Potential for San Bruno measure to raise height limits

Currently, all projects beyond three stories or 50 feet in height require voter approval to move forward. A 2014 accession allows for buildings between four and seven stories in its transit corridor, a 155-acre stretch that includes El Camino Real, San Bruno Avenue and San Mateo Avenue.

This has been labelled as one potential feature of the city that disincentivizes development, and would require a vote on Ordinance 1284 to change. If a ballot measure is brought to voters — which is not a guarantee — it would likely amend what areas of the city Ordinance 1284 applies to, for example, exempting land east of Interstate 280, Community Development Director Peter Gilli said after the meeting. 

“If there is anything, it will be something more general, like, ‘does the community still want this process?” he said. 

A ballot measure to amend the ordinance is still theoretical, and only one facet on which Placeworks will be working with the city, Councilmember Tom Hamilton stressed. If councilmembers do decide to move forward on it, either in 2026 or for an even further-away measure in 2028, community education will be imperative, he said during the meeting Jan. 27. 

“It’s going to be super important we bring the community along when having conversations with folks,” he said. “As soon as you start mentioning 1284, people automatically assume there's going to be a 10-story building next to their house.” 

But some, like Councilmember Michael Salazar, expressed apprehension with the plan and suggested that height limits may not be the reason previous attempts to revitalize development in the city had failed. 

“If there’s an overwhelming cry from the community that we don't wanna do any of this, then we [should] just pump the brakes and say ‘OK, let’s just go back to the drawing board,’” he said. “I don’t think it should be our job to convince the voters of what they want. We should be giving them what they want.” 

It’s important for San Bruno to increase its economic development to pay for city services like public safety, Gilli said. 

In addition, while statewide laws now allow affordable housing development to bypass city regulations in some cases, creating, for example, a 10-story housing development in a San Bruno area regulated for only five stories, revenue-generating buildings like hotels and stores don’t benefit from those regulations. 

“A big part of this is from an economic development standpoint, and because state law allows buildings to be taller than voters initially said… [Ordinance 1284] is only stopping things like office buildings,” Gilli said.