A fire is brewing in a San Mateo neighborhood where talks are underway of resurrecting the powerful residents' group that put a lid on building heights nearly 15 years ago.
The Beresford/Hillsdale Neighborhood Association last night voted to do whatever it takes to keep San Mateo the way it is, with a building height limit of 55 feet. About 70 members turned out for the meeting and signed up to help collect the signatures that would be necessary to put an initiative on the November ballot if necessary, as it did in 1991. Only one member abstained; City Councilman John Lee.
"We're on a parallel course with the City Council, and we have to be ready to move along if needed," said BHNA President Mike Germano.
Measure H - which limits building heights and densities - is set to expire in 2005 and city officials have discussed the possibility of tweaking it to allow growth in certain transit corridors throughout the city.
The City Council is set to discuss the matter in a study session Monday. If the council indicates that it will in fact modify the measure and raise heights to 75 feet, Germano said the people of San Mateo must be ready to act. Ultimately, that would mean residents would see two competing measures on the ballot.
"If the council doesn't do it, we have to be prepared to do what we did in 1991," said former planning commissioner Karen Herrel, who helped author the measure nearly 15 years ago. In fact, she said San Mateans for Responsive Government - the residents' group that mobilized to put the measure on the ballot - is still technically chartered and could be brought back to life.
November is not that far away, Herrel reminded the members present. In 1991, residents were out on the streets collecting signatures by April to put the initiative on the ballot.
"It was a roomful of people just like this one, replicated throughout the city," she said.
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About half the people in the room said they could remember when Measure H was first born in 1991.
The Beresford/Hillsdale Neighborhood Association was a powerhouse of support for the measure then, Herrel said. Signs supporting the measure packed the lawns and streets of the enclave 15 years ago.
They weren't alone either. Herrel said a coalition of residents came out of the woodwork and joined forces to put the measure on the ballot.
Although they should be ready to battle the city again, Herrel reminded the association of the deep scars the issue left in the city in 1991. In fact, she said the "us versus them" issue ultimately ended with two councilmembers losing their seats. The battle wounds from 1991 took many years to get over, she said.
Germano said association members would be asked for donations and manpower to put the initiative on the ballot if necessary. However, he agreed that having competing versions of the measure on the ballot is not desirable.
"That means it would be the City Council's version versus the people's version," Germano said.
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