 6:30pm at Hall Middle School, the Larkspur City Council will hold a public meeting during which it shall conduct a workshop to discuss the Draft SMART Station Area Plan. The purpose of this workshop is for the City Council to receive a report from staff about the status of the Draft SMART Station Area Plan, including a summary of public input to date. The Council will have the opportunity to engage staff in a discussion about the options available to the City at this point in the process. The Council may give direction to staff, including whether any alternatives other than those currently discussed in the plan documents should be examined. The City Council will not be voting to approve or deny the Draft Station Area Plan or its associated Draft EIR during this meeting. Visit the Larkspur website for more information.
PG. 2 OF 3 Comment Letters Attached Supervisor Rice: Primary focus on need to address existing traffic and circulation issues before considering increased development of any kind Kentfield Planning Advisory Board: Primary focus on project impacts with regards to traffic and circulation throughout SFD corridor and in context of future demand County of Marin Public Works Department: Primary focus on traffic/congestion, levels of service, existing conditions analysis, proposed mitigations for significant traffic/congestion issues Marin Transit Agency: Primary focus on public transit routes, connectivity and infrastructure analysis, improvements and mitigations Transportation Authority of Marin: Primary focus on integrated trans/land-use planning Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District: Primary focus on analysis of impact of project on ferry operations Next Steps I will continue to stay abreast of this important issue, participating in the formal public discussion and process, advocating for transit/traffic/congestion relief improvements in advance of consideration of any level of future development in the area, and beginning discussions with colleagues throughout the County about how to approach land-use planning in a more coordinated, cooperative cross-jurisdictional manner. I will also continue to listen carefully to you, to work with electeds and community leaders from neighboring jurisdictions, and to advocate for thoughtful, inclusive planning. Importantly, I will keep you updated on the Larkspur Station Area Plan process, meeting dates and important developments. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call me at: 415-473-7825 or email to krice@marincounty.org. Sincerely, Katie Rice Contact Info: Supervisor Katie Rice 415-473-7825 krice@marincounty.org
PG. 3 OF 3 District 2 Aides: Sandy Laird 415-473-6159 slaird@marincounty.org Nancy Vernon 415-473-7351 nvernon@marincounty.org
May 22, 2014 Comments made by Supervisor Katie Rice to Joint Meeting of Larkspur Planning Commission and Larkspur Town Council regarding the Larkspur Station Area Plan DEIR I come before you today representing the residents of the Ross Valley, most specifically those of unincorporated Greenbrae and Kentfield. While Larkspur Landing does not fall within my district s boundaries, it is directly contiguous to these communities. Development of any kind, residential or commercial, that generates increased traffic in the Larkspur Station planning area will have direct implications for residents of Greenbrae and Kentfield, and in fact for all Ross Valley residents and beyond. I appreciate your openness in inviting and welcoming broad community input. While local land use authority does rest with Larkspur, I know you agree that it is vitally important that decisions around land use and transportation that are made for the area, take into account impact on neighboring communities and seek to improve existing conditions versus exacerbate an already intolerable traffic and congestion situation. I view the LSAP process an important opportunity to address the current challenges around traffic and congestion, circulation, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access, safety and connectivity as well as to plan for the future arrival of the SMART train. The DEIR and our own experience tells us unequivocally, that Larkspur Landing, the Redwood Highway area, and Sir Francis Drake both east and west of Larkspur Landing, cannot handle existing traffic demand, let alone any increase. Our personal experience, as well as common sense, tell us that there are parking, circulation, as well as pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure issues that demand attention now, with or without additional housing or commercial development. Every alternative studied in the DEIR, including the no project alternative showed increases to traffic, congestion and demand for services, even with fully-realized mitigations. For an area already over-booked, whether those increases in traffic hit the CEQA significant impact threshold or not, is irrelevant to community members living with the consequences of over-prescribed, insufficient, and unsafe transportation infrastructure.
