Board Packet 01 18 06 - Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit - Home Page

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The plan also amended the C-2-PD Zoning District (the district in place on the SMART property at the time, since updated). The District is focused on specialty retail uses on the first floor, with the potential for residential, office, or other uses on upper floors to support the ground-floor retail. The Railroad Square Plan highlighted the potential of the SMART property to provide parking for the greater Railroad Square area. The property was identified as having the capacity for up to 260 parking spaces. 5.4 Market Context SMART’s consultants conducted a preliminary assessment of the market for various land uses at the Railroad Square site in early 2005. The analysis identified retail and housing as offering the greatest market potential over the short term. A mixed-use retail and residential project was found to provide a number of benefits to SMART and the Santa Rosa community, including: • Providing needed goods and services to project and area residents and rail passengers, • Decreasing the number of vehicle trips out of the area for shopping, • Contributing additional retail space to the Railroad Square shopping district, • Linking the project to the district across the railroad tracks, and • Generating activity around the station and open space component. Furthermore, a ground floor retail component along the continuation of 4 th Street is expected to contribute significantly to the vitality and overall success of the project, as well as connecting the project to the rest of Railroad Square. The analysis recommended a minimum of 20,000 square feet of ground floor retail along the continuation of 4 th Street. The analysis also recommended the inclusion of at least 12,700 square feet of open space or plaza at the center of the site. 6. Programming Elements Although there is no fixed development program for the SMART property, there are programming elements that are strongly preferred by SMART. These elements reflect SMART Board policies and objectives as well as input from members of the local community. While SMART understands that not all of the desired elements may be included in the final development, these elements should be taken into consideration by the development teams. The programming elements fall into four categories: (1) site access and circulation, (2) land use considerations, (3) development intensity and massing, and (4) architecture and design. These elements are described in more detail below. 6.1 Site Access and Circulation Site access and circulation are key considerations in making the SMART site function as both a transit hub and as a transit-supportive development, while at the same time addressing the site’s relationship to surrounding neighborhoods. The following paragraphs set out the circulation goals and discuss the site’s constraints. General Vehicular Access The narrow frontage of the SMART property on 3 rd Street and the proximity of both the railroad and the Cannery Project to the west present constraints to site access (the issue of an access easement for the Cannery Project is discussed below). The City of Santa Rosa has concerns about a new intersection on the western edge of the SMART property due to the small stacking space for left turns between the driveway access to the Cannery Project. For this reason, the preferred location for a new vehicular access point to Request for Proposals for Joint Development at Railroad Square -9-
the SMART property is at the eastern edge of the property. Due to the proximity of this location to the rail line, however, the detailed design of this intersection is an issue that SMART will work to resolve with the selected development team and the City. The City has concurred with this general approach for access between the site and 3 rd Street. There should be an effort to minimize cut-through traffic traveling between 3rd Street and 6th Street, while still providing access to uses within the property, including the transit station. Some techniques for discouraging through traffic could include pinch-points, bulb outs, or strong pedestrian crossings on through streets. Proposals should avoid new vehicular track crossings aligned with 4 th and 5 th Streets. Consideration should be given in proposals to accommodating loading areas for retail uses in ways that do not disrupt the continuity of pedestrian access to the site. Transit Access The commuter rail station is expected to act as a multi-modal transportation hub, and should consequently serve as a focal point for SMART’s development. The station’s rail passenger platforms should be accessible for bus, shuttle, taxi and “kiss and ride” connections. Development teams should identify space for 6 bus bays, two van pool / shuttles bays, and several taxis and 12 auto pickup/drop-off stalls. Some of these spaces could be used as on-street parking prior to rail service implementation, and during periods of the day when service is not provided. The rail platforms are currently planned to start near 6 th Street and extend to the south. Existing bus routes and discussions with local transit providers suggest that the majority of buses will enter from 3 rd Street traveling towards 6 th Street. Development teams can assume that this is the primary transit circulation pattern, but designs should also consider the potential for transit vehicles to enter on 6 th Street traveling towards 3 rd Street. While there is no precise location required for these transit access elements, close proximity to the rail platforms is desirable. Lastly, a local shuttle service connecting Railroad Square with Downtown or other destinations would be a desirable amenity. A commitment by the developer to fund such a service, especially prior to passenger rail implementation, would be favorably factored into the proposal evaluation. Bicycle Access Along with passenger rail service, SMART is planning a pedestrian and bicycle route that runs the length of the rail corridor. While the planned pedestrian and bicycle facility does not pass directly through the station site, the site should be reasonably traversable to cyclists passing through in a north-south direction. Also, the rail station should also be generally accessible to those who arriving by bicycle from the surrounding area. This station is one of several in the planned SMART system that have the potential to include a “bike station”, a staffed bicycle parking, maintenance and/or retail facility. The responses to this RFP should include a scenario for accommodating roughly 1,500 square foot facility as a free standing building or integrated into the ground floor commercial space of the project. While the final dimensions of the potential “bike stations” have not been determined, this size estimate should provide a good basis for design. Pedestrian Orientation The SMART site should have a pedestrian friendly orientation throughout, and include sidewalks, visible crosswalks and other pedestrian amenities. The development should be accessible to the public, with a particular emphasis on pedestrian access to SMART’s rail platforms. SMART intends to design and build platforms along both sides of its double track. These platforms will allow for pedestrian and bicycle crossings aligned with 4 th Street and possibly with 5 th Street. The Cannery Project includes public pedestrian access connecting from Santa Rosa Creek to the SMART property along the back of the Cannery building, aligned with the historic water tower structure and the 4 th Street alignment. Connections to this public space should be included in development proposals to the extent feasible. Access to the adjacent Cannery Project Request for Proposals for Joint Development at Railroad Square -10-
Page 1 and 2: I. Call to Order AGENDA: SMART DIST
Page 3 and 4: I Call to Order MINUTES OF SMART BO
Page 5 and 6: Regarding housing, Ms. Belzer refer
Page 7 and 8: XIV Consent Agenda Chair Jehn state
Page 9 and 10: M E M O R A N D U M DATE: January 1
Page 11 and 12: 2. The loan obligations by SMART wi
Page 13 and 14: 12. This Agreement shall not be con
Page 15 and 16: M E M O R A N D U M DATE: January 1
Page 17 and 18: Changes to Railroad Square RFP (12/
Page 19 and 20: Changes to Railroad Square RFP (12/
Page 21 and 22: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction .
Page 23 and 24: Figure 1 SMART Corridor Map Request
Page 25 and 26: Some potential mechanisms to involv
Page 27: District is 35 feet and two stories
Page 31 and 32: 6.2 Land Use Considerations There a
Page 33 and 34: Local Hiring for Construction Phase
Page 35 and 36: 5. Public Involvement Please provid
Page 37 and 38: -- any commitment to fund a local c
Page 40 and 41: SITE PHOTOS (Viewed from the East)
Page 42 and 43: APPENDIX B ADDITIONAL MAPS AND PHOT
Page 44 and 45: Page 2 2. Relationship with Local G
Page 46 and 47: Page 4 3. Party of Record on Dispos
Page 50 and 51: APPENDIX D SAMPLE EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIA
Page 52 and 53: developing the Lease, and to compen
Page 54 and 55: If to the AGENCY: Sonoma-Marin Rail
Page 56 and 57: APPENDIX E MINIMUM BUSINESS TERMS R
Page 58 and 59: Assignment. SMART will have a reaso
Page 60 and 61: MINIMUM CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS The
Page 62: 9) Have any contractors or subcontr

Board Packet 01 18 06 - Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit - Home Page

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