Burlingame officials examine general plan details

While no decision was made, officials weighed transformative policy such as proposed growth areas, allowable building densities, commercial development standards and other land use regulations.

Decisions on such issues are projected to create more than 3,000 new housing units for an additional 6,000 residents and 9,000 jobs over the next 20 years, as officials are updating the plan for the first time since 1969.

Mayor Michael Brownrigg recognized the influential nature of the plan, which was recommended for adoption by the Planning Commission late last month.

“It is the blueprint for the next 20 years, and unlike some plans which bless the status quo, this one makes significant changes,” he said, according to video of the meeting.

A majority of those changes are proposed for the north end of town near Millbrae, a northern stretch of Rollins Road and around Broadway — areas where the plan proposes to loosen development regulations most substantially, opening the possibility to future residential development.

Existing residential neighborhoods were largely spared from infringement by development through the plan. The Bayshore was eyed for residential development, but officials ultimately backed away in favor of preserving the area for commercial and industrial growth. Along Broadway, officials are interested in preserving the street for retailers and merchants while potentially allowing residential development on upper stories.

In the northern areas, officials are hopeful to capture the opportunities presented through transit-oriented development by allowing new homes to be built near public transportation hubs such as the Millbrae BART station.

Regarding the Rollins Road area, Councilman Ricardo Ortiz suggested officials think big to allow sizable development in an effort to address the affordability crunch facing so many residents.

“We have to be bold here and we have to make a difference here,” he said. “This is our answer to the huge economic and political pressure to create housing. This is our opportunity.”

Councilwoman Emily Beach agreed, while suggesting officials could offer flexible parking requirements in housing developments to accommodate more density, due to proximity to the train station.

In other parts of northern Burlingame, officials are attempting to balance the opportunity to build large housing developments against concerns held by surrounding neighborhoods.

The most notable proposal on the table currently is the Peninsula Health Care District’s offer to build thousands of square feet for new jobs, homes and care facilities in a sweeping 8-acre wellness community.

District officials have requested a zoning change in the area to accommodate the development from city officials who separately have aligned with an effort to encourage affordable housing development at the site.

As negotiations for the project are slated to ramp up over the coming months, Burlingame officials suggested they may hold off on approving the zoning change in the general plan, with an eye on discussing the matter further down the road.

“We all believe that creates a little more flexibility in the future,” said Brownrigg, who also recognized the concerns held by those living nearby who may oppose the larger development.

Officials took a similar wait-and-see approach to discussions over historic home preservation standards, as they look to identify an appropriate set of policies for those wishing to remodel or rebuild their older house.

As it stands, owners of homes 50 years or older are required to pay a sizable fee for appraisal of their property to determine its historical significance. Those concerned with the policy claim it is an undue burden and the cost is often sunk, since so few homes are identified as historic resources.

Vice Mayor Donna Colson though offered a counter perspective.

“If what is triggering it is that you are renovating or redoing your house, and it is about $35,000 — first of all that is just a tiny amount of doing the costs of one of these projects,” said Colson, who noted she’s paid the assessment fee twice for home projects and found the expense is comparable to the permitting fees paid to the city.

Officials ultimately were unable to reach consensus on the matter though, suggesting they’d prefer to discuss the issue later in an effort to gather more community input. Likely a policy will be implemented outside of the general plan, so as to not hold up the larger document’s approval.

“This is a work item we need to have significant community input on,” said Beach.

Councilwoman Ann Keighran was absent from the meeting. A public hearing to potentially adopt the updated general plan is set for Monday, Nov. 19.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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