PG. 2 OF 2 While local authority over local land use decisions is the law of the land, and something Marin County jurisdictions and residents greatly revere, I believe that we all, as community leaders and community members, have a greater awareness now more than ever of our need to consider the broader implications of decisions we make per local land use. Traffic, like flood waters or fire, does not recognize jurisdictional boundaries. I applaud Larkspur for being prospective with regards to planning for the future coming of SMART, and also for building into the purpose statement of the plan, the goal of addressing and improving current circulation, bike/ped/auto, as well as parking, transit connectivity and access. This planning, addressing, existing challenges as well as anticipating future needs is critical. Indeed, these goals of improving traffic, circulation, and transit connectivity at this most highly congested local arterial and regional crossroads should be the priority objectives of this planning process and should be one the broader community embraces. We all, Larkspur, Corte Madera, the Ross Valley communities and beyond, have an interest in resolving the traffic/congestion issues in this area. There is an opportunity with the LSAP process to do something very good for Larkspur, for the contiguous communities of Greenbrae and Kentfield, and for the broader community, but it will requires that we work together - Larkspur, Corte Madera, San Rafael, the county, transit and transportation agencies - to resolve current challenges and to put in place the infrastructure necessary to support existing and future mobility needs. We should not be contemplating future additional growth in the area, until there is a plan in place to deal with these existing challenges. I believe, we are up to the task. I offer you tonight, assurance of my support and cooperation in achieving these goals. #####
Kentfield Planning Advisory Board P.O. Box 304, Kentfield, California 94914 Meeting 2 nd and 4 th Wednesdays, 7:30 PM, College of Marin Deedy Lounge May 30, 2014 Larkspur City Council Larkspur Planning Commission c/o Neal Toft, Planning and Building Director City of Larkspur 400 Magnolia Avenue Larkspur, CA 94939 RE: Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the Larkspur Station Area Plan (LSAP) Dear Larkspur City Council and Planning Commission Members, As your neighbors in the unincorporated areas of Kentfield and Greenbrae, we have reviewed the DEIR for the Larkspur Station Area Plan. Its content gives us serious concern regarding the possible impact changes in density in the Larkspur Landing area will have on traffic and circulation in the Sir Francis Drake Corridor. We urge you to take this opportunity to pause before making any changes to the Larkspur General Plan to increase density. Take advantage of the information in the DEIR related to traffic and circulation to make substantial improvements to the Larkspur Landing area. Please consider: 1. Anyone who travels near the Larkspur Landing has seen significant traffic increases in the vicinity in the last few years. An EIR is not required for all of us who live in the area of Corte Madera Creek to recognize the continuous increase in congestion: vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian. 2. Marin General Hospital s (MGH) expansion The plans for the first phase of the MGH expansion project, the building of a parking garage, were submitted to the Community Development Agency of the County of Marin in April 2014. Other submissions will follow over the next few years, including plans for two acute care hospital buildings, a second garage, and an ambulatory services building. Per the MGH EIR completed in 2013, in 2010 89% of the 1669 employees of MGH traveled to the hospital in single occupancy vehicles for an average commute of 19.2 miles. One can logically conclude that the majority traveled through the SFD/US-101 intersection. MGH proposes the new buildings will add 443 new employees, and two new traffic signals are a part of their plan for Bon Air Road. 3. The plans for a hotel and 125 living units on the Ross Valley Sanitary District site have been set aside for the time being, but the potential is still there. This area of Larkspur Landing has inadequate pedestrian and bicycle circulation paths for those who live and frequent the area. For many they must walk and push their baby strollers in the street. 4. The parking for the Ferry service is inadequate and is putting pressure on the success of the Marin Country Mart and the local businesses because potential customers are discouraged by the significant traffic in the area and the inability to find a place to park. Page 1 of 2
5. The lack of a direct freeway-to-freeway connection from northbound US-101 to I-580 forces connecting traffic onto surface streets. This problem must be solved. Larkspur will become the transportation hub of Marin County with the Ferry, the Marin Airporter, SMART, and the improved bus connections that would logically follow. Despite this public transportation, the reality is that most Marin residents, and visitors coming from the East Bay areas, must use their cars to get around, and many must pass through Larkspur Landing. Improvements to parking and circulation for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles is critical. We strongly recommend that you use the information in this DEIR as an opportunity to seek and to expand the solutions to the existing traffic and circulation issues before you move to modify the Larkspur General Plan to increase density. With kind regards from your neighbors, Anne Petersen, Chairman Kentfield Planning Advisory Board Cc: Sandy Guldman Mary Sylla Dale Hansen Pamela Scott Alan Derwin Eva Long Ann Thomas Jack Valinoti Kathy Goldsmith Supervisor Katie Rice Page 2 of 2
