Community Meeting #1: Project Kick Off

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1 Community Meeting #1: Project Kick Off November 17, 2015

2 What are 3 things you like about Downtown Gilroy that you want to hold onto in the future? Please write them down and share with us!

3 Tonight s Meeting Welcome and Introductions Station Area Plan Project Overview Questions and Comments Small Group Discussions: Opportunities and Constraints Report Back Next Steps

4 Project Background: California High-Speed Rail Electrified Caltrain between San Francisco and San Jose (and potentially Gilroy) by Business Plan assumes that HSR will be in operation by 2026

location and alignment City Council and community identified Downtown as the preferred station location and favored

5 Project Background: Visioning process High-Speed Train Visioning Project from 2011 to 2012 Evaluate two locations for a Gilroy HSR station and several options for the alignment configuration Identify the best possible station location and alignment City Council and community identified Downtown as the preferred station location and favored modified at-grade vertical alignment CHSRA will select preferred alignment on completion of the EIR in late 2017 or early 2018

6 Project Background: Downtown Gilroy Station Area Plan Run by the City of Gilroy Funded by grant from CHSRA to study and plan to accommodate HSR Downtown Gilroy 2005 Downtown Specific Plan will be reviewed and updated

Purpose of Project Identify opportunities and issues

Amend land use and transportation plans to accommodate

and solicit feedback Recommend changing land use and

7 Purpose of Project Identify opportunities and issues created by future HSR station and tracks in Gilroy Amend land use and transportation plans to accommodate HSR and maximize opportunities Explore alternatives and solicit feedback Recommend changing land use and development standards, circulation, and infrastructure systems

8 Project Area The Plan Area includes: the 2005 Downtown Gilroy Specific Plan area underutilized industrial areas in south Swanston Lane in north

9 Project and Community Meeting Schedule We are here! # Community meeting

Commission Study Sessions Online Engagement Project website at www.

10 Opportunities for Public Involvement Four Citizen Advisory Committee meetings Four Community Meetings Three City Council/Planning Commission Study Sessions Online Engagement Project website at Queremos saber lo qué piensa usted! Queremos escucharte!

11 Opportunities and Constraints Report Overview Land Use Existing Station Evaluation Market Overview Transportation and Parking Infrastructure Environmental Issues

12 Land Use Areas with potential for new development Density and land use changes A few buildings in Downtown with unreinforced masonry Historic buildings and landmarks New gateways Visual impacts from HSR alignment Impact of HSR tracks to existing structures and uses

area, and obscuring views Scale, massing, and architectural details of

13 Existing Caltrain Station Future projects should avoid alterations to interior, exterior, and within a 25-ft. area, and obscuring views Scale, massing, and architectural details of new surrounding buildings should complement the station Relocation can affect its historical qualities

14 Market Assessment The full positive economic effects of HSR will not be known until the system is operational The City should balance the desire for near/medium-term investment v. the economic benefit of HSR over the longterm Increases in Caltrain service in the short-term and highspeed rail service in the long-term will make Downtown housing more attractive to commuters HSR may allow Gilroy to capture a higher percentage of overflow lodging, provided car rental and good quality restaurants are available near the station

Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Provide wider and continuous sidewalks near the HSR station Enhance existing crossings and possibly add crossings at 9 th Street Provide adequate

15 Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Provide wider and continuous sidewalks near the HSR station Enhance existing crossings and possibly add crossings at 9 th Street Provide adequate bike access in the vicinity of the station Upgrade planned bike routes to dedicated on-street bike lanes or buffered bike lanes Tenth Street Eighth Street Seventh Street Third Street

16 Vehicle Access Additional freeway interchange capacity to accommodate regional freeway access to the Plan Area Tenth St./Pacheco Pass Hwy. Preserve existing railroad crossings and add additional crossings Expand LOS D area into other parts of the Plan Area to provide less autooriented environment Constraints due to existing traffic capacity North-south (e.g. Monterey Street) East-west across US 101 Sixth Street overcrossing General Plan proposals: Overcrossings for IOOF and Old Gilroy First St. extension New interchange at Buena Vista General Plan proposals

Transit and Parking With more rail services, access to Gilroy HSR station via transit could increase, reducing demand for parking and lessen traffic congestion Parking management plan required to

17 Transit and Parking With more rail services, access to Gilroy HSR station via transit could increase, reducing demand for parking and lessen traffic congestion Parking management plan required to accommodate future HSR demand and Downtown buildout HSR parking demand estimates: 1,800 to 3,000 spaces Short-term and long-term parking should be considered Remote HSR parking facilities could be located south of Tenth St. and other locations within 3- mile radius, but will require shuttle services Shared parking facilities to benefit various stakeholders and explore concentrated v. dispersed parking facilities

18 Environmental Issues Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions Siting of sensitive receptors (e.g. residential uses, day care centers) GHG reduction strategies Biological resources limited wildlife habitat value Cultural resources Preservation of Amah Mutsun cultural resources Infrastructure and sustainable solutions

19 Noise and Vibration Additional HSR movements would worse the already-noisy Downtown environment. HSR could increase noise levels by 1-2 db, assuming all trains will stop at Gilroy. A parapet wall would help reduce wheel/rail interaction noise The elevated railway should be a solid structure to prevent noise from escaping downward

20 Draft Opportunities and Constraints Report is available online at /documents/ Please provide comments online via website or to David Bischoff

21 Questions and Comments?

22 Small Group Discussions: Opportunities and Constraints Downtown Gilroy Four discussion topics 1) Economic Development 2) Land Use and Development 3) Transportation and Parking 4) Environmental Sustainability Find a table based on the topic you are interested in Report back

Study Session on alternative plans: February 2016

23 Next Steps Develop alternative land use and transportation plans City Council/Planning Commission Study Session on alternative plans: February 2016 Prepare an alternatives analysis report Community Meeting #2: June 2016

24 Community Meeting #1: Project Kick Off November 17, 2015

Station Area Plan Introduction & Draft Alternatives Review

Station Area Plan Introduction & Draft Alternatives Review City Council Meeting - February 22, 2016 Project Background: California High-Speed Rail San Jose to San Fernando Valley Segment CHSRA will select