Building, neighborhood at odds over development

Residents passionately called on members of the Millbrae City Council to protect their quality of life by requiring Muzzi to amend designs for the residential towers and office building he is seeking to construct.

“We are going to stand together as a neighborhood. We are stronger together — our collective voices, I hope you will hear them,” said Christina DuCote, according to video of the meeting, Wednesday, Jan 23.

DuCote pleaded with officials to assure Muzzi’s design is reasonably compatible with the surrounding neighborhood, while also pointing out privacy concerns many neighbors share with fears those living in the apartments will be able to look into the homes of those below.

DuCote’s home is adjacent to the site where Muzzi is proposing to build 444 residential units, approximately 290,000 square feet of office space and about 35,000 square feet of retail space in three towers near the intersection of Millbrae Avenue and El Camino Real.

A top segment of one residential tower also infringes on a city policy designed to assure large developments do not overshadow surrounding homes, and DuCote’s husband Rob encouraged councilmembers to not approve Muzzi’s request for an exemption from the code.

For his part, Mayor Wayne Lee suggested councilmembers are reluctant to side with Muzzi on the debate which has continued since officials approved the development proposal last year.

“I’m having a hard time allowing something like that to benefit a commercial entity,” said Lee, referring to Muzzi’s development. In previous discussions, the developer suggested he would need to remove the violating units from plans which he is reluctant to do, since they are some of the most marketable in the project.

Also on the list of concerns for surrounding neighbors is a proposal from Muzzi to build balconies on some of the units with sightlines over their homes. Muzzi previously amended plans to remove some of the balconies, but residents still fear their will be subjected to visual blight and noise pollution.

Similar debates over design features have continued since the project was first proposed, and though the developer and neighbors have met in multiple community meetings, no resolution has been identified. Councilmembers made no decision during the most recent discussion which served as a design study session.

For his part, Muzzi attempted to downplay many of the fears expressed, countering the concerns raised by suggesting his project is far enough away from the homes that it will not harm their quality of life.

“This is not real. It’s an issue. But it’s not real,” said Muzzi, suggesting many of the privacy concerns are unfounded as those living in the apartments will not be abusing the privilege of having a balcony or unit facing the development.

Muzzi also noted he has previously altered designs, and that he offered to plant trees along his property line to make the development more visually appealing for residents.

Such decisions, in combination with the project’s distance from the neighborhood, fueled Muzzi’s skepticism that residents’ concerns about the project were valid.

Residents though refused to back down, and repeated their requests that councilmembers defend their interests.

“It’s about all of us that own and live on this street,” said resident Laura Cannon. “We are united in this concern.”

For their part, councilmembers encouraged future discussions between the developer and residents in an effort to resolve many of the issues still lingering.

Muzzi’s attorney Jennifer Renk committed to continuing those talks with hopes of identifying a solution.

“This is a work in progress. Vince has made compromises, and the neighborhood has made compromises. We are going to keep talking,” she said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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