Burlingame is planning to meet only partial compliance for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s transit-oriented community policy, which is designed to promote housing and access within transit corridors across the Bay Area.
While compliance with the policy — which asks cities to set parking and housing standards in areas with proximity to transit stations and across the city — is technically voluntary, MTC is planning to tie its funding distribution to compliance.
In past funding cycles, MTC distributed $1.3 billion in Federal Highway Administration funding. Burlingame received just under $6 million for projects including sidewalk improvement, lighting, road and bike improvement.
The city has two transit stations that fall under MTC policy — one located in downtown Burlingame and another in nearby Millbrae, which is close enough to the city limits to warrant TOC directives.
The city’s plan is to try and apply its existing policies around housing production, preservation and protection where they’re already compliant, Zayer said.
In some categories, like density, MTC is asking cities to set minimum standards for commercial and residential density near transit stations. Burlingame won’t change its density standards, which don’t currently have minimums, Zayer said.
“Our recommendation in this area is that we take the hit in this category and leave our densities alone,” she said.
Burlingame staff plans to highlight the city’s already-existing inclusionary housing policies — which require greater percentages of affordable units — and the upcoming sale of publicly-owned land at 1500 Ralston Ave. for residential housing development for the MTC production policy category, Zayer said.
When it comes to MTC’s preservation requirements, Burlingame will be showcasing its funding to preserve unsubsidized affordable housing, as well as its condominium conversion restrictions, Zayer said.
City staff will bring back the topic when zoning code updates are discussed in November.
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