Summary of March 7 BCDC Meeting
Submitted by Beverley Gallaway
It was an interesting meeting. Not a clear win
for us, but our concept clearly influenced the Board's thinking. Here is my
interpretation of what transpired, and I look forward to the comments of
others in attendance.
- Toll presented its revised plan in a very nicely-done PowerPoint
presentation. There are 2 major features of their revision: 1) The Bay
Trail moves further east along the shoreline before heading north through the
project's interior, where it eventually connects with Brickyard Cove Road; 2)
The 9 buildings have been arranged along a grid, which by virtue of lining up
blocks of buildings, opens wider views of the water from BCRd. (This was one
of the principal criticisms by BCDC of Toll's last plan that they tried to
mitigate.
- Chris and Bruce Ross presented the CCC alternative plan, and
articulated how, by moving the road along the water, it obviates the need for
view corridors, and the gives Bay Trail its rightful location.
- Others from our group made excellent points in their public comments,
including Ed Durbin, John Glover, Margi Cellucci, and two people from the
Landing. Bruce Beyaert again endorsed a Bay Trail location along the water.
- The Design Review Board then discussed the project as we all watched
and listened. It was clear that they were drawn to our solution of moving
BCRd. By various questions they posed to Toll, the Board revealed an interest
in seeing something other than a grassy garden for the pier. Their desire for
an active use for the pier, rather than a passive use, was obvious.
- The Board had to continually be shepherded back by Staffers to its
area of jurisdiction--public access with respect to the Pt. Richmond Shores
project as presented by Toll. There were many riffs on the possibilities of
the site, and one could tell that they would like an active interface with the
water for the public. But, in the end, the BCDC Staff focused the DRB on
addressing the project at hand, not what might be.
BCDC's Comments:
- The Bay Trail, they said, should not be between buildings, but should
skirt the shoreline.
- The two buildings on the east (near Richmond Yacht Club) should move
west to make room for the Bay Trail.
- The revised 'view corridors' did not work for BCDC. Rather, they
suggested, Toll should reroute its interior roadway along the water, and
push to the site interior all of the outlying buildings, squishing them
together. BCDC said it would trade off the view corridors from BCRd in lieu
of having the small interior road skirt the water.
I do believe that if we had been able to report with certainty that BNSF had
agreed to sell, that BCDC would have encouraged pursuit of our plan.
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