711 grand ave, #110 san rafael, ca 94901 ph: 415.226.0855 fax: 415.226.0856 marintransit.org June 2, 2014 Neal Toft, Planning and Building Director City of Larkspur 400 Magnolia Avenue Larkspur, CA 94939 Dear Mr. Toft: judy arnold president supervisor district 5 kathrin sears vice president supervisor district 3 madeline kellner 2nd vice president city of novato susan l. adams director supervisor district 1 steve kinsey director supervisor district 4 stephanie moulton-peters director city of mill valley katie rice director supervisor district 2 Marin Transit has reviewed the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Larkspur Station Area Plan (SAP) and has identified areas where plan-related transit elements and proposed mitigations can support future transit service improvements. The District supports the SAP s overall goal of an integrated and attractive multimodal system for all users. The DEIR should include Marin Transit as a participant on the SAP Technical Advisory Committee (Section III.E.1 page 45). The first two objectives of the Plan are to: Increase and support transit ridership and reduce vehicle miles traveled, and Increase walking, bicycling, carpooling, car sharing, local transit and other transportation options for people in the area. Since the initial development of the SAP, the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) significantly altered the transit circulation and supportive infrastructure elements integral to the Greenbrae Corridor Project. TAM took action in September 2013. The SAP recommendations for pedestrian and traffic circulation should be revisited in light of TAM s approved Greenbrae strategies and subsequent findings. On pages 99-100, the DEIR should clarify that Golden Gate Transit operates Route 28 and 29 as Marin Transit s contractor and that Marin Transit is responsible for all local bus service within the County. Golden Gate Transit is responsible for commute routes and regional bus service on Highway 101. Whistlestop operates regional and local paratransit services under contract to Marin Transit. Note also that Marin Transit canceled the Route 222 shuttle in September 2013, which the DEIR describes on page 100. There appears to be an error to the note under Table VI: B-10 page 120, The actual roadway segment 060214 comments on draft eir for larkspur station area plan 1
studied in the CMP is located between College Avenue and Wolfe Grade, to the west of the Larkspur SMART Plan area. The DEIR notes that the heaviest pedestrian activity occurs at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal Bridge and the NB 101 off ramp at Corte Madera Creek. Safe pedestrian pathways and connections are necessary to attract and support increased transit use. Marin Transit recommends improved pedestrian access to and from the current westbound Route 29 bus stop located at the north side of Sir Francis Drake across from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal and near the Ferry Terminal Bridge. Marin Transit also supports traffic system management and roadway infrastructure improvements to reduce congestion delays for regional and local bus services. Reducing transit travel times increases service efficiency and will attract new riders. Specifically, Marin Transit supports the DEIR mitigation to address TRANS-2, summarized in Table II-1 and presented on IV. B.2 page 135. Add a short auxiliary lane to serve as a third eastbound through lane on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard approaching Eliseo Drive through to the U.S. 101 southbound on-ramp. This improvement would be consistent with recommendations in the County of Marin General Plan and TAM Resolution 10 from the September 26, 2013 Transportation Authority of Marin Board Meeting. Marin Transit supports the Transportation Demand Management strategies recommended in the SAP and DEIR. In addition, deploying a cohesive wayfinding system and improved signage will support use of alternative transportation modes in the Plan area. Just as the Plan works towards an integrated circulation system addressing all modes, signage is needed that indicates pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities with information on SMART station access, bus stop locations, and routing of bus services. Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on this important plan for the future of the Larkspur Station Area, including Larkspur Landing, and to review the recommendations discussed in the DEIR. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding our comments or if I can provide any assistance. You can reach me at 415 226-0859. Sincerely, Amy Van Doren Director of Policy & Legislative Programs cc: Supervisor Katie Rice Nancy Vernon, Aide to Supervisor Rice Barbara Duffy, Interim General Manager Robert Betts, Planning Manager 060214 comments on draft eir for larkspur station area plan 2