Bayfront townhomes get another 3 years to build in Redwood City

Although councilmembers raised concerns that the development will take about 13 years in total since it was initially proposed, they agreed to grant a three year extension until 2029 — which can be extended for two more years — in hopes it will bring the project and its associated improvements across the finish line. 

“This feels out of the hands of our staff, out of the hands of our applicants, and I want to make sure this gets built,” Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos said. “Hopefully sooner rather than later.”

The project aims to construct the townhouses on an 8-acre site along Redwood Creek. Of the 131 townhomes, 88 will have two bedrooms and 43 will have three bedrooms. All will be three-story buildings with attached garages.

Developers will also extend Blomquist Street out to Redwood Creek and establish a new part of the Bay Trail along Redwood Creek. If developers address Blomquist Street within three years, they could request the extra two years to finish the housing.

The only public comment was by Rick Hunter, a planning commissioner who was the sole dissenting vote when this extension was considered by the commission in November. Hunter said he opposed the updated development agreement because of the lost impact fees. 

“I wasn’t convinced there was a good reason to do this,” Hunter said. 

The update to the development agreement, in addition to providing an extension for it to be completed, will also lower the amount of impact fees developers must pay the city by approximately $2 million. 

The $2 million is a concession given by the city to the developer for their agreed improvements to Blomquist Street, Community Development Director Jeff Schwob said. Schwob added he did not look at the $2 million as a loss, but as an incentive for developers to move the project along. 

“We get what we need in terms of infrastructure at  a cost that is reasonable, given the terms of the development agreement,” Schwob said. 

The Blomquist Street extension will also clear the way for development of a proposed 110-unit affordable housing project at 1580 Maple St., according to a staff report. 

The extension granted by the City Council on Monday is in addition to another extension awarded to developers in 2023. Councilmembers said if the project must return to the dais again that there may be stronger concern that the city is being taken advantage of. 

“I hope this is enough to get it over the line,” Councilmember Isabella Chu said. “I think if it needs to be extended again, it then signals to me it’s potentially not feasible.”